RENFE

Mainly a travelling day. For us by train to Seville Santa Justa and then by taxi to the airport. For my son by the first train out to Stansted airport. The airport was, as expected heaving, and apparently lots of people had missed early flights because of the chaos at security and were not going to be able to get home for Christmas. His flight was a little late, allowing us time for a quick reviving coffee and snack and to sort out the hire car. The trip down the motorway to Jerez was smooth, smooth, smooth. Supermarket sweep done, we headed to the apartment, which is lovely. As can be expected for a modern Christmas, we are all spending quality time with our devices...

We had a preliminary wander around Jerez in the late afternoon light, and got caught up in what appeared to be a Christmas Eve street fiesta. It's a pretty and unpretentious place. There's a nice little tapas bar (brand new) literally right outside the front door and along with a couple of beers we also tasted Scolymus hispanicus (common golden thistle or Spanish oyster thistle) for the first time. Delicious.

Something tasty is bubbling on the hob, and I'm looking forward to some home cooking after a week of eating out for every meal. And an excellent bottle of 2005 Rioja has just been opened.

However it is for you, let it be a good one.