Tag Archives: summer

travelling companion

03 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Malaga, travel, trips, work

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I am so excited!

After sorting out Azar health issues with my vet Yolanda this afternoon I felt secure enough to go out and buy my train ticket for Málaga. I’ll be spending Monday to Friday there next week mostly working, but also with some time off to dip my toes in the Mediterranean.

Once again I’ll be staying at my friend Manolo’s apartment, which I am told has undergone a total makeover since my last visit – stay tuned for new photos! And I’ve organised a vineyard visit with some very cool and interesting people – more on that later.

And so after getting the train ticket I went to the Corte Inglés to get some “old geezer” cat food for Azar (this will tide him over until his blood test results come back) and on the way out I spotted these adorable 2-3 cup bodum french press coffee makers… and well, how could I spend almost a week in Málaga without decent coffee? It was ON SPECIAL OFFER too! Because I always takes sheets and towels with me when I stay at Manolo’s there’s never any question of travelling light. I’ll also have the laptop with me and a few groceries from home, so what’s an extra coffee maker? Last time I was forced to drink instant coffee… never again!

What can’t you live without when you travel?

terraza brekky

24 Sunday Jul 2011

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

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A cool and overcast Sunday morning seemed the perfect moment to have brekky up on the terraza with the laptop (less glare) and the boys. I was a bit nervous about the low swooping birds that kept catching Loki’s attention, but he seemed content to explore every inch of the terraza as if he had never seen it before. And then quick as a flash he was off chasing a dragonfly and almost went “over the top” in the process. My heart still catches just thinking about it. And so he was put back inside, at which point Azar decided he didn’t like being out there without his buddy… but it was fun while it lasted.

Seriously considering  trellises…

evening stroll

20 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by in home, sevilla, spain, summer, tapas

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On a hot summer night in Sevilla it just doesn’t seem right to go to bed just when the weather is turning agreeable, so lately flatmate Nog and I have taken to late evening walks, which often end up with us stopping off somewhere for a Cold Beer and a tapa. Tonight we made two stops as I hadn’t had dinner, and we ended up going over the river to Triana, thinking it might be a bit cooler. It wasn’t. But it was cooler than inside the house, and there was a lovely breeze. And look at all the pretty things we saw! Plus we got some exercise and our two snacks cost a grand total of 12 euros. I love Sevilla.

Now it’s time for a cool shower and bed…

I give in!

15 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in home, sevilla, summer, tapas, twitter, weather, work

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It’s too darn hot…

And yes, I know it’s not nearly as hot as it’s going to get (and bear in mind that when it says it’s 36º it’s usually a good 5º hotter than that in the centre of town) but Nog and I just got back from his first “dress rehearsal” Sevilla Walk, with our twitter pals @annalibera and @jorgeguitian, and I finally put on the AIR CONDITIONING. Because I can.

And man, does it ever feel good. Even taking the inside temp down from 31 to 28 feels amazing, especially after a nice cool refreshing shower. But I mostly did this because when I got in I saw that Azar had thrown up on my bed (just “water” but all over the clean sheets I’d just changed last night) and then I found him hiding underneat the bed  looking decidedly floppy. So I decided he needed a little cool down time, during this hottest part of the day.

I had hoped to hold out until July, but oh well. I shudder to think what every hour of centrally cooling down all 90 square metres of this place will cost, but I reckon that an hour at lunch time and an hour in the evening before bed should help get us through the worst of it. And I have to say that it feels so luxurious to be able to come home and be comfortable! I expect to feel just as amazed next winter when I don’t have to wear four layers and shiver in front of a space heater. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for this luxury.

To wit… the first run of Nog’s Sevilla Walk went well. Still some editing and fine tuning to do, but over-all I think Anna and Jorge enjoyed themselves. Afterwards we had some great tapas at La Giganta. Cheap too! All that food and two drinks each for just 8 euros a person…

I have a bbq!

02 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in food & drink, home, retail therapy, summer

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The deed is done … I have bought a BBQ.

I had wanted one with a lid, as friends told me that I would then be able to BBQ things like legs of lamb and whole chickens, but the store I went to this morning (long bus ride out to the burbs) mostly had the typical open style ones. At first I had my eye on this covered one, but not only was it expensive (110€) it seemed more like a BBQ oven, was kind of small, and you couldn’t adjust the grill height. Then I thought I wanted this one for 50€ because it had a nice cart attached to it, a grease catcher and air vent, and was on wheels. But no lid. In the end I went for the cheapest one on offer. It cost 15€, is basically a large metal bowl on a tripod, and will probably not last the summer. Or it may last ten years.

The reason for going with this very basic “starter model” was because it occurred to me that I have no idea if I’m going to end up even using the thing much. I mean, I love food cooked on the BBQ and I love the concept of cooking outdoors and enjoying meals up on the terraza. But how often will I actually do this? What with having to lug everything upstairs, then deal with all that messy charcoal and the even messier cleanup.

So I think it makes sense to spend this first summer with a terraza using a cheap basic model to discover what my BBQ habits will end up like. I mean, it’s going to do the job for simple things like meat, burgers, ribs, sausages, kebabs, etc. If I find it lacking then I’ll look for something better either next year or during the summer sales.

Also, because it only cost 15€ I could also get a new microwave (49€) and an extra fan (needed for the small bedroom), all of which will be delivered tomorrow morning. Along with a big bag of charcoal. I’m thinking the first BBQ will be on Sunday – join me?