12 Tuesday Jun 2012
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Every time I go to Granada I have to have a drink on this terraza at El Huerto de Juan Ranas, which is next to the San Nicolas lookout at the top of the Albaicín. That’s the Alhambra over there in the distance (wonky panorama distortion but what the heck). I’m still sorting through my Granada photos – getting the work-related ones organised first – and hope to have my personal ones up on the photo blog soon. Just not enough hours in the day…
What are you doing today?
10 Thursday May 2012
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Here’s Chef Eneko at Vineria San Telmo preparing grilled foie gras for Pat.
21 Tuesday Feb 2012
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I was kind of a late-adopter of Pinterest and, even after receiving my invitation and joining up, my account sat there for weeks with two empty “boards” on them. Had no idea what to do with it or how to get started. Then today I discovered the “pin it” toolbar thingy and – duh! – the penny finally dropped and I began pinning away like a pinning thing. Of course I know that it’s not supposed to just be about me-me-me but to get started I pinned a bunch of my stuff and will now have a base for pinning up other great stuff I come across.
This is my azahar Pinterest page.
Look out world! 😉
17 Tuesday Jan 2012
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While we’re on the subject of cat videos, this one was taken this morning.
My little Luna is growing up. But she is still very kittenish and has tons of energy. So while Loki and Azar have their mid-morning naps she is all frisky and gets a bit bored. Nothing like a bit of “string game” to keep her active and happy.
15 Sunday Jan 2012
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Just over four years ago, I wrote a post about how the old casa az was often 13º celcius in winter. Early mornings it was often 10-12ºC, which with the draughts made it extremely painful to get out of bed in the morning.
Fast forward to winter 2011-2012…
The coldest I’ve found in what I still call the “new casa az” (though it’s been almost a year now) has been 15ºC, first thing in the morning when overnight temps have got close to freezing. Normally early morning indoor temps are between 16-18º here. And no draughts thanks to double-glazed balcony doors (which also help keep out the noise from an illegal after-hours bar across the street, but that’s another story).
Plus I have central heating. For the first time ever in Spain!
So when I first wake up I put on the heating while my flatmate Peter puts on the coffee, then I snuggle back under the duvet with cats and iPhone while the place warms up and coffee brews… and then I get up to start my day. Comfortably.
Don’t get me wrong. I still wear three layers and a scarf while at work in front of my computer, but the difference is that I’m not still freezing cold after all that. The central heating is set to a maximum of 20º which is perfectly comfortable. And well… it just somehow feels so darned GROWN UP that I can live comfortably in my home, for the first time in almost 20 years.
Sure, I’m still a bit worried about what the next electicity bill will be, but I like that this “new” casa az never actualy gets as cold as the old one did, and that my flatmate is now making enough money to help me pay the bills, and that I put on the heat in the morning… because I can!
casa azahar 