Ignacio Peyró belongs to that line of writers who combine good prose and a passion for gastronomy, along the lines of Néstor Luján, Álvaro Cunqueiro or Josep Pla. A fiery conservative, Ratzinger’s Catholic admirer and director of the Cervantes Institute in London, he is what they believe cooking “is one of the best ways to woo happiness.”. This writer and journalist has made literature about himself with the publication of some widely read newspapers, ‘It will settle down’, and some memoirs on the art of good food, ‘We ate and drank’, both published by Asteroid Books. With elegant prose and good humor, Peyró recounts his happy career as a parliamentary chronicler. He believes that writing speeches for politicians, as he did with the former minister Cospedal and Rajoy, is good training.
Monday
6.00 hours. Before I had two soft-boiled eggs for breakfast, but now, since I find it very boring, I make an omelette, have an avocado or some fruit and coffee. I like to fool around with coffee. I am trying different types. Since I went to Colombia and saw a coffee plantation, that had a profound effect on me. I have come to the conclusion that it is a whim you can afford. It is cheaper to have a wonderful one at home or in your office than to buy it outside to take it with you, which is what people usually do in London. However, here it is very common to meet for breakfast, it is a kind of great national ritual.
6.30 hours. I usually get up quite early, so I have a couple of hours for my things, which I use to send pending emails and write. I can write fast, but I like to linger. Now I am preparing an English-themed book that God willing will be out before the end of the year.
10.00 hours. Every morning I have a meeting with my Cervantes team, a meeting that I try to last no more than half an hour. It is helpful for information to circulate.
Tuesday
13.00 hours. At noon I eat anything, a circumstance that allows me not to leave work too late. I cook in a limited way, but I defend myself. Today everything has become a great conspiracy so that you do not eat or drink, but I do not care. I have found that the most interesting people read, eat and drink. It sucks to be eating only protein, abstaining from food as a sacrifice to the little productivity machine, which, excuse me, is poop.
20.00 hours. One day a week I try to have dinner alone; I take it as a spiritual exercise. I go to one of the clubs in central London. It is very nice to be in them with your book or magazine. In addition, it is a relief that the mobiles are not well seen there.
Wednesday
15.00 hours. I have quit smoking. Occasionally I smoke a cigar once a month or so, two at most.
19.00 hours. There are streets in London that I really like to frequent for their old-fashioned bookstores, like Cecil Court or Charing Cross Road. Some are wonderful and the atmosphere is charming. There are rogue wine bars in East London which are great; Visiting them means going on an excursion, but it is well worth it.
23.35 hours. No, I don’t sleep in an old Quechua T-shirt bought at Decathlon. I love stripes, shirt pajamas, which also have a great cinematographic tradition. After this great confinement I have come to discover the importance of a good pillow, a good blanket and a good pajamas.
Thursday
16.00 hours. Man, looking at a woman in the supermarket is not to be called a ‘voyeur’, I hope no one is going to throw stones at me for that. Romantic or amorous sexual attraction has not been abolished so far.
18.00 hours. I would love to go to the gym, but I haven’t been called. I have tried it once, but with catastrophic results. I understand that sport is wonderful to extend life, but you also have to have priorities. Between an hour of gym and an hour of reading, I have no doubt. So sorry. The only way I can take care of myself is to be moderate and move what I can, but not by killing myself either.
23.00 hours. Before going to sleep I try to save an hour or so to read. And I pray, not all that I should, no doubt, because I have many sins.
Friday
14.00 hours. Where the rubbish is seen is not in the newspapers, bless them. Bullshit is in other places, for example on television. I say it without boasting, but I don’t watch TV, it hides very pernicious things.
20.00 hours. On Fridays I usually like to have dinner with someone at home or at a club. It is something that I usually plan in detail. I spend a lot of time browsing weird websites to buy wine. I don’t usually drink more than twice a week because I have to put a bit of a limit on fat. In confinement there have been three words that were wonderful when they called on the intercom and announced: “We delivery wine” (we bring the wine), which is almost as beautiful as saying “I love you.”
Saturday
10.00 hours. I dedicate my weekends to reading and writing, although deep down I don’t stop. Once a month I explore England as much as I can, beautiful towns like Winchester, Lincoln, St. Albans, Deal…, small cities that have their main street, their cathedral and even their specific type of sausage. They have the advantage that they do not support great tourist pressure. It is a joy to drive in spring and summer on secondary roads, although I am very much a fan of the train.
21.00 hours. Now I listen to less music. There was a time when I played Classic Radio, but when I got to London I lost the habit. More and more I enjoy the monastic silence, of which we have had a lot in recent times in which I have experienced a life as a Carthusian.
Sunday
12.00 hours. Although I don’t like sports, ‘El Confidencial’ has offered to write about it every fortnight, and you can’t say no to a newspaper like that. So I make a living and it’s even fun. The other day I went to a croquet field to learn how to play.
17.00 hours. I guess the pandemic is going to kill the tie. I confess that I like it because it allows you to show a certain individuality, without falling into a silly ego party. There are very beautiful ones. I am fond of them perhaps because I already had one at school.
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