Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday 28th September 2009.
This morning all the girls joined me on my usual run; I dropped Brenda, Norah and Jenny at the house so that they could see the village and where we live for the first time, the surgery had messed up my prescription and I have now run out of my tablets but should have the problem resolved by Wednesday. I then called into the bank, the butchers and supermarket before going back up to Manilva to pick up the sisters, Brenda had shown them around and was sat outside in the main street having a coffee at one of the bars; we then gave them a little tour around the area and on the way back we called in to the town where the possible hotel project will be next year. In the afternoon I made a large pan of Chicken curry for dinner on Tuesday as tomorrow I am dropping them off at the street market in Algeciras and then going back later to take them to the shopping mall to go to see the new Primark shop and then in the afternoon we will go down to Tarifa to stock up for the week as we have now a very busy week ahead planned, on Wednesday we are going over to Manilva for lunch,Mano and Anna are joining us and we caught up with the owners of Bar Rochas in the village and they are going to look after us, on Thursday we going over for lunch to Benalmadena to see Ben and Andrea and on Friday we are going to show the sisters Ronda ! This evening we had Pork escalope in a lime butter sauce with caralamised Apple slices.Juan called in and fixed the hot water boiler and Chris phoned later in the evening from the Canary Islands,where he is on business to catch up with things back here in Tarifa.
This morning all the girls joined me on my usual run; I dropped Brenda, Norah and Jenny at the house so that they could see the village and where we live for the first time, the surgery had messed up my prescription and I have now run out of my tablets but should have the problem resolved by Wednesday. I then called into the bank, the butchers and supermarket before going back up to Manilva to pick up the sisters, Brenda had shown them around and was sat outside in the main street having a coffee at one of the bars; we then gave them a little tour around the area and on the way back we called in to the town where the possible hotel project will be next year. In the afternoon I made a large pan of Chicken curry for dinner on Tuesday as tomorrow I am dropping them off at the street market in Algeciras and then going back later to take them to the shopping mall to go to see the new Primark shop and then in the afternoon we will go down to Tarifa to stock up for the week as we have now a very busy week ahead planned, on Wednesday we are going over to Manilva for lunch,Mano and Anna are joining us and we caught up with the owners of Bar Rochas in the village and they are going to look after us, on Thursday we going over for lunch to Benalmadena to see Ben and Andrea and on Friday we are going to show the sisters Ronda ! This evening we had Pork escalope in a lime butter sauce with caralamised Apple slices.Juan called in and fixed the hot water boiler and Chris phoned later in the evening from the Canary Islands,where he is on business to catch up with things back here in Tarifa.
CASA OLIMPIA.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday 25th/26th/27th September 2009.
Friday morning I dropped Norah and Jenny down in Tarifa with a street map and arranged to pick them up three hours later! After a quick snack lunch we then went back down to Tarifa with Joan to take her to the chiropodist for her appointment, she was not looking forward to the visit and it took a lot of persuading to get her there as it was her first time! Afterwards she was very happy and can’t wait to go back in two months! As it was so nice we then after picking Norah and Jenny up in the old town went for a drive along the coast and had a late afternoon drink and coffee in a beach bar. In the evening it was fish supper night with Salmon and Halibut fillets on the menu before we settled down to watch SCD.The forecast for the weekend was not good with heavy rain storms and thunder and lighting which hit us during Friday night and all day Saturday but we can’t complain as it is the first bad weather in six months!! Juan called in on Saturday morning to check the kitchen hot water boiler and soon discovered that we had a thermostat problem and promised to come with the new part on Monday. We all caught up with some reading during the day, it is not cold when this sort of weather hits us and we still able to go out on the covered balcony at lunchtime, in the evening we had our usual steak and frits for dinner. We all had a lie in on Sunday morning, the weather had settled down and the sun came out by lunchtime, for breakfast we had toasted Smoked Bacon and Chorizo butties as we were having a late Sunday lunch; Roast Chicken with the full works hit all the right spots and as you can see in the picture below the sisters started the day with cocktails on the balcony!
Friday morning I dropped Norah and Jenny down in Tarifa with a street map and arranged to pick them up three hours later! After a quick snack lunch we then went back down to Tarifa with Joan to take her to the chiropodist for her appointment, she was not looking forward to the visit and it took a lot of persuading to get her there as it was her first time! Afterwards she was very happy and can’t wait to go back in two months! As it was so nice we then after picking Norah and Jenny up in the old town went for a drive along the coast and had a late afternoon drink and coffee in a beach bar. In the evening it was fish supper night with Salmon and Halibut fillets on the menu before we settled down to watch SCD.The forecast for the weekend was not good with heavy rain storms and thunder and lighting which hit us during Friday night and all day Saturday but we can’t complain as it is the first bad weather in six months!! Juan called in on Saturday morning to check the kitchen hot water boiler and soon discovered that we had a thermostat problem and promised to come with the new part on Monday. We all caught up with some reading during the day, it is not cold when this sort of weather hits us and we still able to go out on the covered balcony at lunchtime, in the evening we had our usual steak and frits for dinner. We all had a lie in on Sunday morning, the weather had settled down and the sun came out by lunchtime, for breakfast we had toasted Smoked Bacon and Chorizo butties as we were having a late Sunday lunch; Roast Chicken with the full works hit all the right spots and as you can see in the picture below the sisters started the day with cocktails on the balcony!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
TARIFA.
THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2009.
Today I have had a lovely day out and about down here in Tarifa on my 64th birthday! This morning we had a champagne breakfast before setting out for lunch to our favorite restaurant at Torre de la Penna on the beach just past Tarifa.The weather as the day went on got hotter and very sunny- 30degs. as we sat watching the kite surfers in the Atlantic swell. After a very nice lunch we drove further down the coast to a small village called Bolonia; it is very unusual in that it is not really a village but more a selection of single story houses and Hostels with a lot of chiringuito’s along the beach. Its name sounds more Italian than Spanish and it has a history going back to when the Romans invaded this part of Spain. It is in a spectacular position which you get to by a road over the mountains,one very strange thing is that the long horned cattle are allowed to roam along the roads and all over the place as if you where in India and they are treated like sacred cows!The one in the picture crossed the road just as we were leaving! This morning we rang Jack and Lyn in Australia on the Skype phone and so we had the four sisters all talking at once ! The pictures below show the girls with Joan in the restaurant,the beach and chiringuito at Bolonia with me just in the picture! And on the way back we dropped into Tarifa and caught the fast boat from Tanger arriving into the harbour.A big thank you to everybody for the cards and messages on Facebook.
Today I have had a lovely day out and about down here in Tarifa on my 64th birthday! This morning we had a champagne breakfast before setting out for lunch to our favorite restaurant at Torre de la Penna on the beach just past Tarifa.The weather as the day went on got hotter and very sunny- 30degs. as we sat watching the kite surfers in the Atlantic swell. After a very nice lunch we drove further down the coast to a small village called Bolonia; it is very unusual in that it is not really a village but more a selection of single story houses and Hostels with a lot of chiringuito’s along the beach. Its name sounds more Italian than Spanish and it has a history going back to when the Romans invaded this part of Spain. It is in a spectacular position which you get to by a road over the mountains,one very strange thing is that the long horned cattle are allowed to roam along the roads and all over the place as if you where in India and they are treated like sacred cows!The one in the picture crossed the road just as we were leaving! This morning we rang Jack and Lyn in Australia on the Skype phone and so we had the four sisters all talking at once ! The pictures below show the girls with Joan in the restaurant,the beach and chiringuito at Bolonia with me just in the picture! And on the way back we dropped into Tarifa and caught the fast boat from Tanger arriving into the harbour.A big thank you to everybody for the cards and messages on Facebook.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA " S " DAY HAS ARRIVED.
Wednesday 23rd.September 2009.
We are just about to go and pick up Norah and Jenny from the airport in Gibraltar; watch out for the first pictures !
We are just about to go and pick up Norah and Jenny from the airport in Gibraltar; watch out for the first pictures !
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday 21st/22nd September 2009.
On Monday morning I did my usual run over to the bank in Estepona, paid the advert bill for our house sitting work; I had a phone enquiry whilst I was out and as I got back to the villa I had a very nice American gentlemen asking us to cover a holiday for him in November, this means that on average we have 3/4 calls a month. I called at the surgery and then stopped at the house to collect the mail and also some more clothes for Brenda, and me, ready for the sister’s visit. After picking up the newspapers I stopped at the butchers and bought some lovely Barnsley Lamb Chops before setting off back across to Tarifa. In the evening we had cold Roast Pork for supper.
This morning we have just been down to Tarifa to stock up for the week and at the same time collect some tablets for Joan, on Monday she was a little off colour but is now looking a lot better.The weather is fine and the next few days are looking good. Tonight we are having Turkey Breast flattened and pan fried in Lime butter with new potatoes and Carrots for dinner.
On Monday morning I did my usual run over to the bank in Estepona, paid the advert bill for our house sitting work; I had a phone enquiry whilst I was out and as I got back to the villa I had a very nice American gentlemen asking us to cover a holiday for him in November, this means that on average we have 3/4 calls a month. I called at the surgery and then stopped at the house to collect the mail and also some more clothes for Brenda, and me, ready for the sister’s visit. After picking up the newspapers I stopped at the butchers and bought some lovely Barnsley Lamb Chops before setting off back across to Tarifa. In the evening we had cold Roast Pork for supper.
This morning we have just been down to Tarifa to stock up for the week and at the same time collect some tablets for Joan, on Monday she was a little off colour but is now looking a lot better.The weather is fine and the next few days are looking good. Tonight we are having Turkey Breast flattened and pan fried in Lime butter with new potatoes and Carrots for dinner.
CASA OLIMPIA.
Saturday/Sunday 19th/20th September 2009.
In the morning Brenda has been getting the rooms ready for Norah and Jenny who are arriving next Wednesday; the weather forecast for next week is warm and sunny with no wind for a change! Joan is fine and looking forward to meeting the sisters and also going out a couple of times with us on our trips! We are taking things easy over the weekend as next week it is all go, last night and tonight we watched Strictly Come Dancing and on Sunday we are going to catch up with the X-Factor from Saturday and watch the Sunday one as it goes out! For dinner, as usual, we had steak and frits with all the trimmings.
After our lie in we got the Sunday roast on the way, a large piece of Leg of Pork which I had picked up from the English butchers during the week and we sat down at about 4-30 to the full works which we all enjoyed. In the evening we settled down to watch a James Bond film and then “ Ronin ” later, still no phone call from Chris about the future plans for Casa Olimpia.
In the morning Brenda has been getting the rooms ready for Norah and Jenny who are arriving next Wednesday; the weather forecast for next week is warm and sunny with no wind for a change! Joan is fine and looking forward to meeting the sisters and also going out a couple of times with us on our trips! We are taking things easy over the weekend as next week it is all go, last night and tonight we watched Strictly Come Dancing and on Sunday we are going to catch up with the X-Factor from Saturday and watch the Sunday one as it goes out! For dinner, as usual, we had steak and frits with all the trimmings.
After our lie in we got the Sunday roast on the way, a large piece of Leg of Pork which I had picked up from the English butchers during the week and we sat down at about 4-30 to the full works which we all enjoyed. In the evening we settled down to watch a James Bond film and then “ Ronin ” later, still no phone call from Chris about the future plans for Casa Olimpia.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 16th/17th/18th September 2009.
Wednesday 16th.
This morning as we were pottering about the villa the Skype phone alarm went off and it was Jo, Tim’s daughter, calling on her I pod phone from London; we had a long chat and caught up with all her news as she settles into her new life, at the same time she sent us a lovely picture that had been taken over the weekend of her with five year old Ollie who is the daughter of Stacey, Jo’s stepsister and Tim’s first daughter! This weekend Tim is aiming to come online on Skype in Old Colwyn so we will be able to speak to him for longer as there is no charge on the Skype to Skype calls, this is how we are able to speak to Australia and at the same time see them on the web-cam! In the afternoon I made a Beef curry for dinner which we all enjoyed and also there is plenty of the curry sauce left over to play with on another day.
Thursday 17th.
This week it is a little cooler but the forecast for next week when the two sisters arrive is a lot warmer. The weekly main shopping in Tarifa did not take as long and we have found out where the chiropodist is for next week when we will take Joan to be seen too. In the evening we has pan fried escalope of Turkey breast with new potatoes and green vegetables for supper. Before I forget I must mention a programme that we have been following on BBC2; The Frankincense Trail presented by Kate Humble has been fascinating to watch over the last few weeks and is one not to miss if it shown again, or check it out on the BBC I player over in the UK.
Friday 18th.
We had two appointments this morning over towards Marbella, the first was to meet a Filipino couple to talk to them about a possible job here at the villa in the future and then we met our friends for lunch to discuss further the possible hotel project; we are talking about a hotel consultancy management contract and have sorted out the basics and the timings; so now we will have to wait to see if the purchase go’s through as planned! Fingers crossed and watch this space!! For supper we had Salmon fillet in a lemon butter sauce before we all settled down to watch the new Strictly Come Dancing in its new format.
Wednesday 16th.
This morning as we were pottering about the villa the Skype phone alarm went off and it was Jo, Tim’s daughter, calling on her I pod phone from London; we had a long chat and caught up with all her news as she settles into her new life, at the same time she sent us a lovely picture that had been taken over the weekend of her with five year old Ollie who is the daughter of Stacey, Jo’s stepsister and Tim’s first daughter! This weekend Tim is aiming to come online on Skype in Old Colwyn so we will be able to speak to him for longer as there is no charge on the Skype to Skype calls, this is how we are able to speak to Australia and at the same time see them on the web-cam! In the afternoon I made a Beef curry for dinner which we all enjoyed and also there is plenty of the curry sauce left over to play with on another day.
Thursday 17th.
This week it is a little cooler but the forecast for next week when the two sisters arrive is a lot warmer. The weekly main shopping in Tarifa did not take as long and we have found out where the chiropodist is for next week when we will take Joan to be seen too. In the evening we has pan fried escalope of Turkey breast with new potatoes and green vegetables for supper. Before I forget I must mention a programme that we have been following on BBC2; The Frankincense Trail presented by Kate Humble has been fascinating to watch over the last few weeks and is one not to miss if it shown again, or check it out on the BBC I player over in the UK.
Friday 18th.
We had two appointments this morning over towards Marbella, the first was to meet a Filipino couple to talk to them about a possible job here at the villa in the future and then we met our friends for lunch to discuss further the possible hotel project; we are talking about a hotel consultancy management contract and have sorted out the basics and the timings; so now we will have to wait to see if the purchase go’s through as planned! Fingers crossed and watch this space!! For supper we had Salmon fillet in a lemon butter sauce before we all settled down to watch the new Strictly Come Dancing in its new format.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tuesday 12th/13th/14th /15th September 2009.
Saturday morning was a little overcast to start but it then picked up and by the late afternoon it was warm and sunny. The garden is looking a lot better after the cloud burst earlier in the week and the grass is growing longer all the time. In the late afternoon our friends rang us after they had been to view the hotel and the project is looking very good, we are going to look at the area and the hotel next Tuesday morning with them. In the evening we had Steak and Frits before we settled down to watch the last night of the Proms, which we have never had the time to see in the past and then, later than usual Match of the Day; they only gave two minutes to the Liverpool match!
After our lie in we then got ready the Sunday lunch, Roast Chicken and all the trimmings which we had in the late afternoon after taking in the warm sunshine on the balcony! In the evening we watched the Stephen Fry programme again, this time on Rhinoceros, at one point he was tricked into thinking that the one approaching him was wild, in fact it was tame and the look on his face when he discovered that he had been fooled was very funny! Chris phoned ,as promised later in the evening and we had a long converstion about the future ,we are going to make arrangements with him during next week ,in between his travels !
On Monday morning Brenda came with me on my usual run across to Estepona and Manilva, she said that she felt like the prisoner of Zenda and that she had escaped! I dropped her at the house so as she could have some time to make up the beds and air the place just in case we manage to find the time and the way to go over there when the sisters arrive.Mano and Anna on this occasion can’t help us. I called into the surgery, picked up the papers and went to the butchers before picking Brenda up from the house, all our neighbours asked us why we had missed the wine festival and were all very nice to us, Brenda enjoyed her little trip out and on the way back we stopped off in Sotogrande at a wine merchants that we had spotted on our travels and it turned out to be a very good contact for the future, The owner, Richard Bell-Young was very welcoming and helpful and his wine business Anglo Wines and shop are spectacular! In the evening it was cold Chicken with warm new potatoes for supper, we always think that cold roast meats are so very tasty.
This morning we have been out to visit with our friends the hotel; it is in a very beautiful old part of the town in which it is situated and to put it mildly it is unbelievably spectacular, very unusual and a hidden gem with great potential for the future, watch this space for the outcome! Tonight we are having Omeletts for supper as curry is one the menu for tomorrow night.
Saturday morning was a little overcast to start but it then picked up and by the late afternoon it was warm and sunny. The garden is looking a lot better after the cloud burst earlier in the week and the grass is growing longer all the time. In the late afternoon our friends rang us after they had been to view the hotel and the project is looking very good, we are going to look at the area and the hotel next Tuesday morning with them. In the evening we had Steak and Frits before we settled down to watch the last night of the Proms, which we have never had the time to see in the past and then, later than usual Match of the Day; they only gave two minutes to the Liverpool match!
After our lie in we then got ready the Sunday lunch, Roast Chicken and all the trimmings which we had in the late afternoon after taking in the warm sunshine on the balcony! In the evening we watched the Stephen Fry programme again, this time on Rhinoceros, at one point he was tricked into thinking that the one approaching him was wild, in fact it was tame and the look on his face when he discovered that he had been fooled was very funny! Chris phoned ,as promised later in the evening and we had a long converstion about the future ,we are going to make arrangements with him during next week ,in between his travels !
On Monday morning Brenda came with me on my usual run across to Estepona and Manilva, she said that she felt like the prisoner of Zenda and that she had escaped! I dropped her at the house so as she could have some time to make up the beds and air the place just in case we manage to find the time and the way to go over there when the sisters arrive.Mano and Anna on this occasion can’t help us. I called into the surgery, picked up the papers and went to the butchers before picking Brenda up from the house, all our neighbours asked us why we had missed the wine festival and were all very nice to us, Brenda enjoyed her little trip out and on the way back we stopped off in Sotogrande at a wine merchants that we had spotted on our travels and it turned out to be a very good contact for the future, The owner, Richard Bell-Young was very welcoming and helpful and his wine business Anglo Wines and shop are spectacular! In the evening it was cold Chicken with warm new potatoes for supper, we always think that cold roast meats are so very tasty.
This morning we have been out to visit with our friends the hotel; it is in a very beautiful old part of the town in which it is situated and to put it mildly it is unbelievably spectacular, very unusual and a hidden gem with great potential for the future, watch this space for the outcome! Tonight we are having Omeletts for supper as curry is one the menu for tomorrow night.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Thursday/Friday 10th/11th September 2009.
Thursday was a quiet day at the villa as we took things easy, the weather is changing at the moment but it is still warm here but the mountains all around us create different mornings as the clouds roll down the valley, back in Manilva it is still warm and sunny all day! For supper we had Braised steak and Frits as we all enjoyed the previous nights meal and I had made two dish’s one to put in the deep freeze!
On Friday morning we went down to Tarifa to do the weekend shopping, now that all the holiday makers have gone back it is a lot quieter and a lot less traffic to contend with, it was the same over in Estepona and Manilva during the week. Later in the morning we had our very first rain in nearly five months; it was a cloud burst and lasted for about twenty minutes, at the same time the electricity went off and continued to go off and on for the rest of day! In the afternoon I made fish pie, I had been stocking up with things for a couple of weeks and we found some lovely fresh Hake and so along with Salmon,Gambas,Crab and Smoked Salmon and Trout we had all the ingredients for a “ Helluva ” fish pie! The white wine sauce was made with a homemade fish stock and I sweated off diced Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Celery and Mushrooms in butter and more wine! I made three dish’s as you can see below, the large one for me and freezing, the middle one with cheese sauce and topping on the mash for Brenda and an individual one for Joan, as you can see ! During the evening we had great news from England, Jenny and Norah,Brenda's sisters have booked their flights and they are arriving on the 23rd September,which is also the day before my birthday, at Gibraltar airport from Manchester. This really made Brenda’s day and we are very excited and are looking forward to the two weeks with us! The plan is to spend some time here and then go over to the house in Manilva for four or five days if possible.We also had a call from some friends with an offer of a possible hotel and restaurant consultancy job that sounds very exciting, fingers crossed and watch this space!! Later I made contact with Chris and arranged for a long conference call on Sunday to make plans for the future here at Casa Olimpia.It’s all happening down here on the sunny Costa del Sol !
Thursday was a quiet day at the villa as we took things easy, the weather is changing at the moment but it is still warm here but the mountains all around us create different mornings as the clouds roll down the valley, back in Manilva it is still warm and sunny all day! For supper we had Braised steak and Frits as we all enjoyed the previous nights meal and I had made two dish’s one to put in the deep freeze!
On Friday morning we went down to Tarifa to do the weekend shopping, now that all the holiday makers have gone back it is a lot quieter and a lot less traffic to contend with, it was the same over in Estepona and Manilva during the week. Later in the morning we had our very first rain in nearly five months; it was a cloud burst and lasted for about twenty minutes, at the same time the electricity went off and continued to go off and on for the rest of day! In the afternoon I made fish pie, I had been stocking up with things for a couple of weeks and we found some lovely fresh Hake and so along with Salmon,Gambas,Crab and Smoked Salmon and Trout we had all the ingredients for a “ Helluva ” fish pie! The white wine sauce was made with a homemade fish stock and I sweated off diced Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Celery and Mushrooms in butter and more wine! I made three dish’s as you can see below, the large one for me and freezing, the middle one with cheese sauce and topping on the mash for Brenda and an individual one for Joan, as you can see ! During the evening we had great news from England, Jenny and Norah,Brenda's sisters have booked their flights and they are arriving on the 23rd September,which is also the day before my birthday, at Gibraltar airport from Manchester. This really made Brenda’s day and we are very excited and are looking forward to the two weeks with us! The plan is to spend some time here and then go over to the house in Manilva for four or five days if possible.We also had a call from some friends with an offer of a possible hotel and restaurant consultancy job that sounds very exciting, fingers crossed and watch this space!! Later I made contact with Chris and arranged for a long conference call on Sunday to make plans for the future here at Casa Olimpia.It’s all happening down here on the sunny Costa del Sol !
Thursday, September 10, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 7th./8th./9th. September 2009.
Monday 7th.
Today was a house cleaning day inside and a watering the new trees day outside; the weather has changed a little in the last few days and here on the side of the hill we have clouds over the tops and sea mist on the strait but as the breeze gets up it clears and it is still warm and sunny in the afternoon. Brenda retires to the balcony with the dogs and tries to groom them, when they will let her! Meanwhile I catch up with the blog in the office and reply to any e-mails as well as checking out what’s happening on Facebook with all our family and friends.
For supper we had cold Roast Beef with new potatoes before we settled down to watch the TV
Tuesday 8th.
In the morning Chris called from the airport in Cyprus just as he was about to leave for London and we arranged to talk later in the week before he sets off to Hong Kong! One of the missing transfers arrived late in the afternoon into the bank account just as I was online. This morning Joan told us that she need a chiropodist to come and look after her ,so I have been chasing some up but the problem is they won’t come this far down the coast,eventully I found on the internet that there is one in Tarifa and rang them only to discover that this week it is the Fereia in the town and they are closed all week! There are bull fights in the very old bullring and the fairground is set up next to it, the town is all lit up at night and all the stall holders are ready on the Fereria ground and all the narrow streets are closed in the old part of town. For dinner we had pan fried chicken breast in Balsamic vinagre with lots of green vegetables!
09/09/09.
The date above is very lucky in China! First thing I shot across to Estepona to the bank and on the way called into the card shop to pick up a card for Joan, she has just become a great grandmother for the 14th time when one of her ten grandchildren had a baby daughter over in Brighton! I then went up to Manilva to our house to pick some things up and collect the post, then I collected a prescription from the surgery and called into the chemists in the main street, which was being cleared after the wine festival at the weekend,Mano has just rung to say that he has the 2009 Vendimia wine hat for me! On the way back I picked up all the local weekly papers and then stopped at the butchers and local supermarket. In the afternoon we rang Michelle,Carol’s youngest daughter who lives in Preston to check on her as we had seen on Facebook that she had been in hospital for a couple of days, it turns out that she has had her Gall Bladder removed ,with key hole surgery and is now back at home convalescing. Get well soon Michelle !! We also called Jo,Tims daughter, in Colwyn Bay to whish her all the best as she sets off to London for her gap year before she goes to university, it only seems like yesterday when we saw her go off to her first day at school in her uniform! Jo,all the very best, be safe and keep in touch with us !!Later I made braised steak with onions with Brenda’s mash along with Cabbage for dinner.
PS; Joan has just heard that here are two more great grandchildren on the way!
Monday 7th.
Today was a house cleaning day inside and a watering the new trees day outside; the weather has changed a little in the last few days and here on the side of the hill we have clouds over the tops and sea mist on the strait but as the breeze gets up it clears and it is still warm and sunny in the afternoon. Brenda retires to the balcony with the dogs and tries to groom them, when they will let her! Meanwhile I catch up with the blog in the office and reply to any e-mails as well as checking out what’s happening on Facebook with all our family and friends.
For supper we had cold Roast Beef with new potatoes before we settled down to watch the TV
Tuesday 8th.
In the morning Chris called from the airport in Cyprus just as he was about to leave for London and we arranged to talk later in the week before he sets off to Hong Kong! One of the missing transfers arrived late in the afternoon into the bank account just as I was online. This morning Joan told us that she need a chiropodist to come and look after her ,so I have been chasing some up but the problem is they won’t come this far down the coast,eventully I found on the internet that there is one in Tarifa and rang them only to discover that this week it is the Fereia in the town and they are closed all week! There are bull fights in the very old bullring and the fairground is set up next to it, the town is all lit up at night and all the stall holders are ready on the Fereria ground and all the narrow streets are closed in the old part of town. For dinner we had pan fried chicken breast in Balsamic vinagre with lots of green vegetables!
09/09/09.
The date above is very lucky in China! First thing I shot across to Estepona to the bank and on the way called into the card shop to pick up a card for Joan, she has just become a great grandmother for the 14th time when one of her ten grandchildren had a baby daughter over in Brighton! I then went up to Manilva to our house to pick some things up and collect the post, then I collected a prescription from the surgery and called into the chemists in the main street, which was being cleared after the wine festival at the weekend,Mano has just rung to say that he has the 2009 Vendimia wine hat for me! On the way back I picked up all the local weekly papers and then stopped at the butchers and local supermarket. In the afternoon we rang Michelle,Carol’s youngest daughter who lives in Preston to check on her as we had seen on Facebook that she had been in hospital for a couple of days, it turns out that she has had her Gall Bladder removed ,with key hole surgery and is now back at home convalescing. Get well soon Michelle !! We also called Jo,Tims daughter, in Colwyn Bay to whish her all the best as she sets off to London for her gap year before she goes to university, it only seems like yesterday when we saw her go off to her first day at school in her uniform! Jo,all the very best, be safe and keep in touch with us !!Later I made braised steak with onions with Brenda’s mash along with Cabbage for dinner.
PS; Joan has just heard that here are two more great grandchildren on the way!
Monday, September 07, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday 4th/5th/6th September 2009.
On Friday morning I was rather stiff and sore after my fall in the kitchen on Thursday evening and so took things a little easy; we went down to Tarifa to do the shopping for the weekend as well as picking up some tablets from the chemists for Joan. For supper we had Salmon fillets on Spinach with a Lemon butter sauce, new potatoes and garden peas before settling down to watch the TV. Saturday was warm and sunny with a little breeze so we had a light snack on the balcony and caught up with some reading and watched the sport; in the evening for dinner it was steak and frits with all the trimmings, we are also eating at all times a lot of fresh fruit, Ogen melon, Pineapple,Oranges,Plums,Peaches and Nectarines along with Grapes and Bananas. After a lie in on Sunday morning we had a Smoked Bacon toastie for breakfast as we had a late roast lunch planned; Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings as Joan joined us at the kitchen table to put the world to rights! We also showed Joan on our camcorder last years Vendimia Wine Festival, as it was happening over in Sunny Manilva! In the evening we all watched the new programme on BBC2 about endangered species presented by Stephen Fry which was very good and extremely interesting. Sadly still no phone call from Chris to arrange our future plans here at Casa Olimpia!
On Friday morning I was rather stiff and sore after my fall in the kitchen on Thursday evening and so took things a little easy; we went down to Tarifa to do the shopping for the weekend as well as picking up some tablets from the chemists for Joan. For supper we had Salmon fillets on Spinach with a Lemon butter sauce, new potatoes and garden peas before settling down to watch the TV. Saturday was warm and sunny with a little breeze so we had a light snack on the balcony and caught up with some reading and watched the sport; in the evening for dinner it was steak and frits with all the trimmings, we are also eating at all times a lot of fresh fruit, Ogen melon, Pineapple,Oranges,Plums,Peaches and Nectarines along with Grapes and Bananas. After a lie in on Sunday morning we had a Smoked Bacon toastie for breakfast as we had a late roast lunch planned; Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings as Joan joined us at the kitchen table to put the world to rights! We also showed Joan on our camcorder last years Vendimia Wine Festival, as it was happening over in Sunny Manilva! In the evening we all watched the new programme on BBC2 about endangered species presented by Stephen Fry which was very good and extremely interesting. Sadly still no phone call from Chris to arrange our future plans here at Casa Olimpia!
Thursday, September 03, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 31st/1st/2nd/3rd. August /September 2009.
Monday 31st August.
This week we are taking things as easy as possible at the villa as last week was hard as we settled back into the old routine, there was lots of cleaning, washing and ironing for Brenda which is not in our normal remit for the housitting work and after my little operation on Thursday I have not been feeling my real self for the last few days; at the same time we have been left with lots of problems and jobs which we have been asked to do by both Chris and Nina which we don’t mind looking after if we are going to be properly seen to financially and things are put on a more business like footing; we have to continually chase for payment of our outstanding bill as the transfers from bank account to bank account, which is not anybodies fault, take so long! What we need is a working float so as we can react to things as they happen, at the same time we have to arrange the payments for Mano and his team’s work which is also proving difficult as we constantly piggy in the middle looking after the needs of both parties and Chris is not the most easy person to get on the phone due to his very busy business commitments around the world! Our job definition has changed, especially now that it looks like Joan is not moving back to England, we are now doing the job of “ Factor’s ” acting as agents for Chris and the villa and with help of Mano,which we are very grateful for, we can sort out all the problems as they arise and at the same time carry on with the refurbishment work both inside and out which Mano is hoping to get the contract for! We are also going to try and get cover here at the villa, so as we can get home more often,Mano and Anna have offered to help in the first instance; we have got our other customers to think about, Clive and Carolyn are planning to be away in October for instance, only today I took a call from some new prospective customers in Sotogrande, which we are meeting up with next week, and it sounds very promising on the same lines as Clive and Carolyn’s needs! We also have the upcoming arrival of Brenda’s sisters to plan for at the end of September as well as getting to see Andrea ,Ben and Freya when they are here at the same time! So, all in all, it is a very interesting ,if not frustrating time ,all round! Watch this space !!
Tuesday 1st September 2009.
The weather at the moment on the Costa del Sol is still very hot and sunny whilst here we have a little breeze all the time which makes it very nice, the nights are still very warm at this time of the year and in the papers over the weekend it has been talking about the sea temperature which has been the highest this year on record!
This morning, as a way of relaxation, I’ve been jet washing the steps down to the pool, which have come up as new and in the next few days I will do the same to the marble patio floor in front of the pool. Joan is fine and the two dogs and three cats are content; we have a light snack lunch and we starting to have more substantial dinners as the evening’s start to draw in.
Wednesday 2nd September 2009.
First thing this morning I shot across to the bank in Estepona and then called into the hypermarket before heading up to Manilva,I called into the house to collect the mail and water the plants and also leave a prescription at the surgery; the preparations for the wine festival, at the weekend are well on the way, the wine vat at the top of our street has been built and the new blue and white awning has been put up over the main street, the two band stages have been built outside the two town halls and the bars are starting to construct the temporary palm covered fronts, we are very sorry to be missing the highlight of the festival season! On the way back I popped in to our local supermarket, stopped to pick up the weekly newspapers and then picked up a nice piece of Beef for the weekend. In the afternoon I made a Chicken curry, our first for a long time, which we all enjoyed especially Joan who could not remember when she last had one!
Thursday 3rd September 2009.
This morning I finished the patio floor with the jet wash, as promised and then caught up with the blog,as you can see! We were going to go to Gibraltar today but at the moment there are very long queues due to the Spanish authorities acting up at the busiest time of the year, so we will have to wait till it calms down! We hoping to set up a phone call with Chris at the weekend to resolve our future dealing with him here at Casa Olimpia as outlined above,watch this space !! This evening we are having Spanish Lamb cutlets on Boulangere potatoes for supper,which I am just about to go and make.
PS;
As I was walking into the kitchen I've just had a very nasty fall,I slipped and fell on my side and gave my shoulder,arm and ribs a bad knock,I was down on the floor for about twenty minute's as the wind was knocked out of me,nurse Brenda arrived and there are no broken bones !
Monday 31st August.
This week we are taking things as easy as possible at the villa as last week was hard as we settled back into the old routine, there was lots of cleaning, washing and ironing for Brenda which is not in our normal remit for the housitting work and after my little operation on Thursday I have not been feeling my real self for the last few days; at the same time we have been left with lots of problems and jobs which we have been asked to do by both Chris and Nina which we don’t mind looking after if we are going to be properly seen to financially and things are put on a more business like footing; we have to continually chase for payment of our outstanding bill as the transfers from bank account to bank account, which is not anybodies fault, take so long! What we need is a working float so as we can react to things as they happen, at the same time we have to arrange the payments for Mano and his team’s work which is also proving difficult as we constantly piggy in the middle looking after the needs of both parties and Chris is not the most easy person to get on the phone due to his very busy business commitments around the world! Our job definition has changed, especially now that it looks like Joan is not moving back to England, we are now doing the job of “ Factor’s ” acting as agents for Chris and the villa and with help of Mano,which we are very grateful for, we can sort out all the problems as they arise and at the same time carry on with the refurbishment work both inside and out which Mano is hoping to get the contract for! We are also going to try and get cover here at the villa, so as we can get home more often,Mano and Anna have offered to help in the first instance; we have got our other customers to think about, Clive and Carolyn are planning to be away in October for instance, only today I took a call from some new prospective customers in Sotogrande, which we are meeting up with next week, and it sounds very promising on the same lines as Clive and Carolyn’s needs! We also have the upcoming arrival of Brenda’s sisters to plan for at the end of September as well as getting to see Andrea ,Ben and Freya when they are here at the same time! So, all in all, it is a very interesting ,if not frustrating time ,all round! Watch this space !!
Tuesday 1st September 2009.
The weather at the moment on the Costa del Sol is still very hot and sunny whilst here we have a little breeze all the time which makes it very nice, the nights are still very warm at this time of the year and in the papers over the weekend it has been talking about the sea temperature which has been the highest this year on record!
This morning, as a way of relaxation, I’ve been jet washing the steps down to the pool, which have come up as new and in the next few days I will do the same to the marble patio floor in front of the pool. Joan is fine and the two dogs and three cats are content; we have a light snack lunch and we starting to have more substantial dinners as the evening’s start to draw in.
Wednesday 2nd September 2009.
First thing this morning I shot across to the bank in Estepona and then called into the hypermarket before heading up to Manilva,I called into the house to collect the mail and water the plants and also leave a prescription at the surgery; the preparations for the wine festival, at the weekend are well on the way, the wine vat at the top of our street has been built and the new blue and white awning has been put up over the main street, the two band stages have been built outside the two town halls and the bars are starting to construct the temporary palm covered fronts, we are very sorry to be missing the highlight of the festival season! On the way back I popped in to our local supermarket, stopped to pick up the weekly newspapers and then picked up a nice piece of Beef for the weekend. In the afternoon I made a Chicken curry, our first for a long time, which we all enjoyed especially Joan who could not remember when she last had one!
Thursday 3rd September 2009.
This morning I finished the patio floor with the jet wash, as promised and then caught up with the blog,as you can see! We were going to go to Gibraltar today but at the moment there are very long queues due to the Spanish authorities acting up at the busiest time of the year, so we will have to wait till it calms down! We hoping to set up a phone call with Chris at the weekend to resolve our future dealing with him here at Casa Olimpia as outlined above,watch this space !! This evening we are having Spanish Lamb cutlets on Boulangere potatoes for supper,which I am just about to go and make.
PS;
As I was walking into the kitchen I've just had a very nasty fall,I slipped and fell on my side and gave my shoulder,arm and ribs a bad knock,I was down on the floor for about twenty minute's as the wind was knocked out of me,nurse Brenda arrived and there are no broken bones !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)