she’s baaaack!

13 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in friends, sevilla

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Remember Martha? We first met in November 2014 when she came out on a tapas tour and, well, she just keeps coming back! In fact, she has rented a lovely apartment in barrio Santa Cruz which will become her “second home” over the next year. I had gone over to check the place over before she signed the lease and (thank god!) she loves it. Her long-term plan is to eventually retire here, so she wants to spend as much time in Sevilla over the next year to get a real feel of the place, which is made easier because she is able to work remotely.

So we met up yesterday for a short Sunday afternoon tapeo. The first of many to come, I’m sure. It’s great having a new neighbour, even just part time…

new kipling!

11 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by in retail therapy

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In summer I have a two-bag system, mostly because it’s too damn hot to carry a biggish bag over my shoulder. Also, I tend to have a few extra things to carry around, at least when I’m working. So I usually have a small shoulder bag, really just big enough to carry the essentials (house keys, wallet, iphone) and then all the other stuff goes into a bigger handbag.

Before I discovered and became obsessed with, Kiplings, this auxillary bag used to be a brightly coloured summery straw one, then two summers ago I found this green one. Yep, another Kipling.

Anyhow, today while out doing Beer O’clock with Peter the strap on my trusty mini bag (my first ever Kipling) broke off, and so it was time to look for a new one. I’d seen that red one before, which is the right size, but I didn’t like that detail of it turning into a waist bag (bum bag? fanny pack?) as I knew I would never use it. Then came the obvious solution – just cut off those extra straps. Which I did and now I have a flat zippered compartment at the back which is perfect for sliding my summer fan into when I’m not using it. Score! 🙂

san lorenzo 2018

10 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in culture, sevilla, sherry, spain, tapas, tapas bars, weird, wine

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Every year Ramón and Mari Carmen of the Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo host their San Lorenzo day celebration on August 10th, in honour of the patron saint of cooks and chefs, and namesake of both their barrio and bar. The first time I attended this event was five years ago and I’ve gone every year since then.

The martyr San Lorenzo was put to a slow and painful death on top of a large gridiron with live coals beneath it and, the legend concludes that, after enduring the pain for a very long time he made his famous cheerful remark, “I’m well done. Turn me over!”. And so, as always, different varieties of grilled flesh were on offer during the day at the Abacería, along with a typical white wine punch from Huelva called ponche alosnero. We also got to try cured pork tongue and tiny nécora crabs. Good times.