Friday/Saturday/Sunday 28th/29th/30th August 2009.
As we got up on Friday morning it was warm and sunny but with a sea haze over the Strait; we can see the cruise liners going past but only as a ghostly shadow so I check them out on my ship watch page, so far this week the Queen Victoria and the Ocean Princess are the only ones that we have been able to spot! I have taken thing easy as I feel like a have been run over by a tank today after yesterdays goings on! The course of tablets that I am taking are pretty strong as there are some nasty after effects after the biopsy which should take just over a week to clear up. Nurse Brenda is looking after my every need, as usual!
Saturday morning was a little cooler with a light breeze as we had another lazy day in the villa and caught up with some reading and watched the sport on the TV. In the evening we had steak and frits for supper and then settled down to watch a film, during the day Chris phoned to catch up with things, I had rung him earlier only to get a message in a very unusual language, it turned out that he is in Cyprus for the weekend on business! On Sunday we had our first roast in a while,Roast Leg of Pork with all the trimmings and five different vegetables as well as the famous Roast potatoes after we had watched the Grand Prix from Spa;later we watched the Motor cycle Grand Prix from the USA.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
SISTER ACT.
Saturday 29th August 2009.
Well today has been yet another memorable day as we have just come off the phone after speaking to Norah and Jenny in England and Lyn in Australia; we spoke earlier today to Jack and Lyn on the Skype phone as they rang us on theirs and we caught up with all their news including that Lyn has sold her house and they are planning their move into a complex before Christmas! Then this afternoon Norah from Runcorn rang as Jenny was staying with her over the weekend; it seems that the two sisters are planning to come and see us at the end of September or the beginning of October, we can’t wait to see them and Brenda is very excited! So that is the first time that Brenda and her three sisters have spoken to each other on the same day!! It’s all happening at the same time in a very sunny Tarifa and Manilva.
Well today has been yet another memorable day as we have just come off the phone after speaking to Norah and Jenny in England and Lyn in Australia; we spoke earlier today to Jack and Lyn on the Skype phone as they rang us on theirs and we caught up with all their news including that Lyn has sold her house and they are planning their move into a complex before Christmas! Then this afternoon Norah from Runcorn rang as Jenny was staying with her over the weekend; it seems that the two sisters are planning to come and see us at the end of September or the beginning of October, we can’t wait to see them and Brenda is very excited! So that is the first time that Brenda and her three sisters have spoken to each other on the same day!! It’s all happening at the same time in a very sunny Tarifa and Manilva.
Friday, August 28, 2009
COSTA DEL SOL HOSPITAL.
Thursday 27th.August 2009.
Today was “ P ”day as my appointment at the hospital was in the afternoon at 4-45pm for my prostate biopsy! So after taking the tablets and other nasty things and along with no food or drink we set off to the Costa Del Sol hospital on the far side of Marbella,Mano has very kindly offered to come over so as he could drive us back if I was in an funny condition afterwards, which was the case! As usual the Spanish medical system was right on time as they took me into the operating theater and I was soon on the table in a very unusual position!! The consultant, two doctors and a young nurse then gave me the once over before approaching me with well oiled gloved hands, an ultra sound scan probe and a twelve inch long laser guided suction gun!! Charming is not the word! The results come through in about four weeks when we will have to go back to see the consultant at the hospital.Mano drove back very carefully and avoided most of the bumps, just! Thanks Mano!! Later in the evening for supper we had some cold Chicken and baked potato after another day not to forget.
Today was “ P ”day as my appointment at the hospital was in the afternoon at 4-45pm for my prostate biopsy! So after taking the tablets and other nasty things and along with no food or drink we set off to the Costa Del Sol hospital on the far side of Marbella,Mano has very kindly offered to come over so as he could drive us back if I was in an funny condition afterwards, which was the case! As usual the Spanish medical system was right on time as they took me into the operating theater and I was soon on the table in a very unusual position!! The consultant, two doctors and a young nurse then gave me the once over before approaching me with well oiled gloved hands, an ultra sound scan probe and a twelve inch long laser guided suction gun!! Charming is not the word! The results come through in about four weeks when we will have to go back to see the consultant at the hospital.Mano drove back very carefully and avoided most of the bumps, just! Thanks Mano!! Later in the evening for supper we had some cold Chicken and baked potato after another day not to forget.
CASA OLIMPIA.
Tuesday/Wednesday 25th/26th.August 2009.
Tuesday 25th.
After the excitement of yesterday we had a little lie in and then went down to Tarifa to stock up the store cupboard; Joan is looking a little better and the dogs and cats have settled back into a routine. The excitement of having the family here has got to Joan but she has now got her appetite back and at the same time is taking thing a little easier. The weather at the moment here in Tarifa is warm with a steady breeze but as soon as you go back along the coast towards Manilva the temperature goes up by 4/5degs.Mano and Juan called in and finished clearing all the waste and rubbish and at the same time did the work on the snag list. The pool is starting to work and the chemicals are taking effect so we are planning to use it every evening as the sun moves around. In the evening we had Omelette for supper and Joan had some Chicken casserole, it had just come out of the oven and is the dog’s favourite food, which I make especially for them,we told Joan that she is not to tell the family that we are feeding her dog food!
Wednesday 26th.
We spent the day at the villa sorting out the washing and ironing ( Brenda ) and I used the newly found jet wash to clean the drive, cars and the steps down to the pool; For lunch we had fresh Gambas and in the evening Lamb chops Boulangere.We are also now able to watch the TV again and catch up with the live sports and the programmes that we like to follow; Brenda has spoken to her younger sister Jenny,who lost her husband a couple of months ago,as we are trying to arrange for her to come over in October for a holiday and at the end of September Ben and his partner Andrea, who is our dear friend Carol son,we can’t believe it is nearly a year since she died, is coming over with his new baby daughter Freya and is staying on a complex just past Marbella. We also spoke to Tim in Colwyn Bay and caught up with all his news, Jo his daughter got her A level results at the end of last week and along with the four attained and her eight GSC,s she is taking a gap year out before going to university in London-well done Jo!
Tuesday 25th.
After the excitement of yesterday we had a little lie in and then went down to Tarifa to stock up the store cupboard; Joan is looking a little better and the dogs and cats have settled back into a routine. The excitement of having the family here has got to Joan but she has now got her appetite back and at the same time is taking thing a little easier. The weather at the moment here in Tarifa is warm with a steady breeze but as soon as you go back along the coast towards Manilva the temperature goes up by 4/5degs.Mano and Juan called in and finished clearing all the waste and rubbish and at the same time did the work on the snag list. The pool is starting to work and the chemicals are taking effect so we are planning to use it every evening as the sun moves around. In the evening we had Omelette for supper and Joan had some Chicken casserole, it had just come out of the oven and is the dog’s favourite food, which I make especially for them,we told Joan that she is not to tell the family that we are feeding her dog food!
Wednesday 26th.
We spent the day at the villa sorting out the washing and ironing ( Brenda ) and I used the newly found jet wash to clean the drive, cars and the steps down to the pool; For lunch we had fresh Gambas and in the evening Lamb chops Boulangere.We are also now able to watch the TV again and catch up with the live sports and the programmes that we like to follow; Brenda has spoken to her younger sister Jenny,who lost her husband a couple of months ago,as we are trying to arrange for her to come over in October for a holiday and at the end of September Ben and his partner Andrea, who is our dear friend Carol son,we can’t believe it is nearly a year since she died, is coming over with his new baby daughter Freya and is staying on a complex just past Marbella. We also spoke to Tim in Colwyn Bay and caught up with all his news, Jo his daughter got her A level results at the end of last week and along with the four attained and her eight GSC,s she is taking a gap year out before going to university in London-well done Jo!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
THE SMORSCHE IS BORN.
Tuesday 25th August 2009.
The Smart car always thought it was a Porsche and I drive it like it is one !
The “ Smorsche ” is born !!
The Smart car always thought it was a Porsche and I drive it like it is one !
The “ Smorsche ” is born !!
Monday, August 24, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday 24th August 2009.
We were up bright and early as we had to get across to Tarifa for 9-0clock to take the family down to Gibraltar for their flight home; using plan B we managed to get all the luggage in and I dropped them off at the border as the traffic was very bad to get into Gibraltar.As I got back to the villa and we were just unpacking Brenda shouted that we had no water! On checking I soon realized that the water had been turned off as we had a red notice on the water main in the side lane!! Are we just unlucky or what? I then rang the water people and found out that the water bills had not been paid for a few months, they would not accept a credit card over the phone and the only way was to pay cash down in the office in Tarifa! The problem then was that I did not have enough cash, Joan had some but it still was not enough and I did not have the time to go across to Estepona to our bank so Joan gave me her card and I shot down to Tarifa,only to be caught in a traffic jam on the way across the mountain.Tarifa is very busy at this time of the year and all the cash points had long queues so eventually with time running out I found a helpful bank and got the rest of the cash, a very helpful lady in the bank gave me the directions to the water office in a small one way side street in down town Tarifa which I managed to get to and park just before they closed! As I arrived back at the villa in a disheveled state, the water as promised came back on!! I don’t think that I can take anymore !!! I need a wet flannel and a dark room for a while. It’s going to be Ham,Egg and chips for supper as we sort ourselves out and we catch up with the shopping on Tuesday.Boo and Mille seem very happy to see us and we have got some Mince and Carrots on for them !
We were up bright and early as we had to get across to Tarifa for 9-0clock to take the family down to Gibraltar for their flight home; using plan B we managed to get all the luggage in and I dropped them off at the border as the traffic was very bad to get into Gibraltar.As I got back to the villa and we were just unpacking Brenda shouted that we had no water! On checking I soon realized that the water had been turned off as we had a red notice on the water main in the side lane!! Are we just unlucky or what? I then rang the water people and found out that the water bills had not been paid for a few months, they would not accept a credit card over the phone and the only way was to pay cash down in the office in Tarifa! The problem then was that I did not have enough cash, Joan had some but it still was not enough and I did not have the time to go across to Estepona to our bank so Joan gave me her card and I shot down to Tarifa,only to be caught in a traffic jam on the way across the mountain.Tarifa is very busy at this time of the year and all the cash points had long queues so eventually with time running out I found a helpful bank and got the rest of the cash, a very helpful lady in the bank gave me the directions to the water office in a small one way side street in down town Tarifa which I managed to get to and park just before they closed! As I arrived back at the villa in a disheveled state, the water as promised came back on!! I don’t think that I can take anymore !!! I need a wet flannel and a dark room for a while. It’s going to be Ham,Egg and chips for supper as we sort ourselves out and we catch up with the shopping on Tuesday.Boo and Mille seem very happy to see us and we have got some Mince and Carrots on for them !
MANILVA.
Saturday/Sunday 22nd/23rd August 2009.
Saturday 22nd.
We are having a quite weekend getting ready for going back to the villa in Tarifa and are just staying at home and enjoying the house; it is a lot hotter in Manilva as there is no wind and by the late afternoon it is siesta time, we then go up on the roof terrace and have our drinks as we listen to the local music station, Kiss FM and catch up with some reading. For supper we had flattened Chicken breast, pan fried in a lemon butter sauce and fresh local frits washed down with a local chilled Rosado, we then walked up to Bar Rochas for a nightcap and sat outside on the main street watching and chatting to the locals as our Spanish gets a little better everyday!
Sunday 23rd.
After a good lie in, our last for a while we had a light cooked breakfast of Eggs, Bacon and Sausage, not the full brunch! And then went up to Bar Rochas to say goodbye and have our last drink in the village for a couple of months at least, we shall be missed! In the evening we had Chicken the same as last night but finished with Balsamic Vinegar and new potatoes (The breasts were huge!!) And finally on a beautiful day in Manilva England regained the Ashes from Australia, sorry to all our extended family over there !!
Saturday 22nd.
We are having a quite weekend getting ready for going back to the villa in Tarifa and are just staying at home and enjoying the house; it is a lot hotter in Manilva as there is no wind and by the late afternoon it is siesta time, we then go up on the roof terrace and have our drinks as we listen to the local music station, Kiss FM and catch up with some reading. For supper we had flattened Chicken breast, pan fried in a lemon butter sauce and fresh local frits washed down with a local chilled Rosado, we then walked up to Bar Rochas for a nightcap and sat outside on the main street watching and chatting to the locals as our Spanish gets a little better everyday!
Sunday 23rd.
After a good lie in, our last for a while we had a light cooked breakfast of Eggs, Bacon and Sausage, not the full brunch! And then went up to Bar Rochas to say goodbye and have our last drink in the village for a couple of months at least, we shall be missed! In the evening we had Chicken the same as last night but finished with Balsamic Vinegar and new potatoes (The breasts were huge!!) And finally on a beautiful day in Manilva England regained the Ashes from Australia, sorry to all our extended family over there !!
MANILVA.
Thursday/Friday 20th/21st August 2009.
Thursday 20th.
We had a day at home and took things easy, all our neighbors have been asking us where we have been and we have been telling them that we are going away again on Monday;the owners of Bar Rochas Manolo and Lume have been very kind and are looking after us very well at the same time and everybody in the village is very sorry that we will not be there for the Vendimia Wine Festival on the weekend of 5th/6th September!
Friday 21st.
This morning we got our selves all dolled up and went across to see Joan on her 91st Birthday, on the way we picked up some white and yellow lilies and took with us a nice bottle of pink cava to toast her with; she was not to well and so she stayed upstairs, we think that all the excitement of having the family staying at the villa has got to her a little bit and she had also had a fan in her bedroom fall over during the night and it was blowing cold air on her as she slept. Anyway all the family gathered round and in the pool,Lucas,Gemma’s ex husband brought their two son’s over from Marbella so Joan has four great grandchildren at the villa! The new slide was soon in use, into the pool as we sang happy birthday to a great old lady! Nina and her family are enjoying their stay at the villa and don’t want to go home on Monday.
Thursday 20th.
We had a day at home and took things easy, all our neighbors have been asking us where we have been and we have been telling them that we are going away again on Monday;the owners of Bar Rochas Manolo and Lume have been very kind and are looking after us very well at the same time and everybody in the village is very sorry that we will not be there for the Vendimia Wine Festival on the weekend of 5th/6th September!
Friday 21st.
This morning we got our selves all dolled up and went across to see Joan on her 91st Birthday, on the way we picked up some white and yellow lilies and took with us a nice bottle of pink cava to toast her with; she was not to well and so she stayed upstairs, we think that all the excitement of having the family staying at the villa has got to her a little bit and she had also had a fan in her bedroom fall over during the night and it was blowing cold air on her as she slept. Anyway all the family gathered round and in the pool,Lucas,Gemma’s ex husband brought their two son’s over from Marbella so Joan has four great grandchildren at the villa! The new slide was soon in use, into the pool as we sang happy birthday to a great old lady! Nina and her family are enjoying their stay at the villa and don’t want to go home on Monday.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
MANILVA.
Wednesday 19th August 2009.
We had our tea and toast with fresh fruit on the terrace before we went across to the hypermarket in Estepona for a change to stock up for the weekend; as we came back into the village Mano,Anna and Carlos were sat outside Bar Rochas so we joined them for a lunchtime drink in the shade of the trees along Calle Mar and caught up with the local gossip, mainly political as we were sat in front of the town hall and at the moment there are all sorts of coming and goings on the council! They invited us around in the evening for supper;Mano had prepared some very nice Tapas and Anna produced one “ Helluva ”Beef and Potato pie as you can see in the picture below! We then watched the live football as Atletico Madrid were playing Panathinaikos in Greece,they won 3-2 and it was a very exciting match, the girls went out on the terrace and put the world to rights! Mano then took us up to the village and we stopped at Morena’s bar for a carajillo only to find Carlos watching a match that we had forgotten about! He had gone home after work and changed into his City shirt and brought Fabio in his shirt as well to watch Manchester City play Barcelona in an invitation cup game at the Nue Camp stadium in Barcelona with nearly one hundred thousand spectators in the ground, Carlos who is a very avid City supporter also follows Barcelona as his team in Spain, unbelievable City scored in the first twenty mins.and held on, just to win!
We had our tea and toast with fresh fruit on the terrace before we went across to the hypermarket in Estepona for a change to stock up for the weekend; as we came back into the village Mano,Anna and Carlos were sat outside Bar Rochas so we joined them for a lunchtime drink in the shade of the trees along Calle Mar and caught up with the local gossip, mainly political as we were sat in front of the town hall and at the moment there are all sorts of coming and goings on the council! They invited us around in the evening for supper;Mano had prepared some very nice Tapas and Anna produced one “ Helluva ”Beef and Potato pie as you can see in the picture below! We then watched the live football as Atletico Madrid were playing Panathinaikos in Greece,they won 3-2 and it was a very exciting match, the girls went out on the terrace and put the world to rights! Mano then took us up to the village and we stopped at Morena’s bar for a carajillo only to find Carlos watching a match that we had forgotten about! He had gone home after work and changed into his City shirt and brought Fabio in his shirt as well to watch Manchester City play Barcelona in an invitation cup game at the Nue Camp stadium in Barcelona with nearly one hundred thousand spectators in the ground, Carlos who is a very avid City supporter also follows Barcelona as his team in Spain, unbelievable City scored in the first twenty mins.and held on, just to win!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
MANILVA.
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday 16th/17th/18th August 2009.
Sunday 16th.
We had a good lie in after our busy weekend back in Manilva;after a light breakfast Brenda retired to the roof terrace and I watched the Motorcycle Grand Prix,we then went for a siesta as it is now getting very hot, it is in the high 30s by late afternoon and the village goes dead for a couple of hours.We then go out on the roof terrace for our drinks at about 7-oopm as the sun moves around over the hills;at this time of the year the fire planes and helicopters are kept busy as they attack the grass fires in the hills,they collect the sea water and then shoot over our roof tops in the village on their way inland! The stew that I made on Saturday has gone in the deep freeze to be used next week.
Monday 17th.
On Monday morning after an early shower we went across to the bank in Estepona,called into to see Clive and Carolyn in Guadalmina ,but just missed them and paid up the advert in the Sur In English for another few months before picking up shopping and birthday cards on the way back. We are back into our routine and have even started reading again when we are on the terrace,after a light supper we settled down and watched on DVD the latest James Bond movie,Quatum of Solace which is very good and Daniel Craig is excellent,my only complaint being was the credits which are very small and went past very quickly !
Tuesday 18th.
We had made contact with Gissy over the weekend and had arranged to go and see her as her family were over from Germany for a week;The pictures below show her mother,Mutschka,Laura her neice,Claudia her sister and Brenda and me on the balcony of Gissy’s apartment,they live just outside Koblenz above Frankfurt and are flying back on Wednesday;Gissy also gave Brenda a quick cut and blow as we are away again on Monday and don’t know when we will be back over. In the evening we walked up to our local Bar and Lume,the owners wife cooked some fresh Pescado frito for Brenda and Egg and Frits for me,which came from their country Campo just outside Manilva! The six senoras that are out every night were sat behind the roadwork’s tape and I could not resist taking their picture, I then started to conduct them and they started to sing Viva Espana in full voice!
Sunday 16th.
We had a good lie in after our busy weekend back in Manilva;after a light breakfast Brenda retired to the roof terrace and I watched the Motorcycle Grand Prix,we then went for a siesta as it is now getting very hot, it is in the high 30s by late afternoon and the village goes dead for a couple of hours.We then go out on the roof terrace for our drinks at about 7-oopm as the sun moves around over the hills;at this time of the year the fire planes and helicopters are kept busy as they attack the grass fires in the hills,they collect the sea water and then shoot over our roof tops in the village on their way inland! The stew that I made on Saturday has gone in the deep freeze to be used next week.
Monday 17th.
On Monday morning after an early shower we went across to the bank in Estepona,called into to see Clive and Carolyn in Guadalmina ,but just missed them and paid up the advert in the Sur In English for another few months before picking up shopping and birthday cards on the way back. We are back into our routine and have even started reading again when we are on the terrace,after a light supper we settled down and watched on DVD the latest James Bond movie,Quatum of Solace which is very good and Daniel Craig is excellent,my only complaint being was the credits which are very small and went past very quickly !
Tuesday 18th.
We had made contact with Gissy over the weekend and had arranged to go and see her as her family were over from Germany for a week;The pictures below show her mother,Mutschka,Laura her neice,Claudia her sister and Brenda and me on the balcony of Gissy’s apartment,they live just outside Koblenz above Frankfurt and are flying back on Wednesday;Gissy also gave Brenda a quick cut and blow as we are away again on Monday and don’t know when we will be back over. In the evening we walked up to our local Bar and Lume,the owners wife cooked some fresh Pescado frito for Brenda and Egg and Frits for me,which came from their country Campo just outside Manilva! The six senoras that are out every night were sat behind the roadwork’s tape and I could not resist taking their picture, I then started to conduct them and they started to sing Viva Espana in full voice!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
TARIFA THEN MANILVA.
Thursday/Friday/ Saturday 13th/14th/15th August.
Thursday 13th!
Not quite Friday the 13th but very similar! We were up bright and early for a very busy day at Casa Olimpia with the workmen due to finish off and then we had to get the villa mopped and polished before I went to pick the folks up from the airport in Gibraltar; I was just online checking the bank when all the electrics went off at 9-00am! I immediately shot out up the drive and out of the gate only to see the man in the Endesa van was about to drive off, he would not open his window and gave me the finger and drove off nearly running over my foot at the same time! Charming!! I came back in rather upset to say the least and got on the phone ASAP, just then Mano,Juan and workmen arrived! At the same time I rang Chris in London to check again that the payment had gone through last Friday and got a call back very quickly to say that it had been cleared by Endesa, as we had confirmed with them on Monday! As usual it took me over half an hour to get through to the right department, they confirmed that the account had been paid and was up to date but they had not cancelled the disconnection notice!! To say that I was mad is a understatement; they then said that they would arrange for it to be reconnected by 8-00pm,to which my answer was that was not good enough as we had a ninety year old grandmother on life support checking machines and the battery back up would not last( A little white lie ) but they would still not give me any guarantee as to when! Plan B took over as this meant that the master bedroom would not be finished as well as the downstairs toilet, the workmen brought up an extra bed to the other large room and we put the cot in as well so the family could use that room and the other grandmother arriving could sleep in the children’s room, meanwhile I let Nina know what was going on! Mano and Juan and I then decided that even if the electric came back on later in the day it would not leave enough time to finish so the packed up and planned to come back on Friday morning. At about 12-30 we were on the phone to Nina to let her know what was happening when the electricity came back on, my bluff had worked !! I went to Gibraltar at 6-00pm to pick the family up from the airport and got caught in a large traffic jam crossing across the border and getting back across to the airport as we had arranged to pick them up outside the airport not on the border, after blagging a spot with a friendly British policemen by the arrivals hall they eventually came out as the plane was late landing! We could not get all their luggage in so Nina and the two children came in the VW and her husband and his mother jumped in a taxi, we the had another long wait as the Spanish police were on a go slow! They got to the villa before just before us at 8-30pm and we then went on the balcony, with Joan and cracked open a bottle of chilled Cava to welcome then back to Casa Olimpia! What a “ Helluva ” Day !! We then set off back to Manilva and arrived home at about 10-30pm, dropped our bags off and walked up to Bar Rochas for a well earned nightcap and fried eggs and homemade frits as we had not eaten all day!
Friday 14th.
After a little lie in we started to settle back into the house, Brenda unpacked as I had to shoot down to the bank and then meet Mano and Juan back in Manilva to hand over their weekly payment before they went back over to Casa Olimpia to finish off the work. We went across later to make sure that the folks had settled in and that all the arrangements were all right, on the way back we popped into our local supermarket to pick up a few things; In the evening we met Mano and Anna at Bar Rochas and sat outside with some lovely tapas and watched the world go by as we caught up with all the news; the reason Calle Mar has been closed for so long is that they have resurfaced the road with very good individual flat stone cobbles, they look very impressive and later in the evening after they had washed down the street and the houses it was reopened to traffic!
Saturday 15th .
This morning we had a long lie in after the excitement of the last few days before we sorted our self’s out,we don’t think that Clive and Carolyn are going away so we have started to make plans for next week, Brenda has started to clean the house as we can’t remember when we were last here! And I am catching up on the PC and checking out all the messages and e-mails,all our neighbours have welcomed us back and the locals as we see them are asking us where we have been? We had Smoked Bacon butties to start the day and at lunchtime some very fresh Gambas as we are joining Mano and Anna later tonight as it is Anna’s birthday. In the afternoon we had a siesta as it is very hot here in Manilva before we went up on the roof terrace for our early evening cocktails, back in our old routine! Mano and Anna picked us up and went to the Manilva Green Aparamentos as Carlos was working for a drink, the new reception is now open along with the restaurant and mini market as well as the bar which overlooks the valley, you can see the grape fields which are due for picking at any moment now! Anna had her new Red Ray Bans on all night and would not take them off as they looked so cool! We then went down to Restaurante Alonso,one of our favourite local spots, it is family run and they always look after us very well, we had some tapas starters of fresh, sweet local Gambas,cold Octopus and Potato vinaigrette and the best for the last, local baby Anchovie. Boquerones,filleted and marinated in Olive oil and herbs! which you can see on the table in front of us ! For our main course Brenda had, as usual, John Dory pan fried in Lemon butter, Anna had Fillet steak and frits, and I had a huge Sirloin steak and Frits whilst Mano has the most beautiful braised shoulder of Baby Lamb with mint sauce! All washed down with the local Tinto Rioja and coffee and Brandy,the gang are back in town as you can see in the picture below, we then went back to Mano and Annas house for a night cap and watched Match of the Day,Anna had still got her Red Ray Bans on!!
Thursday 13th!
Not quite Friday the 13th but very similar! We were up bright and early for a very busy day at Casa Olimpia with the workmen due to finish off and then we had to get the villa mopped and polished before I went to pick the folks up from the airport in Gibraltar; I was just online checking the bank when all the electrics went off at 9-00am! I immediately shot out up the drive and out of the gate only to see the man in the Endesa van was about to drive off, he would not open his window and gave me the finger and drove off nearly running over my foot at the same time! Charming!! I came back in rather upset to say the least and got on the phone ASAP, just then Mano,Juan and workmen arrived! At the same time I rang Chris in London to check again that the payment had gone through last Friday and got a call back very quickly to say that it had been cleared by Endesa, as we had confirmed with them on Monday! As usual it took me over half an hour to get through to the right department, they confirmed that the account had been paid and was up to date but they had not cancelled the disconnection notice!! To say that I was mad is a understatement; they then said that they would arrange for it to be reconnected by 8-00pm,to which my answer was that was not good enough as we had a ninety year old grandmother on life support checking machines and the battery back up would not last( A little white lie ) but they would still not give me any guarantee as to when! Plan B took over as this meant that the master bedroom would not be finished as well as the downstairs toilet, the workmen brought up an extra bed to the other large room and we put the cot in as well so the family could use that room and the other grandmother arriving could sleep in the children’s room, meanwhile I let Nina know what was going on! Mano and Juan and I then decided that even if the electric came back on later in the day it would not leave enough time to finish so the packed up and planned to come back on Friday morning. At about 12-30 we were on the phone to Nina to let her know what was happening when the electricity came back on, my bluff had worked !! I went to Gibraltar at 6-00pm to pick the family up from the airport and got caught in a large traffic jam crossing across the border and getting back across to the airport as we had arranged to pick them up outside the airport not on the border, after blagging a spot with a friendly British policemen by the arrivals hall they eventually came out as the plane was late landing! We could not get all their luggage in so Nina and the two children came in the VW and her husband and his mother jumped in a taxi, we the had another long wait as the Spanish police were on a go slow! They got to the villa before just before us at 8-30pm and we then went on the balcony, with Joan and cracked open a bottle of chilled Cava to welcome then back to Casa Olimpia! What a “ Helluva ” Day !! We then set off back to Manilva and arrived home at about 10-30pm, dropped our bags off and walked up to Bar Rochas for a well earned nightcap and fried eggs and homemade frits as we had not eaten all day!
Friday 14th.
After a little lie in we started to settle back into the house, Brenda unpacked as I had to shoot down to the bank and then meet Mano and Juan back in Manilva to hand over their weekly payment before they went back over to Casa Olimpia to finish off the work. We went across later to make sure that the folks had settled in and that all the arrangements were all right, on the way back we popped into our local supermarket to pick up a few things; In the evening we met Mano and Anna at Bar Rochas and sat outside with some lovely tapas and watched the world go by as we caught up with all the news; the reason Calle Mar has been closed for so long is that they have resurfaced the road with very good individual flat stone cobbles, they look very impressive and later in the evening after they had washed down the street and the houses it was reopened to traffic!
Saturday 15th .
This morning we had a long lie in after the excitement of the last few days before we sorted our self’s out,we don’t think that Clive and Carolyn are going away so we have started to make plans for next week, Brenda has started to clean the house as we can’t remember when we were last here! And I am catching up on the PC and checking out all the messages and e-mails,all our neighbours have welcomed us back and the locals as we see them are asking us where we have been? We had Smoked Bacon butties to start the day and at lunchtime some very fresh Gambas as we are joining Mano and Anna later tonight as it is Anna’s birthday. In the afternoon we had a siesta as it is very hot here in Manilva before we went up on the roof terrace for our early evening cocktails, back in our old routine! Mano and Anna picked us up and went to the Manilva Green Aparamentos as Carlos was working for a drink, the new reception is now open along with the restaurant and mini market as well as the bar which overlooks the valley, you can see the grape fields which are due for picking at any moment now! Anna had her new Red Ray Bans on all night and would not take them off as they looked so cool! We then went down to Restaurante Alonso,one of our favourite local spots, it is family run and they always look after us very well, we had some tapas starters of fresh, sweet local Gambas,cold Octopus and Potato vinaigrette and the best for the last, local baby Anchovie. Boquerones,filleted and marinated in Olive oil and herbs! which you can see on the table in front of us ! For our main course Brenda had, as usual, John Dory pan fried in Lemon butter, Anna had Fillet steak and frits, and I had a huge Sirloin steak and Frits whilst Mano has the most beautiful braised shoulder of Baby Lamb with mint sauce! All washed down with the local Tinto Rioja and coffee and Brandy,the gang are back in town as you can see in the picture below, we then went back to Mano and Annas house for a night cap and watched Match of the Day,Anna had still got her Red Ray Bans on!!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 9th/10th/11th/12th August 2009.
Sunday 9th.
This morning was our last day before the workmen hit us hard next week as they finish all the jobs, over the last few days there has been a sea mist over the Strait so we hear the fog horns all the time, it’s mainly the very large container ships which are also the fastest as they set off to all parts of the world. We had our lunch of cold Chicken and new potatoes followed by some sweet Ogen melon on the balcony with a light breeze coming off the hills behind us,at night it is very close and we have the windows open and the fans on all around the villa;the dogs spend all their time on the marble floors and follow Brenda everywhere she goes!
Monday 10th.
Brenda has started to get things ready for Thursday as we need the three bedrooms ready and at the same time we are sparkling up the villa in general; the dust is not just from the work going on so there is a lot of cleaning to be done. The pool is now running fine and we have been in most evening, the PH. Reading is settling down and the water is very clear and blue,the grass all around the garden is starting to come back and the view is getting greener every day! The sprinklers are doing their job as they move them to the more brown parts and the various plants and shrubs are picking up, the Fir trees along both sides of the drive are also watered everyday, by me!
Tuesday 11th.
After checking our bank online I shot across to Estepona to adjust the accounts and arranged to meet Mano to pass on some payments for the work so far, I also dropped off some of our clothes and things at the house and on the way back called into the English butchers and picked up some Lamb steaks for dinner, then I also called into the very large Hypermarket behind Algeciras and bought fresh flowers for the main lounge. Whilst there I spotted a very good offer on large plasma TVs as I have had no luck finding the part for the existing one and also spotted a film shop with its own passport studio which we need to renew Joan’s passport. As I arrived back Chris called and I updated him on all the work news, he then asked me to buy a new TV as the offer was to good to be missed and as a surprise for the grandchildren a slide to go in the garden! Meanwhile the villa was a hive of industry and noise, cement and plaster dust, tile chipping and wood cuttings-a building site! We then set off down to Tarifa to stock with food and essentials for the visitors. Later in the evening Nina called to confirm her travel details and we told her that we had the children’s room ready and the new cot was fine, one problem that we discussed was the open marble staircase down to the lower ground floor, it’s basically a open hole in the kitchen and I told her that I would come up with a plan to make it safe!
Wednesday 12th.
I was up early and set off to the bank,again,in Estepona as more transfers had come in over night and I needed to buy the TV and slide; on arriving at Carrefour,the hypermarket, I found that the TV offer was only for yesterday but after negotiations I managed to get the last one! The problem was getting it in the VW,in the end it went on the floor in front of the back seats after I had adjusted the two front seats which ment that I had to drive with my face on the windscreen and my knees under my chin! I then stopped at Toys R Us and found a “ Helluva ” slide which was on display and was the last one so I obtained a discount,the only problem was the size,it needed a lorry to pick it up in its’ box! When I got back Mano had arrived and was helping Brenda with her cleaning regime around the villa, five workmen were working on finishing the jobs when suddenly Nico, Juan’s son in law who was one of them had a funny turn as he was working on the fence, he has had a heart by pass operation when he was a young child in Brazil and he was not very well so one of the other workers rushed him to hospital in his car,which also ment that we were down to three workers! I came up with an idea to cover the staircase in the kitchen by putting a wooden false floor over the hole,so Mano went out with Juan in the lorry to pick up the timber and at the same time they picked up the slide! Every thing is coming together and on Thursday they will just be finished before I set off to Gibraltar to pick the family up, the only thing that will not be finished is the fence!Later in the afternoon Mano and I installed the new TV in the viewing room off the main lounge,I then took Mano back to Manilva as the lorry can only have three passengers,he is coming back tomorrow to help us get clear and to help me put up the slide! The dogs have been very good and have kept out of the way all day as the place has been a madhouse!! Tonight we had a light supper of Pork escalope and then showered as the evening went a little cooler ready for tomorrow.
PS; As we sat on the balcony with Joan after everybody had left we suddenly noticed coming out of the mist a very large cruie liner,it turned out to be the Grand Princess which is the biggest liner in the world,it was on its way to Southampton at 22 knots! It is taller than the Statue of Liberty,951 feet long, has13 decks and weighs 109-ooo tons! Honest !! Sorry no picture because of the mist.
Sunday 9th.
This morning was our last day before the workmen hit us hard next week as they finish all the jobs, over the last few days there has been a sea mist over the Strait so we hear the fog horns all the time, it’s mainly the very large container ships which are also the fastest as they set off to all parts of the world. We had our lunch of cold Chicken and new potatoes followed by some sweet Ogen melon on the balcony with a light breeze coming off the hills behind us,at night it is very close and we have the windows open and the fans on all around the villa;the dogs spend all their time on the marble floors and follow Brenda everywhere she goes!
Monday 10th.
Brenda has started to get things ready for Thursday as we need the three bedrooms ready and at the same time we are sparkling up the villa in general; the dust is not just from the work going on so there is a lot of cleaning to be done. The pool is now running fine and we have been in most evening, the PH. Reading is settling down and the water is very clear and blue,the grass all around the garden is starting to come back and the view is getting greener every day! The sprinklers are doing their job as they move them to the more brown parts and the various plants and shrubs are picking up, the Fir trees along both sides of the drive are also watered everyday, by me!
Tuesday 11th.
After checking our bank online I shot across to Estepona to adjust the accounts and arranged to meet Mano to pass on some payments for the work so far, I also dropped off some of our clothes and things at the house and on the way back called into the English butchers and picked up some Lamb steaks for dinner, then I also called into the very large Hypermarket behind Algeciras and bought fresh flowers for the main lounge. Whilst there I spotted a very good offer on large plasma TVs as I have had no luck finding the part for the existing one and also spotted a film shop with its own passport studio which we need to renew Joan’s passport. As I arrived back Chris called and I updated him on all the work news, he then asked me to buy a new TV as the offer was to good to be missed and as a surprise for the grandchildren a slide to go in the garden! Meanwhile the villa was a hive of industry and noise, cement and plaster dust, tile chipping and wood cuttings-a building site! We then set off down to Tarifa to stock with food and essentials for the visitors. Later in the evening Nina called to confirm her travel details and we told her that we had the children’s room ready and the new cot was fine, one problem that we discussed was the open marble staircase down to the lower ground floor, it’s basically a open hole in the kitchen and I told her that I would come up with a plan to make it safe!
Wednesday 12th.
I was up early and set off to the bank,again,in Estepona as more transfers had come in over night and I needed to buy the TV and slide; on arriving at Carrefour,the hypermarket, I found that the TV offer was only for yesterday but after negotiations I managed to get the last one! The problem was getting it in the VW,in the end it went on the floor in front of the back seats after I had adjusted the two front seats which ment that I had to drive with my face on the windscreen and my knees under my chin! I then stopped at Toys R Us and found a “ Helluva ” slide which was on display and was the last one so I obtained a discount,the only problem was the size,it needed a lorry to pick it up in its’ box! When I got back Mano had arrived and was helping Brenda with her cleaning regime around the villa, five workmen were working on finishing the jobs when suddenly Nico, Juan’s son in law who was one of them had a funny turn as he was working on the fence, he has had a heart by pass operation when he was a young child in Brazil and he was not very well so one of the other workers rushed him to hospital in his car,which also ment that we were down to three workers! I came up with an idea to cover the staircase in the kitchen by putting a wooden false floor over the hole,so Mano went out with Juan in the lorry to pick up the timber and at the same time they picked up the slide! Every thing is coming together and on Thursday they will just be finished before I set off to Gibraltar to pick the family up, the only thing that will not be finished is the fence!Later in the afternoon Mano and I installed the new TV in the viewing room off the main lounge,I then took Mano back to Manilva as the lorry can only have three passengers,he is coming back tomorrow to help us get clear and to help me put up the slide! The dogs have been very good and have kept out of the way all day as the place has been a madhouse!! Tonight we had a light supper of Pork escalope and then showered as the evening went a little cooler ready for tomorrow.
PS; As we sat on the balcony with Joan after everybody had left we suddenly noticed coming out of the mist a very large cruie liner,it turned out to be the Grand Princess which is the biggest liner in the world,it was on its way to Southampton at 22 knots! It is taller than the Statue of Liberty,951 feet long, has13 decks and weighs 109-ooo tons! Honest !! Sorry no picture because of the mist.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Saturday 8th.August 2009.
As we got up it was very quite at the villa as there are no workmen today, it’s the Feria in Manilva for four days and nights and most non related business’s are closed; one of the things that we are missing are all the festivals, saints days, religious festivals and music parties and especially the wine festival at the beginning of September!
Mano and Anna keep us up to date with all the news about them and also all the village gossip, most important, in fact Mano is going to get the 2009 Vendimia Harvest Wine hat for my collection! The weather over in the village is very hot this year, a lot hotter than last year when Tim was here at the same time but here in Tarifa yesterday we had a brilliant day with a little light breeze so we were able to sit out on the balcony with Joan for our Prawn salad at lunchtime. During the last few days we have been on Skype to Jack and Lyn in Australia and have caught up with all their news, Lyn has nearly sold her house after only being on the market for a couple of weeks and Jack is also doing the same, then they are planning for the future, watch this space, we wish them all the very best! Meanwhile back in Colwyn Bay we spoke to Hilda on her birthday, she worked for us for many years in the cocktail bar, and we have always kept in touch with her as we do with a lot of our old staff mainly on Facebook, over the last week we have posted birthday messages to family, godchildren, ex staff and friends! We also spoke to our dear friend Tim,on Friday,he can't make it over this year and caught up with all the news back in Old Colwyn,Jo had just returned from a month in Magaluf and Ben is off to Spain with his best mate and his family for two weeks; the next few weeks will see the exam results coming in and what the future holds for Jo !
In the evening after our swim we had a late supper of steak and frits before we settled down in the lounge and listened to some music and watched the Proms on Joan’s TV; it was the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain who are all under eighteen years of age, it’s the largest orchestra in the country, in all the various sections there are three to four as many musicians, for example there are twelve double bases! They played some modern 20th century film music and brought the Royal Albert Hall down!!
As we got up it was very quite at the villa as there are no workmen today, it’s the Feria in Manilva for four days and nights and most non related business’s are closed; one of the things that we are missing are all the festivals, saints days, religious festivals and music parties and especially the wine festival at the beginning of September!
Mano and Anna keep us up to date with all the news about them and also all the village gossip, most important, in fact Mano is going to get the 2009 Vendimia Harvest Wine hat for my collection! The weather over in the village is very hot this year, a lot hotter than last year when Tim was here at the same time but here in Tarifa yesterday we had a brilliant day with a little light breeze so we were able to sit out on the balcony with Joan for our Prawn salad at lunchtime. During the last few days we have been on Skype to Jack and Lyn in Australia and have caught up with all their news, Lyn has nearly sold her house after only being on the market for a couple of weeks and Jack is also doing the same, then they are planning for the future, watch this space, we wish them all the very best! Meanwhile back in Colwyn Bay we spoke to Hilda on her birthday, she worked for us for many years in the cocktail bar, and we have always kept in touch with her as we do with a lot of our old staff mainly on Facebook, over the last week we have posted birthday messages to family, godchildren, ex staff and friends! We also spoke to our dear friend Tim,on Friday,he can't make it over this year and caught up with all the news back in Old Colwyn,Jo had just returned from a month in Magaluf and Ben is off to Spain with his best mate and his family for two weeks; the next few weeks will see the exam results coming in and what the future holds for Jo !
In the evening after our swim we had a late supper of steak and frits before we settled down in the lounge and listened to some music and watched the Proms on Joan’s TV; it was the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain who are all under eighteen years of age, it’s the largest orchestra in the country, in all the various sections there are three to four as many musicians, for example there are twelve double bases! They played some modern 20th century film music and brought the Royal Albert Hall down!!
Friday, August 07, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Thursday /Friday 6th/7th August 2009.
Thursday 6th.
In the morning we went down to Tarifa to the hypermarkets to stock up for the weekend and also get some more essentials in for the visitors next week; on the way out of Tarifa we hit major jams and were stuck in the centre of the town, there are only two roads in and out and the holiday traffic was very busy. The workers are getting on with the job and everything will ready by next Thursday,we hope! On Wednesday when speaking to Chris he asked me to check out the electricity bill;alarm bells rang immediately! All day on Thursday from early morning to evening I was on the phone and eventually found out that we had a problem, I called Chris in London and he gave me a credit card number to pay the bill but it takes over an hour each time on the phone before you are connected to the English speaking operator! They then instead of taking the payment for the whole bill insisted on doing it in stages,the result being that the card was stopped on the second transaction! This meant that the electricity would be cut off on Monday morning!!After another call to Chris we came up with a plan to pay the remaining bill with cash on Friday morning,so far so good ! For supper we had fresh Baby Sole pan fried in Lime butter with Baby new potatoes which we had bought in the morning along with Fresh Sardines and Prawns.
Friday 7th.
I was up and out by 7-00am and went across to Guadalmina to find the TV repair shop for the Large screen TV and found it straight away with a little bit of help, but had no luck as the part is not readily available. As I drove across to Estepona along the Autovia De Mediterranean the red sun was just coming up over the horizon and the colours were just unbelievable. I had arranged to meet Mano at the bank and then he was going to take me to the electricity office to get a copy of the bill and then pay it in cash; the only problem being was the queue, there was twenty people in front of us and the office, with just one clerk, was only open for three hours until 12-00clock! We waited for over two and half hours and were third in line to be seen when they closed!! It went mad as the temperature outside on the street was now 39degs.We then had to get back on our mobile phones and eventually managed, we think, to pay the bill with a credit card but we can’t get any confirmation as the offices are all closed!! Fingers crossed for Monday morning!!! I then had an appointment at the new clinic for some Diabetes tests on my feet, which I passed with flying colours.This evening we had our first swim in the pool as it is now up and running, the pictures below show the pool in the late evening sun, but not us!!
Thursday 6th.
In the morning we went down to Tarifa to the hypermarkets to stock up for the weekend and also get some more essentials in for the visitors next week; on the way out of Tarifa we hit major jams and were stuck in the centre of the town, there are only two roads in and out and the holiday traffic was very busy. The workers are getting on with the job and everything will ready by next Thursday,we hope! On Wednesday when speaking to Chris he asked me to check out the electricity bill;alarm bells rang immediately! All day on Thursday from early morning to evening I was on the phone and eventually found out that we had a problem, I called Chris in London and he gave me a credit card number to pay the bill but it takes over an hour each time on the phone before you are connected to the English speaking operator! They then instead of taking the payment for the whole bill insisted on doing it in stages,the result being that the card was stopped on the second transaction! This meant that the electricity would be cut off on Monday morning!!After another call to Chris we came up with a plan to pay the remaining bill with cash on Friday morning,so far so good ! For supper we had fresh Baby Sole pan fried in Lime butter with Baby new potatoes which we had bought in the morning along with Fresh Sardines and Prawns.
Friday 7th.
I was up and out by 7-00am and went across to Guadalmina to find the TV repair shop for the Large screen TV and found it straight away with a little bit of help, but had no luck as the part is not readily available. As I drove across to Estepona along the Autovia De Mediterranean the red sun was just coming up over the horizon and the colours were just unbelievable. I had arranged to meet Mano at the bank and then he was going to take me to the electricity office to get a copy of the bill and then pay it in cash; the only problem being was the queue, there was twenty people in front of us and the office, with just one clerk, was only open for three hours until 12-00clock! We waited for over two and half hours and were third in line to be seen when they closed!! It went mad as the temperature outside on the street was now 39degs.We then had to get back on our mobile phones and eventually managed, we think, to pay the bill with a credit card but we can’t get any confirmation as the offices are all closed!! Fingers crossed for Monday morning!!! I then had an appointment at the new clinic for some Diabetes tests on my feet, which I passed with flying colours.This evening we had our first swim in the pool as it is now up and running, the pictures below show the pool in the late evening sun, but not us!!
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Tuesday/Wednesday 4th/5th August 2009.
Tuesday 4th.
It was grey, overcast and foggy to start, even the ships on the Strait were using their fog horns! Later it cleared up a little and by the late afternoon it was back to normal. The workmen after doing some work in the garden then moved in to the master bedroom and started to knock down some small walls and rip the floor up with a Jack Hammer ! We kept out of the way on the lower balcony as we had a snack lunch; in the early afternoon I prepared some Boulangere potatoes to have with our Lamb chops for our dinner with Brenda’s vegetables. Over the last two weeks as I have been on the road back and forwards to Estepona and Manilva I have seen that the polo ground at Sotogrande is looking very busy; it is hosting the Santa Maria Polo Club Tournament, the ground which is the finest in Europe, will have twenty teams comprising of a hundred players and more than a thousand horses taking part in the games over the month of August,Taittinger champagne are the main sponsors and as usual there are a smattering of Royals about! Later on in the evening we had a long chat with Chris over in London and we have agreed to come back on the 24th August to look after Joan,the dogs and cats and the villa so as we make the plans to take her over to her apartment in Docklands at the start of September before her passport expires.Watch this space,it could get exciting!
Wednesday 5th.
Today was another running around day as I had to go across to Estepona to the bank and them meet Mano and Juan in Manilva to hand over some further payments for the on going work; I then called at the surgery to pick up my my prescriptions and found that I could not get into the main street of the village due to roadwork’s so I had to go down to a chemists in Sabinillas only to find that I needed to go back to the surgery as there was some outstanding paper work in the file; it turned out that I will have to go for eye and feet tests due to the Diabetes! So I have made the appointments for this week at the health centre in Estepona.Tonight we are having flattened Breast of Chicken in a light citrus sauce with new potatoes on the balcony overlooking the pool! PS;
As we were sat on the balcony the phone went and it was Carolyn in Guadalmina asking us if we could look after their villa in the middle of August;it falls in the time when we are home from Casa Olimpia so we are going to go there for five days,The builders have stopped work for the month of August and they have had industrial cleaners in for two days so the villa is looking more like an home! Watch out for the first pictures of the refubishment!
Tuesday 4th.
It was grey, overcast and foggy to start, even the ships on the Strait were using their fog horns! Later it cleared up a little and by the late afternoon it was back to normal. The workmen after doing some work in the garden then moved in to the master bedroom and started to knock down some small walls and rip the floor up with a Jack Hammer ! We kept out of the way on the lower balcony as we had a snack lunch; in the early afternoon I prepared some Boulangere potatoes to have with our Lamb chops for our dinner with Brenda’s vegetables. Over the last two weeks as I have been on the road back and forwards to Estepona and Manilva I have seen that the polo ground at Sotogrande is looking very busy; it is hosting the Santa Maria Polo Club Tournament, the ground which is the finest in Europe, will have twenty teams comprising of a hundred players and more than a thousand horses taking part in the games over the month of August,Taittinger champagne are the main sponsors and as usual there are a smattering of Royals about! Later on in the evening we had a long chat with Chris over in London and we have agreed to come back on the 24th August to look after Joan,the dogs and cats and the villa so as we make the plans to take her over to her apartment in Docklands at the start of September before her passport expires.Watch this space,it could get exciting!
Wednesday 5th.
Today was another running around day as I had to go across to Estepona to the bank and them meet Mano and Juan in Manilva to hand over some further payments for the on going work; I then called at the surgery to pick up my my prescriptions and found that I could not get into the main street of the village due to roadwork’s so I had to go down to a chemists in Sabinillas only to find that I needed to go back to the surgery as there was some outstanding paper work in the file; it turned out that I will have to go for eye and feet tests due to the Diabetes! So I have made the appointments for this week at the health centre in Estepona.Tonight we are having flattened Breast of Chicken in a light citrus sauce with new potatoes on the balcony overlooking the pool! PS;
As we were sat on the balcony the phone went and it was Carolyn in Guadalmina asking us if we could look after their villa in the middle of August;it falls in the time when we are home from Casa Olimpia so we are going to go there for five days,The builders have stopped work for the month of August and they have had industrial cleaners in for two days so the villa is looking more like an home! Watch out for the first pictures of the refubishment!
Monday, August 03, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday 3rd August 2009.
I was up early and out as I had a lot of running about; Brenda meanwhile was washing and ironing as we had a phone call from Chris’s younger daughter, Nina, last night to say that she is coming out for ten days on the 13th August with her husband and two children and his mother. They will need the three bedrooms so we are going to have ten days back at home in Manilva! This morning I called at the house to pick up the mail, then at the surgery to get my prescriptions renewed; I then met Mano and arranged to get the rest of the work finished by the end of the week, the last of the garden clearance, fencing put up, pool finished, the top terrace completed and the master bedroom painted and also the downstairs toilet reinstated. Next week before they arrive Mano and Anna are coming across for a day to help us spring clean the villa as it is not in our normal remit! In the post was another lovely letter from Nan Horsley,Jane’s mum,catching us up with all her news;it is so nice to receive a hand written letter that shows the senders personality,thanks Nan! At the same time there was a letter sent on from Tim and Thea,they let us use their address for any outstanding mail in the UK which was a nice little cheque from an old investment! I then popped down to the bank in Estepona as we are having problems with bank transfers from England to do with our payments from Chris and also spoke to Chris to arrange to transfer more funds for the ongoing work.On the way back I picked up the English papers from the bookshop and collected some essentials,HP brown sauce and Lea and Perrins ! Tonight we are having a Chicken Fricassee with Basmati Rice for supper.
PS; As promissed a picture of the site of the new Manilva Wine Centre as the footings are put in is below !
I was up early and out as I had a lot of running about; Brenda meanwhile was washing and ironing as we had a phone call from Chris’s younger daughter, Nina, last night to say that she is coming out for ten days on the 13th August with her husband and two children and his mother. They will need the three bedrooms so we are going to have ten days back at home in Manilva! This morning I called at the house to pick up the mail, then at the surgery to get my prescriptions renewed; I then met Mano and arranged to get the rest of the work finished by the end of the week, the last of the garden clearance, fencing put up, pool finished, the top terrace completed and the master bedroom painted and also the downstairs toilet reinstated. Next week before they arrive Mano and Anna are coming across for a day to help us spring clean the villa as it is not in our normal remit! In the post was another lovely letter from Nan Horsley,Jane’s mum,catching us up with all her news;it is so nice to receive a hand written letter that shows the senders personality,thanks Nan! At the same time there was a letter sent on from Tim and Thea,they let us use their address for any outstanding mail in the UK which was a nice little cheque from an old investment! I then popped down to the bank in Estepona as we are having problems with bank transfers from England to do with our payments from Chris and also spoke to Chris to arrange to transfer more funds for the ongoing work.On the way back I picked up the English papers from the bookshop and collected some essentials,HP brown sauce and Lea and Perrins ! Tonight we are having a Chicken Fricassee with Basmati Rice for supper.
PS; As promissed a picture of the site of the new Manilva Wine Centre as the footings are put in is below !
CASA OLIMPIA.
Sunday 2nd.August 2009.
After a little lie in and breakfast we pottered about the villa and took things easy; Joan had not slept too well so she settled down in her chair and made a couple of phone calls to her family and friends. We had a late lunch on the balcony, overlooking the pool of cold Roast Chicken and New Potatoes with salad as we watched the world go by( The Ships ) ! In the evening we watched some TV with Joan after we had an hour by the pool as the sun went down.
After a little lie in and breakfast we pottered about the villa and took things easy; Joan had not slept too well so she settled down in her chair and made a couple of phone calls to her family and friends. We had a late lunch on the balcony, overlooking the pool of cold Roast Chicken and New Potatoes with salad as we watched the world go by( The Ships ) ! In the evening we watched some TV with Joan after we had an hour by the pool as the sun went down.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Saturday 1st.August 2009.
As it is so hot we are not getting much sleep even with the windows open and the fans on 24/7; it is also too hot to go out by the pool until the sun goes down, behind the mountains in the early evening. Both dogs are fine and have stopped scratching but we have not been able to catch the three cats to give them the treatment as they come and go as they please and keep out of the way of the dogs! We had a light snack lunch on the balcony, in the morning before it got too hot I made a Beef and vegetable stew for supper so as there was no need to cook in the evening. The large screen TV has no picture and I have not been able to fix it over the last few days so we are suffering from TV withdrawal symptoms!! It is strange listening to the news programmes with no pictures! We are now following everything on the internet with our BBC, ITN, CHANNEL4 connections along with the online newspapers etc.
As it is so hot we are not getting much sleep even with the windows open and the fans on 24/7; it is also too hot to go out by the pool until the sun goes down, behind the mountains in the early evening. Both dogs are fine and have stopped scratching but we have not been able to catch the three cats to give them the treatment as they come and go as they please and keep out of the way of the dogs! We had a light snack lunch on the balcony, in the morning before it got too hot I made a Beef and vegetable stew for supper so as there was no need to cook in the evening. The large screen TV has no picture and I have not been able to fix it over the last few days so we are suffering from TV withdrawal symptoms!! It is strange listening to the news programmes with no pictures! We are now following everything on the internet with our BBC, ITN, CHANNEL4 connections along with the online newspapers etc.
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