If you live here in Spain, you'll be used to seeing Chinese shops in every town. They are stacked high with ridiculously cheap goods, from clothes to toys to garden furniture and household crockery. Much of it is poor quality - I call it "CCC" - cheap crap from China. A high percentage of the toys are plastic, and break or fall apart after a few uses, especially when being manhandled by small, not-very-gentle kids like mine. I have more or less banned them from the house.

At this very moment, small children all over Spain are excitedly awaiting a glimpse of the Reyes Magos, the Three Kings (or Wise Men) who, according to Spanish tradition, bring children's presents tonight.

2012: the year of Cadiz, starting with La Pepa, El Niño and Camus

So we’re now a couple of days into 2012. The extended break struggles on to Reyes later this week.