MANILVA MID WEEK.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY 21st/22nd DECEMBER 2011.

Wednesday morning was the best day so far in December; the sun was out early after a spectacular sunrise over the Mediterranean below us, by lunchtime it was shirts only needed at it was hot, in the afternoon Brenda retired to the terrace to sun bathe! On the TV the new President,Mariano Rajoy was sworn in by the King at the palace in Madrid and later he announsed his new government; the Vice-President is a lady who had been at his side for the past eight years and he has cut some government departments, meanwhile the pound is up again today and will brake the high spot for the year before the stock exchange closes later. In the morning we prepared the dinner for the evening; Roast Chicken with Chestnut Stuffing, Crispy Smoked Bacon and finger coating Gravy, Brenda’s vegetables were Cauliflower and Broccoli baked in a Cheese Sauce, Carrot and Baby White Turnips Mash, Cabbage with Alselgas, Garden Peas, New Potatoes and my Goose Fat Roast Potatoes. Meanwhile Mano and Carlos went with Dave and Debs for a round of golf at the local course, it ended up all square after 18 holes! We topped off the Trifle with Whipped Cream and sprinkled with Hazelnuts and Chocolate, the Tapas for nibbles with the Kir Royal were Local Chorizo, Cured Ham, Manchaga Cheese, Foie Pate and Prawns with Marie Rose Sauce. With the meal we had opened a Magnum of Vina Albali, Reserva 2006 which we had been saving for just such an occasion. A great night was had by all after which we retired up to Bar Rojas for Carajillo’s sat under the Sonbrajo, with its new waterproof cover, in the warm balmy night air-still in our shirt sleeves ! We took Lumy one of the trifles as she had never seen or had one and the reports this morning from her two sons and her husband along with her were spectacular and delicious - honest! Dave and Debs it was so nice to see you again and welcome you to sunny Manilva!! The pictures are at the bottom of the picture blog below;

Earlier in the evening before the gang arrived we had popped up to Calle Mar to check out the Xmas market as you can see in the other pictures below, all the stalls were local people with local goods, as you can see, it is on for four days.

This morning we were out early to catch the bus down to Duquesa to pick up the meats for Xmas; it is another beautiful day here in sunny Manilva-shirt sleeves again, the bus came along and as you can see in the pictures above we were the only people on it! The forecast has just been on the TV and its more of the same over the Xmas weekend into next week; as we were going out the draw for the National Lottery “ El Gordo-The Big One ” had just started on all the TV channels, sadly we did not have the winning number but a small village in Northern Spain did ! We called into the bank and the English supermarket on our way to the butchers where we found Gravy Browning which we have been looking for; the pictures above show what we came back with, Rib of Beef and a Topside of Beef, a Crown of Turkey with the Legs separate with freshly made Chipolatas, a Gammon joint with the freshly made, as we were there, Farmhouse and Cumberland Sausages and finally some fresh Parsnips!! Mano picked us up and dropped us back in the village; we then went for a walk with Cheta around the market as you can see in the picture above of the Bouncy Castle in front of the Old Town Hall, check out the blue sky. We bought a small slice of Apple Tart and some Vanilla Fudge from the stalls and were ripped off – the prices were extortionate – we will say something to the Mayor and our local councilor when we see them,Lumy said the same thing about the prices as well so it is not just us !

Tonight is Cold Chicken for supper followed by the Spanish soap on the TV.



Thought for the Day;



Your beliefs may suit your mind, but do they fit the facts.




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