So, we’re chatting late one night with friends, bemoaning the state of the educational system. Seems, for example, that some very bright young things aren’t able to locate certain major countries on a map of the world. Disgraceful!

Yet we proceeded to confess, we older types, that we ourselves might struggle to pinpoint some states that accurately. Where exactly is Guatemala, for example? Guinea? Bhutan or Brunei?

Or Paraguay?

Actually, I asked, does Paraguay even exist? Who’d been there on holiday? Who amongst us owned a CD or book by a Paraguayan artist? Who’d been to a Paraguayan restaurant? Who had Paraguayan friends? If a Paraguayan fell over in a forest, would anyone notice? Anyone shagged a Paraguayan? Spanked (or been spanked by) one?

This final point was deemed to be conclusive by the rather seasoned spanko company present. So I’d like to make the official announcement: Paraguay does not actually exist!

PS I’d love it if someone could post and say hello from a Paraguayan IP address, disproving our theory and telling all about the no-doubt thriving spanking scene there!