The last time Paul was here we got to talking about the HOT MESS that is my website setup. I mean, it’s ridiculous really but, in my defence, when I first started building self-hosted websites I was learning as I went. But at this point anyone looking at my FTP file manager would just shake their head (as Paul did) and say “what the fuck?”. So, as this is actually his work, I asked him if he could help me with, ahem, tidying things up a bit. At first we tried this via WhatsApp but then decided it would be better to wait until he was back in Sevilla. Which is now!

We decided the best time would be on a Sunday afternoon (yesterday) when things are pretty quiet around here and, as it’s also back up to 42º, nobody really wants to be outside. To make it feel less like work for Paul I said that after we finished we could get some takeaway pizzas and he could help me with one or two of these lovely red wines from Mallorca and Valencia that have been hanging around for a couple of years. I’m more a white wine girl, so having company – the first time having someone over who wasn’t a handyman since 2019! – seemed a good time to crack these babies open.

Paul came over about half-past noon and got set up at the big office table. He was also respectful of my “no shoes inside” rule and even wore his happy rainbow socks. We didn’t mask but I had the hepa going full blast during the visit. And then we got to work. In the end it took just over 2.5 hours to take the hot mess and turn it into a manageable dishevelment. I still have a couple of things to sort out with my web hosting company but it was such a relief to get rid of so much crap that had accumulated over the years.

By now it was time to eat! Peter went out to pick up a variety of pizzas from Alimentari e Diversi (five minutes away). I told Paul that the plan was to over order and have a kind of pizza buffet with a few other snacks and salads on the side and then divide up the leftovers. And of course, the red wine.

What can I say? LUNCH FINISHED AT 10 PM! Don’t ask. We took our time (obviously) and I used the air fryer to reheat the pizza slices as we went. Can I tell you? The BEST way to reheat a pizza slice, takes less than two minutes and the crust goes straight back to being light and crispy, the toppings warmed through.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday. First of all getting a serious work issue taken care of (even Paul said it gave him a sense of accomplishment) and then a six-hour lunch. In the end we had two of the reds. Midway Peter had to go have a snooze on the sofa. And although I’m not a dessert person I had picked up some vanilla bean ice cream to serve with cream sherry over top. Then there was amontillado and pistachios. And all the while just so much fun chatting non-stop. Later Paul took home half a pizza and calzone and we were left with two half pizzas. It really was a perfect Sunday. Thanks Pablo!