Tag Archives: sevilla

beer o’clock therapy

06 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by in health, health & happiness, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

beer oclock therapy

I guess I should have known something was up when I barely managed to drag myself out for an evening walk last Friday and after that spent two entire days hiding out at home. I say “hiding out” because that’s what it felt like. I blamed my KNEE because, frankly, walking hurts like fuck. But there was something else going on, I think. And maybe that’s what led to yesterday’s HOME PANIC ATTACK.

Today started off fine. I managed a reasonable 5 hours of sleep (4 + 1 later on) and felt okay. Got my “office work” out of the way and then did a good cardio chair workout. But then what? Early afternoon is when I prefer to go out. Sometimes for lunch, or to go shopping and run errands, getting those steps in before it get too hot. But I wasn’t feeling it and just when I was about to cave and stay home I remembered that I hadn’t posted a Beer O’clock pic on Instagram since last Friday. OMG.

Thing is, people often think I am eating (and drinking) out every day because I post photos on my Sevilla Tapas social media accounts every day. But… hey, that’s my job. And I mean, that’s the “magic” of social media of course, nothing is ever as it seems. EXCEPT my Beer O’clock photos. Those are the only photos I upload in real time (no cheating!).

And so that’s what got me dressed and out the door today, FUCK THE KNEE. I mean, whatever it takes, right? And well, it was fine. I’m glad I went out, but I’m not gonna lie, it hurt like crazy and I had to keep stopping for a break, literally gasping in pain at times. But I got to sit at the bar in Las Teresas, have a frosty cold beer, chat with the barman and the owner and feel like I always do in these lovely Sevilla bars of mine… totally at home. Worth it.

staycation (stage 2)

30 Tuesday Jul 2024

Posted by in casa azahar, sevilla, sevilla staycation, spain

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

stacation 24 pt 2

After buying that cool veg chopper yesterday I realised that not only was it really going to up my food prep game, it was also going to help with stage 2 of my Staycation. This was the same moment that I realised there was actually going to be a stage 2. I think this is kind of the “transition week”. Who knew?

Since the Staycation officially began on July 8th I haven’t missed one daily chair workout, and I have to say I’m a bit proud of myself about that. Because it’s now to the point where the day wouldn’t feel right without one and that’s kind of what I wanted to happen. It’s how things used to be. Am also getting a walk in most days, though this is getting more difficult because my damn knee is getting worse by the day, so walking is no longer a pleasure (basically it hurts like fuck).

Anyhow, this means that after this week I still have four more weeks (Staycation officially ends on September 1st). This doesn’t mean I haven’t been working. I spend several hours a day on my websites and social media, updating stuff, editing photos, creating content etc. It just means I’m not doing work I’m being paid for, which was the work I needed time off from. I already know this was important, though still vague about what, if anything, will come of taking this break. And although I really can’t afford to be doing this financially I also can’t afford to not do it.

And so next up after getting myself hooked on the workouts… some diet changes. I have already made a few, and I’m still taking the fish oil and vitamin supplements. What I’m going for is another “habit”… a way of eating that feels just as natural in my daily life as the new workout routines do now. So this “transition week” I am working towards getting that started, and also having fun with it.

Don’t get me wrong, I eat well, always fresh food, nothing over-processed, etc. And no, I am not out eating tapas every day (that’s the magic of social media). But after multiple operations, chemo-menopause-ageing etc my weight increased without me changing any habits. I wasn’t eating more or doing less. And so now, instead of feeling a bit helpless about all this, as I have felt these past 15 years, I am motivated to find what works for me. So let’s see what August brings. How’s your summer going?

new lease on life

23 Tuesday Jul 2024

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

lease

So, you may or may not know about the housing situation here in Sevilla. Over the past ten years or so we have lost so many of our neighbourhoods to tourist apartments and boutique hotels taking away from us what used to be our homes. I moved here in 1993 and after 18 years in Barrio Santa Cruz I was forced to move. Ended up in a place with all-night bars which meant five years of no sleep… then in 2017 I happened upon the place I live now. It’s smaller than my other apartments (had to down-size, got rid of lots of STUFF) but that was fine because it’s just so cosy and charming here and I love the neighbourhood. And I damn well know that now – in 2024 – I would never find anything even remotely similar in the centre of Sevilla at a price I could afford.

Right now I am on a year-to-year contract. And omg this gives me so much anxiety. Because what if one year my landlord decides not to renew? Here rent increases are based on the annual IPC, which varies from year to year and this year the percentage is 3%. Given the scarcity of dwellings many landlords choose to oust tenants and get new ones in at a much higher rent. So far this hasn’t happened but I always worry that it might (because it has before).

Today I signed my new contract for the upcoming year, same as last year, but with a significant bump in the rent. I know it’s not within the legal guidelines but I also wasn’t about to argue, because I really don’t want to lose my home. We can just about afford the increase, at least better than the cost of moving (both financially and emotionally). And so this Casa Azahar will continue for another year, and hopefully many more to come.