I am rushing along a featureless fast road rising high above the London orbital, my mind muddled by a million different mundanities. I am half-running, half-walking, needing to be somewhere else, blindly ignoring the faceless cars swiping too close and too fast. Then I look over my left shoulder, primed by I don’t know what. … More Sunset slows the day
I complain about the Monday gloom, from the warmth of my kitchen window. So dank, so dark, so uninviting out there. So I go out to meet it. It’s mild. I don’t need gloves, but a gust of wind tugs back my hood and I let it go. The rain has stopped. Branches reach above … More Meeting Monday
Cold, bright and still. It was all about light, shadows and textures at Knole today. A brisk run for me and a walk in the park for the deer.
Zaragoza’s tapas quarter is small and perfectly formed in a web of old streets called “El Tubo“. The narrow lanes of Calle de los Estébanes and Calle de la Libertad comprise its core, with bar after bar offering gastronomic delights, and then more spin off into the neighbouring streets. It’s a fine way to follow the … More Tapeando in El Tubo
In the heart of El Tubo de Zaragoza is a small place with a big reputation. Its name is Bodegas Almau. Old and atmospheric (it’s been here since 1870), bottles and barrels adorn its yellow walls. Groups of friends crowd the floor, and the few tables are crammed. Squeeze in at the bar to order … More Bodegas Almau
I sit solo at a small table in Bodegas Almau in Zaragoza, sipping a white wine and trying not to eavesdrop on the conversation of the trio of women next to me. I suppose they must be in their fifties. They eat bread, olives, ham and cheese and drink cañas (small glasses of beer from the … More Three pilgrim sisters
My husband sent me to Zaragoza. He insisted – said he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. I wondered what I had done wrong, or had I done something right? “A break”, he offered with gentle conviction. “You can think, you can write – just get away. Take two nights.” “But …” I had a … More Solo in Zaragoza
Have Paprika, Will Travel 