English in Madrid

  Graham: What do you think of Sol? Do you like the reforms changes they have made to the Square? I pass through Sol more often than I used to. It's unusual to see it not looking like a building site . I don't understand how it takes so long to make changes that you hardly notice . The only ones who benefit are the cronies of mayor. 💰 Helena: I haven't seen it yet...but, in my opinion,  there are many other more urgent needs in the city than   other than this one. Graham: Exactly. It is important to have the emblematic centre of Madrid in decent shape though . I just don't get why they have to continually dig it up .  I wish they wouldn't allow the likes of giant gorillas and Chucky dolls to hang around there either . I know they have to earn a living but it's not as if they are performers who can entertain crowds. Helena: 🤣🤣 Graham: Many other parts of Madrid resemble a building site . What changes over the last few years do you approve...

  Source: You Tube (Eurovision Song Contest)   Key Words: Making your mind up Making your mind up (Bucks Fizz) You gotta speed it up And then you gotta slow it down 'Cause if you believe that our love can hit the top You gotta play around But soon you will find that there comes a time For making your mind up You gotta turn it on And then you gotta put it out You gotta be sure that it's something Everybody's gonna talk about Before you decide that the time's arrived For making your mind up Don't let your indecision Take you from behind Trust your inner vision Don't let others change your mind And now you really gotta burn it up And make another fly by night Get a run for your money and take a chance And it'll turn out right But when you can see how it's gotta be You're making your mind up And try to look as if you don't care less But if you wanna see some more Bending the rules of the game Will let you find the one you're looking for An...

Image created with Chat GPT Feeling nostalgic for summer? How to beat the back-to-work blues The alarm wakes you with a shock, the summer holiday is over and it's time to face that inbox full of unread emails. This time last week, life was very different. You enjoyed late nights, lazy mornings balancing family fun and you time. Even if you enjoy your job, the transition from holiday to work can be hard, particularly in September as the days begin to shorten . Here are some ways of making the transition a little bit easier. Tick off small tasks It can be tempting to launch straight into tackling the hardest task first. But careers coach Sarah Robinson says it's better to " ease back in " by starting with small, manageable tasks and "quick wins". "It's about trying to build momentum, because I think sometimes it can just feel overwhelming when you've got a massive inbox," she says. Counsellor Susan Carr agrees. She says it isn't po...

'If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain': The wit and wisdom of Dolly Parton Dolly Parton, the much-loved US singer-songwriter who has died at the age of 80, was known for her pearls of wisdom and humour as well as her music. She regularly offered her perceptive and witty insights about life, music, fame and equal rights. Here are some of her most memorable quotes from down the years : Philosophy " The way I see it , if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." "I always just thought if you see somebody without a smile, give 'em yours!" "I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else." "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one ." "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." "Storms make trees take deeper roots ." "Sometimes, what would look like to...

Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup Describing a result as a 'victory for football' might seem like a trite cliche - but you won't find many neutrals disagreeing with that description of Spain's win in the 2026 World Cup final. When Ferran Torres slammed in the extra-time winner, and Rodri lifted the trophy high in New Jersey, it is hard to imagine many will have had sympathy for Argentina. Spain triumphed in a battle of endurance, for players and spectators, to beat the Argentines and win their second men's World Cup. On every football metric - and, some would say, morality too - this was the right result. "There is no doubt that the right team won," former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC One. "From start to finish, Spain controlled possession. They were the ones looking to play football, create chances and get in behind. "This is a result for football because of the way that they have played. Spain deserve it....

Image created by Chat GPT UK says Falkland Islands 'definitely ours' after Argentina banner The UK government has said "the World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are ," after Argentina players celebrated their victory over England by waving a banner in support of their country's territorial claim.Speaking after England's 2-1 semi-final defeat in Atlanta, Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer wished both Argentina and Spain "well for the final, especially Spain". Argentina face the prospect of disciplinary action from Fifa. The banner held by some of their players read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine". The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. They remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina, with the two countries waging a brief but bitter war over the territory in 1982....

Venezuela quake survivor pulled out alive after eight days A man has been rescued alive after being trapped for eight days in the rubble of a building that collapsed after twin earthquakes in Venezuela. Emergency workers managed to free Hernán Gil more than 100 hours after they had first located him under 140 tonnes of rubble. A Chilean firefighter had earlier described the rescue operation as "without doubt the most complex and technically difficult which I've had to tackle ". Almost 2,300 people are confirmed to have died in the quakes which hit Venezuela on 24 June, and tens of thousands are still missing. Allan Madrigal, a paramedic with the Costa Rican Red Cross, told journalists at the site that Gil had "emerged just perfect" from the ordeal . Madrigal is the rescuer who heard Gil's faint cries for help emerging from the rubble on Sunday. "It was an emotional moment," he recalled , explaining that at first he had not trusted his own ea...

Source: YouTube (The Telegraph) Key words: Starmer resignation speech Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labour government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country's history turned after years of disappointment and despair . The chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That's what I came into politics for. The journey to that point was not easy. Six years ago, I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt. I was told, time and time again , that my party was finished. That we were consigned to history , that a majority at the general election, let alone a landslide majority , was impossible. But we proved those people wrong because we changed our party. Ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence, and national security. And becoming a party that, once again, stood proudly with , not against, our national flag. The hard work o...