Tag Archives: family

another family christmas party!

26 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by in christmas, family, friends, sevilla

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Following the lovely pre-Christmas Eve family dinner on Monday was an actual Christmas Eve dinner, this time with the family of my pal Jota (owner of La Chalá and Lola por Diós), and our friend Esteban (Vermutería Yo Soy Tu Padre) and his mother. When I arrived Jota was busy in the kitchen – he prepared the entire meal on his own – so I chatted with his parents and other family and friends while we waited for Esteban and Tanya to arrive. Everyone was so charming and friendly… and as it turned out most of them are originally from Galicia.

As you can see, it really was a feast. Not showing are the four thousand desserts and endless bottles of wine… I ended up rolling home around 2.30 and was far from chipper on Christmas morning. But it was another wonderful family gathering. I think this has been my best ever Christmas in Sevilla!

Fabulous feast!

My boys! Jota & Esteban ❤

family christmas party

23 Monday Dec 2019

Posted by in christmas, family, friends

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I was thrilled to be invited to a pre-Christmas family lunch by María Paz (on the right in photo), whom I’ve known since I first arrived in Sevilla over 26 years ago. I thought it was just going to be a casual thing with immediate family so imagine my surprise when I got to her place to find about 30 people spanning 4 generations gathered around various tables set up for the meal. This was supposed to be their usual Christmas Eve gathering, but some of the grandchildren were leaving the next morning for Madrid so they decided it move it up a day.

It was a potluck affair with everyone bringing something they’d prepared at home, with the star dish being María Paz’s famous partridge in chocolate. But really, all the food was wonderful, and there was so much of it. Plus plenty of wine, and desserts galore. I could barely move when it was finally time to move. In typical Spanish fashion, lunch finally finished around 8 pm, but this also included a lengthy sobremesa and everyone (one at a time to cheers and applause) opening their Secret Santa gift. It was total chaos most of the time and I totally loved it. Such a lovely way to start Christmas.  🙂

my sister sue

24 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in friends, home

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sis & sardina
Okay, hands up! How many of you remember my sister Susan? She was such a very important part of my life a few years ago, she was my best friend, the sister I chose, she was my family. Meanwhile, lots of things happened. I got sick with cancer and man, did Susan come through big time! To say she saved my life is no exaggeration. And then stuff in her life went sideways. Long story short, she chose to go back home to the U.S. and I tried to help her like she’d helped me. But there were misunderstandings and Susan, under a lot of pressure, made her move and we lost touch for awhile.

Fast forward to 2014. Susan and me, back chatting on Skype, back to feeling good together. And then suddenly she was back in Sevilla! With her beautiful, chatty, smart and sassy daughter Isabel (aka La Sardina) and her partner Matt.

susan isabel matt

It was such a great weekend. To be back with my sister again. To get to know Isabel again as a young force to be reckoned with. And to finally meet Matt, who received the “az seal of approval”. I mean, does this look like a happy family or what? The energy between them was so great. And I hope to stay a part of the family now, despite the distance. Tía Az. 🙂

sleepy girl

09 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home

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It’s funny how cats get inside your heart. I’ve found Luna sweet and charming and funny ever since I took her in last September, but it was when I found her so prettily asleep like this on my bed the other day that I realised how much I’ve come to love her. She’s still very kittenish and still a tiny thing (especially next to Loki) but she is a force to be reckoned with, and a rather endearing one at that. My little bandit-masked ninja kitten…