Category Archives: friends

I love it when a plan comes together…

21 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by in cancer, food & drink, friends, geekiness, health & happiness, hope, internet, juggling, life stuff, photos, sevilla, work

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… or in my case, several plans.

I didn’t realise what a turning point the trip to Málaga would turn out to be. So again, thanks to everyone who made it possible for me to go without racking up more credit card debt. In the end I only spent money on train fare and two lunches out, so it was a fairly cheap trip, but very rich in experiences. I think it also helped to have a couple of days on my own – and being by the sea certainly helped!

Anyhow, these are the various projects I’ve been working on since I got off chemo last summer: tapas tours, Seville website & blog (with forum), social media management, the Sevilla Store, and English classes (specifically for restaurants). So far the only ones bringing in a bit of income are the tapas tours and social media stuff – my private English classes, such as they were, finished last week for the summer. But it does look as though things are coming together…

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a lovely sunday…

20 Sunday Jun 2010

Posted by in food & drink, friends, home, restaurants, sevilla

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I’m a bit late with my post today because, well, I’ve actually been too busy enjoying my day. What’s that you say – az enjoying a Sunday??? Truth is, I’m feeling extremely well since my trip to Málaga. I came home last night with the very distinct feeling that … well, that I was happy. Really and truly happy. And so when I got up this morning I enjoyed spending time organising photos and doing some other stuff online. But it was such a gorgeous day that it was a shame to stay indoors, so Nog and I went out for a long walk. On the way home I gave my friend Bizzy a call because we were getting hungry and I remembered that I had been invited to stop by her restaurant L’Oca Giuliva for lunch one day – an invitation that included Nog – so it seemed like a good moment to take her up on her offer. We had a great time and it felt good to give Nog a treat, especially as he’d done such a good job of taking care of the boys while I was away.

So, that is our lunch up there … fabulous. Some spinach and provolone crostone, a fresh & crunchy endive salad with creamy gorgonzola dressing, and even dessert! I almost never eat dessert, but Bizzy insisted, so we shared strawberry “carpaccio” with vanilla icecream and pistachios, and a delicious tiramisu. Bliss.

After lunch we walked over to see if my virtual photographer buddy Antonio Cid was at work. I’ve known him for months now online but had never met him in person. Then I found out that he works weekends at a small bar near my house, so I decided it was time to stop by and say hello face-to-face. And of course it felt like we’d always known each other, very easy chatting, and we had a really nice visit.

And now Nog and I are back home. He’s reading and I’m taking care of some Sevilla Tapas updates and doing a few other things before I stop to make an evening snack. And then maybe watch a film and hit the hay. You know, I could really get the hang of Sundays if they were always this pleasant. Oh, and did I mention I am happy?

More on that tomorrow…

How was your Sunday?

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vineyard visit

16 Wednesday Jun 2010

Posted by in food & drink, friends, Malaga, photos, wine, work

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Off to Málaga again! Well, maybe.

Not a holiday this time though. And no, I cannot afford this in the slightest, but it kind of just happened … or well, it’s almost happened. It all started a couple of weeks ago when María Paz told me she had to drive down to Málaga to pick up friends at the airport and said if I wanted to take some time off (she knows I love Málaga) that she could give me a lift and drop me off, and that she would also be glad of the company. I told her I wasn’t able to take holidays but later I thought it might be a good opportunity to visit the Málaga vineyards. You may recall that I’ve been working with a client on her social media stuff and so a visit to the vineyards and bodega would not only be interesting but would also help with writing the blog posts. And of course a couple of days staying at Manolo’s fabulous apartment wouldn’t be hard to take. But things haven’t quite turned out as planned…

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corpus cristi

07 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by in fiestas, friends, holidays, hope, photos, sevilla, spain

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I think Corpus Cristi is my favourite holiday in Sevilla. The main event takes place on a public holiday – always the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (which is 60 days after Easter). There is a small procession that starts around 8.30 am and finishes at noon. The night before the procession route is strewn with sprigs of rosemary and flower petals, balconies are draped with silk shawls and flowers, shopkeepers try to outdo each other with bread & wine window displays, and altars large and small are also put up. When I first came to Sevilla I was told by Agustín that the best part of Corpus was to get up early and walk the procession route before things got started, when the morning air is still cool and fresh and there aren’t too many people around. I have done this many times, though not every year. In fact, not for the past three years. Last year I was on chemo an unable to get up early (though you may recall I did stupidly go out and move furniture in the HEAT later on that day), the year before I was still recovering from my first operation, and the year before that I was in Lisbon. As always, anniversaries and holidays make me think of times past and I get that bittersweet ache inside, hoping that I will see many more.

So last Thursday I quite enjoyed getting up early and going out with Nog & Jessica, walking the route and then nipping into the Horno San Buenaventura for brekky just as the procession started. As usual, I took lots of photos which you can see in the slideshow above. You can also see some photos taken over the years in this fotki album (the first three taken yonks ago during a wonderful visit from Lizzie). The rosemary and rose petal shots in the slideshow are my favourites. Wish you could have been there.

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fried

06 Sunday Jun 2010

Posted by in food & drink, friends, home

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Got fried last night. Along with Nog and Jessica. It was all very impromptu and actually started with a twitter post the other day. Luckily Jessica got in touch in the afternoon as it turned out things were getting out of control and I had way too much food for two. Which also meant she was able to bring over the mystery cheese. And wine. Oh yes, we all had lots of wine and stayed up much too late…

For the whole food story check out azahar’s kitchen.

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