Category Archives: friends

my 33rd sevilla anniversary!

16 Wednesday Sep 2026

Posted by in anniversary, friends, home, sevilla, spain, tapas bars

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So I was feeling a bit bad that I hadn’t planned anything special for this year’s Sevilla anniversary, other than I knew Paul was going to be here this week and we’d probably at least go out for a tapita. Then I remembered that Evan still hadn’t had a pringá at Bodeguita Romero (and as such has not actually been to Sevilla even though he’s lived here since April) and so a plan began to come together. I thought a nice casual tapeo would be nice and that way I could visit a few of my favourite places. Done!

First stop was Casa Moreno for a quick Beer O’clock and Emilio made me one of his trademark pen drawings to commemorate the day. Then it was on to Bodeguita Romero just around the corner and when Alejandro saw my gift from Emilio he decided he wanted to give me something too, so he popped over to the office and came back with a poster by Alfredo of the Barrios of Sevilla. We’d had a snack at Moreno but now it was time for a serious lunch – with pringás of course. For the penúltima we stopped in at Casa Morales and Javi not only found us a table (quite a trick at that late hour) he also located a super-chilled bottle of Juvé y Camps cava for us.

A fabulous day. I always love it when Paul is in town. And I liked that Even got to join us and also enjoy his first ever pringá at Bodeguita Romero.

evan

20 Thursday Aug 2026

Posted by in friends, sevilla, social media, spain

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Meet Evan, someone I first “met” when he became a paid subscriber (!!!) to Bitesize Sevilla a few months ago and then we got to chatting a bit. I found out he’d recently moved to Sevilla from Memphis and had set up home in the Macarena barrio. Anyhow, after chatting a bit we decided to meet up, which we have done a couple of times now (with Peter joining us for tapas) and it’s been great. It’s especially lovely to meet another social introvert because we both “get it”. Also Evan is fun, smart, has a dog I have yet to meet, and we both share a love of El Corte Inglés (it has everything!).

He is also a political analyst and essayist, the managing editor of Wonkette and owner/editor of The Moral High Ground. So if your interests run to excellent political writing, both serious and satirical, go check him out. Nice to have a new neighbour, both online and irl, and a willing “extra stomach” for doing Tapas Research.

jammin’ with sam & jeff

14 Tuesday Jul 2026

Posted by in death & dying, friends, health, music

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Sam Neill September 1947 – July 2026 💔

This is such damn sad news. Aside from hia long and respected career as an actor what I think what I loved best about Sam Neill were his quirky and sometimes downright weird “self isolation” advice videos during covid lockdown. And later these lovely vids of him singing show tunes with good friend Jeff Goldblum. By all accounts a wonderful guy, someone you’d be lucky to know. And he also made wine! Wondering if I can find some here.

Hasta siempre, Sam. Thanks for everything. ❤️

paul

02 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in cancer, friends

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My friend Paul died yesterday in the wee hours and was cremated this morning in Jerez. It still feels unreal, even though we’ve known for some time now that this was going to be the only outcome. Paul was first diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of cancer about five years ago and, although he rallied a few times after surgery and chemo, and other treatments, in the end the treatments stopped working and it was time to go.

I last saw Paul when I was in Jerez at the end of May for Vinoble. On our last afternoon there Peter and I stopped by for a short visit. As much as I hoped to see him, which I was pretty sure was going to be for the last time, I also didn’t want to impose because I knew how hard this has been for his wife Anne, and I also wasn’t sure if he’d be up for visitors. So we stayed for about 45 minutes and, well, he was mostly there. In any case, I’m glad I got a chance to see him, give him a hug and a kiss and tell him that I love him.

Paul was very… Paul. He loved telling terrible jokes and had a repertoire of stories and tales that he delighted in recounting in his own exuberant way. He also loved good food and wine and sharing both with his friends. I’ve been out with Paul and Anne, both in Jerez and Sevilla, more times than I can remember. Always a good time, and I’ll miss that. I’ll also miss my WhatsApp “relationship” with Paul, which began shortly after he was diagnosed. I guess because he knew I’d had cancer he felt able to share his experiences with me there, and I hope I was able to provide some company and comfort for him.

Anyhow, thanks for all the good times, Paul. For being a good friend. For being your irrepressible self. And for liking me. Hasta siempre, amigo mio. ❤️

Paul at the María Luisa hotel insisting that HE make the martinis,
the barman wisely didn’t try to stop him… still the best martini I’ve ever had.

deb’s back!

18 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas

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This week Deb and Claire were back in town and I was lucky enough to meet up with them twice! Last time Deb came in October and it was a bit too early for her to pick up her L’Armanaque de Sevilla for this 2026 so I managed to get them both a fridge magnet of the calendar cover from Alfredo (better than nuthin’).

We had two lovely lunches together, first at La Cochera del Abuelo and then Augurio. It was also Birthday Week for Claire so we toasted her birthday as well as Deb’s (almost) early retirement and, of course, Dan Jamón. Several times. It’s been great having them back again.