On Friday night I came down with a rotten cold, woke up with streaming nose, sore throat, the lot. Obviously I wasn’t going to the milonga on Saturday as planned. Funny how a summer cold can make you feel like death heated up.

I stayed close to home and behaved, mainly because I wanted to be well enough for Sunday night.

First, I had what was supposed to be the last class in my Fileteado Porteño class. I didn’t want to miss that, because I didn’t know when my teacher would be able to take me again. So I stayed at home again all day, and in the early evening I took a taxi to his studio. It wasn’t easy, painting and sniffling at the same time! And the charming Martin didn’t say a word, happily bringing me water to take my paracetemol!

He had a friend drop by and, in true Argentine style, he just stayed and we all chatted while I learned! The friend also brewed up some mate, so that was another element added to my struggles — although I did enjoy it. Tango in the background, painting Fileteado and drinking mate with two good looking men — doesn’t get more Argentine than that!

As it turned out, I didn’t quite get my painting finished, so I am having an extra class in two weeks to get it done. I’ll post a picture of the finished product.

Fortunately, the next event of the evening wasn’t far away from Martin’s studio. My friend Raul was having a birthday, and it’s kind of a tradition that a bunch of us celebrate birthdays and other events at La Gran Parilla, a fantastic parilla, or steakhouse, in San Telmo. Raul, the birthday boy, is the one on the right with the big smile on his face!

I have to say I didn’t do justice to the wonderful steak, and Venetia expressed her amazement that I didn’t finish my champagne. “You must be sick!” was her comment.

But it was fun, and I’m feeling a bit better today. Hopefully I’ll be well enough to go to the milonga next weekend!