Monday/Thursday 27th/31st December 2009.
After the long Xmas weekend we took things easy on Monday and Tuesday and just pottered about the house and caught up with some reading; Turkey Curry was on the menu for Monday and kept popping up during the week! On Wednesday morning we went down to Tarifa to do the shopping and at the same time we took Boo to the vets for another check up. He is fine and the tablets are working! The same as me!!! Today I was up and out before 7-30am to go to the bank in Estepona to collect a cash transfer to pay the water bill, it eventually came through but it was to late to get to the office to settle the account. Tonight we are having Steak and Frits for dinner and are then going to watch the New Year in with Jools Holland, at twelve o’clock we will go out on the top balcony and listen to the ships horns in the Bay of Gibraltar as we crack open a bottle of something sparkling to toast a happy and healthy 2010 as well as a more prosperous one, fingers crossed!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA - SUNDAY SPECIAL.
Sunday 27th December 2009.
The best day by far over the Christmas period; no wind or rain and the sun starting to come out and the temperature going up! Eggs and Bacon for breakfast started the day as we meant to go on, as it was Sunday we had a special roast, Rib of Beef on the bone, cooked rare and served with oven baked Onions in a white sauce, puree of Carrots and baby new Turnips, whole Green Beans, Honey glazed Parsnips and Baby Herb crusted roast Potatoes; I made a Red wine gravy to fill the Yorkshire puddings! It reminded us of a very dear friend many years ago who used to Roast a whole Fillet of Beef smeared in Mustard and made the gravy/jus roti with a whole bottle of Chateau Lafitte Rothchild 1973, those were the days!! After a late lunch we sat out on the balcony in the sunshine with a clear blue sky and the views of Africa for the first time as we had our tea (No great Coffee drinkers) with our Xmas chocolates and After Eight mints! The picture below shows Joan in her Sunday best finery.
PS; We had another bottle of a fine Rioja with the Beef !
The best day by far over the Christmas period; no wind or rain and the sun starting to come out and the temperature going up! Eggs and Bacon for breakfast started the day as we meant to go on, as it was Sunday we had a special roast, Rib of Beef on the bone, cooked rare and served with oven baked Onions in a white sauce, puree of Carrots and baby new Turnips, whole Green Beans, Honey glazed Parsnips and Baby Herb crusted roast Potatoes; I made a Red wine gravy to fill the Yorkshire puddings! It reminded us of a very dear friend many years ago who used to Roast a whole Fillet of Beef smeared in Mustard and made the gravy/jus roti with a whole bottle of Chateau Lafitte Rothchild 1973, those were the days!! After a late lunch we sat out on the balcony in the sunshine with a clear blue sky and the views of Africa for the first time as we had our tea (No great Coffee drinkers) with our Xmas chocolates and After Eight mints! The picture below shows Joan in her Sunday best finery.
PS; We had another bottle of a fine Rioja with the Beef !
CASA OLIMPIA - BOXING DAY.
Saturday 26th December 2009. BOXING DAY.
Toasted Bacon butties for breakfast with mugs of steaming tea started the day in the right way; Joan is not feeling well, her arthritis in her back has been acting up over Xmas so we decided to have a lazy day about the villa and take things easy. For lunch we had Lobster soup, Baxters, with cream and Brandy added along with Brenda’s Melba toast (Memories of the good old days when we served it in our restaurants all the time) In the afternoon we watched the racing from Kempton Park; Kauto Star won the King George VI Chase for the fourth straight time and the Bank holiday crowds went mad, the atmosphere was electric and the coverage on Channel 4 was great. In the evening for supper we had cold Turkey with Bubble and Squeak as we settled down to watch the TV.
Toasted Bacon butties for breakfast with mugs of steaming tea started the day in the right way; Joan is not feeling well, her arthritis in her back has been acting up over Xmas so we decided to have a lazy day about the villa and take things easy. For lunch we had Lobster soup, Baxters, with cream and Brandy added along with Brenda’s Melba toast (Memories of the good old days when we served it in our restaurants all the time) In the afternoon we watched the racing from Kempton Park; Kauto Star won the King George VI Chase for the fourth straight time and the Bank holiday crowds went mad, the atmosphere was electric and the coverage on Channel 4 was great. In the evening for supper we had cold Turkey with Bubble and Squeak as we settled down to watch the TV.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
JENNY'S BIRTHDAY.
Sunday 27th December 2009,
We would like to wish Jenny, Brenda’s baby sister, a very happy birthday and hope that she has a “ Helluva ” day! Our love to all the family as Jenny is staying with her sister Norah,her son Darren and her elder son David and his wife Claire and their children Catlin and Elie who are visiting today and have come down from the wilds of Carlisle !
PS; They did not make it due to the snow on the lanes by their house !!
We would like to wish Jenny, Brenda’s baby sister, a very happy birthday and hope that she has a “ Helluva ” day! Our love to all the family as Jenny is staying with her sister Norah,her son Darren and her elder son David and his wife Claire and their children Catlin and Elie who are visiting today and have come down from the wilds of Carlisle !
PS; They did not make it due to the snow on the lanes by their house !!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA - CHRISTMAS DAY 2009.
25th December 2009 CHRISTMAS DAY.
We decided at the start of the week to sort the problems out here at the villa after Christmas and so settled down to having a good as Christmas as we could have; it is only in the last few years since we retired that the Xmas period has meant anything to us as we have been working over the festive season all our lives and although it was always enjoyable it was not the same as normal people! So our Xmas day got off to a great start as we called the folks over in Australia from our bed! We knew that Jack and Lyn had planned to go out later to see all the family so it was the right time to catch them and at the same time surprise them; we caught up with all their news and sent out love to everybody over in Australia. We then called Tim over in Colwyn Bay as we got up. He was just starting the same breakfast as us, back here, of scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Bucks Fizz! Joan came down and joined us to start off the day in the proper fashion! We then got the Turkey into the oven; it was a Spanish one but prepared English style, not like last year! I then made the Chestnut stuffing and the Pigs in Blanket with the Chipolatas and Smoked Bacon from the English butchers. Brenda got going on the vegetables; Baby Sprouts with streaky Bacon, Parsnips in Spanish Honey,Galzed Carrotts,Cauliflower and Broccoli florets in a Cheddar Cheese sauce and garden peas; the roast potatoes were cooked in Goose fat, from home, I then made finger coating pan gravy and we also had the crispy bacon from off the Turkey. Joan came back down and we sat at the large table in the main lounge for our starter of Smoked Pink Trout and Crab. We are saving the fine wines for another day so we opened a very nice bottle of sparkling rose Cava and then a fine bottle of Rioja; during the day the phone never stopped as all Joan’s family called and we got through to Jenny and Norah over in Runcorn after their Xmas lunch, Jenny is staying with Norah over the Xmas period. After our late lunch and as we sat at the table we received two surprise calls on our Spanish mobile; one was from our Spanish neighbours in Manilva, who were having their Xmas party and called to wish us “ Feliz Navidad ” and the second one was from a sunny beach in Trinidad – Vidal !! Who is over at his mothers’ house for the first time in years with all his family! The pictures below give you a little taste of the decorations around the villa, the Xmas table and Joan in her cracker hat, Brenda put the bows on the two dogs who were not impressed! Later we settled down to watch TV, one programme that we usually don’t watch is Eastenders but this episode was very good and got terrific reviews in the papers this morning unlike the Queens speech which was terrible, I’m sorry to say.Then the Royal Family was very funny and Gavin and Stacy was excellent.During the early morning of Xmas day and all through Friday the weather has been terrible – thunderstorms with 80km tornadoes and power cuts all the time!! Finally we would like to wish all our family and friends a very “ Merry Christmas ” we hope that you all had a “ Helluva ” day just like us !!
We decided at the start of the week to sort the problems out here at the villa after Christmas and so settled down to having a good as Christmas as we could have; it is only in the last few years since we retired that the Xmas period has meant anything to us as we have been working over the festive season all our lives and although it was always enjoyable it was not the same as normal people! So our Xmas day got off to a great start as we called the folks over in Australia from our bed! We knew that Jack and Lyn had planned to go out later to see all the family so it was the right time to catch them and at the same time surprise them; we caught up with all their news and sent out love to everybody over in Australia. We then called Tim over in Colwyn Bay as we got up. He was just starting the same breakfast as us, back here, of scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Bucks Fizz! Joan came down and joined us to start off the day in the proper fashion! We then got the Turkey into the oven; it was a Spanish one but prepared English style, not like last year! I then made the Chestnut stuffing and the Pigs in Blanket with the Chipolatas and Smoked Bacon from the English butchers. Brenda got going on the vegetables; Baby Sprouts with streaky Bacon, Parsnips in Spanish Honey,Galzed Carrotts,Cauliflower and Broccoli florets in a Cheddar Cheese sauce and garden peas; the roast potatoes were cooked in Goose fat, from home, I then made finger coating pan gravy and we also had the crispy bacon from off the Turkey. Joan came back down and we sat at the large table in the main lounge for our starter of Smoked Pink Trout and Crab. We are saving the fine wines for another day so we opened a very nice bottle of sparkling rose Cava and then a fine bottle of Rioja; during the day the phone never stopped as all Joan’s family called and we got through to Jenny and Norah over in Runcorn after their Xmas lunch, Jenny is staying with Norah over the Xmas period. After our late lunch and as we sat at the table we received two surprise calls on our Spanish mobile; one was from our Spanish neighbours in Manilva, who were having their Xmas party and called to wish us “ Feliz Navidad ” and the second one was from a sunny beach in Trinidad – Vidal !! Who is over at his mothers’ house for the first time in years with all his family! The pictures below give you a little taste of the decorations around the villa, the Xmas table and Joan in her cracker hat, Brenda put the bows on the two dogs who were not impressed! Later we settled down to watch TV, one programme that we usually don’t watch is Eastenders but this episode was very good and got terrific reviews in the papers this morning unlike the Queens speech which was terrible, I’m sorry to say.Then the Royal Family was very funny and Gavin and Stacy was excellent.During the early morning of Xmas day and all through Friday the weather has been terrible – thunderstorms with 80km tornadoes and power cuts all the time!! Finally we would like to wish all our family and friends a very “ Merry Christmas ” we hope that you all had a “ Helluva ” day just like us !!
Friday, December 25, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 22nd/23rd/24th December 2009.
After a busy day on Monday running about the Costa del Sol and Brenda back at the villa brushing out the cellar flood we took it easy on Tuesday; I caught up with the e-mails and Facebook messages inc.birthday greetings to Michelle over in Preston. On Wednesday morning we went down to Tarifa through the mist and rain to the supermarket for our fresh vegetables for the Xmas period.Thursday, Xmas eve was a “ Helluva ” day in more ways than one! I was up and out early to get across to Manilva to check the house out and pick up all the cards; many thanks once again to everybody for all your news messages inside the cards and more baby photos! I then picked up some cash and went down to the English butchers to pick up our order for Xmas inc.Rib of Beef and Steak and Kidney along with homemade Chipolatas. I then went across to Estepona to collect a money transfer from Chris in London, it took over two and a half hours to come and the bank was closing early! On the way back I had some other messages to go for and in-between the rain storms I stopped for a tea and caught up with the Spanish news on the TV in the bar; it has not stopped raining for six days and there are floods everywhere in Andalucia and deep snow on all the mountains but the temperature down here on the Costa del Sol is going up all the time and by the end of the week it will be 20 degs again! My last stop was the most important,the wine merchants were I picked up a bottle of Cloudy Bay for the starter,a very nice Savigny les Beaune and a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose to finish!!Meanwhile back at the villa Brenda was keeping the flood at bay in the cellar after the most severe storm so far,she took the picture below during the worst of the rain,as I got back the sun was out and the garden looked like a tropical rain forest with steam coming off as the temperature went up!! In the evening we started to get things ready,sadly Chris did not make his flight as the weather beat him,he tried to get a transfer to Madrid and then down to Malaga but it was not possible so he is coming over sometime in the next few days!
After a busy day on Monday running about the Costa del Sol and Brenda back at the villa brushing out the cellar flood we took it easy on Tuesday; I caught up with the e-mails and Facebook messages inc.birthday greetings to Michelle over in Preston. On Wednesday morning we went down to Tarifa through the mist and rain to the supermarket for our fresh vegetables for the Xmas period.Thursday, Xmas eve was a “ Helluva ” day in more ways than one! I was up and out early to get across to Manilva to check the house out and pick up all the cards; many thanks once again to everybody for all your news messages inside the cards and more baby photos! I then picked up some cash and went down to the English butchers to pick up our order for Xmas inc.Rib of Beef and Steak and Kidney along with homemade Chipolatas. I then went across to Estepona to collect a money transfer from Chris in London, it took over two and a half hours to come and the bank was closing early! On the way back I had some other messages to go for and in-between the rain storms I stopped for a tea and caught up with the Spanish news on the TV in the bar; it has not stopped raining for six days and there are floods everywhere in Andalucia and deep snow on all the mountains but the temperature down here on the Costa del Sol is going up all the time and by the end of the week it will be 20 degs again! My last stop was the most important,the wine merchants were I picked up a bottle of Cloudy Bay for the starter,a very nice Savigny les Beaune and a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose to finish!!Meanwhile back at the villa Brenda was keeping the flood at bay in the cellar after the most severe storm so far,she took the picture below during the worst of the rain,as I got back the sun was out and the garden looked like a tropical rain forest with steam coming off as the temperature went up!! In the evening we started to get things ready,sadly Chris did not make his flight as the weather beat him,he tried to get a transfer to Madrid and then down to Malaga but it was not possible so he is coming over sometime in the next few days!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA - JUST.
Saturday/Sunday/Monday 19th/20th/21st. December 2009.
The weather has changed for the worst; the forecast is for severe rain storms over the next few days and could go on for all of next week but the temperatures are not as cold as was expected; the villa is in a very exposed position and is taking a bashing but with not many leaks, at the moment! Boo does not like the thunder and lightening and stays very close to Brenda at all times, the cats are in the cellar most of the time keeping out of the rain and all the animals have now been sprayed and the dogs are taking their tablets. After our usual Saturday night supper of Steak and frits we watched the final of SCD with our fingers crossed that the storm would not cut off the satellite system, it didn’t and the surprise winner was Chris Hollins! On Sunday we had for a change Lamb chops roasted on Boulangere potatoes with amongst the vegetables some fresh sprouts. Late in the afternoon our Chris phoned from England and spoke to Joan about Christmas and what was going to happen to her going into 2010, she then called one of her grandchildren and it all got a little confusing to say the least! Watch this space! First thing on Monday morning I went out in the Smart car across to Manilva to attempt to pay the water bill, once again, whilst I was out the most severe thunder storm struck and all along the coast everywhere was flooding and I got soaked as I met up with Mano and Anna for a bacon buttie and a mug of steaming tea.The bill is still not paid so we will have to cross our fingers that it is not cut off like last time! When I returned to the villa Brenda had lost a phone call from Chris due to a power cut so I called him back and had a rather strained conversation with him as we are now very unhappy and have lost all our confidence in him, at the same time the payment system has broken down and we now owed a great deal of money!!! We are stuck here because of Joan and feel that we are being taken advantage of, which we are! We have also with Mano’s help have made emergency plans to move out at short notice if it is not resolved over the next day or so to our satisfaction. Once again watch this space in the ongoing saga of the Sextons on their travels!!
The weather has changed for the worst; the forecast is for severe rain storms over the next few days and could go on for all of next week but the temperatures are not as cold as was expected; the villa is in a very exposed position and is taking a bashing but with not many leaks, at the moment! Boo does not like the thunder and lightening and stays very close to Brenda at all times, the cats are in the cellar most of the time keeping out of the rain and all the animals have now been sprayed and the dogs are taking their tablets. After our usual Saturday night supper of Steak and frits we watched the final of SCD with our fingers crossed that the storm would not cut off the satellite system, it didn’t and the surprise winner was Chris Hollins! On Sunday we had for a change Lamb chops roasted on Boulangere potatoes with amongst the vegetables some fresh sprouts. Late in the afternoon our Chris phoned from England and spoke to Joan about Christmas and what was going to happen to her going into 2010, she then called one of her grandchildren and it all got a little confusing to say the least! Watch this space! First thing on Monday morning I went out in the Smart car across to Manilva to attempt to pay the water bill, once again, whilst I was out the most severe thunder storm struck and all along the coast everywhere was flooding and I got soaked as I met up with Mano and Anna for a bacon buttie and a mug of steaming tea.The bill is still not paid so we will have to cross our fingers that it is not cut off like last time! When I returned to the villa Brenda had lost a phone call from Chris due to a power cut so I called him back and had a rather strained conversation with him as we are now very unhappy and have lost all our confidence in him, at the same time the payment system has broken down and we now owed a great deal of money!!! We are stuck here because of Joan and feel that we are being taken advantage of, which we are! We have also with Mano’s help have made emergency plans to move out at short notice if it is not resolved over the next day or so to our satisfaction. Once again watch this space in the ongoing saga of the Sextons on their travels!!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
CASA OLIMPIIA.
Tuesday/Friday 15th/18th December 2009.
Tuesday was our at home day as we pottered about the villa; the two dogs and two cats are all well and eating, Boo is Brenda’s dog and follows her everywhere, Millie is a little madam and has her own ways whilst the two cats are now staying in a lot more. Joan is keeping well and also eats everything we give her. On Wednesday morning I had to go across to our bank in Estepona to collect a money transfer, on the way I got caught in a rain storm which was very severe and I had to pull over as the visibility was down to zero and the Smart car is not built to withstand storms! On the way back I called into our house in Manilva and picked up the post; thanks for the cards, keep then coming as we look forward to them so much, also in some of them we get news updates and pictures about the year and what’s been happening; Brenda’s nephew in Australia Jeff is taking up a new position as CEO of a large company in South East Asia and is moving over to Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia with his wife Annette for a few years so they sent us all their contact details, meanwhile back in Bridgnorth our dear friend Penny had lots of news and one of Brenda’s old girlfriends Irene and her husband Peter sent us a picture of their latest grandchild, a boy who weighed in at 10lbs 9oz ! Whist I was in Estepona I had to call into the Mercedes garage and have new windscreen wipers fitted to the Smart car after the storm!! On the way back I called into the English butchers and ordered the Turkey and Rib of Beef for Xmas day and Boxing Day as well as Kidneys for a Steak and Kidney pie as we have four days to think about. First thing on Thursday morning I went down to Tarifa to pay the water bill but we have a problem as it has to be paid in cash, not by card and it is a large amount as it is the bill for July and August when the pool was in use! Watch this space. We then took Boo to the vets for a check up and to collect some tablets for him and Mille as well as a spray, he was very good as it was his first time in the Smart car and he had to stand in the front with Brenda! Friday was a shopping day at the supermarkets in Tarifa and in the evening for a change we had Scampi Provencale with rice for supper before we settled down to watch the TV only for the Satellite connection to be knocked off by an Atlantic storm that hit us in the late evening! As I am typing this the sun is out, the wind has dropped and it is a clear day overlooking the Strait to Africa.
Tuesday was our at home day as we pottered about the villa; the two dogs and two cats are all well and eating, Boo is Brenda’s dog and follows her everywhere, Millie is a little madam and has her own ways whilst the two cats are now staying in a lot more. Joan is keeping well and also eats everything we give her. On Wednesday morning I had to go across to our bank in Estepona to collect a money transfer, on the way I got caught in a rain storm which was very severe and I had to pull over as the visibility was down to zero and the Smart car is not built to withstand storms! On the way back I called into our house in Manilva and picked up the post; thanks for the cards, keep then coming as we look forward to them so much, also in some of them we get news updates and pictures about the year and what’s been happening; Brenda’s nephew in Australia Jeff is taking up a new position as CEO of a large company in South East Asia and is moving over to Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia with his wife Annette for a few years so they sent us all their contact details, meanwhile back in Bridgnorth our dear friend Penny had lots of news and one of Brenda’s old girlfriends Irene and her husband Peter sent us a picture of their latest grandchild, a boy who weighed in at 10lbs 9oz ! Whist I was in Estepona I had to call into the Mercedes garage and have new windscreen wipers fitted to the Smart car after the storm!! On the way back I called into the English butchers and ordered the Turkey and Rib of Beef for Xmas day and Boxing Day as well as Kidneys for a Steak and Kidney pie as we have four days to think about. First thing on Thursday morning I went down to Tarifa to pay the water bill but we have a problem as it has to be paid in cash, not by card and it is a large amount as it is the bill for July and August when the pool was in use! Watch this space. We then took Boo to the vets for a check up and to collect some tablets for him and Mille as well as a spray, he was very good as it was his first time in the Smart car and he had to stand in the front with Brenda! Friday was a shopping day at the supermarkets in Tarifa and in the evening for a change we had Scampi Provencale with rice for supper before we settled down to watch the TV only for the Satellite connection to be knocked off by an Atlantic storm that hit us in the late evening! As I am typing this the sun is out, the wind has dropped and it is a clear day overlooking the Strait to Africa.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA AND MANILVA.
Sunday/Monday 13th/14th December 2009.
Over the weekend the weather has gone a little cooler but the sun is still out during the day and with only a little breeze it can be described as “Crisp” After a lie in we got our Sunday lunch on the way, at the hypermarket the other day we picked up a two for one offer on Chickens! In the evening we watched TV, the X Factor final, the BBC sports personality of 2009 and then the UK snooker final; Joe,Giggs and Ding being the winners!
We got up early on Monday morning and set off across to San Pedro for cards then I dropped Brenda at our house in Manilva as I had an appointment with the doctor at the surgery for a check up and more results of some tests, all is well, the tests were clear and I am as sound as a bell, fingers crossed, that’s me not the doctor! The picture shows how the new Wine Centre has shot up, it is starting to look very impressive and will be a great asset to the village when it opens in 2010.On the way back we called into see Mano and Anna and catch up with all the news, we are trying to meet up at some time over Xmas,as we left the village Brenda posted the last of our cards in the post office; we had collected a lot of stuff from the house including pots and pans, food from the larder and deep freeze,xmas decorations including our three climbing Father Christmas’s and more clothes for Brenda! We stopped at our local supermarket to stock up for the week so by the time we were due to head back the Smart car was full and we only just managed to get a bag of logs in the front on top of Brenda! Cold Chicken for supper ended the day down here on the sunny Costa del Sol and round the corner in Tarifa.
Over the weekend the weather has gone a little cooler but the sun is still out during the day and with only a little breeze it can be described as “Crisp” After a lie in we got our Sunday lunch on the way, at the hypermarket the other day we picked up a two for one offer on Chickens! In the evening we watched TV, the X Factor final, the BBC sports personality of 2009 and then the UK snooker final; Joe,Giggs and Ding being the winners!
We got up early on Monday morning and set off across to San Pedro for cards then I dropped Brenda at our house in Manilva as I had an appointment with the doctor at the surgery for a check up and more results of some tests, all is well, the tests were clear and I am as sound as a bell, fingers crossed, that’s me not the doctor! The picture shows how the new Wine Centre has shot up, it is starting to look very impressive and will be a great asset to the village when it opens in 2010.On the way back we called into see Mano and Anna and catch up with all the news, we are trying to meet up at some time over Xmas,as we left the village Brenda posted the last of our cards in the post office; we had collected a lot of stuff from the house including pots and pans, food from the larder and deep freeze,xmas decorations including our three climbing Father Christmas’s and more clothes for Brenda! We stopped at our local supermarket to stock up for the week so by the time we were due to head back the Smart car was full and we only just managed to get a bag of logs in the front on top of Brenda! Cold Chicken for supper ended the day down here on the sunny Costa del Sol and round the corner in Tarifa.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday 10th/11th/12th December 2009.
On Thursday we had a quiet day around the villa and in the afternoon I made a large pan of Beef Stew with twelve different vegetables, Lentils and diced potatoes which we had for supper along with Cabbage and shredded Beetroot. First thing on Friday morning we went down to the very large Hypermarket outside Algeciras to stock up the larder for Xmas as well as get some more decorations,glasses,crackers,chocolates and nuts for Brenda! Later in the day I spoke to Chris over in London and finalized the payment details for the car insurance, electricity and other essentials which I will see to on Monday. This morning after a lie in I came down to Brenda’s famous poached eggs on toast as you can see in the picture below! We then got the two dogs into the bath and gave them a shampoo and blow dry, as when they came in from their morning run around Boo was covered in pine needles and Millie had four black paws that looked like Wellington boots, they then go out on the balcony and dry off in the noon day sunshine as you can see. The Xmas tree pictures don’t give you the full view as we have only just started the decorations, we have already got five Poinsettias in the lounge! We have just come off the phone after a quick call to Jack and Lyn in Australia as the have just moved into their new home, today and we also called Gissy to wish her a very happy birthday. The forecast for next week is a little colder; we are getting the tail end of your weather over in England, for a change! Tonight after our steak and frits dinner we are watching the semi-finals of SCD,Darcey Bussell is dancing on the show and then over the next two nights the final of X FACTOR !!
On Thursday we had a quiet day around the villa and in the afternoon I made a large pan of Beef Stew with twelve different vegetables, Lentils and diced potatoes which we had for supper along with Cabbage and shredded Beetroot. First thing on Friday morning we went down to the very large Hypermarket outside Algeciras to stock up the larder for Xmas as well as get some more decorations,glasses,crackers,chocolates and nuts for Brenda! Later in the day I spoke to Chris over in London and finalized the payment details for the car insurance, electricity and other essentials which I will see to on Monday. This morning after a lie in I came down to Brenda’s famous poached eggs on toast as you can see in the picture below! We then got the two dogs into the bath and gave them a shampoo and blow dry, as when they came in from their morning run around Boo was covered in pine needles and Millie had four black paws that looked like Wellington boots, they then go out on the balcony and dry off in the noon day sunshine as you can see. The Xmas tree pictures don’t give you the full view as we have only just started the decorations, we have already got five Poinsettias in the lounge! We have just come off the phone after a quick call to Jack and Lyn in Australia as the have just moved into their new home, today and we also called Gissy to wish her a very happy birthday. The forecast for next week is a little colder; we are getting the tail end of your weather over in England, for a change! Tonight after our steak and frits dinner we are watching the semi-finals of SCD,Darcey Bussell is dancing on the show and then over the next two nights the final of X FACTOR !!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA MANILVA ESTEPONA.
Saturday/Wednesday 5th/9th December 2009.
On Saturday morning a light Tarifa breeze had got up so Brenda did the washing and aired the clothes on the balcony; this weekend is a bank holiday in Spain and they are closed until Wednesday as on Monday it is a saints day and on Tuesday they celebrate the Spanish constitution so it is the longest holiday of the year as it starts on Friday; the traffic on the roads all over Spain goes mad and it is the weekend when the most accidents on the road take place! Mano who is now working as the night manager at the Manilva Green Apart hotel says it was very busy with all the customers coming from all over Spain, especially Madrid. In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch SCD, the right result this time! Bacon butties started off the day on Sunday as we had a small Leg of Lamb to roast for a late Sunday lunch, instead of roast potatoes I made a dish of Boulangere potatoes and finished the Lamb on it! We also had amongst the vegetables creamed Leeks which reminded us of our dear friend Tim, back in North Wales who often gave us his special Garlic infused Lamb with all the trimmings. Tim and Thea had gone away for a long weekend to Cologne to see some friends so when we phoned on our regular Friday evening call we had a nice chat with Jo who is home over Christmas. Monday was catch up day around the villa and at the same time we dug out the Xmas decorations and the trees; a bit of a problem with the large one as the top third was missing and it took me three hours to find it in the garage! The weather is still sunny all the time with no wind and the views across the Strait are still unbelievable. I was catching up with the e-mails over Tuesday morning when the Skype alarm went off; it was a friend that we met on our travels, back in France, who was very helpful to us as at the time when we were just starting to get to know the Winnebago as he was a long standing Winnebago user and had been across in the USA many times, Tony Turner has now settled in Arizona for six months of the year and was calling us from there, nice talking to you Tony and thanks for the call, we will keep in touch! In the evening, late on BBB1 there was a documentary on Joan Baez which was excellent and had a interview with Bob Dylan going over the old times when they traveled around the USA.We shot across to Manilva first thing on Wednesday morning and called into the surgery to make an appointment to see our doctor and get our flu jabs; we then stopped at the house and collected some more clothes for over Christmas as well as the first Xmas cards! We then went to Estepona to do some shopping and also called into our bank to collect a money transfer from Chris over in London which he had sent by Moneygram, not Western Union, it took over two hours for it to come through, I ended up locked in the bank with our manager and Raul who looks after our account – thanks! It meant that we missed the shops that we were going too so we are having to go out on Friday morning to the Hypermarket. On the way back we called into the marina in Estepona to post cards and get some more stamps so I was able to take the picture below which is the entrance to the port and shows the Poinsettias in front of the famous Reinaldo’s bar.
On Saturday morning a light Tarifa breeze had got up so Brenda did the washing and aired the clothes on the balcony; this weekend is a bank holiday in Spain and they are closed until Wednesday as on Monday it is a saints day and on Tuesday they celebrate the Spanish constitution so it is the longest holiday of the year as it starts on Friday; the traffic on the roads all over Spain goes mad and it is the weekend when the most accidents on the road take place! Mano who is now working as the night manager at the Manilva Green Apart hotel says it was very busy with all the customers coming from all over Spain, especially Madrid. In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch SCD, the right result this time! Bacon butties started off the day on Sunday as we had a small Leg of Lamb to roast for a late Sunday lunch, instead of roast potatoes I made a dish of Boulangere potatoes and finished the Lamb on it! We also had amongst the vegetables creamed Leeks which reminded us of our dear friend Tim, back in North Wales who often gave us his special Garlic infused Lamb with all the trimmings. Tim and Thea had gone away for a long weekend to Cologne to see some friends so when we phoned on our regular Friday evening call we had a nice chat with Jo who is home over Christmas. Monday was catch up day around the villa and at the same time we dug out the Xmas decorations and the trees; a bit of a problem with the large one as the top third was missing and it took me three hours to find it in the garage! The weather is still sunny all the time with no wind and the views across the Strait are still unbelievable. I was catching up with the e-mails over Tuesday morning when the Skype alarm went off; it was a friend that we met on our travels, back in France, who was very helpful to us as at the time when we were just starting to get to know the Winnebago as he was a long standing Winnebago user and had been across in the USA many times, Tony Turner has now settled in Arizona for six months of the year and was calling us from there, nice talking to you Tony and thanks for the call, we will keep in touch! In the evening, late on BBB1 there was a documentary on Joan Baez which was excellent and had a interview with Bob Dylan going over the old times when they traveled around the USA.We shot across to Manilva first thing on Wednesday morning and called into the surgery to make an appointment to see our doctor and get our flu jabs; we then stopped at the house and collected some more clothes for over Christmas as well as the first Xmas cards! We then went to Estepona to do some shopping and also called into our bank to collect a money transfer from Chris over in London which he had sent by Moneygram, not Western Union, it took over two hours for it to come through, I ended up locked in the bank with our manager and Raul who looks after our account – thanks! It meant that we missed the shops that we were going too so we are having to go out on Friday morning to the Hypermarket. On the way back we called into the marina in Estepona to post cards and get some more stamps so I was able to take the picture below which is the entrance to the port and shows the Poinsettias in front of the famous Reinaldo’s bar.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Saturday, December 05, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Friday 30th November/4th December 2009
This week has been yet another lovely crisp and sunny week with clear blue skies; On Monday and Tuesday we caught up with the chores about the villa and started to bring out the Xmas decorations as we start to plan our Christmas over here in Tarifa, will Manilva miss us- you bet !The forecast for Wednesday was very good so we took the chance to take Joan across to Marbella to the cemetery to put some flowers on her husbands grave, it turned out to be rather special as the temperature rose to 25 degs.so on the way back we stopped at Tricky Rickys for a light lunch and sat outside on the terrace. On the way back we called into the English butchers and picked up a small Leg of Lamb for Sunday lunch. Dinner on Thursday was Braised steak and Onions with mash. First thing on Friday morning I was out and about chasing some money transfers, unsuccessfully, so on the way back I stopped at the supermarket and picked up the essentials for the weekend. The problem with the transfers was that the Western Union system was not working so I had to find a Moneygram agents office – this weekend it is a long Bank holiday in Spain, till Tuesday so I will find the nearest office on the internet over the weekend, next week we have all the bills to pay, water, electricity and the car insurance on the VW which means that I have to contact Chris and arrange the various payments either by cash or his credit card!
This week has been yet another lovely crisp and sunny week with clear blue skies; On Monday and Tuesday we caught up with the chores about the villa and started to bring out the Xmas decorations as we start to plan our Christmas over here in Tarifa, will Manilva miss us- you bet !The forecast for Wednesday was very good so we took the chance to take Joan across to Marbella to the cemetery to put some flowers on her husbands grave, it turned out to be rather special as the temperature rose to 25 degs.so on the way back we stopped at Tricky Rickys for a light lunch and sat outside on the terrace. On the way back we called into the English butchers and picked up a small Leg of Lamb for Sunday lunch. Dinner on Thursday was Braised steak and Onions with mash. First thing on Friday morning I was out and about chasing some money transfers, unsuccessfully, so on the way back I stopped at the supermarket and picked up the essentials for the weekend. The problem with the transfers was that the Western Union system was not working so I had to find a Moneygram agents office – this weekend it is a long Bank holiday in Spain, till Tuesday so I will find the nearest office on the internet over the weekend, next week we have all the bills to pay, water, electricity and the car insurance on the VW which means that I have to contact Chris and arrange the various payments either by cash or his credit card!
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