Category Archives: musings

well boo hoo and fuck you

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, friends, health & happiness, musings

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virus 3d illustration

Who me angry?? Whatever gave you that idea?  🙂

I had something happen today that puts my mind somewhat at rest. For now. It doesn’t actually keep reality at bay, but it’s a much needed stopgap. Some breathing space. And it might be my last chance so I hope I don’t fuck it up.

Meanwhile I had to cancel a work trip to Valencia this week. I’d been commissioned by Decanter to do another of my travel articles for them, but with Covid cases spiking like crazy the past couple of weeks, including lots of breakthrough cases, I decided to stay put. Sure, things probably aren’t much worse in Valencia than in Sevilla, but at least here I am mostly in my own home. Five days away would mean being out and about all day long, meeting with lots of different people, eating out for every meal, staying at hotels, not to mention five hours each way on a train. And well, just… no.

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it’s a sad and beautiful world

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in animals & pets, musings, video

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sad
I was up and out early this morning for blood tests (next PET scan coming up soon!), which meant I had to forgo coffee until that was done. So on the way home I stopped in at a cute little spot that specialises in toast and coffee and serves breakfast all day long. Sitting in the window seat I noticed this colourful fish in a glass vase and was struck by its beauty and elegance. And then I noticed its odd behaviour. It kept floating to the top and then would flip upside down so its mouth was just touching the surface of the water and Peter pointed out that it was probably lacking oxygen in that small amount of water, maybe 3 litres. Suddenly struck by a huge wave of sadness watching that gorgeous fish stuck in a small vase of stale water, the line from Down by Law “it’s a sad and beautiful world” came to me. And you know what? It really is.

the view from here

18 Friday Jun 2010

Posted by in life stuff, Malaga, musings, travel, trips, work

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A couple of iPhone shots taken yesterday from the apartment terrace … the beach when I arrived and the port just before I went to bed. I can’t imagine coming to Málaga and not staying here at Manolo’s place. It really feels like home. And it isn’t just the terrace views that are different – I feel different here. Maybe it’s the sea?

Anyhow, very busy day as I am just about to go meet Victoria, spend the morning at the bodega and then head out to the vineyards at noon to meet with the American group. More later…

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the wallet

22 Thursday Jan 2009

Posted by in life stuff, musings, photos, sevilla, weird

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lost-wallet

On Tuesday, just before I was about to go out to meet Pipocas for a lunch meeting, I got a call from Nog saying that he had lost his wallet. He was between classes – actually, going from his class with Dr A to an interview with a prospective new student – and when he got to the bike station and felt for his wallet to take out his bike card … it wasn’t there! The curious thing was that he remembered having it when Dr A paid him (because he put the money in his wallet) but somewhere between there and the bike station it had disappeared. So not only was he out 75€, but his credit card had to be cancelled and his Spanish residence ID card also had to be replaced. Because there was no way he was ever going to see his wallet again, right?

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azahar again!

26 Tuesday Feb 2008

Posted by in health & happiness, life stuff, musings, sevilla

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orange-blossoms.jpg
First sandals, then blackbirds and now the first azahar. . .

And it’s much earlier than last year. I was walking home from a class yesterday afternoon and when I turned a corner I was suddenly snapped out of my reverie; I closed my eyes, raised my face to the sky and inhaled deeply. Then I looked around and saw them – the first orange blossoms of the year.

It always takes me by surprise and always fills me with joy.