Category Archives: books

african getaway

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in books, cats, friends

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Shortly after Azar died there was a knock on the door and a delivery man handed me a package from Amazon. This isn’t a particularly unusual occurrence here at casa az, except that in this instance I hadn’t actually ordered anything from Amazon. Turned out it was a prezzy from the lovely Deb. She’d seen this book on my wish list and sent it along, saying how reading can sometimes be a good escape from life, and that she hoped the book would help.

And well, I only opened it today! I suddenly found myself with an hour to kill before a tapas tour and was good and tired of sitting in front of the computer. And then I remembered my book! I have to say the whole process was wonderful. Opening a fresh new book (when was the last time I did that?) and turning to Page One. And then laughing out loud before I even got halfway down the page – good ol’ Bill Bryson. I hope this means I am going to go back to reading Real Books again. I remember when I used to read a book a week…

Thanks again Deb. It was a lovely gesture and a perfect gift.

supper club

30 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in books, cooking, food & drink, friends

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I blame my iPhone. Used to be that I would polish off at least a book a week, but ever since I got Pippin that number has dwindled to an embarrassing handful a year (!). Which is why it’s taken me a couple of weeks to get around to enjoying Kerstin Rodger’s Supper Club.

You may recall that Kerstin (aka @MsMarmitelover) visited Sevilla awhile back and was my houseguest for a fun & food filled weekend. Well, she also very generously risked going over her RyanAir baggage weight allowance and brought me a copy her fabulous book Supper Club – my own signed copy!

And it is truly a delightful read.

Sandwiched between an extremely useful step-by-step section on how to start up your own underground restaurant and a fun collection of themed dinner ideas are lots and lots of scrumptious recipes with beautiful photos. Being pretty much vegetarian (the occasional bit of fish is becoming even more occasional) Kerstin invited other “secret supper” chefs to share their favourite meat dishes. It’s a book full of heart and humour and I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes. I am also now extremely envious of all those people on Twitter talking about what an amazing time they had at this or that Supper Club evening…

For more foodie fabulousness check out Kerstin’s blogs:
The English Can Cook
The English Can Eat

Supper Club by Kerstin Rodgers

gifts!

05 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in birthdays, books, cartoons, cats, christmas, films, food & drink, friends, video

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This year Peter and I didn’t “do” gifts, preferring to go out for a couple of nice meals during Christmas week instead, and then go to Málaga earlier this week to celebrate my upcoming 55th birthday.  But I also got some lovely surprise prezzies from friends… a third Binky book to add to my collection, two DVDs from my Amazon wishlist and a box of Christmas goodies and cat toys (the cosmic catnip banana is a hit!) from Sweden.

Tonight is the Cabalgata, a parade featuring the Three Kings and hoards of shrieking children, which I will try to avoid. But I still want to see the “mapping” Christmas light show on in the Plaza San Francisco (last night tonight). If I manage to get there I’ll take a video of it. But first some grocery shopping as it’s a bank holiday tomorrow and have been away all week. Hope I don’t get swept up in the crowds!

What did you get for Christmas?

binky

15 Sunday May 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, books, cats, friends

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Another surprise package!

Extra surprising as it was apparently “missent to India” from the UK before finally arriving in Sevilla – how the UK postal service screwed that one up is a mystery. Anyhow, I picked the package up yesterday about three weeks after it was sent, tore it open straight away and was delighted to find these charming and funny Binky the Space Cat books by Ashley Spires. So fun!

Thank you Steve & Sara (and Murphy & Foley)!