My friend Reyes left for Dubai on Sunday February 22nd with plans to return home a week later. She and her husband Juan Carlos were travelling with friends going to see their daughter who has been working there. And well, we all know what happened. Since last weekend I’ve been on tenterhooks after Reyes described that first night of bombing and with the phone alarm going off at midnight and people not knowing what to expect. We’ve been in contact every day, sharing whatever information we had. Luckily my Substack pal Liam Collens, a food and culture writer who lives in Dubai, was also able to pass on some helpful info and advice. And then today I got the best whatsapp message ever… “We’ve just landed in Madrid!”

Soooooo relieved, of course. And I can’t wait to see Reyes again and give her the biggest of hugs. But I gotta say, wow, there’s been such a load of judgemental bullshit online (where else?) ranging from tut-tutting anyone who would travel to the middle east and “support” such regimes to schadenfreudeing about anyone caught up there because somehow they all “deserve it”. Wtf.

Obviously you can think what you like, and I have a few opinions (who me?) about some people I know who have either moved to or opened businesses there, but surely people must realise that not everyone there is a millionaire tax-dodger or insufferable lifestyle influencer, and that even if they are… do they deserve to die in this heinous illegal war? Does anybody? I am too disgusted by it all to say any more about it. I just want to say… Welcome Home Reyes! See you soon 🥰

I’ve known Jeanine since she and her (now ex) husband Juan opened La Azotea back in 2009. And we’ve been friends ever since. She has been there for anniversaries, (both mine and hers) and even personally delivered my special treat Lockdown Lunch from Dan & Deb. Just to say, she’s always been there over the years, though we don’t often find a chance to meet up in person (usually we bump into each other in the street as she is whizzing by on her way somewhere and promise to do lunch “soon”). Well, it finally happened this week and it was great. First lunch at La Cayetana and then a penúltima at Gran Café España, all the while talking non-stop and catching up with ALL the gossip. Between the two of us we must know everyone in the restaurant biz here.

We also caught up on each other’s lives, what we’ve been up to, future plans, etc. It was such a treat to feel safe sharing my thoughts and feelings and, well, also to feel cared about. Doesn’t happen much these days. Anyhow, it was a great day and who knows when we’ll manage to meet up again but it’s a real comfort knowing Jeanine is out there. Abiding.