NST July 2024: A July jaunt around Madrid

Shrewbie

weenancyinAmerica said:

My sister and her boyfriend really like Madrid. They also went over to Barcelona and had a great time there. He is from Mexico City but still occasionally had trouble with the word variations people used. Most people thought he was French instead until he started talking to them.

Yes! It really can be quite different. I learned basic Spanish in Colombia and when I had teachers later on in Spain they just couldn't resist correcting me to their version.


@lcc86 what a lovely thing to do for the little wood pigeon. Sad it didn't make it but at least you tried. Exciting that you get to hand in your notice soon!!

Shrewbie

Tomorrow we’ll be visiting Casa de Campo, the “lungs” of Madrid- a huge oak woodland in the west, beyond the river. Casa de campo is five times the size of central park and formed part of the grounds for the Royal Palace before it was opened to the public. During the civil war siege of Madrid from 1936-39 the front lines ran through it. Nowadays you can go on a cable car over it, do boating activities on the artificial lake or enjoy the woodland. To its eastern border you can visit the “Temple of Debod”, an Egyptian temple that was donated by Egypt to Spain in 1968 for assisting it with a UNESCO activity to relocate monuments to make way for building the Aswan Dam. Spain have been criticised in the past for not protecting the temple from the elements and they are now making moves to do so. In this picture you can see the “moat” around the temple that used to be full of water but they removed it to protect the stone. (can you see the pic?? I can't view it on my laptop)

 

lcc86

@Shrewbie you're doing an excellent job of making me want to visit Madrid!

It's been a very quiet weekend. I'm still suffering with long-term headaches so no gym for me. Yesterday I had a small spend as had to change a wheel over on my car, it only cost £20 and will come from my car savings pot. I cleaned my aquariums, sorted some parcels out that I need to send and did some batch cooking. I also fell asleep on the sofa for rather a long time!

Today has also been quiet, I went to see my share horse first thing and sat in his field with a coffee while the sun came out. Beautiful start to the day being surrounded by curious ponies who wanted to check out what was in my coffee cup! Spent some time with him but didn't ride. Came home, sorted a new energy tariff as ours is ending soon and did a bit more life admin. Fell asleep on the sofa again. I'll do some yoga in a bit but that's as much exercise as I'll be getting!

Was meant to be going to our local pub to watch the footie but OH has ditched me for his mates. A little annoyed as I was looking forward to it but at least it'll save me money. Tomorrow will also be an early start anyway as I have to drive to Bristol for work so it may be for the best.

Thrifty_Taylor

Just caught up on all your posts, you are a busy lot!

Congratulations on the clear mammogram, @Toni'sfriend. Happy birthday to your OH & to @mothernerd's GD. Happy holidays to all travellers.

Not had many NSD's with being away. Had a lovely time catching up with family & friends, & introducing DS3 to everyone. He enjoyed his first ever train ride. Lots of sightseeing, a couple of tattoos & an eventful trip north, including cancelled trains, people sitting in our reserved seats & a fire alarm in the middle of the night, resulting in us standing barefoot in our nightwear for over an hour!!

Grateful for seeing family (especially the ones fighting illness & quite weak), the kindness of strangers - an old lady gave mum her socks when we were outside the hotel as saw how cold she was, being back home again despite it looking like a bomb had landed, chats & hugs with DS1&2 this morning

thriftylass

Good morning,

spent the weekend gardening and at a fruit farm, the cherries were picked clean but got loads of strawberries (people just seem to walk down the main aisles and for get the outside ones, so there were loads). Didn't pick any other fruit as I have them in the garden. So Sunday was a spend day as as Sat for the weekly shop. Today will be an NSD.  

EDIT: Just submitted my pay grade review in work (it was missed that I should have been moved to higher grade nearly 3 years ago and I wasn't aware of that either, got this job on secondment and by accident found out last October from my boss, then had to wait for new funding first and some other issues) and hope it comes into effect soon. I don't have much hope of it being backdated too but finally getting it would be great.

lcc86

Good luck with the pay review @thriftylass, if you don't ask you don't get!

Today I had a very early start for work as had to drive to Bristol. I did buy lunch and a coffee which is my routine when I go down there, so a planned-for spend there. 

I got an insurance payout for my last vet bill so paid that straight off the credit card. On the way home from Bristol my engine management light came on, I managed to get to my local garage who have diagnosed the fault and ordered the part. The money gods giveth and the money gods taketh at the moment!

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#3

Forgot to say yesterday that I'd bumped into the pupil I'd previously supported for 4 years. Gave them a big hug, they seemed pleased to see me too 😃

Up at a decent time, had planned to do some yoga, but forgot there was a door propped up in our tiny living room, so no space! 🤣 It is now set up ready for painting & the completed door (well it just needs the handle putting on) is now on my bedroom. So that's 2 out of 4 done.

Packaged up an eboy sale, then walked to the post office, delivering a sympathy card en route. Quickly took DS3 ti catch a bus, then cleaned the living room windows. Had a leisurely lunch & read my book, then did more cleaning. An old lady brought us some gooseberries, so prepped them for the freezer & did the ironing. 

Watched TV with DS1, caught up on logging all my spends from when I was away last week, then hoovered the carpet using the nozzle on the hoover. Certainly worked up a sweat!

Grateful for a tidier room, free fruit, being invited back on to a survey again (where I get free stamps) at long last!

DrCarrie

Hello, 

My word, Missing in action much? I was in London for work last and i just seemed to  slip off, no idea about NSD's. 

Have been doing lots of yoga 5 days out of 7, mix of restorative and Ashtanga self practice. 

Had a good week or so. A friend came from London for the evening, gutter man came to tell me that all gutters needed replacing, and asked him of he knew a good roofer!

Tomato plants ar looking quite good so are some of the other plants, this weather though! Global warming alerts!


Grateful for, 
- a break in the rain while my friend was here. 
- my cleaner and the house being more clean and tidy
- a shift in my work responsibilities 
 

thriftylass

Hello,

another NSD here (number 8 I think). My colleague brought in some free food (they go away tomorrow) and the community fridge also had loads of garden surplus veggies. Got loads of tomatoes and baby courgettes etc. 

Shrewbie

lcc86 said:

Today has also been quiet, I went to see my share horse first thing and sat in his field with a coffee while the sun came out. Beautiful start to the day being surrounded by curious ponies who wanted to check out what was in my coffee cup! 

That sounds lovely. 

Mum and I walked to Beatrix Potter's house today. It was just like I had imagined it as a kid. We have walked a fair few miles today and yesterday. It's my birthday today so have had a cream tea as a treat and looking forward to a curry and glass of red wine tonight. This morning Mum presented me with a needle-felted version of her border collie, handmade by a friend. It is very sweet and even has her "naughty" spots! 

Grateful for a warm day, for lake swimming and seeing new places and spending time with family.