Tag Archives: summer

terraza cats

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, home, summer

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[click to enlarge]

It wasn’t quite so blazing hot this past weekend so I took the opportunity to break out the BBQ for the first time this summer. Really I should BBQ all year round EXCEPT for summer since usually the only times it’s bearable to do so is either 9 am or midnight… a sunny January afternoon would be much more comfortable. Anyhow, everyone had a great time including little Luna, who took to inspecting all the plants and finding hiding places (as you can see, Loki is content to find a nice shady spot and stay put). I still wouldn’t feel comfortable letting the cats out on the terraza on their own, but they love coming out when I’m hanging up laundry, watering plants, etc.

That old gentleman Azar prefers spending the hot summer days stretched out on the coolish marble floor under my bed. The tumour on his shoulder has almost doubled in size in the past few weeks and I am becoming torn between wanting him to be with me always and not wanting him to suffer. So far I think he is still doing okay, all things considered.

What did you do over the weekend?

another sandal dilemma

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by in retail therapy, shoes, summer

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Last year I had a slight sandal dilemma when I bought these Mephisto sandals because my usual size seemed a tiny bit short, but the next size up was way too long. So I went with the usual size and they were fine but, because they were my only sandals last year (and I wear sandals from March – October) they are pretty much worn to a nubbin.

The problem is that all the Mephistos this year are either waaaayy ugly or else the same as last year. In order to have something new and comfy to wear (the shredded insoles on the old ones also shred my feet!) I bought a pair just like these, though they aren’t the best for walking as they don’t have a back strap.

In desperation I started looking online and found a place in the UK that stocks the model shown here, which I think look nice and also look like they’ll be comfortable. It’ll cost me 10€ to have them shipped here, but that’s not my dilemma. What if they don’t fit right? I’ll end up paying shipping charges twice and still have no sandals. Though I’m pretty sure I’ve had this style before, or something similar. Having very hard-to-fit feet is it foolish of me to even consider ordering sandals online?

32º

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in cats, home, sevilla, summer, weather

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I couldn’t take it anymore. So at 5 pm on May 15th I put on the air conditioning!!!

Exactly a month earlier than I did last year. But man! It’s been 32º inside my livingroom since the weekend. Needed some relief, and it’s perked up Azar too. I’ve been quite worried about him overheating and dehydrating. He’s barely eaten the past few days, though he’s still drinking a good amount.

So I’ll probably be bankrupt by September at this rate, but it feels so good to be comfortable in my own home.

And Azar has just got up to have a snack, so there, it’s all worth it.

How’s the weather where you are?

summertime dreaming

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in sevilla, spain, summer, travel, trips

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I think it was while I was watching Rick Stein’s latest programme on Spain that I first got the idea of taking a train trip across the top of the country. And talking with Ricardo yesterday brought it all back as he is from Galicia and our conversation had turned to travel. So I asked Ricardo for some ideas of where to stop and it turned out that we will have to dedicate at least a few hours to this topic once my plans firm up a little.

The first concern will be money, of course. But if Peter continues working as much as he has been then he should be able to take some time off and come travelling, and we both should be able to keep the house going in August without working fulltime. But my main concern is the cats. I reckon this trip will take at least ten days, and there is no way I can leave Azar – even with a cat sitter checking in – for that long. So I will start looking for someone (Jessica, are you reading this?) who might want to come and stay here while we’re gone. Of course the beginning of August isn’t the best time to visit Sevilla, but I’m sure someone wouldn’t mind free accommodation in exchange for cat sitting.

Next, how to go? I was thinking by train because, well, I like trains. But Ricardo said that taking buses between stop-offs might be easier (and cheaper) as there are more bus routes. So this would mean flying Sevilla-Santiago and later flying home from San Sebastian. Another option is to find a friend with a car who also fancies this summer adventure…

And so, it’s all up in the air and depending on many, many things, but it’s very exciting to think about. I’ve never had a summer holiday like this before.

Have you got any summer travel plans?

summer returns

07 Wednesday Sep 2011

Posted by in sevilla, spain, summer, weather

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Last Friday afternoon I took a taxi from the hospital to the Plaza Alfalfa, a square near my house, so that I could pick up the various drugs I needed at the pharmacy there. While inside the skies opened and this very unsummerlike scene left me stranded while Nog raced home to get umbrellas so I could get home as soon as possible without getting soaked through.

All that week up until Sunday the weather was lovely and fresh, with a couple of rainstorms to clean the air. But this week The Heat is back. At the moment the thermometer reads 32º in my livingroom but I refuse to turn on the airconditioning because another thing waiting for me when I got home was a 173€ electricity bill for August (!!!). I’m still in shock. That is just for one month! And I only used the aircon for maybe three hours a day in August. So for the rest of the summer I’m just going to sweat it out and look forward to the cooler weather to arrive. Though I could do without another rainy winter…