Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

I tried to remember that quote from Oscar Wilde but he is such an artist with words that approximations never do him justice..

Here is an extract from yesterdays reading, 'The Ideal Husband'

 Sir Robert Chiltern, the respected and admired Underscretary for Foreign affairs,  wrestles with the possibility of seeing his whole world collapse  because eighteen years beforehand

'he laid the foundation of his fortune by selling to a Stock Exchange speculator a cabinet secret.'

and admits

'Wealth has given me enormous power.'

 Lord Goring does not understand ,

'How you of all the men could have been so weak as to yield to such temptation.'

And yet Sir Robert still argues,

'To stake all one's life on a single moment,to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake be power or pleasure, I care not - there is no weakness in that.'


What a plot, what an argument!

NEXT READING

An Ideal Husband  by Oscar Wilde

This is the intriguing title of our next reading. It is a play by Wilde with lots of colourful characters and his provocative witticisms. The plot is woven around guilt and the terrible fear of being caught.

He describes life's temptations :

' ....he expounded to us the most terrible of all philosophies, the philososophy of power, preached to us  the most marvellous of all gospels, the gospel of gold'

and remorse

'I have distributed twice over in public charities since then'

'In public charities? Dear me, what a lot of harm you must have done.'

Wilde preferred social justice over charity.

We will read the first two acts hopefully.

This is the quote that Julie was telling us  is inscribed on a statue  of Oscar Wilde in Charing Cross.

We  are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.

Todos estamos en la cuneta pero algunos miramos las estrellas

Lord Darlington

What a coincidence that it is from the play we finished reading yesterday evening,  Lady Windermere's Fan.

Wonderful to see you again and hope those who couldn't make it will join us again on the 11th.

The quota

The quota is the same as last year and we renew it when we remember to every year. 

It's 15E payable to 

Asociación Educativa Oscar Wilde

La Caixa (beside La U.P.)

2100- 1984 -72- 0200130268

ENGLISH FOR TRAVELLING

ASEDOW is offering a 30h course for adult learners.
You can find out more by contacting us at asedow@gmail.com.

Basically it is for people who have studied English, it's in their head but they are unsure how to use it.

It starts in November and there will be only two classes in December and we begin again in January.
You will be paying for three months.

So these are the dates to mark in your calendar if you are interested:



21st Nov
28th Nov
5th Dec
12th Dec
9th Jan
16th Jan
23rd Jan
30th Jan
6th Feb
13th Feb
20th Feb
27th Feb

Hope you can take advantage of this great opportunity.

Best website

 www.world-english.org

This is a great website for the native speaker as you can click into listening to your local radio station so easily.
For learners you can test your English and find lots of attractive exercises to do-
Mark it as a favourite.

We look forward to seeing all of you who expressed interest in the shared readings in La Biblioteca Central, San Sebastián de los Reyes.
So, we start again on Wednesday the 7th November and we will continue with Wilde.
The last two acts of Lady Windermere's Fan.  

                                         

We will put a poster up soon of the dates of forthcoming readings.

In  November,  we have a course for budding travellers.

With luck we will have a day in the country too so watch this space!
 

Travels with my son Eduardo&Eduardo

A SUMMER TRIP TO THE UK AND IRELAND 2012 by Eduardo, EOI Sanse

UN VIAJE POR UK E IRLANDA EN EL VERANO DE 2012

Este año decidimos mi hijo y yo hacer un viaje mitad turístico, mitad para mejorar nuestro inglés.

This year my son and I decided to do a bit of tourism and improve our English.

La primera etapa fue en Gran Bretaña y el punto de entrada fue Stansted. Esta pequeña localidad nos sirvió como lugar para asentarnos y durante los tres días que estuvimos en Reino Unido , poder visitar Londres y Cambridge.

The first stage of our trip was Stansted airport, GB. We stayed in this area and from there visited London and Cambridge during our three day stay.

Unas buenas comunicaciones desde el hotel al pequeño aeropuerto, la buena red de autobuses y el tren, nos permitió podernos mover con total autonomía.

The hotel and airport were well communicated and the good bus and train service meant we could move around very easily.

En Londres visitamos todos los puntos de interés de una visita a la capital Británica, contando además con unos magníficos días de buen tiempo.

In London we visited all the places of interest and had wonderful weather to do so.

Con estos días de sol, preferimos ver Londres paseando por sus calles, disfrutar del corto verano y curiosear todos sus rincones. Esta vez nada de museos o lugares cerrados.

The weather was too good to spend time indoors in museums so we walked around exploring every little corner.

Sus calles como Oxford Street, Qeen Victoria, Piccadilly estaban llenas de actividad y sus plazas a reventar de turistas. Los edificios más emblemáticos animaban a verlos con detenimiento.

Streets such as Oxford Street , Queen Victoria and Picadilly were choc a bloc with people, things to do and tourists. We wandered around studying the most emblematic buildings of the city.

Además estaban los preparativos de las Olimpiadas que fue otro motivo para descubrir curiosidades.

Also, we were there just before the Olympic Games and so saw the preparatory work which was really interesting.

Nuestra visita a Cambridge era para disfrutar de la tranquilidad de sus calles centenarias y respirar el clima de estudio de esa pequeña ciudad.

Our visit to Cambridge was spent enjoying the quiet streets and breathing in the atmosphere of study in this centenary university town.

Coincidiendo con la finalización del curso en Cambridge, tuvimos la oportunidad de contemplar la graduación de sus alumnos y callejear por sus calles de gran encanto.

We were able to see the students graduate as our visit coincided with the end of the university year. Absolutely charming.

Los museos, os los recomendamos no os los podéis perder, así como entrar y pasear por sus ancestrales Colegios.

If you go to Cambridge make sure you visit its museums and take a walk inside the ancient university.

Fueron unos días intensos pero esto, solo era la escala para llegar a Dublín donde teníamos pensado estar las próximas dos semanas.

Three very intense days but they were just a prelude to our two week trip to Dublin.

La llegada a la capital de Irlanda en avión, hace pensar en una ciudad mayor de lo que realmente es. Pasados unos días, la conocíamos mejor que a la propia Madrid.

Arriving into Dublin by plane you think the city is bigger than it actually is. Soon we would know it better than Madrid.

Decidimos instalarlos en una familia. Además de lo cordiales que son los irlandeses, tuvimos la suerte de estar estas dos semanas en la casa de John. Un entrañable y familiar irlandés. No hubo noche, que no nos diera la madrugada hablando de cualquier tema.

We were staying with a family. Irish people are good natured on the whole and we had the immense pleasure of staying in John's house for two weeks. A memorably kind, friendly Irishman. Not a night went by that we wouldn't be sitting up talking until the small hours.

Durante la semana teníamos un curso intensivo en Dublín pero eso no quitaba para que visitáramos sus museos, recorriéramos sus calles o disfrutáramos del encanto de sus exuberantes jardines.

During the week we had to do our crash course in English but still, we managed to visit Dublin's museums, explore its streets and savour its beautiful, exuberant parks and gardens.

La compra de libros en su versión original como The Picture of Dorian Gray de Oscar Wilde o Dubliners de James Joyce, era casi una obligación. Así como visitar sus esculturas una, la de Wilde en Merrion Square y la de James en O´Connell Street.

I was compelled to buy these books in the original English version....The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Dubliners by James Joyce. Another must do was to see the statue of Wilde in Merrion Square and one of James Joyce in Dublin's main thoroughfare, O' Connell Street.

La visita a sus Pubs, es una obligación y cuando crees que ya conoces todo sobre cervezas lo mejor una visita a Guinness Storehouse.

Visits to the pubs are also compulsory when you are in Dublin. When you think you know all there is to know about beer and ale then you have to go to The Guinness Storehouse.

Los fines de semana eran para alejarnos de la ciudad y visitar sus pequeños pueblos, sus granjas, sus castillos y los centros de interés como los Cliffs of Moher o Glendaloch.

Weekends were spent getting away from the city and so we went to villages, farms, castles, the Cliffs of Moher and Glendalough the ancient Celtic Christian settlement.

Sobre el curso, nos fue muy bien y además de probar el examen final, conocimos a personas que como nosotros juntaban sus vacaciones con el turismo.

As for the couse, it went really well and we passed our exams. We got to know others who were combining tourism and language learning just like us.

En estos viajes, si nos proponemos en salirnos del turismo convencional de hotel y restaurante podemos traernos un pedacito de estos países y sus gentes con nosotros además de hablar y compartir experiencias.

On trips like this if you make the effort to get away from the typical tourist hotels and restaurants you can bring back a piece of the country and people you visit through the conversations and experiences shared.

El año próximo volveremos a preparar algo parecido seguramente, porque nos salió muy bien en todos los sentidos

Next year my son and I will do another trip because this one turned out so well in every sense.

I got a feeling

If Madrid is a contestant for the Olympic Games again PLEASE don't let them paper the cities with that awful phrase:
 I feel it in my bones. 
It may be correct but it's eery.
Kilcoo used a better phrase for their gaelic football team's good performance and hopes. Choose from:

I got a  feeling/I gotta feeling (colloquial)
I've got a feeling

As you know this is the first line of the original song by the Black Eyed Peas and the words have been adapted for the clip below.

Fun videoclip

Gotta keep reading
Cos this books's gonna be a good book
Cos this book's gonna be a good good book to read.

September

Here's a place to check out and right now is the time to do it!

www.ensayosjendrix.es

 These are rehearsal studios in Alcobendas. 

But not only that. 

You can have one to one guitar classes and even have elocution lessons with Jordi who will teach you how to behave before a microphone.

But not only that.

You can also buy your friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, grandson whatever a gift voucher for a drum lesson. a guitar lesson or an hour in a fully equipped, soundproof room where he and his friends can live the guitar hero rock star dream. 
Who knows...your original gift may be the first step on the road to fame!

I KNOW IT'S ONLY ONLY ROCK 'n ROLL BUT I LIKE IT LIKE IT YES I DO!!!

Penelope Cruz put Alcobendas on the map when she received her Oscar saying 'I grew up in a place called Al-co-bendas.'

 It is right beside San Sebastián de los Reyes, better known as Sanse, and  about ten minutes north of  Madrid on the Burgos Road.

The rehearsal studios are near the metro stop La Granja

BACK TO BUSINESS

After the lull over the summer holidays we look forward to offering a variety of ways of getting together just to use your English and any suggestions you would like to make will be very welcome.

If you have difficulty accessing the blog, please contact us here:

 asedow@gmail.com

School books and a bit of romance

The books

Don't forget to go by La Biblioteca Central metro Baunatal,San Sebastián de los Reyes before buying this year's text books because you might be able to pick up the course books you need for this year.
You can leave last year's text  books for others to use rather than throw them away.


The Romance

Avril Lavigne  and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroegerp, the Canadian rockers are engaged to be married.

Their relationship has been so quiet that few even knew they were dating. Now, after a six-month courtship they have anounced their engagement.

Lavigne, 27, and Kroeger, 37, first got together in February to co-write a song for Lavigne's upcoming fifth studio album.

On Aug. 8, Kroeger popped the question, presenting Lavigne with a 14-carat diamond sparkler.

IT'S ART

The 'Documenta' in Kassel,

The Joan Miró museum in Mallorca.

Salvador Dalí's museum in Figueras.

All amazing but

The A.I.R. Museum in San Sebastian de los Reyes makes an impact such as when you visit

El Parque Guëll in Barcelona for the first time.

Intriguingly the name A.I.R. Museum comes from Artist in Residence, a way of life for artists who live and exhibit from their  lofts in New York but this artist turned the complete loft into a 'walk in' work of art but not one piece is for sale.

Walk in and you are engulfed in Art. Everywhere you look is a piece more intricate than the last and the whole is a kaleidoscope of colour peppered with the philosophy of the Master of Ceremonies who generously and at no cost explains all you are seeing - This is the Artist himself, Nacho Paswal.

As he was not in residence he changed the name of the museum to el indio Mocaqua. Nacho is bursting with stories to tell, experiences to share and a creative spirit that needed to soar to the heights of his accomplishment. And he accomplished it all.

But he had to close the door and walk away in frustration.

This is not Barcelona.

Where is it exactly ?

La Avenida del Cerro del Aguila with a grandstand view of San Sebastian de los Reyes football stadium.

English football supporters sing this song.

WALK ON

WALK ON

WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART

FOR YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

This is not football.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/el-indio-Mocaqua/63976089019

The Arts

 

Alcobendas Art Centre kindly keeps us informed about upcoming exhibitions.

This one starts in September and our next walk could be through the city.

Modern Art  certainly gives you something to talk about.

Viveiro, Feria de Artesanía

If you are in Galicia this summer, visit the  Popular Craft Fair  in Viveiro. 

José has a stand there from the 10th to the19th August and you will be able to see the complete collection of his jewellery.
http://joyasymantequilla.blogspot.com.es


Moucho bracelet, the piece which was was on display in Burgos along with nineteen other selected pieces of popular craft, didn't win the prize but José is happy at the good exposure.
Who knows, it may  be for sale.

Rhapsody in blue is the piece he presented in El Certamen de Antonio Fraguas in A Coruña.
We have no news yet.
'No news is good news,' we always say.

This comes from Tourist Information Viveiro


The local holiday is celebrated on August 15 in Saint Roque and the Virgin´s honour. There are events such as the popular craft trade fair, the ascent and the pilgrimage to the mountain of Saint Roque ( it takes place on August 16 in the small hours ) the day of the enormous heads in the Nogueiras, the cycle race, the championship of trap shooting.


Sounds like lots of fun.


José is our vice president and founding member of ASEDOW . He doesn't speak much English, he doesn't even like it but he does believe English language learning could  be more accessible and his help and artistic talent have been invaluable.

A head full of stories

Maeve Binchy was a wonderful story teller which is a great gift that is well appreciated in Ireland.
She eased the way into reading for young dreamy girls who devoured  her stories and developed a love for reading and with time, for Literature.
You will see her books at all the airport lounges.
Buy one and you will learn a lot about contemporary Ireland and England.
She has left this world and we raise our hats to her.


(This Irish writer's name is pronounced /meɪv/)

This is really interesting

After seeing the teams of Great Britain and Ireland in the Olympic Games parade after the beautiful opening ceremony in London the question lingered. What about Northern Ireland? They usually compete with the  United Kingdom team.
Well Aelish found the reply:

Bid, you're right they are saying team GB and team Ireland.
Northern Ireland  athletes are allowed to choose which team they wanted to be on.
Fourteen of twenty chose Ireland.

Summer storms

At last the rain.
Still, Madrid is the place for the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.
And a nap in the afternoon provides the energy to enjoy the summer evenings.
July is always the hottest month but for some reason August is the month when the inhabitants desert the city and leave it  like a ghost town - not the best time to invite the family and friends over -unless you include a trip away to the sea or the mountains in your invitation.
Happy holidays!
Roll on the Olympic Games!

15th July

Any travel tales you want to share?

Last year Ana shared her adventures in the U.S.A.

The year before Patricia told us about her experience in Cambodia.

We'd love to hear from our friends and associates.

This must be Malta!

The cannon, the fortifications.

Yes, this must be Malta. There are cannons everywhere.

The yacht is leaving the Grand Harbour in Valletta.

A great picture courtesy of Hugo.

Check out this site
Malachys-malta.jimdo.com

A place to visit

Lovely Malta

 

The fine things in life

Hello,
Have a look at José´s homage to George Gershwin.  A beautiful piece he calls Rhapsody in Blue.  If only he would add the music!
http://joyasymantequilla.blogspot.com.es/
 It's also the piece he has entered for a contest in lovely Galicia.

If you saw the film on Channel 2 this evening,The Good Woman with Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johannsen based on Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, come and enjoy the original....Biblioteca Central Sanse. 19h30  12th June ..(today)

 Cheers!

Lady Windermere's Fan

We'll be reading the first two acts at the same venue but with another change of date.
 It has to be on June 12th.
Contact us at our gmail address if this event interests you.

Latest activities

The walk on Sunday 20th organised by E.O.I Sanse went very well. As Eduardo says there is always an element of surprise on these walks as you never know how many people will turn up. The weather was unpredictable and Eduardo thought he would have to turn back as he was on his own but at 9.30 there were twelve people ready to set out. And just as well they did because they were able to help a lady in distress who needed medical attention for a broken wrist. All in all it was a very successful walk with students from Rivas participating and chatting away in English.

Yesterday's reading of the works of Oscar Wilde at the library, Biblioteca Central,  was lovely too. Again we are never sure who will turn up but thankfully there are always the ones we can rely upon to make it fun, interesting and relaxing.
The Ballad of Reading Gaol is always very moving. How brilliantly and carefully each word is chosen by this great writer.
Julie's suggestion of a reading from Lady Windermere's Fan for the next get together  is  excellent
 It will be the last for a while and we want to end with something light hearted that will always bring a smile to our lips when we think of Oscar Wilde.

The Paperback Book Exchange in the foyer of Biblioteca Central gave people the opportunity to exchange some really good books and others like Daniel who is leaving Spain donated some good readers, his playstation 2 games and some good dvds to this association.
We will organise another one soon.


At La Biblioteca Central the Irish poet, John Liddy,  was delighted with the audience of children and their parents who turned up to read, listen and talk about his new book of children's stories. on el día de San Isidro. 
Ascen and Raquel were charming hostesses and presented the writer to his enthusiastic audience.
One lucky winner took a new book home.
It's called Cuentos Cortos En Inglés and the editorial is Bruño.

The hawthorn bush

There's a walk on Sunday and the meeting point is EL Punto de Encuentro 9.30h in The Sports Centre of Dehesa Boyal San Sebastián de los Reyes or alternatively Metro Baunatal 9.00h.
Bring your camera and try to take a prettier picture than this one if you can!

II PAPERBACK BOOK EXCHANGE

Aquí estamos un año más con la campaña de intercambio de libros. Este año teneis que daros prisa, porque solo estaremos del 15 al 19 (ambos inclusive).

Igual que en la edición pasada, puedes traer tus libros en inglés y cambiarlos por otros sin que te cueste nada.
Os esperamos del 15 al 19 de mayo en la Biblioteca Central de S. Sebastián de los Reyes.