Finally this hellish week has ended. And rather nicely, as it turns out. Yesterday the awful cold-flu that kept me in bed most of the week was suddenly more cold than flu, which included the apprearance of a brand new scratchy throat and cough. But at least I could stay vertical for more than a couple of hours and, basically, didn’t feel so bloody crap. Even so, when my friends Mark and Jo (that’s them on the left) said they were going to be in Sevilla today and wanted to invite me for lunch to celebrate their 100th trip to Spain, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to make it because I also had a tapas tour booked for tonight. I mean, I thought I might manage one or the other, but not both. And although Peter was happy to step in and help out I really don’t like “changing the guide” on my clients last minute. But then I heard from Sharon (one of tonight’s group of three) saying they’d be in town late this afternoon and were looking forward to meeting either me or Peter at 8.00. Huh?

I had forgotten that they’d made their booking when I was planning a trip to Barcelona and I’d told them at the time that because of this I couldn’t say if they’d be with me or Peter. And that was okey-dokey with them! What a relief. So I wrote back and explained that while my trip to Barcelona had been postponed I was just getting over a very bad flu and they would be going out with Peter after all. And then I decided to go and meet Mark and Jo for lunch! Though that almost didn’t happen because I started to “crash” again around noon and even the thought of getting dressed felt overwhelming. But M & J were already on their way to Sevilla by then and incommunicado so I was resigned to go, especially because I had asked them to change their original choice of tapas bar to one closer to my home.

At 3 o’clock we met at the fabulous Taberna El Paduro, which was heaving, but after a short wait we got a comfy spot at the end of the bar. And we had a great time. I realised that I hadn’t been out of the house in over four days and hadn’t actually walked further than from room to room, so it was nice to stretch my legs. But talking was VERY difficult because it kept setting off massive hacking coughing jags, which made it clear that I could never have done the tapas tour, since I obviously need to be able to talk. A lot. So it all turned out for the best. The tour booking arrangements, missing M & J so I couldn’t cancel lunch, getting out of the house, and then coming home again. Now I’ve got the heat blasting and am all cosy here with the cats while Peter is out doing the tour. Still with the coughing jags – so bad at times it feels like I’m going to hack up a lung – but I’m hoping that will ease off by tomorrow. And after that… a fresh new week!