Category Archives: sevilla

the blondes

28 Saturday Dec 2019

Posted by in food & drink, gastronomy, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours, triana

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Every now and then clients turn into friends. This happened most recently during a Tasting Triana Tour with Edye, her husband Steven and their two daughters (aka The Blondes). Well, Steven is an honourary blonde. Anyhow, we started off as usual with a walk through Triana Market and stopping for jamón, cheese and manzanilla sherry. Then it was off to three other bars. And well, we just hit it off and everyone had such a great time. They even totally loved the fried quails, the presentation of which sometimes put people off (see below) but in fact they are delicious. By the end of the tour it was hugs all around and we continued to “chat” by text message while they were in Córdoba. Really hope they will be back.

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another family christmas party!

26 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by in christmas, family, friends, sevilla

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Following the lovely pre-Christmas Eve family dinner on Monday was an actual Christmas Eve dinner, this time with the family of my pal Jota (owner of La Chalá and Lola por Diós), and our friend Esteban (Vermutería Yo Soy Tu Padre) and his mother. When I arrived Jota was busy in the kitchen – he prepared the entire meal on his own – so I chatted with his parents and other family and friends while we waited for Esteban and Tanya to arrive. Everyone was so charming and friendly… and as it turned out most of them are originally from Galicia.

As you can see, it really was a feast. Not showing are the four thousand desserts and endless bottles of wine… I ended up rolling home around 2.30 and was far from chipper on Christmas morning. But it was another wonderful family gathering. I think this has been my best ever Christmas in Sevilla!

Fabulous feast!

My boys! Jota & Esteban ❤

my second endoscopy

19 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by in cancer, hospitals, sevilla

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My first endoscopy was in March 2018 and this past Monday my oncologist decided to do another one to compare with the results from almost two years ago. I was shocked when I got a call yesterday saying that my endoscopy would be today! Was it so fast because someone had cancelled or because my situation was deemed so serious that a test was required ASAP? Anyhow, they’ve also taken samples for a biopsy, so now it’s wait and see again.

The last one seemed to go more smoothly than today’s. For some reason I was really gaggy and it was very unpleasant – I don’t remember this happening last time. The nurse said that next time I should ask for a stronger anaesthetic.

My friends Claudia and Paul met me at the hospital because it was recommended that I have someone with me in case I was groggy after the procedure. Mostly I was thirsty because I wasn’t allowed to have even a drop of water for six hours before the procedure. I also hadn’t eaten since about 8 pm yesterday, so after finishing up at the hospital at 5.00 pm, we ended up finding a tapas bar with an open-all-day kitchen. And now I am home again, planning on an early night.

Apparently nothing now will happen until mid-to-late January, which is when they expect the biopsy results back. So as long as nothing was perforated and I don’t die of sepsis in my sleep things should be fine… for now.

the return of claudia & paul

18 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas

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I first met Claudia & Paul last November during their six-week visit to Sevilla, though we’d previously known each other on social media before that. And now they are back! This time for three months. Today we got together to catch up.

Met for lunch at the recently opened La Casa del Tigre and just as we were finishing my dear friend Esteban, owner of Vermutería Yo Soy Tu Padre stopped by and we shared another bottle of wine with him. Love that guy!

Also got a call during lunch from the hospital and – eep! – my endoscopia is happening tomorrow afternoon (!!!). Not sure how to feel about that. Hoping there was a cancellation and not that it was deemed so urgent that they got me in ASAP. More to follow on that.

Meanwhile, it was great spending the afternoon with Claudia & Paul and knowing that we have many more afternoons ahead to enjoy together. And it’s always lovely seeing my darling boy Esteban and getting a few hugs.