February might still be cold and dreary in the UK, but I’ve been lucky enough to escape to warmer climes—Valencia, to be exact. My husband had to go for work and to visit the university as part of his PhD, and since I can work from anywhere, I tagged along of course. And let me tell you, working from Valencia in February is a Game Changer.

Waking up to sunshine and heading out for a morning walk along the seafront before starting work? Yes, please. There’s something about that fresh sea air that makes everything feel lighter. It’s amazing how much of a difference a change of scenery can make—not just for work productivity, but for general well-being. Maybe it’s just me, but sitting down at my laptop with the sound of the waves still in my ears made answering emails feel much less painful.

And then, of course, there’s the food. Valencia is famous for its incredible cuisine, and it more than lived up to the hype. My husband and I are big foodies so had a great time hunting down the best restaurants and local delicacies. The fresh fish, the local produce, and, of course, the paella. A proper Valencian paella, mind you … no chorizo or peas in sight. It’s a bit of a running joke, but adding chorizo to paella is a surefire way to offend a Spaniard, like pineapple on pizza to an Italian, and Valencia is where paella originates, so they take it incredibly seriously (much like Yorkshire, and tea ha-ha). The real thing is made with rabbit, chicken, snails (!), green beans, and a special kind of white bean called garrofó. Simpler, lighter, and absolutely delicious. If you've only ever had the heavily modified tourist versions, I highly recommend trying the authentic version at least once.

But amidst all the sunshine, good food, and long walks by the sea, there was a bittersweet side to my visit. Valencia was also the home of Salvador Iborra Mallol, known as Salva, a poet and a good friend of mine who sadly passed away.

He published several poetry collections in Catalan, including Un llençol per embrutar (2003) and Les entranyes del foc (2005), the latter of which won the IV Domènec Perramon Poetry Prize. In 2009, he received the Jaume Bru i Vidal Poetry Prize for his final published collection Els cossos oblidats (in which there is a poem dedicated to me <3).

He comprés molt bé com és de car viure,
com hi ha moments que poden durar-nos tota
una vida i quina poca capacitat té l’home
per subvertir brises ocultes i causes silencioses.

I have understood very well how precious it is to live,
how there are moments that can last us a whole
life and how little capacity man has
to subvert hidden breezes and silent causes.

Tragically, on the night of 29 September 2011, Salva was at his apartment in Barcelona when he heard noises from downstairs. Some men were attempting to steal his friend’s locked bicycle. He went down to confront them, but they stabbed him and fled the scene, leaving him fatally wounded. A senseless act of violence that robbed the literary world of a remarkable voice far too soon.

Being in Valencia brought back a lot of memories—his words, his passion, and the way he captured the essence of life in his poetry. Walking through the streets of a place that meant so much to someone you've lost makes their absence feel sharper. At the same time, it felt like a way of honouring him, remembering him in the city he was born in, and being able to share those memories with my husband who is a big poetry fan and would’ve loved to have met him.

Now that I’m back in Toledo, I already miss the warmth and the easy pace of life there. But it’s also given me a bit of a reset. A reminder that stepping away from routine every now and then can be good for the soul. Maybe I’ll try to bring a little bit of that Valencian spirit into the rest of the year. More fresh air, more good food, more moments of appreciation of loved ones. And who knows, maybe another trip before too long…

Speaking of trips…next week, I’m heading to Leeds for the SRP Source Security Course. It’s a great opportunity to dig into an important topic, and the fact that it’s in Leeds is an added bonus since I’ll get to squeeze in a flying visit to my parents while I’m there.

The programme looks really interesting, in an area of radiation protection that I’m not all that familiar with. I’m particularly looking forward to learning more about The Threat session with Andy Taylor from Counter Terrorism Policing North East, which sounds both ominous and intriguing at the same time! I also think the discussion on Security of Sources during Transport with Chris Jones from the ONR will be especially relevant to my work as a DGSA. Attendance at this course will also help me complete the 'Basic Understanding' box of the RWA syllabus, which is the next portfolio I want to complete. It’s going….slowly….

Looking forward to catching up with colleagues and, of course, having a proper cup of tea while I’m back in Yorkshire, even if the weather will undoubtedly be terrible!

Hasta la próxima (until next time).