Christmas cake and San Miguel, a very different day.

"Naranja, when I get back and I'll leave the door unlocked" said the jogger as jogging was begun.
That's no different from any other jogging day.

Radio 4 on the iPad with Jim Naughtie rudely and routinely speaking over his interviewee before they'd had their say was no different either.

In fact, as I sat looking at a Turkish stovepot coffee maker pondering it's workings, I wondered at what point in time BBC studio interviewers ceased to allow interviewees their say and began the egotistical dash in the direction of self-promotion?

Congratulations to Evan Davis in this, business "correspondent" always stating his own view of the causes/results of this or that and asking his interviewees to agree with him, promoted to "Today" and still interminably self seeking, rarely elicits a view from anyone although ensuring his own are clearly extolled to the obvious delight of his superiors, no doubt with an eye on their "package" if they make an error of judgement, and invited to replace Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. They should've offered Jeff Randall more to stay at the beeb.

I mention Evan Davis but the same applies to all of them these days. They realise that if they're going to "get anywhere" they have to be known so their interviews become a transport for their own delight and self promotion.

Who remembers a "Paxman" interview bar one, and only then because he was like a puppy with a toy. If he'd been a wise old dog he may have realised that all the time he repeated the same question that his quarry was never going to answer he may have elicited something worth listening to had he asked another question. We now remember the interview for the questioner, not even the question or his interviewee. Sad indeed, but "BBC man to the core", we were told when he'd left. Well done, Michael.

In fact, who remembers any interviewee of any of them in recent years? See what I mean?
But can you remember any of Michael Parkinson's or David Frost's interviewees? So can I, but I'm old.

Nope, the decline of "Today" and the self serving nature of the BBC didn't make the day different, either.

The days when people reasoned together have passed and no one noticed.
You don't get noticed through your integrity, nor your intellect, nor your honesty, not for your efforts to help, placate, comfort or change. Nope, all you need is a soundbite, a song or a willingness to mock those you couldn't intellectually hold a candle to. And a photogenic visage. Welcome to the cerebrally inert, the celebrity, our brave new world has been tailored just to fit you!
Nothing different there, then.

Peering past the Turkish stovepot a vertical slice of intense light cuts through the painting on the wall giving life to colour that I hadn't noticed before, but that wasn't different, just my lack of awareness.

Opening the balcony door and looking out prior to the day's first shutter press there was something different but I couldn't ascertain what.

Oranges destroyed on the juicer, coffee burbling on the hob, door slamming, words uttered.
Nope, nothing unusual.

Balcony doors released and swung fully open. That's a bit brighter and rather warmer than usual. Harbour full of trawlers and (long) liners, only alongside on Saturdays and Sundays so that meant we get a Telegraph. Same as ever.

Birdsong.
Not usually as audible as this.

The sea is like glass there's no wind so there's no waves so there's no noise so the birds are clearly rising to the challenge.
That's a bit different.

Juice drunk, coffee savoured, Telegraph bought. Just like every Sabbado here. But it's hot. Seriously hot and then what makes this Sabado totally different?

We go for a swim.
We, as in us.
It is simply too hot to not go swimming.
The sea is flat as a dab and clear as gin.
Yup, today is the hottest I've experienced since we were last in The Baleares.
And today is the first time the other half of "we" has swum in the sea for, well, since we were last in The Baleares.

Oh, we had Christmas cake with our olillio, jamon, queso, pan y San Miguel at lunch. too.

That was different.

I do so like different.
I like reason, too.

I could have posted a photo of a cloudless blue sky, a turquiose sea unruffled by even the slightest breeze and acres of clean golden sand but everyone's seen that sort of thing before.










Sorry it's been a bit long but I couldn't just type "It was a very hot day and we went for a swim," could I?
"Yes" I'm told, "and no more "Today" till lunes."

Sorry.