History day? My life on October 17 '06: a sponsored walk & recent trip to Madrid

Hello. I have just tried to find the website that is recording people's experience on this day, for a (British?) social history blog, announced on BBC radio. I forgot to write down the name of this site, so am doing my usual blog instead, putting down what I'm doing today (nothing exciting!) and recording some recent experiences. So far today, I have got up, fed the cats, made tea, read the newspaper - then washed some clothes in our clothes washer, hung some of it in our back garden, cleaned the loo (toilet) and started sorting papers and magazines, glass bottles and cans for the weekly recycling collection. Then I bicycled down to my local town centre, in Twickenham, W. London. I went to have prints, slides and 2 CDs done of photographs from my recent short holiday in Madrid, plus pics. of family members and our 2 black cats. Also while there I called at the greengrocer's and bought a cucumber, vine tomatoes and some beans. I cycled back, ate a cold salad lunch that I made, and am now on my PC. Interesting?? However, there are links to more interesting events.

I notice how untidy my home is, but I cannot be doing housework all the time! I feel slightly sleepy after my lunch (sometimes I give in to this and have a rest). This may be after the long walk I did yesterday afternoon in Richmond Park; it was a delayed sponsored walk for the WWF-UK in aid of the endangered snow leopard (in the Himalayas) which I admire greatly, as I do tigers. Sadly the WWF lost some of its key workers recently in a helicopter crash in the Himalayas; that makes it more poignant and urgent to raise funds for their work. My walk went from the Twickenham side of Richmond Bridge, along the River Thames on the Richmond side, across Petersham Meadows (where large dairy cows graze) and then into the Park at lower level - along the flat, then up the hill to an extensive view over much of this part of S.E. England (a sea of trees), out towards Windsor Castle and the North Downs. I walked across part of the upper section to Richmond Gate, then back down Richmond Hill, past Mick Jagger's house (The Wick), along Terrace Gardens (with more views over the R. Thames below), then past smart little shops, back over the bridge and to the bus stop, then home. I'm just raising money from ourselves and my sister H. I do not have time to canvas many people for this, but do it most years. I used up my slide film, which I had taken to Madrid but had a few left, taking 1 shot of the Bridge and 1 in the Park. I stopped to sip water or nibble, enjoying the late summer or mid-Autumn sunshine and the sweep of grass and large trees in the park.

Today I took my Madrid trip pictures to be developed - I came back 8 days ago but was too busy to deal with it before. (I had now finish my slide film.) That weekend - the first in October, I went with a group of local "carers" - people who have relatives they must care for in various ways - on a tour funded by MIND, the mental health charity. One member organised it; we were provided with a 4-star hotel and flights on Easyjet. We just had to pay for our meals, shopping and excursions. I was not old enough to get into places at half-price or free; the cut-off age in Spain is 65. Once there we were put in our hotel, then had to find our way around - I became responsible for 3 older women who were rather timid and inexperienced at travelling abroad. We 4 were the only "singles" (I did not go with my husband - he rarely travels.) My head ached after getting up at 4 am to catch an early plane, with no sleep till later. I had to lead these ladies to a suitable restaurant (given directions by the hotel), where we managed, hilariously. I had a few words of Spanish I'd written from a phrasebook - the staff spoke broken English, and 2 of my ladies were vegetarian (just to make it more complicated). We found the Toledo crafts/souvenir shop and browsed - I bought a small Spanish fan, some cards and a pair of castanets. Swords, guns and suits of armour on display were remarkable.

Later on, things improved - we all had a short sleep, then went out as a group of 12 in evening. Madrid comes to life then - everyone out on the street. One woman's bag was snatched (with her spectacles in it): the only downside. We stayed on the Paseo del Prado, near the famous Prado art museum, and the ironwork Atocha Station where terrorist bombs killed many people in 2004. No sign of that now... Six of us found a delightful small restaurant, not pricey, where they spoke some English and the menu was wonderful. On our final lunch all 12 of us went there again. In between, ont he next 2 days I got around. I went to the Prado first - there I separated from the 3 older ladies, as we all went at different paces. The Goya paintings - so many of them - were amazing: stark, dramatic, but his earlier ones were lyrical. Also there is much court art by Velazques (now coming to London, so I need not go) and El Greco were stunning: this had much realism and light withing its formality. Some renaissance art too - Titian, Botticelli, a Caravaggio; Dutch and German art... But I could not see it all. I went from there into the Royal Botanical Gardens, looking at the plants in semi-tropical sunshine. A young man tried to pick me up (under a pretext about cameras); I had to shake him off. Good for 63!? I also saw and filmed 2 Madrid cats prowling there: a black one (like ours) and a tabby point Siamese. From there I wandered back along the boulevard and fountains of the Paseo del Prado, and slipped guiltily into a Macdonalds for refreshment (right next to my hotel).

On Day 3, I shepherded the 3 older ladies onto a Tour Bus - we were going to the Royal Palace, then on to old C17th Plaza Mayor, and back. You can do a round tour (with commentary) of historic Madrid for 14.50 euros. Only problem was we could not get upstairs - it was too crowded (I'd hoped to film from there). At the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) we separated again till lunch - I had to pay fully so went on a guided tour, while the other 3 used headsets. The C18th Royal Apartments are sumptuous: a porcelain room, a throne room, marble floors, tapestries, gold clocks, great chandeliers. Can't describe it. There's a huge open courtyard or drill square, with views over the city; next to it is the huge Cathedal of the Almudena. This is gothic but only built in the C19th and finished in C20th. Beautiful stained glass. I noted a side-chapel to the founder of Opus Dei, which features in The Da Vinci Code.

After another meal out and a good continental breakfast, Day 4 - our last day - was free till 6 when we had to leave for the airport. I opted for the big modern art gallery near our hotel, at the Museo Reina Sofia. There is displayed much of the 20th century great art: Picasso, Dali, Miro and others. I explored it alone, and focused on Picasso and his "Guernica". There is a whole gallery room devoted to this vast, stark work and studies for it. I stood looking at it for nearly 10 minutes - it's something that has to be taken in. Many English speaking art students were being taken round by their teachers, reproducing the work or studies in sketchbooks. I also saw several Dalis (I somehow missed "The Great Masturbator"), and works by others eg. Magritte. I ended up buying some art cards in the shop - all I could afford by now. I went outside and filmed the gallery - with its modern glass lifts outside the older C18th palace. Up C/Atocha (street) I filmed some sad little puppies, rabbits and kittens in a petshop window. In the UK we do not often see pets displayed this way. I then rushed back for our last group meal at 'La Trangantua'.

My final tour was of Atocha Station itself. I'd heard there were tropical plants and palms growing inside, like Kew Gardens. It resembles Paddington in London, but it's a brilliant way to use this space (they don't in Paddington!). There's a large pond there, teeming with terrapins or small turtles. Amongst this greenery was a free exhibition on Spanish women's suffrage - how they got the vote, and their role in the Spanish Civil War and under fascism, then recent socialism. I took some free literature: some of it in English. Some key sites I missed - churches, the "flea market" and other monuments. I did not explore the Gran Via; only saw it from a bus. I did not wish to see a bull-fight, but there is an arena in Madrid (Ventas); I saw it from taxi on way back. 2 of our party went to a fight, but were sickened by it.

Today's mail brought me a CD and book set from the BBC to learn Spanish properly - I feel keen enough to try it. It's not a hard language, for one who speaks French and Italian (I studied both). I'll see how it goes. I'd like to revisit Spain now I've tried it. I avoided in in the 1960-70s due to its Fascist system, then forgot about it. For years so many other Brits went there to the Costas: that had put me off.

So that's my historical diary - with digression! I will go to Agape meal at my London church tonight. Tom has just come in from his AA meeting. We will have tea soon: a mug of English tea and a biscuit, watching 2 quiz tV programmes (usually).

That's all! The late summer weather is drawing to a close. Love & peace, Tigey.