one year later

18 Friday Aug 2023

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ficus (2)

The “Ficus Centenario de San Jacinto” in Triana, one year after it was nearly destroyed. Once standing twice as high as the church, after years of the parish being negligent in its maintenance, they used the excuse that the roots were causing damage to the building to have it cut down, which was authorised by the City Council. Thanks to public outcry and citizen mobilisation in the streets and in the courts, the ficus was saved last minute, but not before it looked like it may not actually survive.

The City Council has since decided that the survival of the ficus is in the best interests of the city and its residents and has taken over the responsibility of its care and maintenance. I mean honestly, a year ago I thought it was dead (see pics below) but then it started sprouting leaves again and it’s a joy to see it recovering. I don’t suppose I’ll live long enough to see it grow taller than the church again (it’s 110 years old!) but this will do for now.

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that view

17 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in casa azahar, sevilla

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the view from here

I will never ever tire of – or take for granted – this simply lovely view I have from my “office” at Caza Azahar. There are three balconies here, two face the building across the street but this one looks down a narrow pedestrian street and this is what I see from my office chair when I take a moment to look away from the computer and look out the window. The view constantly changes at various times of day, from bright and sunny to softly lit twilight to the glow of the street lamps. And I love them all.

making do…

16 Wednesday Aug 2023

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sheets 2023 (1)

Summer sales always get me thinking about the basics and what needs stocking up on or replacing. And part of the reason for this most boringest blog on the internets (takes a bow!) is that I have a daily account of stuff that happens in my life, including mundane stuff like buying new sheets. A quick check informed me that it was only two years ago that I got new ones. Way too soon to fork out for more new sheets, especially as my top sheets and pillow cases are just fine. It’s the bottom fitted sheets that are fucked. Elastic is shot and there are a few tell-tale L-shaped cat tears that at any moment could rip wide open.

Anyhow, this is either my week for new discoveries or just me finding out that these things were always there and I simply didn’t know about them. So just like IKEA delivering small items for a mere 3 euros, I found out that I can purchase bottom sheets separately from Bassols. Continue reading →

big tourism

15 Tuesday Aug 2023

Posted by in rants, sevilla, spain, tourism, travel

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big tourism

We’ve had Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Agriculture and now we have Big Tourism, except we keep calling it “mass tourism” as if it’s something just happening to us rather than something planned, controlled and promoted by… ??? I mean we know the culprits behind the other “Bigs”. But who is leading Big Tourism? Anybody know? Continue reading →

ikea delivers!

14 Monday Aug 2023

Posted by in retail therapy, sevilla, shopping

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ikea delivers

Who knew? I mean, of course I knew you could get things delivered, both if you shopped online or in person, but I didn’t know IKEA would deliver small items to your home FOR JUST 3 EUROS. Anyhow, I have used these cotton throws as chair and sofa covers for years but they can only be found at IKEA and, since I haven’t been to IKEA since 2017 (and have no plans to go again if I can help it), it was no surprise to realise that the throws I got six years ago were in a pretty sad state thanks to the you-know-whats.

So I had a look online just to see if they still stocked them (they do) and decided to see what they would charge to deliver and I was (pleasantly) shocked. I don’t know how long this has been going on but the last time I bought anything there it was a minimum 30 euro delivery charge. And so I have a couple of these guys arriving this week and I can finally put the old shredded ones to rest. This could be dangerous.