Glenbrook House Number 9 – the rose window.

Whilst Sue and I were away in Europe, there was significant progress on our house in Glenbrook.

We returned to find that the round window above our garage – at the front of the utility room, had been largely finished, with the stonework around it done.

It looks magnificent.Small 47 Park Street 25th June 03

As the house progresses, it becomes ever-more impressive.  The round window at the front is going to be especially impressive, I believe.

I hadn’t realised that this was going to be done, so it was a very pleasant surprise.

Small 47 Park Street 19th June 08The stonemason has done a wonderful job.

 

Madrid – the Sue and David impressions

Mark and John have had their say(s), and so must we.

Madrid is seriously impressive: a modern city with excellent transport (both within the city and to nearby locations also), yet with wonderful historic buildings and outstanding art galleries and museums.  Of the latter, neither of my brothers mentioned the Museum of Archaeology [Yes I did! Read the first of my three Madrid blogs again – M], yet to my mind this was a standout – very good displays and interactive pieces (the first time I have used a “Virtual Reality” headset for instance), with excellent video presentations – in English or Spanish.Refugees welcomeYet look at the above – the sign hung on the town hall.  One of the most impressive features is the tolerance.  For what was a left-behind European country under a repressive (Franco) regime, Spain has come a long way, and puts others (e.g. England) to shame.  Gay couples are evident and open.  Catholicism may be mainstream, but Islam is commonplace, Judaism well established and accepted, and one of the buildings we visited was a synagogue constructed by islam builders during a period of Catholic monarchy.

Drinking Manzanilla sherryFor the two of us the major joy of the holiday was spending time with friends.

Here we are: left-to-right are David, Amaryllis, John, Mark, David, Pauline, Sue and David.

The scene is in a restaurant, with us all drinking Manzanilla sherry.  It was an excellent meal, as many were in Madrid.

I hope that this proves to be the first of many such holidays …..