Best wishes to all

John Lennon & Yoko Ono Christmas song

This is our party

Panoramic photo courtesy of Juan

We even had sherry trifle. Thanks Juana!

This is our walk

Going up

At the top

A view of the castle but the mountains are covered in mist

Going down

Encinas   Evergreen oak trees

Fresh air and exercise is another good way to celebrate the Christmas season. So we did that in the best company on Saturday morning as planned. It was a misty morning when we set out. The typical vegetation in the Dehesa Boyal of San Sebastián De Los Reyes are encinas, evergreen oak trees and pine trees. The sky cleared and we were able to see the Castillo de Viñuelas but not the mountains which at this time of the year are covered in snow. There were tracks left behind by  wild boar and mounds of earth where they had been digging up the ground in their search for truffles.
We can certainly recommend this invigorating walk & talk as a nice alternative way to gather at Christmas.

           🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

ASEDOW Christmas Walk and Christmas Party

Saturday 14th December 2109

The walk starts at 11:15h from the Punto De Encuentro in the sports centre San Sebastián De Los Reyes.

The idea is to walk and talk to the top of the Dehesa Boyal and contemplate the snow on the mountains from there before making our way down again.

We should be back by 13h....13:30h.

I think it would be funny if we all wore our Santa Claus hats!

 But that is optional.

Check the blog for any change of plan

This activity is open to non members.

 Wednesday 18th December.

Christmas party

Traditionally we break up for Christmas with a party in our room which means there is no fixed topic 

that day. We will share some good food, drink and conversation and members are welcome to bring family or friends.

Christmas is coming

Last week  as a change of activity we read the first act of Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest and this week we will have our Christmas  pub quiz in our room so that newcomers can see what that is about.

Next week we are planning to take a walk in the nearby woodland La Dehesa Boyal and enjoy the view of the snow on the sierra and Luis is hoping to be rewarded with a piece of Christmas cake.

We will break up for the Christmas on Wednesday 18th Dec, a reason to celebrate with a little party in our room.

For more info you can write to us at asedow@gmail.com
Or you can pop by our room on the first floor of the Universidad Popular San Sebastián de Los Reyes from 18h to 20h  Wednesday 11th and 19th December 2019.

THEATRE IN MADRID

Un Marido Ideal.
Oscar Wilde's play An Ideal Husband can be seen in Teatro Príncipe Gran Vía this month of December

Christmas

On Wednesday we will be discussing many aspects of the Christmas season and how we can
contribute to making it a happy time for all.

'Tis the season to be merry

Tra la la la la la la la la la la

Music

On the way home on Wednesday Audrey and I were talking how important music is in our lives and yet how few of us ever learn to play a musical instrument.

Could this ever change? 

Is it a very difficult subject to teach in schools?

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/apr/02/school-music-cuts-inequality-demoralised-teachers

 Are there any great success stories that could be set as an example?  

I have one. 

In Ireland, in Galway there is a summer school where young people go to improve their Gaeilge, the Irish language. 

They do covers of popular songs and  create a video each year. Everyone is involved. All arts are involved too.

Lurgan Summer School Galway

Do you know any other success stories?

Come and tell us on Wednesday 20th Nov  18:30h
Universidad Popular
San Sebastián de Los Reyes
Madrid

A Strange World

Obesity pandemic

Belino has proposed these questions to discusss on Wednesday 13th November 2019.

Are there more obese people than hungry people in the world?

As well as unhealthy eating habits, is a sedentary lifestyle another important factor to consider when analyzing the causes of this exponential rise of obesity?

Is it having a significant effect on climate change the way this unhealthy food is produced?

Seen from this perspective, this is going to be a stimulating discussion.

Contact us at asedow@gmail.com for the two links Belino has sent us and to join the discussion.

Beauty in the workplace

Research shows that occasionally women are not selected for a post and that they are rejected precisely because of their beauty.

Discrimination that calls for the selection process to be fairer.
We could take a leaf from the television programme The Voice where the panel cannot see the singer and so their decision is not influenced by the singer's physical attributes. In the same way future employees would apply for work on the basis of the candidate's C.V. and merits with no information about their family background, race or looks.

Join the debate
Wednesday 6th November 2019
18:30h

Blazing a path

A hundred women from all over the world and their vision of what our world should look like in 2030.

Thank you for sending us this inspiring article Ilaria.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-50042279

Also a talk about Spanish Traditions has been the interesting suggestion of Luis.

Wednesday 23rd and Wednesday 30th October at 18:30h

Universidad Popular
San Sebastián De Los Reyes

Requiescat

Tread lightly, she is near

Under the snow,

Speak gently, she can hear

The daisies grow.

All her bright golden hair

Tarnished with rust,

She that was young and fair

Fallen to dust.

Lily-white, white as snow,

She hardly knew

She was a woman, so

Sweetly she grew.

Coffin-board, heavy stone,

Lie on her breast.

I vex my heart alone,

She is at rest.

Peace, Peace, she cannot hear

Lyre or sonnet.

All my life's buried here,

Heap earth upon it.

Avignon

            Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde had a sister called Isola who died at the age of ten. He was twelve at the time. Later he wrote this poem to her memory.

16th October 1854

It is the birthdate of Oscar Wilde.
Please take time to reflect on this and remember him, a man of extraordinary wit and talent.
It would be impossible to recommend one play, one poem, one story  or one treatise. They are all great.
Choose one yourself and find some quiet time to read and be edified.

In an ideal world?

Here is an informative article about life in Japan. A lot of our members are well travelled so they will be able to tell us their experience when we get together on Wednesday 16th October.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20191006-what-japan-can-teach-us-about-cleanliness

It coincides with one of the excellent initiatives in our town (San Sebastián De Los Reyes) of which the association has  informed, Los Martes Del Arte, a masterclass on Art appreciation.
This month the subject is Japanese Art.

Our discussion begins at 18:30h.
For more info write to aedow@gmail.com

Who's going?

The ancient wisdom of Australia

A very interesting look at people with a different outlook on life, people who can heal and who happily share their wisdom and want to help us help our mother Earth.

Read the article and share your views.
U.P. Sanse.

Wed 9/10/19 at 18:30h

Mount Magog Stirling National Park

A sad loss

For Lola

This picture was taken in Sanse. A  light has gone out of our lives.
We will miss Lola who joined our association in 2014 and came regularly to our weekly meetings. We enjoyed hearing about her travels and her views.
With her daughter living in Canada, Lola was very keen on improving her English.
She will be sadly missed. In Audrey's words 'she was gentle, empathic and compassionate.'
Here you can see her on the right of this picture in the link below congratulatng the winner of our story competition.
https://asedow.blogspot.com/2016/12/20th-december-at-up.html

Discussion

Some research has shown that if your surname, your family name, begins with a letter later in the alphabet, you could be at a disadvantage at school and in life. 

Do you think this is true?

We will be talking about this in our room Wed 2nd October 18:30h

Too Many Things

Decluttering will be the topic for discussion on Wednesday 25th September at 18:30h.

The room opens at 18h for information, browsing through our collection of books and DVDs.

We have a link to share. If you are intereste,d write to us at asedow@gmail.com

Join the debate

Motion: Borders are a bloody business. Literally.

Prepare to argue for or against the motion.
Wednesday 18th September 18:30h
We look forward to exchanging opinions in a cordial atmosphere of peace and tranquility where we listen to other opinions even if we don´t like them!

SINGALONG

This will be great fun whether you are a fan of Elton John or not.
His songs have been smash hits and  Jonathan will be at superb getting us through Crocodile Walk etc. etc.
THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER IN MADRID

VISIT CÁCERES

Ambassador of Ireland

Mayor of Cáceres

Poster for Cáceres Irish Fleadh 2019

Yesterday Ambassador of Éire Síle Maguire hosted the presentation of the Cáceres Irish Fleadh at her residence in Madrid. Special mention was made of Fernanda whose love of Irish music inspired this music festival in the capital city of Extremadura which is celebrating its 16th year.

Here is Fernanda playing the accordeon in the music session that was held in the gardens of the residence.

It gave us a taste of things to come and a good reason to go back to beautiful Extremadura for this year's festival of Irish music on the 25th 26th and 27th October 2019.

Newcomers welcome

Asociación Educativa Oscar Wilde

This is a good time to join our association. The annual fee is 15€. You can join now and  pay 5€ for the last term of 2019.

We all make the annual payment at the beginning of each new year.

Alternatively, you can  wait until January 2020 and pay the annual fee of 15€.

New beginning

September is a beautiful month with stunning colours. Enjoy all the changes it brings and come and share your feelings about this month with us.

If you join this association  Asociación Educativa Oscar Wilde, you also receive all the information about local events here in San Sebastián De Los Reyes.

Of course the best event of all is our relaxed talking group where you can meet people from different walks of life who get together and use whatever English they have just to talk about everything under the sun.

Our talking groups begin again on Wednesday 4th September 2019 18:30h
Universidad Popular
Sala 1.1
Metro Baunatal

See you there

For more infornation write to asedow@gmail.com

You can see this map in Enniskillen in a local railway museum collection. 

It shows the train routes of different pupils who attended the same school there as Oscar Wilde.

De 26 AGOSTO AL 1 SEPTIEMBRE 2019

FIESTAS EN SAN SEBASTIAN DE LOS REYES

Summer 1969

                           I was suffering
Only the bullying sun of Madrid.
Each afternoon, in the casserole heat
Of the flat,

 Seamus Heaney

That about describes it.

DRY LAND

How does Nature survive this desert heat? But it does.

burst of colour

burst of flower

dry grass

dying for a drink

how tall can I grow?

round pretty and small

army of ants

San Sebastián  De Los Reyes                    

SOMA 2019

The music festival in Castlewellan kicks off today with this singer from Scotland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4iZNTwi2Rk

De vuestro Federico

In San Sebastián De Los Reyes we had an exhibition dedicated to the world famous and well loved Spanish poet  Federico García Lorca with  this letter to his parents where he signs off saying,
 'I imagine you have received the two books. Aren't they lovely? A hug from your Federico.

The exhibition with objects on loan from La Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid and La Fundación Federico García Lorca celebrated the very happy years he spent in Madrid in the company of his friends Luis Buñuel,  Salvador Dalí , Rafael Alberti, Eduardo Ugarte and  other famous names and friends of his time.They would spend their Sundays having picnics in in El Pardo.
There are pictures and there  is even a handwritten letter from the great poet Antonio Machado congratulating him on his play Bodas De Sangre (Blood Wedding). Lorca  knew fame and good  fortune but expressed his solitude in this letter to a friend which he wrote  in 1933.
''También yo estoy sólo, aunque tú me veas acompañado porque triunfo y recibo coronas de gloria, me falta la corona divina del amor,'
Despite his friends' pleading Federico went back to his native Granada where he was executed on the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on August 18th 1936.
 You will be able to visit this itinerant exhibition in Parla in September. From there  it will travel on to  Alpedrete, Humanes and San Martín De Valdeiglesias.

A LADY OF LETTERS

Our association would like to pay tribute to the English actress who lived in Madrid and sadly died there too, Julie Davies.

Our first event as an association was a live literary performance. Julie came with fellow actor Jonathan Mellor on a cold February evening in 2010 and read poems by T.S. Eliot in a bar in Alcobendas called El Indio Mocaqua. It was so kind of them and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I will always remember Nacho´s friend there, Federico, saying that in Argentina culture and free time go together. If only. Such talented artists are as necessary as the air we breathe.

Julie and Jonathan and Jim performed extracts from The Tempest in I.E.S. Joan Miró, San Sebastián De Los Reyes and one young person came up to thank us profusely for bringing Shakespeare to their high school, saying  for him it was like a miracle.

I met Julie through Tracy our mutual friend and I remember it was when Tracy´s boy Daniel was born in 2010 and we were there together at the hospital that I broached the subject of a reading from The Wasteland and Julie said that she knew that Jonathan was fanatical about T.S. Eliot and so it came to be that we have a blog entry called T.S. Eliot in Alcobendas with Julie making a special request to read from Cats too.

I loved Miss Ruddock, the character Julie played in Alan Bennett’s play Talking Heads for TEATRO LIBERARTE. It was a truly memorable performance, absolutely brilliant.

Just like each and every leaf on a tree has access to light and rain, sunshine and air, people need the Arts.

Julie was sunshine and light with her beautiful voice.

And in her care for the planet. She was unable to throw away anything plastic.

Dear Julie, rest in peace.

12th June Open Doors

 End Of School Year Party

In the Spanish tradition we will share some food and drink and take a break from our usual activity.

The association will also provide some refreshment and snacks so feel free to pop by and say hello:)

What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?

Room 1.1 Universidad Popular  San Sebastián De Los Reyes  12th June 2019 19h
. 

2019 Art & Craft Fair in Madrid

Buy an exquisite souvenir of your visit to Madrid.

Look out for José's stand where you will find beautifully crafted jewellery.

It is called NINGURES 

Castlewellan

These are the dates of this year`s SOMA music festival in beautiful Northern Ireland.

A burning issue

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/05/31/inenglish/1559295075_864104.html

The vile aspects of human relationships are reflected in this recent and  awful news item here in Spain.

Julia has this topic suggested for discussion in our talks tomorrow 5th June at 18:30

U.P. Room 1.1.
Sanse

Our Conversations

 29/5/19

Should Europe follow Japan´s lead?

Paco has sent us  two articles for this week´s discussion.

If you want to come and air your views on our brave new future, write to us at asedow@gmail.com

Sore feet

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190425

Here is a link to Six minute English for you to listen to or read before for our talk on Wednesday.

See you!

 Sala 1 Planta 1
Universidad Popular
San Sebastián De Los Reyes
Wed 22/5/19 at six p.m.

San Isidro

Enjoy la verbena

No doubt about it. There is something very 'chulo' or foxy about this dance typical of Madrid. Definitely worth a visit to the 'verbenas' or fairs to see people  enjoying the San Isidro festivals in Madrid and Alcobendas which are celebrated on 15th May.

For that reason we will not be having an activity in our room . We will we wearing a carnation and dancing a 'chotis' like the one in the video.

Have fun!

Your choice

Tomorrow is Wednesday 8th May 2019

We have had Easter holidays followed by general  elections in Spain, followed by a very long weekend break for the 1st and  2nd May. The latter is a very special holiday in Madrid as it commemorates the bold stance the people of Madrid took in defiance of Napoleon´s speading empire.

Thus we  will be able to  discuss the election results and hear about your  recent mini holidays.

First floor
Universidad Popular
San Sebastián De Los Reyes
18:00- 20:00h

See you there!

International Labour Day 2019

Lily of the valley

May 1st is a public holiday and in many countries around the world, workers march for better labour laws and to uphold labour rights. In Spain too.

Conversation piece

For Shakespeare and Cervantes' birthday we will not be looking at the past but discussing the present and future.

Why are women in certain jobs still asked to wear high heels to work? This scintillating article suggests the reasons are not exactly professional.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/20/dressing-flight-attendants-as-mile-high-barbies-is-just-a-last-blast-of-sexism

Wednesday 24th April 18:30h
Universidad Popular
Primera planta
San Sebastián De Los Reyes

See you on the 24th April!

The Air Industry

April 10th 

Join the discussion April 10th 18:30

Write to asedow@gmail.com

Greetings from New York

Thanks for the photo Mary!

Air Travel

On 3rd April we will talk about the Aeronautic Industry.
Safety, technology and the  need for air transportation .
Low cost companies and possible alternatives.

Focussing specially on safety and sustainability, issues that we need to give some thought to.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/22/18275736/boeing-737-max-plane-crashes-grounded-problems-info-details-explained-reasons

Women in science

We will be discussing the low participation of women in science. Is this due to discrimination?
Also out of over 500 Nobel Prize winners only about fifty women received this prestigious recognition of their work.
Juan has sent us the topic and links and poses some interesting questions.
Join the discussion. March 20th at 18:30p.m.
Write to asedow@gmail.com

Saint Patrick’s Day weekend

To celebrate you can listen to a beautiful tune and see some lovely pictures:

The Chieftains   Morning dew

Watch some good dancing:

Young dancers with Ryan Owen

Find a good bar to watch  the Wales v Ireland rugby match at three p.m. Saturday 16^th March while you enjoy a pint.

If you are lucky, you will find a bar like this:

Sean's bar in Athlone is 1100 years old

‘There’s the unmistakable smell of hops and barley. The lighting that’s not too bright, but warm enough to block out a dark night or indeed morning.’

Listen to these soft lyrics in Gaelic

Song of the Sea

Or Join the Irish community here:

St Patrick´s fiesta in Madrid

Enjoy the tribute to Dolores O Riordan below.

Zombie The Cranberries subtitulada en español

Little vehicles, big decisions

Little vehicles big decisions

How do you feel about sharing the roads and footpaths with small vehicles like those mentioned in this article. It reaches a very interesting conclusion. Thanks for the link Belino.
Join us on Wednesday 13th March for the discussion, same place, same time.

Write to us at asedow@gmail.com