Come with us on a trip to the Sierra...

First of all, an apology. It's been a while since we got in touch with new news. It has been a very busy few months as we prepare for the winter season. We closed the Agua Amarga store for winter and have worked very hard to create our best winter collection for the online store to date. Normally, of course, we would have traveled somewhere for inspiration. This year that is not possible. Covid is still out there, and we all need to stay home a little longer to keep ourselves, our families and each other safe.

Many things have changed this year; the ease with which we travel will probably not be the same for a long time. Our homes continue to become more important as we spend more time than ever living, working and relaxing within the shelter and security they provide. Our priorities have changed in the face of the pandemic; spending time with our loved ones and enjoying good health is probably the only thing that matters this year.

What plans do you have for Christmas 2020? It will probably be much more intimate and quiet than in other years. For me too. Normally I would travel home to see my family in the UK. This year we will be at home in Andalusia and I will focus on creating a meaningful and beautiful holiday for my family, but especially for my young son. She's old enough now to enjoy decorating our house and the little family Christmas rituals.

I have always been what we call in English an "armchair traveller", meaning I can travel just as well in my imagination as in real life. As a child I loved reading about travel and faraway places. This winter my dream destination would be a snowy and wild place. When you live somewhere warm and sunny, it seems as exotic as the beaches and palm trees when I grew up in England. I dream of snowy mountains, pine forests and lakes, and of staying in cozy log cabins with a roaring fire. It's a winter fantasy, and a wonderful cliché.

I've had so much fun creating our Winter in the Sierra collection, which includes everything from furniture to lighting, home accessories and holiday decorations. I have brought unique treasures from all over Europe, and also from here, from Andalusia. We've also created lists of gift ideas to help you find beautiful and unusual things for your loved ones this year. We have organized them by recipient, so you can find the ideal gift for the passionate cook or decorator, for the husband or the friend. We also offer gift wrapping and can ship all over Europe, so giving a gift is easy, even if you can't be there in person.

We'll also be hosting a special Christmas giveaway this year, so stay tuned! Thank you for supporting our small business and we wish you and your family a healthy, happy and prosperous winter.