wall of hearts

15 Thursday Apr 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid

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You know what – goddammit – they aren’t just fucking numbers. They are people who got sick, who died. They are also people still suffering from long Covid, even if they didn’t happen to be people you personally knew. I honestly don’t understand why it has to happen to someone you know before you take this to heart. Are you that self-centred, selfish and borderline narcissistic? Whatever happened to empathy? Social conscience and responsibility?

Anyhow, we are going back into Level 3 here in Sevilla, predictably after the Save Semana Santa Shitshow that happened here a couple of weeks ago. They say the numbers are rising? Actually, the sick and dying are rising. Don’t forget that. All of those people had lives, families, loved ones. Just like you. And just because you’ve been “lucky so far” doesn’t mean you haven’t infected others. I’m so angry today I could spit. Just stay the fuck at home. Follow the rules. NOBODY needs to take a fucking holiday during a pandemic.

tomato sauce

14 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by in welcome

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So well anyhow… what a day! Which actually started off last night when I realised that, after opening the last bag of cat food in the house, that it had been slashed open. At first I didn’t think a lot about it (screaming cats demanding dinner) thinking maybe this bag got accidentally sliced by a knife when opening the packing box. But then this morning I remembered that I had actually bought two bags of cat food a few weeks ago, had taken them to the checkout myself, and then had them delivered along with the rest of my stuff. The first bag I opened was fine, this was the second one (which has been in the original delivery bag and in a cupboard all this time). At first I didn’t even notice it had been slashed until this morning when I saw cat biscuits all around the dishes. I tried to rationalise it, thinking there must have been some accident… BUT of course, if I saw a bag of any sort of human food had been opened before arriving at my home, I sure as hell wouldn’t eat it.

So of course the obvious thing was to go to the shop and get a new bag of food. Except today was “one of those days” which happens from time to time and, as an agoraphobic, I try not to push it unless I absolutely have to. And so I called my friend @svqconcierge (aka ovenless Peter), who happened to be going out shopping this afternoon, and he did me the big favour of picking up a fresh bag of cat food. EXCEPT it turned out the shop was sold out of the usual stuff… long story short, he bought something “similar” and brought it to me. Not ideal, but better than giving my cats possibly contaminated food!

What does this have to do with the famous Marcella Hazan 4-ingredient tomato sauce you ask?

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my cheesy apron!

13 Tuesday Apr 2021

Posted by in casa azahar, cooking, home, homecooking, sevilla

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I have bought an apron! It’s not my first apron to be sure, but it’s the first one I’ve ever used. Or even bought. Over the years I’ve been given aprons by friends, by event organisers in their swag bags, by cooking schools… and they have all been politely folded in a kitchen drawer and forgotten. Because… well I don’t know! It just always seemed like that ONE EXTRA THING to have to deal with. And frankly, I’ve always been quite a tidy cook and don’t end up getting splashed with sauces, grease, etc. That is, UNTIL…

Yep. Lockdown. During the past year I’ve been cooking up a storm, as many you who follow my personal @azahar Instagram will have seen. Just home style cooking stuff, often using up leftovers, fridge foraging, and sometimes trying out dishes for the very first time. Much of which also gets posted on Azahar’s Kitchen.
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one down, one to go…

12 Monday Apr 2021

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So after spending all day in a total tizzy (my vaccination appointment wasn’t until 5.30 pm) I made my way to the health centre, bared my chubby arm, got the jab, and then went for a cold beer. Peter had met me there on the off chance that someone might not have shown up for their appointment and he might luck out and get his too. But it turned out that they were calling people by year of birth and he is just a couple of weeks away from his. It was actually very efficient. I was called within less than a minute of arriving, then was told to wait for 15 minutes before leaving. I waited half an hour just to be sure – I once had an anaphylactic reaction after a chemo infusion (after I got home!) and don’t ever want to experience that again.

And so that’s one down and one to go. On July 1st. Guess I should know soon enough if I am going to have any nasty side effects. So far so good… 🤞