Tag Archives: casa azahar

caturday august 5th 2023

05 Saturday Aug 2023

Posted by in casa azahar, cats, caturday, home

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caturday august 5 2023

Thirty years ago this beautiful boy was literally born into my hands. My Sunny. That was supposed to be his “milk name” until I came up with something more exotic to pair with his mother Lua, so that I would have the moon and the sun. But it turned out he not only had a happy sunny disposition, he was also a bit of a doof and not even remotely exotic or mysterious, bless him. Sixteen years later he died in my arms and I still miss him. But we were both lucky to have each other as long as we did.

maria m!

05 Monday Jun 2023

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maria m

Maria M is back in town and yesterday we met up for lunch. Maria lived with me at the original Casa Azahar during the summer of 1999 and is here doing research at the Archivos de Indias (just like back in 1999). Wow, talk about a blast from the past. Anyhow, it was great to catch up but some of her memories of our time living together left me wondering if I was even there! This has happened before when meeting up again with ex-lodgers and I think it’s because for them their time in Sevilla was a distinct “time and place” part of their lives, whereas for me, well, I was just living here, and almost always in survival mode. Also, my memory sucks!

It was a lovely afternoon and fun to reminisce over a fabulous Sunday lunch at La Cayetana. Hopefully we’ll be able to get together again before she goes home.

aaaarrgh 2023

18 Thursday May 2023

Posted by in home, seasons, sevilla

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arrrgh 23

First cockroach sighting since May 2022, which is a bit of a record. During my 30 years in Sevilla I’ve usually found one or two of these vile creatures in my house during the summer months. They are often first discovered by the cats, who can sniff them out, and then proceed to kill them to smithereens. But sometimes they just pop out of nowhere like GAAAAAAAAAAAH. Like today. Luckily Peter was on hand with his trusty shoe to kill the fucker and then dispose of it down the toilet. I just can’t with these things. I mean, I know they are just a bug and, even though they are actually enormous cockroaches, they are still small compared to me. But I just can’t. Anyhow, going by past summers there should only be one more this year? Please? Or none? Even better.

covid 2023

02 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health, health & happiness, sevilla

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covid 2013

Hey guess what… it’s STILL FUCKING HERE.  Yesterday Peter tested positive for Covid (so far I’m still negative). His symptoms started on Sunday (feeling tired, chesty cough) so we did a test on Sunday evening – negative. But Monday morning there it was. Fuck. Obviously since the positive test result Peter has been keeping to his room, wearing a mask, with the balcony doors open for ventilation… and of course he cancelled his tours this week.

I also got in touch with my clients booked for this week. Told them the situation, that I had so far not tested positive (and of course would test on the morning of the tour) but they have opted to cancel. Fair enough. I wanted that to be their choice, it wasn’t mine to make for them, thinking I was fine, it was theirs to make based on the possibility that I might not be. Totally respect that.

And yeah, it sucks to lose work and income. But I don’t get it. How do people who KNOW they are Covid positive still keep going out and about, keep going to work, keep meeting friends for dinner, going on trips, etc etc fucking etc??? Then there are the people who are in denial, who refuse to test, refuse to acknowledge they may have Covid because… who the fuck even knows why? It makes no sense to me.

There is no such thing as “just a cold” in my house any more. Because there is no such thing as “just a cold” pretty much anywhere in the world any more. In fact, I haven’t had JUST A COLD since December 2019. Gee must’ve had something to do with everyone wearing masks, washing hands, paying attention… though I did finally succumb to Covid in October 2022, just two weeks before I was scheduled for the second booster (fuck fuck fuck). “Mild” symptoms, ten days testing positive, twelve days spent at home until I got two consecutive negative tests, so as not to infect other people. I don’t understand why this is a hard concept to take in, or why people think it’s somehow okay to infect others with a potentially fatal illness, or one that could result in life-long incapacity.

I do understand that we all can’t afford to take time off (god knows I can’t) and I fully acknowledge I take some personal risks that I probably shouldn’t but I have to work and, just like everyone, I want to have a bit of my old life back. Those are my personal choices that I make for myself. But for me to decide… hey, flatmate is down with Covid but so far I’m okay so I’m not going to tell anyone unless I have to… who the fuck even thinks like this? The mind reels. And the heart hurts.