Dawn

Dawn

Saturday, July 01, 2017

Thoughts from Galicia: 1.7.17

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain. 

If you've arrived here because of an interest in Galicia or Pontevedra, see my web page here.

Life in Spain:-
  • Here's what you need to know about our summer sales. Some of these have been brought forward, to the annoyance of the owners of small shops. Incidentally, if the Olive News continues to present an annoying pop-up ad for a betting company, I will cease to read and cite it. But I don't suppose they'll care.
  • Meanwhile . . . Given the ridiculous mania for gin - especially strong here in Spain - this had to happen.
  • Here's a bit more more advice on buying property here, if you can still afford to do so with your reduced-in-value-pounds.
  • I've been known to say that, though capable of being extremely personable and generous when they know you, the Spanish can be very inconsiderate/thoughtless towards strangers. Here's an example - folk being given a tour of Pontevedra's old quarter who could easily have stood a metre to the left so they didn't block the path. But this clearly didn't occur to them. Not uncommon.


Here's how the EU works for some lucky rich folk - One in five of the largest EU farm subsidy payouts goes to people or families in The Sunday Times rich list.  Speaking of the EU . . . . Is it possible that the Brexit development will compel the re-invention of the project, with Germany and France driving a split into 2 groups, in one of which the UK will be happy to remain? I wouldn't rule it out. No one really knows what's going to happen. Or can even confidently guess. All depends, of course, on the Germans. Who tend to be pragmatic.

As for the USA and Mr Trump . . . Click here for one of the latest comments on his character/sanity.

And, if you thought the Middle East was a complex situation, click here for something that will take you way beyond this observation

Rather more locally . . . If you've done the Portuguese camino, you might recall walking under this bridge as you approached the hamlet of San Caetano. Over the years, I've seen fotos of a number of vehicles whose drivers don't appear to have noticed either the warning 40m before it nor the 3.4m sign on it. But this is probably the most spectacular example . . .


I do hope their insurance covered it. Btw . . . the warning before the bridge consists of hanging chains that hit vehicles which are too high. But most of these have dropped off. However, I don't suppose there's much of a chance of being able to sue the local authority. Just doesn't happen here. For one reason or another.

Finally . . . My reference number arrived from the Hacienda midday yesterday, after I'd posted my blog. Just in time to find out - on the last day - that I couldn't make a direct payment and would have to go via my bank. Actually, I received 2 numbers in separate letters. Not sure why but I suspect it was because I'd had difficulty early last week going through the new process. And clicked something twice. Doubtless in frustration. Rage even.

Today's cartoon:-

Magnificent. Pity he had to land on David when he fell over, though.

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