Category Archives: summer

brand new walking tours!

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in change, sevilla, spain, summer, work

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So okay, this came about yesterday while wondering how the heckity Nog was going to not just get through the summer, but also get by in general, teaching English classes here.

For the past year or so he hasn’t been doing well in that department and so, instead of trying to flog that tired old horse (I gave up trying to make a living teaching after getting off last chemo two years ago) I came up with this brilliant idea – private walking tours!

And very special tours, where Nog would take people to unusual and “not on the tourist map” places, perhaps throw in a coffee break, and also give advice on other great places to visit, fab tapas bars and other stuff people want to know. I think it’s going to be a winner.

Of course he is a bit nervous, but in fact he knows more about the history of Sevilla than I do, and I know he loves teaching and sharing knowledge, so I really think this is going to be up his street.  And now to get busy promoting it – wish him luck!

Sevilla Walking Tours

I have a bbq!

02 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in food & drink, home, retail therapy, summer

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The deed is done … I have bought a BBQ.

I had wanted one with a lid, as friends told me that I would then be able to BBQ things like legs of lamb and whole chickens, but the store I went to this morning (long bus ride out to the burbs) mostly had the typical open style ones. At first I had my eye on this covered one, but not only was it expensive (110€) it seemed more like a BBQ oven, was kind of small, and you couldn’t adjust the grill height. Then I thought I wanted this one for 50€ because it had a nice cart attached to it, a grease catcher and air vent, and was on wheels. But no lid. In the end I went for the cheapest one on offer. It cost 15€, is basically a large metal bowl on a tripod, and will probably not last the summer. Or it may last ten years.

The reason for going with this very basic “starter model” was because it occurred to me that I have no idea if I’m going to end up even using the thing much. I mean, I love food cooked on the BBQ and I love the concept of cooking outdoors and enjoying meals up on the terraza. But how often will I actually do this? What with having to lug everything upstairs, then deal with all that messy charcoal and the even messier cleanup.

So I think it makes sense to spend this first summer with a terraza using a cheap basic model to discover what my BBQ habits will end up like. I mean, it’s going to do the job for simple things like meat, burgers, ribs, sausages, kebabs, etc. If I find it lacking then I’ll look for something better either next year or during the summer sales.

Also, because it only cost 15€ I could also get a new microwave (49€) and an extra fan (needed for the small bedroom), all of which will be delivered tomorrow morning. Along with a big bag of charcoal. I’m thinking the first BBQ will be on Sunday – join me?

it’s a conspiracy!

31 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by in cancer, cats, holidays, hospitals, Malaga, summer, travel, trips

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At first I thought it was a simple game of “where’s Loki?” that the two boys were enjoying when I took this photo. But recent events have led me to believe that the cats – who are gods, as we all know – are conspiring against me.

I’d thought that having Jessica here at the beginning of July to look after the boys – and especially Azar – was a sign that I should plan a few days away in Málaga before the next PET scan. And if Nog could get away for the weekend this would also provide Jessica & Thomas with a nice possibility for a romantic few days at casa az, enjoying the space and the terraza…

The first problemita occurred when Manolo said he wouldn’t know if his apartment would be available until about two weeks before that weekend. But I remained hopeful that it would work out. So I planned to leave just after my next oncology appointment, the day after Jessica got back (July 6th), which would have given me a few fab days in Málaga on my own before Nog came to join me. And all the while I would know that the cats were in very good hands.

Well THEN I got a booking request for a Sevilla Tapas Tour for July 7th – for five people! – and just couldn’t turn down that kind of money. But then I thought – hey – depending on Jessica’s schedule I could go for the weekend with Nog, then he could come back the following Monday (July 11th) to look after the cats, while I stayed on to enjoy my pre-scan holiday for a few more days.

Nope. Today I got a notice in the mail saying my appointment to go over all the heart tests that I had done after the scary four-hour tachycardia incident which ended up with me wearing a holter was booked for Monday, July 11th. Well Hell!

I just wonder how he does it. Is it the ears? In any case, it seems clear to me that Azar is moving heaven and earth to make sure I don’t go away this summer, and that Loki is in cahoots…

dreaming of olive trees…

23 Monday May 2011

Posted by in holidays, Malaga, spain, summer, travel, trips

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A little iPhone art here, drawn while I was on the train to Málaga last August, passing through olive groves. And I may be seeing them again soon!

With Azar’s new found trust in Jessica I started thinking that I might be able to get away this summer after all. Given how frail he’s been lately I would never have left him on his own with just a “sitter” coming in to check up on him. Which still meant I could go away and leave Nog in charge, but he kind of deserves a summer break as well.

And so I spoke to Manolo and it’s almost certain that we’ll be able to use his fabulous apartment the first week of July (well, five nights), which will also free up casa az so that Jessica can have a nice romantic break here with Thomas (if he can make it down). Win win!

I’m so excited about this even though it’s over a month away. I just love Málaga and Manolo’s apartment is in such a great location. It’s also been redecorated so should be looking fab, and it will really feel like “going home”. Every time I go to Málaga I fall in love with it a little bit more.

I won’t find out for sure if I can have the apartment until a couple of weeks before (fingers crossed!) which means it might be hard to get train tickets.  I had wanted to leave on the Monday but realised that is my next oncology appointment, so it will be Tuesday – Sunday instead. But at least I’ll get my holiday in before the next PET scan, just in case…

Have you got any summer travel plans?

bodum frykats

20 Friday May 2011

Posted by in culture, home, summer

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Aren’t these adorable? They even have a cute name – Frykats. And Ian (devonseaglass) informs me that they can be shipped by Lakeland in the UK for a small charge. But first I’ll look around here and I also need to do some more online research. One review I read about the Frykat says the vent on top can get burny, and that  it doesn’t work well without the lid on. I certainly won’t want to use the lid all the time. Heh, all the time, she says. I’m pretty sure that BBQing will prove to be a bit of a pain what with having to lug everything upstairs. But I’m also sure that on hot summer evenings it will be lovely sitting up on the terraza after the sun goes down and maybe grilling a light snack…

Meanwhile, my 10-year-old microwave suddenly kicked the bucket the other day, so that is vying for top spot on the “things to buy for the house” list. Have to admit that I only ever use it for defrosting and reheating coffee (well okay, and for making popcorn) and I especially miss not being able to reheat my coffee in the mornings.

Which would you get first?