Tag Archives: covid

vacunación masiva

05 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in covid, friends

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vacuna masiva (1)

Yesterday it was Peter’s (@SevillaEnglish) turn to get his first jab. But unlike me (my first one was on April 12th) he had to go out to the Olympic Stadium for his. Mine was at my local health centre and I was in and out in five minutes. Well, with the fifteen minute waiting period afterwards in case of an allergic reaction. But Peter’s was one of the Vacunación Masiva programs they have going on, and it doesn’t get much more massive than at this stadium. I’d actually never been there before because why would I have? It’s at the hellish far end of the Cartuja island, the saddest and most desolate part of town since EXPO ’92 finished. So the plan was to taxi over there and then walk back to civilisation. Ironically Peter lives about two minutes away from our health centre (we go to the same one).

Quite unexpectedly, despite the huge number of people filing into the stadium when we arrived, Peter also got his jab within five minutes, then we waited the required 15 extra ones, then we were out again. Very efficient. Gotta say I’m a bit envious though. Peter got Pfizer, which means his second jab will be in 3 weeks. Since I got AstraZeneca the waiting time between jabs is longer (10-12 weeks) so I won’t get my second one until July 1st. Oh well.

The walk back into town wasn’t that long, maybe 40 minutes or so, but it was so fucking bleak walking through the old EXPO site, as it always is. It was also fucking hot! About 33º by that time of day, so by the time we were back over the river we headed to the Alameda for a much needed and much deserved COLD BEER at El Disparate. Today Peter reported no side effects other than a sore arm. More news as it happens.

vacuna masiva (2)

adiós bodega san josé

27 Tuesday Apr 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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I wish this would stop. I mean, I know nothing lasts forever but there are just too many wonderful tapas bars shutting down. The latest tragic loss is the amazing Bodega San José, which I really only got to know a few years ago. This time it’s a combination of landlord greed and Covid that made the Bueno family decide to shut its doors after almost 80 years, though the bar itself is much older. When the family first came to Sevilla from Santander they opened a few locations, the first one being El Punto in Puerto Osario, which closed in 2007. Bodega San José was the last one standing.

Anyhow, I just found out about this today after that lovely photo of Nicolás Bueno and his mother Rosario (who worked in the bar until the final day, making her amazing boquerones en vinagre) popped up this morning in my Instagram memories and so I put it up in my Stories. Then I got a message from someone telling me the bar was about to close. In fact, the final day of the lease is April 30th but then I found out the bar stopped functioning on the 18th. I had just been there a couple of days before and was happy to see Rosario there, but nobody mentioned anything about closing. So this has come as quite a shock today. I went over to see for myself and saw the doors shuttered and everything gone from the outside, the signs, everything. So much loss this past year.

worse than useless

30 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

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I am honestly sick and tired of asshole mask wearers. You know the ones. The mask is on, but slipped under the nose (and sometimes chin) or the mask is being worn on the wrist or elbow because… well, asshole. Since last summer in Spain masks have been mandatory everywhere inside and outside, with 100€ fines for not complying. So I’m a bit confused by a recent “new” ruling this week saying masks have to be worn EVERYWHERE outdoors, because I thought we were already doing that.

It started off last spring with masks only being required inside shops, restaurants, offices, etc as long as people respected the 2 metre social distancing measure. AS fucking IF. Of course they didn’t. Nobody did. So that’s why last August they extended mandatory masks to EVERYWHERE. That’s why I don’t understand what is different about this week’s announcement.

Meanwhile… there are also too many of these shitty masks being worn (see above), especially in bars and restaurants. I understand the attraction as they are reusable and washable (up to 20 washings) and come in different colours with the business logo on them. BUT THEY NEVER FIT. Maybe they do when they are brand new, but aside from not fitting and slipping down noses, they’re not even effective. No three layers, no filter, just a piece of cloth. So basically useless.

I have seen bars that have their waiters wear a surgical mask underneath these vanity ones, and that is perfect. I just wish every place was being as responsible, because as “numbers” (sickness, deaths) continue to rise here – and they are rising – it won’t be long before the fourth wave hits us and non-essential businesses have to close again. And the ones who will complain the most are the ones who didn’t follow the rules.

overwhelmed by laundry

13 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, life stuff

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laundry

It’s not always easy, coordinating loads of laundry when you live alone. I usually have 2-3 loads a week. Two of sheets and towels, pyjamas and light coloured clothing, then one of darks. The darks don’t happen every week because those are mostly my outdoor clothes and I only go out maybe twice a week. But today I got overwhelmed by laundry.

It turned out I had to do an extra load thanks to Loki making a mess on my duvet cover (and I only have one of those, so it had to get washed and dried in the sun same day) and suddenly I had to time all this washing and drying, and sheet changing, which now included wrangling with the duvet cover, with… well, nothing at all really. Because I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO. But it still felt like my whole day was consumed by this to the point that I had to ask myself how I ever ran my own business and worked full time. Answer? No fucking idea. Though I am a firm believer in the more you do, the more you do. If you know what I mean.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Casa Román having some tapas and it was only me and Peter inside, plus maybe 2-3 other tables outside. Predictably the usually attentive waiters were not paying any attention at all. And because I know them so well I said something to that effect, complaining about how the service had really gone downhill, blah blah, joking with them. But it’s true, and Inma said the same to me, that when it’s busy they all switch into high gear and everything runs super efficiently. But when there is next to nothing to do, motivation dwindles. I remember that very well from when I worked in restaurants.

But it’s the same in just day to day life. When you have a full schedule you get all that done and then some. It’s because you have so much to do that you are already geared up to do a bit more. The energy is already there. I’m not talking about being so busy there’s no time for anything else, just a healthy amount of work to keep you feeling challenged and interested. And guess what? Somehow the laundry gets done too!

Since last March I’ve had one writing assignment and a short stint as community manager for a small group of restaurants here. Other than that, I just get up in the morning and wonder what the fuck I am going to do that day other than make lunch. Thing is, although I miss the money from those two jobs I had, what I miss more is the sense of purpose I had when I got up, that I had STUFF TO DO. I don’t know why I find it so hard to self-motivate, because I’m sure there are plenty of things I could be working on (other than lunch). Okay, maybe not true that I don’t know why. The thing is that I’m scared. Sometimes scared out of my wits. When someone gives me a job to do I HAVE to snap out of it and get it done. And what a relief that is. Or was.

So I don’t know. I realise many people are suffering much more than me. On the other hand, others are complaining about the contents of their gourmet organic vegetable delivery… my online friends are all over the map.  😉  Which is fair enough because we all have different lives. I know I have to make some very big decisions about mine. And yet I can’t seem to… oh, guess I wasn’t overwhelmed by laundry after all.