Catalunya crosses the line

It was good to learn that Clare and Kath were both safely home, despite a turbulent flight, and a sleep invading electronic buzz from a loudspeaker which none of the crew seemed able to suppress. Odd that the captain should apologise for turbulence, for which heaven and air traffic control routing are responsible, but not for noises off. Never mind, all's well that ends well.

Pam and Alwyn took me out for a meal at the Imperial Italian restaurant nearby this lunchtime. It's the first proper opportunity we've had to sit and chat, as they've been pretty busy since I arrived. Such a relief for them to know their new Chaplain will be in post by the time Lent starts.

I walked for a few kilometres along the Paseo de Marina as the sun was setting. The urbanizacion's gardener has been trimming the trees this past week, and has made good progress. Two thirds of the job is done already, and he's filled a large industrial skip with prunings. Along Calle de la Mata are a succession of sculpted trees, possibly of the laurel family, with laurel shaped and coloured leaves the size of dinner plates, plus palm tree fronds. The skip is very over-full. He stands the three metre long palm fronds close together vertically along the sides of the skip, which then means he can pile leaves much higher than the edges of the skip. I'd love to see what happens when the skip is collected.

I overheard him speaking with one of the neighbours as I started my paseo. The one word I caught was "Catalunya". Today the regional Parliament voted to declare independence, and the national government has voted to dissolve the Catalan parliament and impose direct rule from Madrid. I think a long slow political train crash has just started. I just hope and pray things won't get ugly. Catalan activists have promised non-violent action. This is going to divide the loyalties of civil servants, local government officials and communities all over the region. And, play havoc with the economy. As if Europe didn't have enough to cope with already, due to brexit, and the chaos it threatens to bring, at home and abroad. How easily people can lose any sense that we are all 'members of one another' as St Paul says.