The last four weeks have been incredibly busy, with lots going on.
It all started with the death of a Pope and ended on my 75th birthday.
Let's take a look.
[Image courtesy of Posters]
Monday, April 21st - Pope Francis dies aged 88
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936, died on 21 April 2025. Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until his death. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
[Image courtesy of ABC News]
Pope Francis - Wikipedia
Monday, April 28th - El gran apagon
The longest and most widespread power cut in living memory hit Spain, Portugal and parts of France.
Read more here:
Thursday, May 1st - Labour Day / May Day
Celebrated throughout the Western world. Often a public holiday.
For more on this, click here:
Sunday, May 4th - My dad's birthday
John Albert Whitelock would have been 108 today. Sadly he left us 40 years ago aged 68 after suffering a fatal heart attack.
Here is more:
Monday, May 5th - Early May Bank Holiday (UK)
This is in effect May Day. The UK prefers to have its public holidays on a Monday.
Wednesday, May 7th - Papal conclave begins / India - Pakistan conflict / US - UK trade deal / Arsenal out of Champions League
What a news day!
133 cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope.
Hostilities commence between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir territory.
A US-UK trade deal on tariffs is announced by Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer.
Arsenal crash out of the Champions League after defeat by Paris Saint Germain in the semi-finals.
Thursday, May 8th - 80th anniversary of VE Day
In 1945, this was the day when the German surrender was announced, after six years of fighting during World War II.
Commemorated widely throughout the West.
Thursday, May 8th - New pope chosen
In the early evening, following the fourth vote, white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, in Rome, signifying that the world's 1.406 billion Roman Catholics had a new pope, the 69-year-old American Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome.
"Habemos papam!" - Leo XIV
Friday, May 9th - International Day of Europe
75 years old, this day was inaugurated in 1950
Saturday, May 10th - The "101"
Sunday, May 11th - Homage to and Romeria
Thursday, May 15th - Off to Germany
Saturday, May 17th - Christening of grand-daughter Lotta in Talheim (Baden-Wuerrtemberg)
Sunday, May 18th - My 75th birthday
Monday, May 19th - Return to Spain