my first antigen test!

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antigen test

So it’s been a crazy week. I was a bit sniffly with a sore throat the other day and then started thinking about the tapas tours I had booked over Christmas and then I started to get worried. Last week was when infection numbers started going through the roof again – we are back to level 3 – and the idea of being at close quarters with maskless strangers for 4 hours made me nervous not just for me but for them. Because I had no idea if I was infectious and antigen tests were (and still are) as rare as hen’s teeth. All the farmacias were sold out.

And so I cancelled the tours. And felt terrible about it because I have never cancelled a tour before this, not in twelve years. I mean, there were only 4 of them, but they were also my only source of income for December.  So aside from apologising profusely and returning all the deposits, I also spent a considerable amount of time with each client making sure they were set up by booking places for them, giving lots of recommendations, and in some cases even recommending what they should order at each tapas bar. I just didn’t want to leave them in the lurch, especially as the cancellations were quite last minute.
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dan jamón

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dan jamon

Remembering my pal Dan Jamón who loved life, travel, good food and wine, Christmas, and he especially loved his wife Deb. Last time they were in Sevilla they gave me this great Christmas card with matching tree ornament, to remind me of London, where they lived. The ornament has been on my bookcase since then, and the other day I found the card tucked away with some Christmas stuff, and that will now stay up on the shelf with the little London bus. If two people were ever meant to spend a long and happy life together it was Dan & Deb but, sadly and most cruelly, cancer cut that life short. My thoughts have been with both of them since Deb told me the heartbreaking news last week. Such a gentle lovely man, I know his memory will be a blessing to all who knew him.