Category Archives: friends

christmas tree

13 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by in cats, christmas, fiestas, friends

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So I put up the little tree and a few decorations yesterday and, just as I suspected, Loki was all over everything in a flash. In previous years I’ve had the tree up on a stand near the bookcase, but since that’s now become Loki’s territory I tried the big table in the livingroom this time. I hope once Loki gets used to it being there he’ll leave it alone and, as I have to separate the cats when nobody is home anyhow, he can be locked out of the livingroom instead of locked in it.

I actually quite like the change of having it on the big table as this also means I could put out a set of the pretty white lights Susan left with me for the headboard. And I can also display the two beautiful pop-up Christmas books that Teuchter has given me. The one on the right arrived the other day and I decided to open it straight away after reading what it was on the Amazon receipt because I knew I’d want to look at it lots during the holiday season. It’s just as fab as the Twelve Days of Christmas one I got last year. Thanks again, Teuchter.

And so things are feeling quite Christmasy around casa az now…

port

22 Monday Nov 2010

Posted by in friends, wine

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The summer I moved in to this particular casa az, back in 2002, my dear Toronto friend Darlene’s darling daughter Adrienne came to stay with me for the second time (she’d also stayed with me one summer when I lived next door) but this time she was with her boyfriend Greg. And well, they were both great fun to have around, though I didn’t see them that much as they were doing some other travelling around, including a trip to Lisbon. And when they came back they brought me this beautifully boxed 1987 Quinta do Noval old tawny port, which I later found out was actually something very special, even back in 2002.

I happened to mention this port when I was hanging out with the Hackney Gang this past September (staying at Clare & Joe’s) and I swear Joe started gasping on the spot. Me? I know nothing about port and so I felt bad that I hadn’t brought it along as an additional thank-you gift, though I also wasn’t sure how well it had held up after spending eight years in my wee wine rack in all kinds of temperatures. I mean, perhaps it wasn’t even drinkable anymore. But that “missed opportunity” stayed in my mind, so that when London-based travel-writer Jill and her husband Tim came for a quick visit in October I asked if she had room in her suitcase to bring back this port for my friends. I then checked that one of the gang worked close enough to Jill’s to be able to pick it up without too much difficulty and so Clare spent one lunch hour going to get what she thought was something for me. Ha.

Then yesterday I received these pics, showing Joe and Simon (Clare was behind the camera) enjoying the port, which Joe said was a bit cloudy but still very drinkable. Made me feel like I was there, though also a bit homesick for Hackney and my friends.

 

prezzies from abroad

31 Sunday Oct 2010

Posted by in cats, food & drink, friends

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As well as bringing their charming selves to the Seville mini-meet last week, dragonqueen and Toybox (aka jmbois, The Quiet One) also came bearing these lovely gifts. Some Swedish jams and fruit tea, a very special and somewhat intimidating Vasterbottensost Cheese with a proper cheese scraper, and an intriguing German dry red riesling. As you can see, the kittehs were not left out as dragonqueen brought them a catnip mouse and some colourful dingle balls (terrific at 3am, thanks dq!). And so we are all feeling properly spoiled here at casa az and look forward to a fabby cheese and wine event here soon (with Jessica). I’m also planning to get into some serious tea drinking this winter and have always wanted one of those teaball thingys, so this was quite a good gift too, and Nog will enjoy the jams on his toast for brekky. Thanks guys!

In case you were wondering, my photo shoot assistant was also helping out…

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hasta luego..

27 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by in friends, holidays, home, spain, tapas, travel, trips

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Karin with Loki last night on the sofabed, giving him a goodnight kiss. Azar was NOT amused by this overnight guest business and spent most of the time sulking in the bedroom.

So Karin (dragonqueen) is now winging her way home – Jean-Marie (ToyBox) left on Sunday – and it’s time to get back to normal around here. Which means catching up on my SimonSeeks stuff and doing a tapas tour tonight with Spanish chef José Pizarro, who will soon be opening his own restaurant in London.

It was a great mini-meet and a fabulous trip to Granada (thanks again, K!). I’ve uploaded some photos though they are still mostly unedited. Click on the link below to have a look.

Granada 2010 Photo Album

granada!

26 Tuesday Oct 2010

Posted by in food & drink, friends, tapas, travel, trips

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Sitting up at the Huerta de Juan Rana yesterday afternoon, enjoying the view and a cold beer (after the long walk up some cold refreshment was very welcome). Today we will be over at the big orange thing in the background, then a quick lunch and home again.

And speaking of lunch, dragonqueen took me out to a most fabulous place that had been recommended by Agustín – and it really was wonderful. Later in the evening we met up with a couple of Twitter friends John & Gail and they took us to a typical cheap & cheerful seafood bar. Photos below, with the usual warning – don’t look if you’re hungry!

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