A few weeks ago I found this website on a FB page:
http://www.servethecity.es/
And signed up for one of the projects with Jess. The projects are varied and last a day or just a few hours. Given that I work with kids for a living, I didn't sign up for a social one but for a building project. Beliefs, age, race and occupation aren't important, just that you're willing to volunteer a few hours of your time to a good cause. We went to Getafe for a day to help with building work on a community centre for Roma women. We didn't do a hell of a lot but they were grateful for our presence and help and it was a good opportunity to meet new people and do something proactive and useful with an otherwise dull weekend. The link above is for the Madrid section of the scheme, but Serve the City operates in many cities around the world.
The following week was Thanksgiving and though I had two opportunities to partake in Thanksgivingness, alas this year was the first year I didn't due to the darkness and the cold and the hideously early starts for work finally getting the better of me and keeping me in bed almost all week feeling like death warmed up. Not fun.
However I was well in time for Gingy's grand return! We did the pub quiz on Thursday night as usual, and on Friday we went to the lake and the park where Gingy got into her element and we took some stunning pictures. (Hers are better than mine because she has a posh shiny camera.)
Above: A wild photographing Ginger in her natural habitat.
We also went to the Templo de Debod at sunset (which is so awesome it's recommended on Tourist pamphlets) and I came up with these beauties:
This one looks like the Star Series book cover:
This last one was beautiful anyway but ermagherd look at her hair! The photo doesn't do justice to what orange light does to orange hair lol.
We spent an evening at the Gatoteca, Madrid's cat cafe where city types can go cuddle rescue kitties:
We also went out for a nice meal in Chueca, went on Madrid's Teleferico and the Rastro on Sunday. The kids at school all had exams last week so I didn't do a lot, so it was super sad when on Monday Gingy had to go and I was faced with a week of working doubly hard to make up for teacher's marking exhaustion. But hey, only just over a week now til I see her again! Wooo! Excellent stuff.
