Author Archives: azahar

my clubhouse clubs

15 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by in clubhouse, gastronomy, social media, spain, wine

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my clubhouse clubs

My goodness… I have suddenly gone from being a very reluctant participant on Clubhouse (preferring to lurk and listen) to co-hosting THREE clubs. It all started the other day when the cats woke me up way too early, about 5.30 am. So I had a look at Clubhouse and there were these two guys, and then three @jack.madrid @yaffler @sommelierbrenodefaria, having a chat about fortified wines. I popped into the room, thinking I would just lurk as always, but they started asking me questions and finally I was brought up “on stage” and ended up yakking away about sherry for ages. We finally decided it would be a great idea to have a Club dedicated to fortified wines and, since I was the only one with “club credits” left, it was up to me to get the ball rolling.

Then the next day I was chatting with my friend Gabriella @tenedortours (aka Shawn of the North 😉) and I told her about this new club and said it would also be great to start one about Spanish wines. Gabriella has has lots of experience on Clubhouse already, speaking and moderating on various clubs, so she got the new Spanish Wine Club set up in no time. To compliment it I set up the Spanish Food Club, because you really can’t (or shouldn’t) have one without the other. And so that’s how it all happened.

All three clubs debut this week. I’m nervous AF, but luckily my co-hosts are seasoned Clubhouse pros. Still… eep! 😬

it’s been one year…

14 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, home, sevilla

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A year ago I was away on a research trip to Málaga, visiting wineries for an upcoming article in Decanter Magazine. It was just an over-nighter (March 11-12) and I packed a lot into those two days, arriving back home by train at about 10 pm, then finally getting home (taking the bus from the train station) by about 11pm. A hot shower to “wash the train off me” and then into fresh pjs, I got into bed just feeling happy to be home again.

During those two days travelling around Málaga in the Axarquía, and meeting up with many people, there was lots of kissing and close contact. And it was during this trip that I had what ended up being my LAST HUG… fuck.

Anyhow, the day after I got back, on March 13th, I went out to do some shopping and stopped in at a couple of bars for tapas and heard the first whispers that the bars were about to be shut down, like in Italy… like what? And then the following day, March 14th LOCKDOWN was officially declared. I made a last quick trip to the supermarket that afternoon to stock up on cat food (I always have plenty of toilet paper) and after that the world changed.
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glow

12 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by in casa azahar, home, life stuff

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glow

When I moved into my lovely Casa Azahar there were no light fixtures other that a really ugly fluorescent one in the kitchen (which sadly is still there) and the pot lights in the bathroom (which have since been replaced). In the end it took me a couple of months to replace dangling light bulbs with fixtures I both liked and could afford, and then my landlord sent his handyman Tony Black Hands over to install them. Then this week one of the bulbs in my matching two hallway wall lamps blew. So okay, I went to my local electrical shop La Casa de las Bombillas and got two new bulbs because I wanted to change the halogen ones the lamps came with (that get hot as fuck) to LED ones.

So fine. Mission accomplished. But when I went to bed that night and turned off the lights using the wall switch, well, this was as “off” as the new LED light bulbs got (see photo). Perhaps not quite as bright as it may seem in this photo, more like the glow of a night light. And well, I kind of didn’t mind this because I actually had to buy night lights when I moved in here because my bedroom is interior so it’s way too dark for me. But I wondered if this constant glow thing was safe.

Next day I went back to Casa de las Bombillas and they said they will order a different brand of LED bulbs for me to try, saying they sometimes work differently. But they also assured me that the glow wasn’t dangerous and used next to no current. So now I don’t know what to do. I’m supposed to pick up the new light bulbs mañana but maybe I like having extra night lights? Undecided. Especially as if I pull the cord under the lamp (and not just use the wall switch) that turns everything off. So, options!

I know what you’re thinking. How do I get through the day with such hefty issues to constantly deal with. Well stay tuned guys. At this point, after the whole Thermometer Thang, and now this, I’m not sure Casa de las Bombillas will ever look pleased to see me darken their doorstep in future. But wait till I tell them tomorrow about my LED bedroom ceiling light flashing randomly at all hours (forgot to mention this to them last visit). My pal Pablo has suggested a medium, but I’m hoping C de las B will have a more pragmatic suggestion.