Tag Archives: sevilla

a day off…

06 Tuesday Apr 2021

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla

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“people gather round her and she finds it hard to stay alive”

Today I’ve taken a “day off”. And you may well wonder – a day off from friggin what?? – since I have no work, no daily routine, no nuthin that would normally create any semblance that might constitute a DAY. But the thing is, I’d been doing more or less well, sticking to my schedule and getting out there for my (almost daily) 10,000 step walks for the past (almost) two weeks. But today…?

Well, first of all I had another run-in with my crazy downstairs neighbour. When I first moved in (four years ago) she LOVED ME then soon decided to HATE ME (no idea why) and so that was weird. But since lockdown last March she decided she loved me again and things have been fine, with no longer having to try and avoid her when coming and going. Then yesterday she suddenly hated me again, accusing me of doing things I hadn’t done, leaving garbage on the doorstep, blah blah, followed by so many nasty whatsapp messages. And it made me very sad. I mean, I know it’s her problem, but dammit, I will never get used to hearing shitty things being said about me and it will never not me cry. It may sound silly, but my home is my refuge. If there is any tension anywhere in the place I live it affects me and hurts me. So, that was yesterday.

Then I woke up today. After having fallen down on my way to bed last night. I was taking Morcilla’s dish to the cupboard after her bedtime snack and then Loki got tangled up under my feet and I stepped on him (paw? tail? no idea) and he SHRIEKED and then I jumped back, holding the dish aloft in my right hand and lost my balance, crashing down heavily on my left side onto the marble floor. Holy fuck it hurt. I actually didn’t move for ages, trying to decide if any serious damage had been done. When I finally picked myself up (dish intact, cat food strewn everywhere) my left leg, elbow, shoulder, were in big time pain.

So yeah, I woke up today. With minimal damage it turned out, thank goodness, other than bruising and that feeling of vulnerability that happens when you’ve dodged a bullet. I mean, my god, I could have broken a hip or ankle, whatever. But although I was more or less okay I just lost track of everything.

So I didn’t go for my walk. And I’ve been loving those, dammit. In fact I didn’t go out at all, or even get out of my pyjamas. I feel  trapped somewhere between the hate vibes rising up from my downstairs neighbour and the “one step away from disaster” feeling from almost having had a serious accident (though this also gets projected onto Covid and Cancer, which are still looming large for me). Result? I’m a fucking mess today.

And so… I decided to cook something challenging. My therapy. So far so good. Though it’s still hard not to just cry for “no reason” now and then. In the end, this will be just another day, and tomorrow… well, that’s gonna be another one. If I’m lucky. So if you’re feeling like this too, hey, you’re good. You’re not alone. We’ll get through it. xx

new walking route

05 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by in sevilla, walks

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new walk (1)

After spending half my river walk on Saturday trying to dodge walking, jogging and cycling covidiots either without masks or with them half off their faces, I decided to map out a different route for weekends (it’s pretty quiet down by the river during the week). And look! I hadn’t been to María Luísa Park since before lockdown over a year ago, and well, it’s just as beautiful as ever.  🙂

new walk (2)

new walk (3)

the ladies

01 Thursday Apr 2021

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So this didn’t happen last year because during Semana Santa we were on total lockdown and only allowed to go out to buy food, or go to the pharmacy. We weren’t even allowed out for walks (unless you owned a dog). Very strict times. And how soon we forget. This year Semana Santa has also been “cancelled” in terms of processions but the churches are open for people who want to visit their favourite images, etc.

Are people happy about this? Are they fuck. Everyone is still complaining about how they are “losing” yet another Semana Santa and – since they’ve been “allowed” by our idiot regional government – are flocking EVERYWHERE all dressed up and not giving a shit about anyone else. There have been massive queues (no social distancing) outside the churches, restaurants and bars are heaving, with still too many people not wearing them properly. Fourth wave, here we come!

Me? I went out for a walk, dodging the crowds, hoping for a photo or two of The Ladies who wear black dresses and mantillas on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, in mourning for Christ. Usually I find little clusters of them but this time just spotted a couple of couples. But that was good enough for me and, after a (socially distanced) tapas snack and a beer, went home again.

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.