Done and dusted!

 Brilliant work. Not everyone who helped is in the photo. Not all who wanted to be there could make it.

The old adage 'Many hands make light work' comes to mind.

Update for ASEDOW members

We have been informed that around mid - September we must move out from our classroom at the Universidad Popular due to construction work on the building which will last two years.

We talked  to José Luis, the Director of Culture about our options.

At our last meeting on Wednesday June 24th the present members decided which option they preferred and relayed it for approval.

We also decided that on the following Tuesday we would meet up at twelve to pack our things .

For the moment we don't have a storage place but we hope José Luis will help us find a solution.

That's it for now from Ioana and Biddy.

We will be coming back with new updates when available.

Hope you enjoy your vacations. Have a great summer!

Ideas and beliefs

From the end of mediaeval times with the opening up of the world, the liberation of the mind and the release of business enterprise, a new spirit arose in Europe exemplified in such movements as the Renaissance, the Reformation, the struggle for democracy, the rise of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution.

With these movements there developed a certain tradition which, in spite of hindrances and disagreements or failures, was universally held both by right and left - wing parties however strongly they might fail to agree on the best means of attaining what was felt to be a universal ideal.

The hard core of this tradition involved: belief in reason and the possibility of human progress: the essential sanctity and dignity of human life: tolerance of widely different religious and political views: reliance on popular government and the responsibility of the rulers to the ruled. Freedom of thought and criticism: the necessity of universal education: impartial justice and the rule of law: the desirability of universal peace.

Fascism was the negation of every aspect of this tradition.

PEARS CYCLOPEDIA 89th Edition

Today In Madrid

 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Take the opportunity to see this beautifully cast play today in Madrid.

Directed by Parisa Salashourian

Urban Theatre

Estudio Corazza

Calle Emilio Ferrarri 23

Metro Pueblo Nuevo (Line 7)

Sunday 26 April  12:00h and 17:00h

The hawthorn is in full bloom in San Sebastián De Los Reyes

 

Hope springs eternal

 The title is  from Alexander Pope's  An Essay on Man written in 1733. Here is another extract.

'Two principles in human nature reign;

Self-love, to urge and reason, to restrain;

Nor this is a good, nor that a bad we call,

Each works its end, to move or govern all:

And to their proper operation still,

Ascribe all good; to their improper, ill.'

Maybe March and Mars the god of war go together. So disheartening to remember that the Iraq war was declared on  St Patrick's Day and March 2026 will be remembered too with a heavy heart.

But ¨Hope springs eternal in the  human breast: Man never is, but always To be blest.¨

St Patrick's Day Celebrations in Madrid

 

SEMANA  DE IRLANDA  EN MADRID 2026

Following the commemoration in 2025 of the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Spain, the Bloomsday Society will mark St Patrick’s Day through Literature.

8M

 

LIBRES  E  IGUALES

¡FELIZ  DÍA  DE L A  MUJER1

A woman’s place is …

In the law courts, in Parliament, in schools, and universities, in hospitals, in nursing homes, on a space shuttle, on the factory floor, on construction sites, on the football field, behind the wheel of the bus or  taxi , on the streets demonstrating, on the farm, building bridges, designing clothes, looking after animals, on the computer, in banking, conducting anorchestra, managing firms, making  films, writing, singing,  dancing, in sport and commerce , planting seeds of respect and equality and nurturing them with love  so that they will grow like flowers , unstoppable year after year to make  this world a safe and beautiful place for all humankind.

 

NEWS

 Our association had its general assembly in January.

We are very happy to welcome our new Treasurer, Mayca and our new Secretary, Ioana.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Jesús and Juan who occupied these positions since 2022 for their time and dedication.

Laura, who is doing a magnificent job, will continue as our President.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

It is February already. Buds are beginning to appear.

Beautiful blue skies and almond trees in blossom herald spring and it is hard to remember that it won’t be the first day of spring until March 20th.

Our get togethers are in full swing and we always learn something new, it seems. Every day is a  school day!

Belino has sent us this very informative link for tomorrow’s conversation.

https://youtu.be/hRJNnf-Q7XA?si=QZ3MZvVcdmUqzLMU

 Also Teresa has donated this fascinating book about the impact that Transcendental Meditation had on the generation of The Beatles. A wonderful addition to our collection. 

Join us and have your say.

Av Baunatal 18

First floor

Wednesdays 18:30h

Winter

 When icicles hang by the wall

And Dick the shepherd blows his nail

And Tom bears logs into the hall

And milk comes frozen home in pail,

When blood is nipp'd and ways be foul,

Then nightly sings the staring owl,

Tu- whit;

Tu-who, A merry note,

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

More Shakespeare

An act of kindness goes a long way

International Migrants Day is celebrated  on December 18th. Our association received an invitation to an event held in the Marcelino Camacho Auditorium in San Sebastián De Los Reyes.The small gathering had representatives from four continents and was organised by El CEPI(Centro de Participación e Integración de Inmigrantes)

Local authorities were there to listen to real life testimonies of people who have crossed oceans to start a new life and build families but whose roots are very strong .With patience and perseverance their prospects improved and one lady expressed the feeling we all have, that the Spanish are noble people. El CEPI has been home from home for them.

Introductions were made and smiles shared and we came away with our names written in beautiful Arabic and Chinese script.

Our association extends a welcome too.

 

So This Is Christmas

Today we listened to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s beautiful Christmas song ‘ Happy Xmas (War Is Over)and learned that their son Sean continues to carry the torch for world peace.

The famous couple released their anthem Happy Xma s (War Is Over) in 1971 to the backdrop of the Vietnam War, and as part of their protest against this war which continued until 1975.  Sean Ono Lennon's short film War Is Over! won an Oscar in 2023.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sean-ono-lennon-war-is-over-animated-film-1235474507/

He is promoting a new picture book War Is Over! which aims to reach a younger audience and inspire us all with hope for a better and more peaceful world through empathy and understanding. ‘We hope this will be a topic of conversation among friends and family, ‘Sean said.

Well, this topic was suggested to us by Antonio for our Wednesday get-together on December 10th Human Rights Day and it led to a stimulating discussion

The United Nations General Assembly appointed this as the day of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1950. 

30th November

Today 125 years ago Oscar Wilde took his final breath.

His grave is in Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris with the following lines From ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol.’ 

And alien tears will fill for him

Pity’s long-broken urn,

For his mourners are outcast men

And outcasts always mourn.

The following notes are taken from Collected Poems of Oscar Wilde, Wordsworth Poetry Library with notes by Dr Anne Varty, University of London.

Robert Ross, friend and literary executor worked hard to rehabilitate the reputation of his friend and to bring Wilde’s estate, bankrupt in 1895, back into credit for the benefits of his sons Cyril  born in 1885 and Vyvian born in 1886.

At the age of 28 Wilde lectured in America promoting Patience, an opera by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Wilde is rarely remembered as a poet, this aspect of his work has been eclipsed by his extraordinary life, stories and plays.

‘Requiescat’ ‘May she rest’ was a poem written by Wilde in 1874 in memory of his sister  Isola who died in 1867 shortly before her tenth birthday, when Wilde was twelve.

Tread lightly, she is near

Under the snow, 

Speak gently, she can hear

The daisies grow

This was the only poem by Wilde that Yeats chose to anthologise in his 1895 edition of A Book of Irish Verse.

 To commemorate the passing of Oscar Wilde on November 30th 1900 in Paris we are invited to attend a  well-deserved tribute that allows us to be the ones to doff our hats in respect, figuratively speaking.

The fame he achieved in his lifetime has only grown and his works speak for themselves.

We are very grateful to the Bloomsday Society for this opportunity to hear a selection of readings from the works of this well-loved author, playwright and poet.

Nice contrast

 

                                 

  

Contrast and compare the two pictures.

Conference of the Parties  COP 21 Paris 2015 and COP 30 Belém, Brazil 2025.

Meanwhile Australia and Turkey both want to become the next UN climate host for  COP 31 in 2026.

This invites a lot of discussion. 

Wednesday 12th November 2025 18:30h U.P. Sanse.

The soft hearted Mr Wilde

Yesterday we took out our copies of Collected Works of OscarWilde to read this inspiring children's story by Oscar Wilde. Sammé found a nice cartoon adaptation which we are sharing with you as today is his birthday.

 The Selfish Giant

Both are classics.

How cartoons have changed! This one was made in the '70s.

On another note, here is a dramatic film that has been neglected.This star studded film was made in the 60s and is certainly worth watching. It is quite riveting. And sad inevitably.

The Trials of Oscar Wilde

Ready Steady Go

 

A place to air your views, listen to others, use your Engish and share stories.

We recommence our activities September 24th 2025

Av. Baunatal 18

First floor

Universidad Popular

San  Sebastián De Los Reyes

Metro Baunatal

Wednesdays 18:30 to 20h

Céad míle fáilte romhat.

You are all welcome!

Mercy

 Thou shalt not kill.

In the language of Moses. In the language of Jesus. In the language of the Prophet.

You must put down your weapons.

You must give them no right or reason to kill you.

Native Americans made a collection to send help to Ireland during the famine. That money reached its destination.

Workers in Liverpool sent food aid in a boat to Irish strikers in Dublin. It reached its destination.

The little boats saved the lives of thousands of soldiers at Dunkirk.They reached their destination.

Right now the flotilla is on its way to bring moral support, food and medicine to the people in Gaza.

We want these boats to reach their destination.

Stop the killing. Please.

Extreme weather

 Devastating fires in the countryside of Spain during the summer months have been broadcast throughout the world.

So many heart breaking stories of people helplessly watching the flames engulf their villages. The fire fighters bravely battled against seemingly impossible odds. Everybody watching the sky, waiting for the rain to come and give them some respite.

This follows the deadly  floods in Valencia and Andalusia that took over two hundred lives on October 29th 2024. The country was  beginning to recover from the worst  natural disaster in Spanish history caused by torrential rain and other factors that will be looked into and hopefully dealt with efficiently.

You hardly have time to recover from one scenario when another comes along. 

Our most sincere thanks to the people on the frontline and all the emergency services. 

Where would we be without you?

Pictures From Rural Spain

 Quiet villages with pleasant surroundings.Maybe only six families in the summer. Belino shared with us these idyllic pictures of his stay in Palencia.

The Pesuerga river

 

A view of the Aguilar de Campo reservoir from above.

And as he says, far from the madding crowd.