prepping for the HEAT

12 Monday May 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, home, seasons, sevilla, spain, summer

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I can’t live without electric fans. If I had my way (and if they weren’t so ugly) I’d have ceiling fans in every room. Last year I splashed out on this new Rowenta, intending it to replace the old faithful one I’d had for about twenty years, in the end held together by by twist ties and luck, until that luck finally ran out. Originally destined for my bedroom (and I did try it there) it was better suited for the living room, mostly because it didn’t have a timer and I don’t always want or need it going all night. Also it’s more attractive and I see it all day there (unlike in my bedroom).

Out of the two other identical bedroom fans bought years ago, Peter’s had begun sounding like a turbo jet engine, which he dealt with last summer by sleeping on his good ear. So this year he has inherited mine (which is totally fine, so far) and I’ve got this new one. Silent AF! With a timer. It also oscillates all over the damn place, not a feature I’m interested in, so side-to-side mode for me. But you know, with all these electronic features I expect it to conk out long before my old faithful one did, or even before the newer Rowenta (which just has a quaint three-speed dial, nada más).

Now waiting for handyman Luis to come over to do the annual filter cleaning on the AC unit. And then, fingers crossed, all is set for the summer HEAT.

málaga here I come!

09 Friday May 2025

Posted by in getaways, health, malaga getaway, travel, trips, work, writing

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The last time I was in Málaga was in December 2019 for what had become my annual pre-Christmas visit in what used to be my second favourite city in Spain, although I would often go a couple of other times during the year. Well okay, I did land briefly in Málaga in March 2020 just before YOU KNOW WHAT but was quickly whisked out of town by Victor to the Axarquía in order to do research on some wineries there for a Decanter article. I arrived home two days before lockdown. To be honest I haven’t travelled much since then, and still haven’t been outside Spain. Anyhow, I am now finally going back to Málaga.

At first it was a plan to just go overnight to the Vinos de España Una Pasión event, which takes place each year in a different Andalusian city. Last year the 10th anniversary edition was held in Jerez and I think this may have been my last trip anywhere (BC – before crutches). Then I remembered that my friend Jeffrey has been imploring me to visit his new restaurant Andala in Marbella, even offering to pick me up in Málaga and lettng me stay at their spare apartment there. Which of course I’m very excited to visit. So okay then… two nights! A plan was coming together.

The first thing I checked was train tickets. A stupid early fast train from Sevilla would get me into Málaga about an hour before the event, so okay. And Peter wanted to come too, so then the plan was that he’d come overnight and when Jeffrey picked me up the next afternoon he’d head back to Sevilla. This also meant the cats would only be left on their own one night. So… train tickets were purchased. Then I booked the event tickets in case they sold out. And then I started looking around for somewhere to spend the night and OMG…

I mean, I know it’s been a while but hotel prices have gone totally crazy in Málaga, though I guess this is probably true of everywhere. I just haven’t been staying in hotels lately. The cheapest places I could find, including a hotel offering sleeping pods (!!!), were honestly too depressing for words. A couple of “okay I’m just there to sleep” considerations were about 120€ but I just couldn’t do it. So in the end I splashed out on a very “just okay” hotel not far from the train station for 180€ (last week it had been 160€ so I decided to just go for it before the price went up again).

I also went for it because it looks like I may be getting a writing commission that could mean me staying down south another day or so, and so it’s a bit of a gamble. I mean, I can’t afford this! But I also kind of need to do it. Especially because I’m equally excited and scared about going. I don’t know how it’s going to be with the crutches. Even with Peter and Jeffrey there to help out I’ll end up at the train station a couple of times trying to drag my suitcase along with one crutch tucked under my arm and the other holding me up. As for getting on and off the damn train… I shall rely on the kindness of strangers.