A picture paints a thousand words

¡Hasta la vista!

Yesterday we enjoyed an end of school year drink together, those of us who could make it. We will renew our activities the last week in September. Wishing everybody safe and happy holidays in the company of Nature, friends and family.

Una tertulia

The Spanish love a tertulia, a good conversation. At the same time they can be very passionate about their views on football and politics so to have a good conversation the silent rule is to avoid these topics which in this day and age is not easy. Well, in any day and age. Still we try. We hold the conversation in English, a good strategy to bring people together from different walks of life. Using the English language to express opinions helps harness a natural tendency to be over dogmatic. Each of us brings our own repertoire of travel tales and humorous anecdotes as well as interesting proposals for discussion. I have always shared Washington Irving's view that you will find the greatest nobility in the ordinary people of Spain. See this for yourself. Come and enjoy our 'tertulia' on Wednesday. asedow@gmail.com

There are two sides to every story

 Shi Huangdi. The name of the Chinese Emperor who ordered history books to be burnt. He wanted history to begin with himself.

‘El Infinito En Un Junco’ has many interesting facts. This book recommendation came up in our talks  yesterday.

Papyrus plant Egypt

We touch on many subjects.

Yesterday we began by talking about the terrible plight of the people in Palestine and ended up talking about Peruvian oral tradition.

We had the same oral tradition in Ireland. Academics have been responsible for rescuing languages that were in danger of extinction, places where they did not use the written word to pass down folk memory.

Lady Jane Wilde, the mother of Oscar, was a Gaelic speaker. She helped collect the memory of the Irish people in her written publications and this goodness of spirit on her part no doubt contributed to her son’s humanity, empathy and storytelling ability.

Our conversations weave in and out effortlessly, making connections.

To join us, write to asedow@gmail.com

The connection between morals and art

 https://www.vqronline.org/essay/moral-prerogative-oscar-wilde-look-fairy-tales

We love this essay, The Moral Perogative In Oscar Wilde: A Look At The Fairy Tales by John Allen Quintus, which was published in 1977 in Virginia Quarterly Review and we really appreciate the easy access to the wonderful Virginia University publication.

We hope you enjoy it too.

Wilde Flowers

 April showers bring May flowers.

En abril aguas mil.

The beauty and variety of the wild flowers in San Sebastián De Los Reyes and at this time of year in Spain together with the scent of the lovely hawthorn, all induce me to make the pun  (yet again!) while paying  tribute to Oscar  Wilde by calling them Wilde flowers. I am sure he would not mind.

We can publish your pics too!

Some shamrock for St Patrick's Day

 

Arts and Crafts

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to listen to Luis expound upon William Morris, a person he admires greatly.

In fact not long ago Luis was our guide in the wonderful exhibition on William Morris in Fundación Juan March here in Madrid.

Tomorrow in our talks he will tell us about the Art of book binding too.

Wednesday 13th March 2024

Universidad Popular

San Sebastián De Los Reyes

18:30h

See you there!

"If I were asked to say what is at once the most important production of Art and the thing most to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful house; and if I were further asked to name the production next in importance to be longed for; I should answer; A beautiful book."

William Morris (1834 - 1896)

Morris is mentioned in this clever dialogue between Cyril and Vivian. 'Why even Morrris's poorest workman could make you a more comfortable seat than the whole of nature can.' The Decay of Lying By Oscar Wilde

 

Ver un Mundo en un Grano de Arena

y un Cielo en una Flor Silvestre;

tener el Infinito en la palma de tu mano

y la Eternidad en una hora.

Un Petirrojo en una Jaula

pone furioso a todo el Cielo

 

Augurios de Inocencia

https://web.seducoahuila.gob.mx/biblioweb/upload/AUGURIOS.pdf 

 William Blake 1757 – 1827 was a poet, a painter and a visionary. 

At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a master engraver.

At the age of twenty one he earned his living as an engraver.

Booksellers employed him to engrave illustrations for publications such as Don Quixote.

Don Quixote: ‘I fight against three giants: fear, injustice and ignorance.’

Blake used the written word to highlight beauty, humanity and life.

Cervantes in the seventeenth century, Blake in the eighteenth century, Oscar Wilde in the nineteenth century. A treasure trove of Literature.

Auguries of innocence by William Blake

 To see A World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour

A Robin Red breast in a Cage

Puts all Heaven in a Rage

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43650/auguries-of-innocence

 

A Touching Christmas Gift

A remarkable couple, Graham and Susana decided to  retire in San Sebastian De Los Reyes. They spread good cheer wherever they went and not just during the season of good cheer that is Christmas, but all year round.

Graham came to one of our gatherings quite recently. He was not quite sure what to expect of us, but he introduced himself to the group. Soon the conversation flowed and he regaled us with lots of stories. 

He had been  looking forward to discussing Oscar Wilde as his students of English had performed The Importance Of Being Earnest in Nebrija University in the Nineties and it was warmly received. We did, in fact, start reading Wilde's clever play the following week.

Graham met Susana in Sweden where both worked as professors of Hispanic studies. Graham, an English gentleman and Susana, an extrovert Argentinian lady from  Mendoza, the land of  sunshine and good wine got to know one another at the meetings of mother language teachers in Sweden. 

Here in San Sebasián De los Reyes they  joined local cultural associations including the French workshops of la Universidad Popular.

Graham wrote a beautiful short story that recounted his commitment to Spain and its democracy. He entered it in the Certamen de Relato Corto Sobre Memoria Histórica Democrática where he won the Accésit award.

Sadly, Graham passed away on the 7th October this year at the age of 87.

Susana, who reads in Spanish, Swedish and French offered to donate his superb collection of books in English to this association.

We are tremendously happy and proud to accept her generous offer and to be able to take care of and share them with you, our good friends.