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.
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.
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.
I can’t remember the last time I saw Michelle and Chris (they can’t remember either) but we reckon it was during a visit to Málaga (they live in Estepona) when we had cocktails on a rooftop bar and were entertained by a bullfighter strutting around naked in his hotel room, curtains wide open (he knew what he was doing). Last night we were also entertained by bullfighters, but fully dressed this time, when we stopped for a nightcap at the Hotel Colón on the way home.
But before that we had met up at Cafetería Donald and spent the evening catching up and just enjoying each others company, along with some lovely tapas and wine. Good times.
I’ve known Reggie (aka @winecasual) for YEARS. First of all virtually on Twitter and then last year at the Copa de Jerez this charming young man came up to me and said “are you Sevilla Tapas?”. At some point I asked if he’d also be going to the next Vinoble and… he’d never heard of it! So now I can honestly say that I have changed someone’s life.
Reggie had a great time at Vinoble and, being young and mobile, went to both the morning and evening sessions and also managed to attend a couple of tastings. We also had a memorable lunch together after he recommended a new place he’d tried called La Gloria Taberna, which is now on my top five list of favourite restaurants in the city. Then, on his way to another wine event in Galicia, he stopped over in Sevilla and we met up again for a glass (or three, maybe four?) of cava/corpinnat at a little bar near me.
Such a lovely guy and I’m so happy to have him as a friend now. Although wine is his “hobby” (or at least, not his main job) he also writes for Wine Enthusiast and travels extensively, mostly on sponsored trips to further his wine knowledge (which is already impressive, even intimidating). He was truly a bright spot in these past few days and I hope he’ll be back soon.
casa azahar 