Category Archives: change

brand new walking tours!

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in change, sevilla, spain, summer, work

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So okay, this came about yesterday while wondering how the heckity Nog was going to not just get through the summer, but also get by in general, teaching English classes here.

For the past year or so he hasn’t been doing well in that department and so, instead of trying to flog that tired old horse (I gave up trying to make a living teaching after getting off last chemo two years ago) I came up with this brilliant idea – private walking tours!

And very special tours, where Nog would take people to unusual and “not on the tourist map” places, perhaps throw in a coffee break, and also give advice on other great places to visit, fab tapas bars and other stuff people want to know. I think it’s going to be a winner.

Of course he is a bit nervous, but in fact he knows more about the history of Sevilla than I do, and I know he loves teaching and sharing knowledge, so I really think this is going to be up his street.  And now to get busy promoting it – wish him luck!

Sevilla Walking Tours

progress!

22 Sunday May 2011

Posted by in cats, change, friends

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This gorgeous darling boy has certainly been getting a lot of extra attention these days. First Thomas the cat whisperer worked his magic with Azar the other day, getting him to take some asparagus from both himself and Jessica. Then yesterday tried feeding him without me standing beside her – and success! A bit later on Azar got comfy on my footstool and I started giving him a nice snibble and asked Jessica if she wanted to have a go. And to my amazement Azar let her! As my iPhone was handy I grabbed it and filmed her snibbling away and Azar loving it. I’m telling ya, I was so thrilled that there was now a third person in the world who Azar has allowed to touch him.

I was also very disappointed this morning to discover that the video wasn’t on properly and I only actually filmed about three seconds of Azar back over on the sofa with Nog. Damn! Such a momentous occasion and I didn’t even get a photo of it. Well, next time. Meanwhile, check out how Azar is chowing down with reckless abandon and without fear…

the cat whisperer

16 Monday May 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, change, home

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This is sooooo amazing! Jessica’s “media naranja” Thomas is here visiting and, after being here all of five minutes, he decided to try feeding Azar some asparagus … and it worked! Look at that! I’m telling you, people have lived with me for years and haven’t got anywhere near Azar. Though it must be said that Jessica got him to sit on the sofa end table near her last week. But he wouldn’t take any asparagus from her until Thomas came along and started speaking to Azar in gentle French until he suddenly jumped up on the little bookcase to have a snack. A bit later Jessica tried the same trick, speaking to Azar in French, and up he came again!

People used to ask me if it made me feel extra special that Azar would only let me touch him, and it really didn’t. It actually made me feel a bit sad because, unlike Sunny and Loki, Azar couldn’t get extra love from others. But now it looks like he’s finally opening up. Thanks to the cat whisperer!

three years ago…

04 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by in cancer, change, chemo, death & dying, fitness, health & happiness, home, hope, hospitals

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May 4th 2008 was the last day I ever felt “healthy and normal”. The next morning I woke up with excrutiating abdominal pain and the rest, as they say, is history.

Three major operations and two bouts of chemo later, I am in remission and have been since September 2009, but of course the risk of recurrence is always there. This was seriously brought home to me when my friend Gaelen was recently diagnosed with new metastasis after three cancer-free years. Around the same time another friend – my power twin Jed – got sick again and is now facing a treatment-without-cure situation. It’s made it harder for me to go along in my usual state of semi-denial, which makes for a lot of sleepless nights and general emotional upheaval. But mostly I’m okay. Because, as far as I know, I’m still okay.

Anyhow, not trying to be a downer, but anniversaries are always a bit poignant in that “will it be my last??” kind of way. As I’ve said here before, perhaps if I’d made more of an effort to do all The Right Things I’d be feeling less, well, annoyed with myself right now. Every day I wake up determined to eat broccoli and forego wine and spend two hours at the gym, and then … it’s not that I can’t be bothered, but things are never simple and I’ve had lots of stress in other areas of my life and I can’t seem to get it all together at once. As if I have all the time in the world to get it right…

One thing I’ve learned these past three years is to be less judgemental about people who can’t seem to get it together. Well, except for me. Are you very hard on yourself, or are you able to just go with the flow?

little things…

17 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by in change, home

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I know it doesn’t seem like much, but after a rather harrowing experience at IKEA on Friday evening I ended up with a few much-needed things that I hadn’t picked up during the last harrowing visit … and then I saw these curtains.

Dead cheap at 10 euros but gauzy and pretty and, although they aren’t any great shakes and hang a bit wonkily, they are so perfect for that one livingroom set of balcony windows that gets the morning sun. It’s also the only window that neighbours can see into and, well, they can’t anymore!

Of course now that I’ve got them up I wish I’d bought another pair to put up elsewhere. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to spend busfare and hours of my life again just to buy a 10 euro item.

Or will I…?