The rain in Spain does not stay mainly on the plane

Today it fell mostly on me, and apparently will continue to do so for the rest of the week. I didn't come to Madrid for this weather! Oh well.
I'm sorry folks, no pictures yet (I forgot, also I've only just finished furnishing the room.) I'm in a flat with a guy from Reading also doing the British Council program, but we haven't got Internet until the other two rooms are filled. The last few days have comprised of an Ikea adventure (it really is an all-day trip), nothing but tumbleweed that far out of the city, I shit thee not, and sorting out the deposit and rent and buying other things for the communal areas. Last night I went out with a group of British council people all living in Argüelles/ Moncloa, then ended up joining a huge group of about 60 on an all-night bar crawl. I discovered that clubbing with people I don't know is really no fun at all, and needless to say going to straight bars with people I met a couple hours before is incredibly outside my comfort zone, but these things must be done if I want to make some friends around here. It was very loud and overcrowded and hard to hear myself/ other people, and when we got to the club at half 2 I got ID'd and didn't have ID so just took a taxi home (I'd kinda had enough by that point anywho.) Still I can't be a hermit as much as I'd prefer to, and the good news is I met a nice guy who happened to live on the 2nd floor of my block.
Today I got caught in the middle of this during torrential rain while on the way to my friend's house to use her Internet:

http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2013/09/28/actualidad/1380385253_107089.html

The police cordoned off her entire street and I had to say I lived here/ beg them to let me through. I hope they don't give me gip trying to get home! This country takes their protesting pretty seriously I must say, and no doubt I'll miss a good deal of work/ get stranded a few times what with all the manifestaciones and huelgas that go on.
I didn't think that going clubbing without my girly would be so crappy, nor that I could miss anyone so much. I might even ask her to send some hairs in the post so I can stick them to my clothes so I can pick them out....how I miss picking orange hairs out of my clothes. :( :( :(. I look forward to seeing her soon! But hey, I start work next week and I have a date with some locals for Pagan fun tomorrow! Woohoo.
xxx