Free-D

Looking back over the past few months of the English page, it’s somewhat embarrassing how much whinging I’ve done. Well, it happens to be something we Brits excel at – that and coming second of course. British style whinging is usually performed under one’s breath and at least one hour after the offence was given. My own particular “bugbear” is the British roadside café, at which one generally suffers both from the “service” and the flavourless “slop” that is rather optimistically given the name “food”. Not that I’ve ever said anything but “Thankyou very much” after I’ve managed, heroically, to force it down. But it’s not just “normal” English chaps who like a good moan. Apparently “top popstar” Cliff Richard has been doing his fair share of whining recently, complaining that way back in 1968 General Franco had the results of the Eurovision song contest rigged, in the belief that a win for Spain would bring greater popularity for his regime.

Spanish singer Massiel won that year of course with the timeless classic “La, la, la”, knocking Sir Cliff’s “Congratulations” off the top spot. As I said, the English do like to wait a good few hours before complaining: but really, Cliff, forty years is probably taking things a bit too far. Actually, while I’m on the subject of whinging, would it be terribly rude of me to point out that Salamanca council and the CHD are still (for heaven’s sake) arguing over whose responsibility it is to clean up the river Tormes. It seems unlikely that the answer to the problem lies in analyzing the nitty gritty of the legal and civil complexities of the case. Because the solutions to such problems nearly always consist in compromise, good grace and common sense; three qualities which are about as rare as sophisticated Eurovision song entries.

The situation certainly doesn’t look promising, with either side making threatening statements. It has to be said, however, that Salamanca isn’t the only province entangled in a dispute with the CHD; Ciudad Rodrigo is also at “loggerheads” with the confederación. Which gives one the feeling that the CHD is possibly being a little confrontational in its approach. In the final analysis though, one wonders what’s more important to Salamanca’s politicians: winning an argument and being in the right, or safeguarding the city’s environment?

Sometimes it seems that the best thing isn’t to whinge on about being in the right but to do the right thing. And while we’re on the subject, have you thought that perhaps it’s time to retire Cliff?