Category Archives: casa azahar

prepping for the HEAT

12 Monday May 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, home, seasons, sevilla, spain, summer

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I can’t live without electric fans. If I had my way (and if they weren’t so ugly) I’d have ceiling fans in every room. Last year I splashed out on this new Rowenta, intending it to replace the old faithful one I’d had for about twenty years, in the end held together by by twist ties and luck, until that luck finally ran out. Originally destined for my bedroom (and I did try it there) it was better suited for the living room, mostly because it didn’t have a timer and I don’t always want or need it going all night. Also it’s more attractive and I see it all day there (unlike in my bedroom).

Out of the two other identical bedroom fans bought years ago, Peter’s had begun sounding like a turbo jet engine, which he dealt with last summer by sleeping on his good ear. So this year he has inherited mine (which is totally fine, so far) and I’ve got this new one. Silent AF! With a timer. It also oscillates all over the damn place, not a feature I’m interested in, so side-to-side mode for me. But you know, with all these electronic features I expect it to conk out long before my old faithful one did, or even before the newer Rowenta (which just has a quaint three-speed dial, nada más).

Now waiting for handyman Luis to come over to do the annual filter cleaning on the AC unit. And then, fingers crossed, all is set for the summer HEAT.

72 hour survival kit

05 Monday May 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla, spain

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Last week’s massive power outage – el gran apagón – made us all take heed of the 72 hour survival kit recommended by the European Commission earlier this year. It seems pretty basic, but I was surprised to see I don’t have everything on it. Have you got something similar at home? Anything missing?

✅ Bottled water (minimum 5 litres per person)  
✅ Easy-to-prepare, non-perishable food  needs update
❌ A battery-powered radio
❓ A flashlight  it’s around here somewhere
✅ A spare cell phone battery  two!
❌ A portable stove or cooker (and bottled gas)  NA
❌ Fuel  NA
✅ Matches
✅ Cash
✅ Medications  usually 1-2 week’s worth
❌ Iodine tablets  what?
❓First aid supplies  some
✅Adhesive tape
✅ A fire extinguisher
✅ Hygiene items 

My additions…
✅ Cat food
✅ Cat sand
❌ Tea candle lanterns (3)  going shopping
❌ A multi-use knife
❌ Extra batteries (for radio & flashlight) need to stock up

I always say that I could probably last for at least two weeks off what is in my pantry, but I should probably rethink that a bit in terms of practical meals. And I always have enough cat food and sand to last for a month! Priorities. But will also get extra water in for them.

The tea candle lanterns… a must have I think. It’s like having night lights and they are cat-proof. And there is no way I would last long in the pitch dark without dying of a panic attack. Also… cute!