finos palmas 2019

15 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by in andalucia, sevilla, sherry

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It’s always such a pleasure to taste these wines. Finos Palmas is an annual limited selection of a small number of the very best casks of Tio Pepe Fino sherries from Bodega González Byass in Jerez de la Frontera.

This year’s selection was made mid-October by Antonio Flores, Gonzalez Byass’ master winemaker, and master of wine Peter Liem and, as always, bottled “en rama”, without filtration or clarification.

The tasting took place at Lalola Taberna Gourmet inside the Hotel One Shot Palacio Conde de Torrejón and was led by Silvia Flores, sommelier, assistant winemaker at González Byass, and Antonio’s daughter. It was different this year as it was the first time Finos Palmas has been presented to the public (rather than just press) before hitting the shelves. Really hard to pick a favourite, though of course the 53 year old Cuatro Palmas is in a league of its own. But all the wines, including a taste of Tío Pepe en Rama to begin, show the development of the finos and each one is delicious in its own way.

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on the radio!

14 Thursday Nov 2019

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I was on the radio today! Radio Tomares to be exact, a small suburban station. My pal Javier Compás got in touch the other day to ask if I would do a short “chat interview” on his programme about gastronomy in Sevilla and what I do. At first I thought NO WAY. I mean, people are always teasing me about my “atrocious accent” and so the thought of speaking in public in Spanish sent a chill of dread down my spine. And that’s basically why I decided to do it – because it scared me.

So in order to build up my courage I first met my friend Ania for lunch at Lalola Taberna Gourmet where chef Javier Abascal plied us with lovely wines and even better food. By the time I met up with Compás with Ania in tow it suddenly seemed like a good idea to include Ania in the show, since she is a licenced tour guide familiar with gastronomy tours (I think Javi was also sensing I might bolt). And it ended up being FUN. It was great having Ania there and, although I “lost my words” a couple of times, I don’t think I came off sounding like a total idiot.

And just like everytime I do something I thought I could never do… I’m ready to go again!  🙂

Listen here: La Factoría Fenicia 14 Nov 2019

ct scan results

12 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by in cancer, hope, hospitals, sevilla

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Picked up my CT scan results today. I’m so glad my GP will print out a copy for me once the report has been uploaded onto the hospital database. Then I type it out in Spanish and put it through google translate (with medical terminology it’s pretty accurate). And then I read it. Because I know it will be weeks before I get another appointment with my oncologist and it’s good not to feel in the dark all that time.

Anyhow, remember last year after my November 2018 CT scan when my oncologist told me I was fine now, cancer free for ten years, so I didn’t need any more scans, but you know, I should come back if I’m ever in pain? And I thought, fuck that shit, by the time you are in pain with cancer you are practically dead (as I found out back in 2008).

So I convinced her to at least let me have an ultrasound, which happened late last summer. And guess what? They saw something on my liver that they felt warranted an MRI. Meanwhile, my mystery pain came back (again!), so then my oncologist agreed to another CT scan, instead of an MRI, which she said was a more “complete” test.

All I can say is… damn good thing I am still getting tested! The report from last week’s scan is a mixed bag of inconclusiveness, but there is concern about “this and that”, so it looks like more testing is on the horizon. Not going to go into details now since nothing has been confirmed, but they could not entirely rule out more cancer, along with a few other new “issues” which have kind of left me reeling. On the other hand, it may all be nothing but inflammation from previous operations and illnesses. Me? I’ve gone numb. And am keeping on with my daily walks. There’s nothing else I can do for the moment.

chasing virgins

11 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by in culture, religion, sevilla

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Spent the weekend and Monday being a “fixer” for a photographer coming to shoot virgin processions, as well as different virgins in various churches, for a travel magazine. In the end we saw three processions, but for me this was the highlight, especially because it happened by chance. I had stopped in at the Iglesia Magdalena near my house to ask if I could arrange a photo shoot and the lovely archivist Aurora invited us to come “backstage”, as it were, and see them preparing inside the church just before the evening procession on Sunday. Apparently this was the first time they have ever allowed this for people outside the brotherhood. Wow.

This is the Virgen del Amparo and below are a few pics I took backstage, focusing on the costaleros, who are a bit of an obsession with me during Semana Santa. I mean, I just don’t get WHY they do this, especially as many of them end up with lifelong injuries from carrying all that weight on the backs of their necks. This time I even got a short video of them lifting up the platform with Aurora’s husband holding up the skirting so I could get a better look. I am still going through other photos I took over those three days – might share more later.

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