Inside the Core - March 2025
March has been a whirlwind of travel, celebrations, and - to be honest - far too much rain in Spain. But despite the constant downpours, it’s been a month full of incredible moments, great food, and reconnecting with people I’ve missed for years.
February usually means one thing in Spain – Carnaval! It’s usually a riot of colour, music, and parades filling the streets with joy. This year, however, the biggest parade in Toledo was cancelled due to relentless rain, as well as the Burial of the Sardine, which I’ve written about in my blog before, on Ash Wednesday. It was a bit of a disappointment, but let’s face it, marching in a torrential downpour isn’t much fun for anyone. Still, the spirit of Carnaval lived on in smaller gatherings, kids scurrying around town in fun costumes, and alternative (mainly indoor) festivities - just with a lot more umbrellas involved.
Early in the month, we celebrated at my husband’s uncle’s 80th birthday at a surprise party his daughters had organised. It was one of those wonderful family moments where you see genuine joy (and complete shock!) on someone’s face. A reminder that sometimes the best celebrations are the ones you don’t see coming.
Then came my month of travel, where for once, the weather was actually better in the UK than in Spain! First stop: Leeds for the SRP Source Security Course. A fantastic, informative event that also happened to be conveniently close to my parents' place, meaning I got to sneak in a visit home. Learning about security threats and regulations might not sound glamorous, but it was really engaging, and I left feeling like I’d really expanded my knowledge in an important area as well as meeting some really interesting people with really interesting stories, who I’ll definitely be trying to persuade to present these stories at next year’s annual conference.
From Leeds, it was back to Madrid for a Peter Hook concert. Getting to see a little bit of Salford in the heart of Madrid was a treat. The venue was fab, the energy was electric, the bass was loud, and it was one of those gigs where you leave feeling completely exhilarated.
Adding to the excitement, some good friends from Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, were randomly visiting Madrid as part of their trip back to Europe. We had a great time catching up, exploring the city, and, in a moment of sheer randomness, visiting the Madrid waxworks as an excuse to escape the rain for a short while. It’s safe to say it was one of the most unintentionally hilarious experiences of the month - some of those figures look nothing like the people they’re meant to be!
Next stop: London for the SRP 302nd Council Meeting where we sadly, but gratefully, said goodbye to Mike Lockyer who stepped down as Trustee and to Peter Marsden who has been a regular attendee as the RPC Licensor representative…there was chocolate involved to show our appreciation! Since I already had to be there in London, my husband and I decided to make the most of it and stay a few extra days. Our main mission? Eat as much Indonesian/spicy food as possible to top our chilli tolerance levels back up. And we succeeded. From rich, comforting rendang to spicy sambal delights, we indulged in everything we could find.
The weekend then saw us back in Leeds to celebrate my mum’s birthday, which was lovely. Then, off to Manchester to meet up with friends, including my Sarawakian friends again who were now in Manchester, for a classic roast dinner. It’s something we all miss terribly in Spain and Malaysia, so it felt like a true homecoming meal.
Then back to London once more, this time for something truly special - a Jordi Savall concert at the Barbican. Ibn Battuta: The Traveller of Time was an absolutely mesmerising experience, a blend of history and music that transported us across time and continents. It was one of those performances where you forget everything else and just listen.
From there, it was back to Manchester for an iftar (evening meal to break the fast of Ramadan) at a friend’s house. This was one of the most meaningful moments of the month for me. I hadn’t seen some of these friends since before 2019 because of COVID and then moving to Spain, so being surrounded by familiar faces, sharing a meal, and experiencing a deep sense of spiritual sisterhood again was truly special. Sometimes, it’s not just about the food (which was, as always, absolutely delicious) - it’s about who you share it with.
Returning to Spain, I was greeted by…even more rain. The country has been on high alert after the devastating flooding in the Valencia region last year, and the river in Toledo is higher than I’ve ever seen it. It’s both impressive and slightly unsettling to watch the water levels creeping up.
Despite the rain, last week brought another moment of celebration - Persian New Year, the first day of spring, on March 20th, which I always like to celebrate. True to this month’s theme, it rained. But finally, on Sunday, the skies cleared, and taking advantage of that glimpse of sun we took a walk to see the river in all its dramatic, swollen beauty, and for now…it’s staying relatively dry.
After such a packed March, I’m looking forward to a slightly quieter April. But knowing me, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of unexpected adventures along the way...there’s another big birthday coming up!
Until next time!
Sarah