Category Archives: spain

hola monday!

26 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, coronavirus, covid, home, hope, sevilla, spain

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hola monday

I remember when I used to like Mondays because l loved my job, enjoyed my life. I always loved that “fresh new week” feeling, so full of possibilities. But now Monday is just a reminder that another week has passed without work or friends or plans. I mean I need a plan at least, in order to have some hope again.

And okay,  l do have some plans, but not any l can move forward with at the moment (so l need new plans). And l have friends, but l can’t see them, or when l do, l can’t hug them. And the financial stress situation doesn’t allow me the luxury of boredom. Anyhow, I’ve never been good at being bored. So I am in a constant state of WHAT TO DO NEXT?? without being able to do much. Other than try to come up with a plan.

Thing about making plans is that, w​hen you’re out and about in the world meeting people and doing things, other stuff often happens as a result, and inspiration or luck can be around the next corner. ​Trust me, I now know every corner of this apartment better than I ever wanted to and… nada. There’s nothing waiting around any of them.

Anyhow, I’m sure if it was Tuesday l wouldn’t be feeling like this.  😉

I just miss my old Mondays, which then reminds me how much I’m missing everything else. And learning yesterday that we’ll be in lockdown now until May… ufff.

Today was also a turning point when I learned that a friend of mine in Sevilla has Covid. Symptoms and all. It’s the first time someone I actually know has come down with the virus. Until now it’s been someone’s friend, family member or co-worker. But this is my friend. Someone I love very much. And so now it’s personal, Covid. Fuck you. And also fuck every anti-masker and idiotic herd immunity whack job, because you are why things have gone this far, and for so long. I despise you all.

How’s your Monday going?

monday again

19 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in covid, sevilla, spain

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morcilla monday

My PA Morcilla loves sitting on my shoulder while I sit at my desk “pretending” to work. And she makes sure that we don’t start netflixing until at least 7 pm.  😉

Truth is, I am working. Just not getting paid for it atm, so in that sense it’s kind of pretend work. I keep updating Sevilla Tapas, and my various social media accounts. I’m staying in touch with people in the biz and am working on getting a couple of new projects started. And I’m helping out my many friends with tapas bars by promoting them as much as possible.

Frankly, I’m worried about losing my home (don’t tell the cats!) since my landlord has not made any offer to lower my rent. The thought of moving (where?? how??) is too stressful to even consider at the moment. I see so many FOR RENT signs up in my street and around town, that have been up for months. You’d think my landlord would prefer to lower my rent than end up with an empty apartment for six months, or maybe longer. But all he has said to me is that if I want to move then that’s fine with him.Nice, huh?

Thing is, moving for me isn’t just an inconvenience. It rips me apart, because for me my home is my refuge and I really work hard to make each place I live in feel like that. In the case of the present Casa Azahar, it took almost a year after moving in before things were set up “just so” and I really felt at home. Okay, there are a few changes I’d still like to make, but present circumstances prevent that. But it’s actually the place I have felt the most at home in my 27 years in Sevilla. The thought of having to leave this home… honestly I can’t even think about it. It’s just too upsetting.

So I don’t know. Each day is another day. And starting today I am going to begin with self-isolation again. Our Covid numbers in Sevilla and Andalucía are WAY UP THERE, and with Madrid and Granada now shut down, it seems we will be next. But you know, I thought I’d get ahead of the game and shut myself down to stay safe, because for sure once our government gets around to doing this it will already be at least a week or two too late.

Today a friend told me his brother may be dying of Covid in the UK. And another friend in Sevilla has told me they had to shut down their bar because one of the staff has tested positive. These are my first “first hand” experiences, from friends who are suffering through this personally. They are not statistics. They are my friends.

And while shut downs are not the answer for many reasons, until we have a proper testing and tracking system in place, what other option do we have? And seriously, don’t get me started on the “herd immunity” idiots who don’t care who else dies because they want their old lives back.

What are we going to do? My cancer training has me just focusing on the day to day stuff… but I really want to do more. Don’t you? Also, we need to stop thinking about GETTING OUR OLD LIVES BACK. Because that just isn’t going to happen, esp since our old lifestyles were in part what created the situation that we find ourselves in now. And so, now what?

sherry week 2020

22 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by in sevilla, sherry, spain

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Gotta say that people are getting quite inventive when it comes to working with (in and around) Covid-19. This year not only is International Sherry Week going virtual, but for the first time people organising events at home can also register online and be put on the Global Sherry Map. I’m going to have to think of a few things to do.  🙂

setting sail

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

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I don’t know anyone who calls this square Plaza de Jesús de la Pasión. In fact, if you asked people for directions to that name I’m sure many locals would have no idea. It used to be called the Plaza del Pan and, well, it still is except for maybe by the city council.

In Medieval times the square was known as Debajo de San Salvador (Under the San Salvador) or simply De Abajo, as the massive San Salvador Church looms next to it. The name Plaza del Pan dates back to the 17th century from the many bread stalls that were located there at that time. In 1914 there was a request by neighbours to change the name to reference the Christ that is associated with the Salvador Church. But it’s still called Plaza del Pan by everyone I know.

Anyhow, I was walking home the other day and saw this view and thought how the awning looked like a sail. Love this plaza.

bread baskets of death…

04 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, restaurants, sevilla, spain, tapas bars

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For the most part the tapas bars and restaurants I have been to over the past couple of months have been doing their best with taking precautions and keeping their establishments as safe as possible for both staff and clients. But you know, nobody’s perfect and also, as time passes, people tend to slack off a bit. Even as a second wave looms (reported cases and deaths keep mounting) some people are still in denial. Not me though! I am not only at a higher risk of catching this fucker due to previous cancer and chemo, but with my age, etc, I am also not likely to survive it. So yeah, you could say I have a vested interest in how the public is behaving in terms of the pandemic.

The other day I posted this photo of stacked up bread baskets on my Instagram. Some of you may remember that this disgusting practice has always been, well, disgusting to me. I mean, the baskets (filled with bread and often also napkins and cutlery) are put on tables, placed on chairs, passed from person to person, then taken away, stacked up, NEVER CLEANED, and then reused. In some cases, even the uneaten bread is “recycled” (yes, I have seen this happen with my own eyes). And while it was always an unsanitary and disgusting practice before COVID, now it’s actually criminal.

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