Tag Archives: sevilla

my first dishwasher!

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla

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Okay, there was a dishwasher at my previous Casa Azahar, but apparently it never worked so the landlords were fine with me tossing it so I could put in a bit more shelf space. And anyhow (or so I always thought) who the hell needs a dish washer? Especially when there are just two people in the place.

But when I found a fully-functioning dishwasher at the new Casa Azahar I decided to give it a go, especially for washing all the packed dishes before putting them away in their freshly cleaned cupboards. Before using the machine I ran it through first with just very hot water, then a second time with detergent, and let it dry out well. And today I’ve been trying it out with the dishes as I unpack them. I think I need a Dishwasher Loading 101 course, but other than that I can see why people use these things. Maybe not every day, but now and then. And defo for after moving, when the dishes aren’t so much dirty as just a bit dusty from being in a box. What’s you opinion about dish washers? Any tips?

nervous making…

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in cats, home, sevilla

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As you may recall, I’ve had many issues with “balcony cat protection” over the years, resulting in various methods of attempting to keep the beasts from plummeting to their deaths. When I moved to my previous house with Azar and Loki in 2011 it seemed like those days were over since the balconies had enough of a barrier (like the one in this photo) to keep them from accidentally falling, and so my balconies were blissfully “protection free” until Luna and Morcilla came along. Turned out those two chicas just loved to climb, and actually used the curly metal design bits up the railings as pawholds. So then I had to do this…

… once again making my balconies off-limits for humans. As you can see in the top photo, the balconies at the new Casa Azahar also have a small protective barrier at the bottom but NO pawhold design features, so I thought I’d let the cats have a look out this morning. Loki was the first to check it out but quickly decided he wasn’t interested. Then the girls came over, both looking quite nervous. Luna stuck her head over the barrier, then Morcilla actually put her front paws up on it to get a better look, at which point I got nervous and shut the door again.

Meanwhile, neighbours directly across from me have a cat and they have no sort of balcony protection up at all. They have even put a little footstool-bed thing in front of the balcony for the cat to lie on and enjoy the fresh air. I WISH I could trust my cats that much. Anyhow, it’s not really a question of trust. All that needs to happen is for something to fly by and then instinct would take over. My friend Fourat’s cat has fallen/jumped out her window a few times now, breaking a leg and (I think) a collar bone, so I’m not being a hysterical cat-woman. According to my vet, cats fall all the time, since real life is not a Disney film. And so… off in search of a new kind of cat protection as the mesh is not only useless (it’s actually perfect for little climbing ninja cats like my girls). Fourat has suggested a light plexiglass. Stay tuned…

moving day

24 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by in change, home, sevilla

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It took 6 men 6 hours to pack up my entire house and move it to my new house, something that probably would have taken me 6 weeks and would have involved a LOT more stress. I couldn’t believe how fast these guys worked… by 1.30 pm I was left at the new Casa Azahar surrounded by a sea of carefully packed boxes. It’s the first time I’ve used professional movers, and that packing service is worth every penny. This company didn’t offer to unpack, which I actually prefer, though no doubt I will still have things in boxes 6 weeks from now.

The only stressful part was the cats. I had them all cosy in my bedroom and naively thought I could ask the movers to clear another room first so I could then swap them over… but they moved so fast! And they were also very loud. And suddenly I was told the cats should probably “wait in the bathroom until it’s all over”. Well, okay, I probably should have thought of this initially, but trying to move three terrified cats one-by-one into my (now ex) horrid tiny under-the-stairs bathroom not only proved almost impossible – when I slipped one cat in, another ran out – but it ended up with me throwing my back out when I got into a twisty position trying to catch Loki… SERIOUS PAIN. And that’s really what you want, to throw out your back while moving house. Grrrrr… In the end we got them all in the bathroom, and then switched them back to my (empty) bedroom once the movers had left. Boy, they were not happy bunnies. But they actually were keen on sniffing out every corner of their new home once we brought them over.

I just hope it won’t take me 6 months to unpack.

el patio san eloy

22 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by in home, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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This morning the IKEA guys came with all the new stuff and put everything together within three hours. Me? It would have probably taken three days – or more! BUT it meant that at 12.15 Peter and I were not only ready for “Beer O’clock”, but also that we were more than ready for the breakfast we hadn’t had time for.

Great solution? El Patio San Eloy. This place has been going strong since 1992 and the original location (my favourite) happens to be in the new street where I live. It’s a simple and basic “cheap & cheerful” place which sometimes is just what you are looking for. Like us today. After a frosty beer and a couple of montaditos we were ready to face our next moving challenge… Movistar!  😉

With the new place now pretty much set up for the movers to arrive on Monday, we now have to focus on getting rid of stuff here. Luckily I have until the end of the month to sort all that out, which gives me a week after I move. I know I will still end up taking more than I should over to the new Casa Azahar, but I’m also pleased at how ruthless I have been (except for sometimes) about just saying “out it goes!”.

Meanwhile… woke up this morning to find I had no internet and that it turned out Movistar had disconnected my present contract without advising me, and also without telling me when they’d be reconnecting me at the new place. Using iphones as modems until it gets sorted – not ideal.

So anyhow, hope you’re having a better weekend than me! xx

 

downsizing???

21 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in casa azahar, cats, home, retail therapy, sevilla

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For someone who is supposedly DOWNSIZING I sure bought a whole whack of stuff at IKEA today. Though as you can see, most are storage-type items, which will help at the newer, smaller Casa Azahar. And I did really need a new sofa, and so found a very simple one that I could make as “cat-proof” as possible, without arms (aka scratching posts) and easy to cover (PROTECT) with a nice cotton throw. It’s a sofa-bed too, so I can still have friends stay over. The only splash out was the new ergonomic wheelie office chair. Man is that thing comfy!

Another thing I discovered today at IKEA… if you are sending all your stuff by IKEA Transport you can go to an info-desk on your way out, show them everything you want to buy, and they will put it all on one bill for you. Including all the little (kitchen/bathroom etc) stuff you bought, and want sent with the big order items, which gets left at the info-desk for pick-up. AND THEN… you go to the cashier, pay for your stuff, and walk away.

I couldn’t believe it. No schlepping through the self-service aisles looking for your flatpacks, then painfully loading them onto the trolley, eventually arriving exhausted at the check out, and then having to go over to the Transport Department and organize the delivery. None of it! I was so happy. Well, until I was at the check out and saw that they actually charge 16€ for this “pick up” service (wtf?). At that point I couldn’t say no, but I also didn’t actually want to. For 16€ I saved myself from at least another hour of IKEA HELL and was outta there in record time.

But I mean, why even charge for this? If I’d ordered everything online I wouldn’t have been charged a “pick up” fee. At least, I don’t think so…

Anyhow, it was all fine. And for what I need now, IKEA works. Practical, affordable, and often quite cute designs (LOVE my new wheelie chair). AND… it will all arrive at the new Casa Azahar tomorrow morning.