Simple Pleasures

1) When you can walk around a city - no parking tickets at the end of the day
2) When the barman gives you an extra plate of tapas - just for the heck of it
3) When you go to the cinema - and can see over the head of the person in front
4) When you drink good coffee- and it's not Starbucks

5) When people who have only just met you treat you like an angel that's fallen from the sky -                         and offer the hand  of friendship

How do you remember your childhood?

Have spent the last couple of days in a conference about Children and Young People at Risk in Spain. An amazing privilege to hear heart felt views of professionals in this sector and get an idea of how they do it Spanish style. There was a strong emphasis on the role of family and education, as well as young people being encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and create their own initiatives. There was also a refreshingly spiritual touch with talk of how love and value is the most important gift we can give a child and even Jesus got a quote in 'whoever welcomes a little child in my name, welcomes me'. We were left with the question 'How do you remember your childhood? And how would you want the children of today to remember theirs?'

A little bit arty

Check out my wares :-) - some interpretations of the Burgos landscape. Ideas for new pictures welcome!

Inspired much

I have been in Spain just over a week now and have had the privilege of having my socks well and truly inspired off by the amazing work of the 'Asociacion Hechos' here in Burgos. Hechos emerged from a movement looking to meet the needs of local youth on a difficult estate in Burgos and now impacts 100s of young people and is a catalyst to other projects globally. In Burgos currently, Hechos has a house for 10 refugee children which seeks to meet their social needs and assist them in education and integration. There are also 2 move on flats for young people progressing into independent living. The Association mentors young people in such a way that, as they grow older, they too take part in the formation of new initiatives - such a the community bank, or the technology and art projects that are just starting. In a couple of weeks, Masar, 20yrs old from Senegal, will be speaking at the TED youth conference in Madrid about his experiences and the projects he is now involved in. What strikes me most about Hechos is that it feels more like a family than an organisation and the immense love and belief invested in the young people is evident in the atmosphere of the place- you can taste the hope. One week with these guys has made me a believer again - 'together we can change the world'. Gracias Hechos! www.hechos.eu

Puente

One of my favorite Spanish institutions is 'hacer puente', literally, 'to make a bridge'. The basic principle is that, if a festival day falls on a day such as Tuesday - e.g. All Saints Day, as was the case yesterday, it is thought prudent not to go back to work on Monday and thus interrupt the flow of the festivities, but rather to 'bridge' the gap with an additional day off. When it comes to fiestas no one knows what they are doing quite like the Spanish! The double bridge is the one to watch out for, this is where both Tuesday and Thursday are festival days and therefore Monday and Wednesday are for grabs for some bridge action, leaving Friday as the only obligatory work day. Sadly, I am told, this could become a dying art in Spain as purse strings are tightened in the light of the current financially crisis.