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Category Archives: work

cádiz converts!

05 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by azahar in travel, trips, work

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

cadiz, decanter, spain

cadiz converts

So this totally made my day! My editor Julie at Decanter sent me this reader letter about my Cádiz travel article from last March. I mean, wow. It really made a difference to their trip and they ended up not just becoming Cádiz converts but sherry converts as well. Gotta admit it also helps with the ol’ impostor syndrome. 😉 Now I can’t wait to do another one.

shocking!

03 Wednesday Aug 2022

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, sevilla, work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

covid, electricity, sevilla

shocking

Got my electricity bill for July and OMFG. It is DOUBLE from July last year. As in TWICE AS MUCH. And last July was already way more than in 2020. I mean, I knew it was going to be hefty because prices are skyrocketing and I had made the decision that, since I am staycationing this summer, I would spend that travel money (as if I actually have any travel money) on being comfortable at home. It was more the idea that I would somehow not be spending so much if I stayed home. But you know, I did the same thing last summer, and the summer before. Not travelling, mostly at home, staying cool but also paying attention to the lower rate hours, etc. So that hasn’t actually changed.

When I talk about “staying cool” that means I hold out until the 2 pm change in rates before I turn on the AC, even though it’s often been more than 30º in my living room for most of the morning. But after that, fuck it. The rates change again around 7 pm but there is no fucking way I’m going to turn off my AC until bedtime. So I don’t, but I also never sleep with the AC on. And I always use fans in the bedrooms, the living room, which means I can set the AC to 24-25 (when it’s 42º outside this means inside it gets down to maybe 26.5º inside) and that is fine, because having the fans makes 26-27º inside feel comfortable enough. And of course I’m wearing next to nothing, just light cotton “day pyjamas”.

The government has come up with a new “Energy Saving” plan that will restrict businesses from having their premises warmer than 19º in winter or cooler than 27º in summer, and that when they are running the heat or AC they must keep all doors and windows closed. This applies to shops, restaurants, offices, etc… but hotels?? Can you imagine that hotels are going to start restricting their guests from being comfortable? Can you imagine the government would even ask them to? Of course they won’t.

Meanwhile, decreeing that all doors and windows must be shut tight WHILE WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC (numbers in August are going up) and while next to nobody has proper ventilation, is beyond irresponsible. That is totally going to fuck up not only my personal life (can’t go out for tapas any more unless I sit outside) but also my job. I can’t even think about it. I have taken July and August off even though I can’t afford it to try and avoid getting sick, but now it looks like when I return in September things will be even worse. Fuck. How’s your summer going?

shutting down!

11 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, health & happiness, home, work

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

covid, sevilla, staycation, work

sorry closed

Yep, again. You may recall that I finally got back to work again last September after more than a year and a half of my business being totally shut down, and without any government support.  In spite of being quite desperate for some income I was waiting until I got my second jab before facing the travelling public at close quarters. And things were starting to pick up when omicron hit early December and I made the difficult decision to shut down again December-January because, well, same deal. It just wasn’t worth the risk.

Since then travel has become “easier”, meaning that Covid prevention measures are mostly removed everywhere now. And so of course Covid B5 and other variants are running rampant, not to mention monkeypox. During the first two years of the pandemic I didn’t know anyone personally who had contracted Covid. Not here, not globally. But since about 1-2 months ago suddenly EVERYONE is catching it, and not a week goes by without a few friends getting sick. Including my flat mate Peter in mid-May. Talk about close to home!

And now with EVERYONE going on summer holiday, mostly not taking any precautions, and certainly not getting tested, I’ve decided to shut down again for the rest of the summer, just like I did last winter. No, I cannot afford to do this, but I also refuse to risk my health, my life, all because people can’t be bothered to care about other people.

This week I have two tapas tours with people who booked ages ago, so I will honour those. But after that… looks like I’ll be off work and staycationing at home until September.

vinoble 2022

31 Tuesday May 2022

Posted by azahar in wine, work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

vinoble, wine

vinoble 2022 (3)

Such a long-awaited event for so many reasons. The last Vinoble took place in 2018 and should have happened again in 2020… and well, then it didn’t. For me it was such a treat to see all these people again, many of whom I hadn’t seen for four years or more. Others I met for the first time. And others I have seen more recently, well, it was just great to say hi and catch up. I loved this so much. Filled my heart.

toro albalá

27 Friday May 2022

Posted by azahar in andalucia, travel, trips, wine, work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cordoba, montilla moriles, toro albala, wine

toro albala

Up early today to catch the train to Córdoba as I’ve been invited to the 100th anniversary celebrations at Bodega Toro Albalá. I have to go and pack now.  More later!

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