Monthly Archives: February 2011

pizza

08 Tuesday Feb 2011

Posted by in change, food & drink, home

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

,

I am about to eat my fifth pizza in the the past two weeks…

I think I usually eat pizza about once ever six months or so, but this moving biz just leaves things like time and kitchen availability so unpredictable that sending Nog out for a pizza for us to share seems like the quickest and most economical way for us to have something resembling a hot meal. This also includes the “pre-moving” period after the kitchen had been packed up and we were tired of sandwiches (though I guess a pizza really is just a fancier version of cheese on toast).

I thought our pizza days were behind us as we now have a fairly well-stocked fridge and most of the kitchen cupboards have been cleaned and organised. In fact, I made a lovely carbonara for lunch yesterday. But then the handyman came back today to do a few jobs, which meant me hobbling off to the hardware store to get this & that (Nog was out teaching), which took up most of the morning, and then there were some minor kitchen repairs that left that room unusable for another couple of hours… so more pizza.

But I have to say that the place is really coming together. It’s great that the landlords have sent the handyman over to make sure everything is in good working order. Apparently he has to come back tomorrow to take care of a few other things, and then we’ll be pretty much set up and it will just be a matter of UNPACKING.

feline design

07 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

, ,


It’s tempting…

Came across this today when I should have been working. The reason it would be ideal is because my new bathroom is eensy, almost an afterthought fit in under the stairs, and this would make it possible to have the cat box somewhere else. Though I’ve never tried enclosed cat boxes – I kind of think it would be unpleasant for the cat if the sand is anything less than pristine – and anyhow, it’s a bit silly. But the bathroom really needs some help.

Which room are you least happy with in your home?

la alfalfa

06 Sunday Feb 2011

Posted by in home, sevilla, spain

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

,


[click to enlarge]

Welcome to my new neighbourhood!

Took a few snaps yesterday as I hobbled around on my crutches. This barrio is known as “La Alfalfa” because it has the Plaza Alfalfa at its centre, which used to be where they sold animal feed. Many of the streets in the area are named after old jobs that no longer exist, presumably where the workshops were located. I love that my street is named after the people who used to separate the wheat from the chaff … seems like a wonderful metaphor for my new life here.

You can see that the whole style here is different from the Barrio Santa Cruz. More homey, no tourists or souvenir shops. In fact, it’s full of wonderful – and useful! – shops, like bakeries, supermarkets (3 just off the plaza, one with a fab fish section), a gourmet butcher, florist, “euro shop”, convenience store, pharmacy, fruit & veg shop, a place that makes churros & crisps, and lots of little boutiques. There are also scores of tapas bars, and my gym is just up the street. The Plaza itself – about a two-minute walk from home – is always bustling and was recently pedestrianised, making it a pleasant place to sit out in the sun and enjoy a beer and a tapa.

I’m very pleased with the new barrio. It feels very comfortable and more “authentic” to where I was before. And I can still see the top of the Giralda tower when I look out my bedroom balcony…