Monday, September 30, 2013
CLOUDY WITH WARM SUNNY BREAKS IN MANILVA TODAY;
MONDAY 30th/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
This
morning we were up with the ‘Crickets’ – over night we had a little rain as
they come out afterwards so we had a chorus as we set off to the surgery as I
had an appointment with our doctor to update all my results and check my
prescriptions; we killed ‘Two Birds with One Stone’as Brenda updated her
details and prescriptions also and had her eyes checked as she has been
suffering with them – she recommended that we stop at the opticians in Calle
Mar and have a free eye test on the way home as well as some eye ointment and
drops when needed.
Brenda is
picking up the results later, as she walked in and they saw her right away, she
now needs glasses for everyday as well as the reading glasses that she already
has and she also is going to arrange an appointment at the hospital over in
Marbella to see a consultant as there is a history of Glaucoma and Cataracts in
her family.
At lunchtime Anna called in as their electricity is still not back on,Mano is at home waiting for the engineers to arrive! We then went for a walk with Chispa and bumped into Sally Ann,Barbara and Anna having a coffee in Bodega Augustin before picking the kids up from school; for our snack/lunch today we had all the salads from the buffet last night,it reminded us of the good-old days back at the Hotel70" when we used to serve a old fashioned " Hors D'oeuvre" trolley !!
While we were out we also bumped into Valentina from Foreign Residents Dept. She has invited us to the official opening of the 'Plaza De la Vendimia' and the Wine Museum in the Wine Centre on Saturday 12th October; at the moment that are painting the centre in the official Blue & White Manliva colours.
At lunchtime Anna called in as their electricity is still not back on,Mano is at home waiting for the engineers to arrive! We then went for a walk with Chispa and bumped into Sally Ann,Barbara and Anna having a coffee in Bodega Augustin before picking the kids up from school; for our snack/lunch today we had all the salads from the buffet last night,it reminded us of the good-old days back at the Hotel70" when we used to serve a old fashioned " Hors D'oeuvre" trolley !!
While we were out we also bumped into Valentina from Foreign Residents Dept. She has invited us to the official opening of the 'Plaza De la Vendimia' and the Wine Museum in the Wine Centre on Saturday 12th October; at the moment that are painting the centre in the official Blue & White Manliva colours.
The weather
forecast is OK with some clouds but still warm and sunny at times with the
possibility of rain near the end of the week; we have been very lucky down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’as the rest of Spain
This
evening for supper we are having Grilled Gammon with fried Eggs and Pineapple,
Garden Peas and crisp twice-cooked Chips, then we will watch the news and
weather forecast and find something to watch.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Sunday, September 29, 2013
SUNNY CLOUDY RAIN AND DRY MANILVA THIS SUNDAY
SUNDAY 29TH/
SEPTEMBER 2103.
We had a
little lie in his morning and then after our tea and toast we sorted out the
rest of the buffet meal for tonight; it was then time for our showers and just
as we finished Chispa came crashing in so we went for a short walk around the
bottom of the village below the new park, over the last couple of days they
have been sealing the flag stones with a special finish which waterproofs and
kills any weeds and also it give them a better look!
The weather
today is mixed, as we were out it was warm and sunny, this morning it was
cloudy and then as we were sat under the Sonbrajo at Bar Rojas we had a light
shower! The ‘Classic Cars’ arrived, all seven of them! The forecasted weather
has stopped more of them coming out, see the pictures above!!
Yesterday
afternoon a new Venta opened on the road down to Sabinillas just below Mano’s
house with spectacular views down the valley to the coast; ‘Venta La Raspita’
run by a family that have a ‘Taberna’ down on the front in Sabinllas; the
property is owned by a friend and various people have tried over the years to
start a business, with no luck so we wish them all the best as they have spent
a lot of time and money getting it ready! See the picture above.
Early this
afternoon I have just watched the ‘Motor GP from Aragon – Marc Marquez won and
increased his lead in the Championship. Over in Florence
After over seven hours of racing its the rider from Portugal Rui Costa who wins in a close finish from Spain's Rodriguez and Valverde !!
After over seven hours of racing its the rider from Portugal Rui Costa who wins in a close finish from Spain's Rodriguez and Valverde !!
We are
looking forward to Mano and Anna joining us for supper later, we’ve layed on a
‘Helluva’buffet with lots of their favorite things!See the pictures above of the Cold Chicken Buffet !!
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Saturday, September 28, 2013
DRY AT THE MOMENT MANILVA ON SATURDAY
SATURDAY 28th/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
Well the
first rain came, in nearly five months, but not when expected – the rain storm
hit us at midnight and only lasted 30minutes! At the moment it is
dry and warm but no doubt it will hit us again later! Tomorrow we have the
Classic/Vintage Car Rally coming through the village at lunchtime so fingers
crossed!
Brenda is
getting things on the go for the weekend menu’s and I’ am upstairs in the
office typing the blog, as you an see and watching BBC Breakfast News before Saturday
Morning Kitchen; tonight we are having ‘Steak Poivrade’ with finely sliced
Green Beans and twice-cooked Chips.
Then on
Sunday for supper, Mano and Anna are joining us as their electricity will be
off for the weekend, its going to be Cold Herb Roasted Chicken with wait for it
– Broad Beans cooked with Smoked Bacon, Onions and Garlic, Fresh Asparagus with
a Hollandaise sauce, seared Bell Green Peppers, sautéed sliced Baked potatoes,
Ensaladilla Rusa, Salad Nicoise, Beef Tomato and Beetroot salads in a Balsamic dressing,
Campo Egg Mayonniase, crisp Lettuce salad and Tapas of local Chorizo and
semi-Curado Cheese – a feast to look forward too!
We are
having an at home weekend and next week we are picking Gillian up on Wednesday
evening from the bus station over in Marbella but no over plans at the moment!
This
afternoon I will watch on BBC TV1 which I’ve just spotted is on live this
afternoon, the ‘Ladies Elite Road Race’ from the World Cycling Championship in
Florence, Tuscany; later I will catch up with all the football results over
here and in England and any other sports including Motor GP from Aragon in
Northern Spain?! Marquez is on the pole for Sundays race.
I was watching the ladies race from Florence on BBCTV1 but it then went across to BBCTV2 and I 'can't get a contact so I ended up having to follow it on the BBC News Text - sadly all the English girls could not keep up with pace and three-times champion Marianne Vos from Holland won again! Over in England meanwhile Manchester City lost at Aston Villa 3-2 and the big result of the day was Manchester Utd loosing at home to West Brom 0-1 and going down to 12th in the league!
I was watching the ladies race from Florence on BBCTV1 but it then went across to BBCTV2 and I 'can't get a contact so I ended up having to follow it on the BBC News Text - sadly all the English girls could not keep up with pace and three-times champion Marianne Vos from Holland won again! Over in England meanwhile Manchester City lost at Aston Villa 3-2 and the big result of the day was Manchester Utd loosing at home to West Brom 0-1 and going down to 12th in the league!
Barcelon won 0-2 but Messi limped off injured but the big surprise of the day was Atl.Madrid won 0-1 at Real Madrid and played very well,Real were terrible!
Tonight
after supper which I make the sauce ‘a la minute’ when I crush the whole Black
Peppers corns and then pan-fry the flattened seasoned minute steak, take them
out to rest, deglaze the pan with Brandy after tossing the smashed peppercorns
in with the sautéed diced Onions, add a strong Beef stock then the cream and
put the steaks back in to finish! It’s another yummy!! It will then be time to
settle down and find something to watch.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Friday, September 27, 2013
SUNNY AND DRY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND
FRIDAY 27th/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
Well the
rain has kept away for today but tomorrow it’s going to be wet! We went down to
the local market first for some fresh flowers and so I could call into the
surgery to make an appointment for a review of my prescriptions; then we went
down to Sabinillas for the shopping, called into the bank and newsagents and
finally to the English butchers in Duquesa Marina for some Gammon steaks and
Pork Sausage’s.
After
un-packing I took the car back to the underground car park and then went to our
butchers in the village for our Saturday night steaks and some Chicken wings;
as we were sorting ourselves out who came crashing in through the shutter’s
,like she had never been away, but Chispa as you can see in the picture above!
We went down to Isobel’s to say hello to her and Paqui her daughter as they
have been away down at their ‘Campo’ for three months!
We have
just come back from a short walk around the village as you can see in the
picture above where the final finishening work on ‘Plaza Pozo Del Rey’ is
taking place and the roof of the Pergolas have been put on! Chispa is sat at my
feet as I’ am typing this!!
Next I’ am
going to make some’Ensaladilla Rusa’ after Brenda has got all the ingredients
cooked and ready! Then for tonight’ supper I’ am going to get ready to make a “Fish/Seafood
Risotto” with Hake, Cod and Salmon, Prawns, Crab and Smoked Salmon- Fish stock
and White wine and garden Peas - to my own recipe! Watch this space!! See the picture above;
Mano and Anna called in after lunch so we had a good chat,gossip and moan as they have had their electric cut off,for no reason,they have paid the bill! So Anna is charging her phone here at ours ( Most Important) and tonight she is bringing some food up from their fridge,so we have invited them for supper on Sunday evening just in case!!
Mano and Anna called in after lunch so we had a good chat,gossip and moan as they have had their electric cut off,for no reason,they have paid the bill! So Anna is charging her phone here at ours ( Most Important) and tonight she is bringing some food up from their fridge,so we have invited them for supper on Sunday evening just in case!!
Over the
weekend on the sports front it’s mainly Football and then on Sunday the cycling
from the ‘World Road Race Championship’ in Florence; Over here in ‘La Liga’on
Saturday it’s the big ‘Derby’ game between Real Madrid and Atl.Madrid and
Barcelona are at Almeria; In England it’s Aston Villa v Manchester City,
Sunderland v Liverpool and finally on Monday Everton v Newcastle.
Tonight
after our Risotto we will find a film to watch.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Thursday, September 26, 2013
SUNNY AND A STILL VERY HOT MANILVA & SOTOGRANDE ON THURSDAY
THURSDAY 26th/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
Are we
lucky or what? It’s another sunny and very hot day in Manilva; we walked down
to the lower Manilva roundabout with our Union Jack and Welsh Dragon flags to
welcome Kelvin and Gaye to sunny Manilva, we showed them around the village and
then took them to our house to give them a view of the guest facilities! We
hope to see them sometime next year as they are now on the official guest
list!!
We then
went along the coast to Sotogrande Marina as you can see in the picture below
and had a cool drink in the’Ke’Bar and on the way back called into ‘Castillo de
la Duquesa and the Marina before coming back up to the village – so nice to see
you both and love to you Kelvin and Gaye till we see you the next time xx
Tomorrow
the forecast is for the weather to change with possible rain and on Saturday
our first rain storm in over five months! Then the sun is due back on Sunday
hopefully as there is a Vintage/Classic Car Rally coming through the village as
lunchtime.
SPORTS NEW
UPDATE;
The
highlight of the week was over in San Francisco at the ‘Americas Cup’as the
‘USA Team Oracle’ made one of the greatest sporting comebacks to win the cup;
they came back from being 8-1 down to win the races 9-8 and send the New
Zealand team packing ! Sir Ben Ainslie was brought in as the tactician and the
boat was skippered by an Australian as well as an Aussie strategist!
Meanwhile
over in Florence , Tuscany
Football
this week has seen both Barcelona England Liverpool 1-0 !
On Tuesday
evening I caught the latest episode of ‘New Tricks’ as Tamzin Outhwaite took
over the role of the boss of department in a very good episode. Last night we
found a film called ‘Man on a Ledge’ from 2012 starring Sam Worthinton,Jamie
Bell ( Billy Elliot ) Elizabeth Banks and Ed Harris – Watch it to find out what
he is doing out on the ledge of a New York skyscraper!!
Tonight for
supper we having Baked Pork Chops with Breton Potatoes and Green Beans before
settling down to our normal life in sunny Manilva after all the excitement of
the start of the week!
Finally a big 'Thank You' for all my good old fashioned birthday cards including one from Tim & Thea over in Old Colwyn with Welsh Car Decals and a proper photograph of Jo in her 'Graduation Robes' which are getting framed tomorrow! Lots of Facebook messages from family and friends old and new as well as e-mails and last but not least two calls,one on 'Viber' from Big Bri over in Pori,Finland and a Skype video call on the morning of my birthday from Jack and Lyn over in Melbourne Australia !! Thanks and Love xx
Finally a big 'Thank You' for all my good old fashioned birthday cards including one from Tim & Thea over in Old Colwyn with Welsh Car Decals and a proper photograph of Jo in her 'Graduation Robes' which are getting framed tomorrow! Lots of Facebook messages from family and friends old and new as well as e-mails and last but not least two calls,one on 'Viber' from Big Bri over in Pori,Finland and a Skype video call on the morning of my birthday from Jack and Lyn over in Melbourne Australia !! Thanks and Love xx
Thought for
the Day ; See above.
..
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
SUNNY AND A VERY HOT MANILVA AND PUERTO BANUS THIS LUNCHTIME
WEDNESDAY
25th/ SEPTEMBER 2013.
Yet another
great day here in a sunny and very hot Manilva, again! We sorted ourselves out
and freshened up and headed out, our first port of call ‘Bar Rojas’ for a quick
one before shooting across to Puerto Banus for ‘Day 2’ of my birthday
celebrations.
We met
Kelvin and Gaye outside just as they arrived after walking from their hotel;
‘La Sala’ was not too busy and made us very welcome, we decided to eat out side
and settled down for a good catch-up and gossip; they are only here for five
days, they picked up a very good offer to stay at the ‘H10 Hotel’ on an
all-inclusive( Up-graded) eat and drink package!
‘La Sala’ looked
after us very well and all the food coming out looked really appetizing so we
were looking forward to our meal, we were not disappointed; see the pictures
above, I had a very succulent and tasty Fillet steak with Fries, Kelvin had
Scallops resting on a nice salad, Brenda has seared Fillets of Sea Bass with
Asparagus and Green Beans and Gay had a lovely Tomato and Mozzarella salad.
Coffees to finish and a very delicious ‘Birthday Cake’- it was a fabulous
Chocolate Torte arrived with the complements of the house! The only down was
the ‘House Cava’ that was nothing to write home about, you can’t win them all!
A very
pleasant time was had by all as we sat and enjoyed the sights and sounds of
Puerto Banus,great company and friends after eight years since we last saw
Kelvin at his business in Ruthin with as it happens Mano and Anna just before
we left North
Wales . We
are already looking forward to seeing them again in the not too distant future;
They are coming up to Sunny Manilva tomorrow morning for the official
show-round and we are then going along the coast to Sotogrande Marina for a
coffee and cool drink!
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
SUNNY AND HOT MANILVA ON TUESDAY THE BIRTHDAY BOY REIGNS
TUESDAY 24th/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
THE
BIRTHDAY BOY – 1945 – 2013 “STILL GOING
STRONG”
No lie in
this morning just up and at’ am! A surprise birthday treat from Brenda with her
famous ‘Poached Eggs on Toast’ to set me up for today and tomorrow! After dropping
Gillian off at the bus station in Marbella late lunchtime we are going into
Puerto Banus to ‘ El Corte Ingles’ to go to the ‘Champagne Bar’ for a little
treat !
Two glasses of chilled 'Moet & Chandon Imperial Rose Brut' with two large plates of fine Smoked Salmon resting on a mixed Leaf Vinaigrette salad with warm toast! That's they way to live !!
Two glasses of chilled 'Moet & Chandon Imperial Rose Brut' with two large plates of fine Smoked Salmon resting on a mixed Leaf Vinaigrette salad with warm toast! That's they way to live !!
Then this
evening as we are out tomorrow lunchtime with Kelvin and Gaye at ‘La Sala’ I’am
cooking one of our current favorites ‘ Chicken Schnitzels’ with Spaghetti in
Tomato salsa for supper!
On today’s
health check at our chemists my blood pressure reading was very good and I have
lost a little more weight so I’am OK to play for a bit longer!
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Monday, September 23, 2013
SUNNY AND HOT MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF A HELLUVA WEEK;
MONDAY 23rd/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
This
morning we were up bright and early as we were going across to Estepona; today
the weather is gorgeous with the hot sun beating down and a little light
breeze, temperature’s reaching 29/30degs! with more to come later in the week.
We first
called into our bank and then dropped down into the underground car park along
the front; our first port of call was the very popular and efficient café for
our morning ‘Tostado’ Brenda has Olive Oil and Tomato concasse and I have butter
and jam with our tea & coffee.
Brenda went
off for her cosmetics and I stopped at Manuel the barber for a shave, shampoo
and cut with face and neck massage! We met up a little later in the centre of
the town and Brenda said that she had spotted a new ladies fashion shop, it
turned out that it had just opened this morning and was already doing a roaring
business with the ladies of Estepona! Brenda joined in and ended up with a new hand/shoulder
bag which was a bargain, so she says!
We called
into the ‘Carrefour Hypermarket’ our old stomping ground just for a look round
and soon noticed that all the prices are a little dearer than in our local
supermarkets in Sabinillas! On the way back I topped up the car with petrol
ready for the next couple of days; its not going as good as it used too, in
fact its about 20kms slower and I have to drive in the inside lane which on the
roads down here is the most dangerous spot as the traffic joining from your
right don’t stop or indicate as they pull out, they expect you to pull over to
the outside lane no matter what is coming along behind you!! Grrrrrrrrrr !!
We are
having a lazy day at home doing nothing as the next few days we are out and
about down here on the ‘Costa del Sol’ enjoying ourselves and playing! We will
be up on the roof terrace this afternoon for our usual session and then tonight
for supper we are having English Pork Sausages with Heinz Baked Beans, Fried
Egg and crisp chips ( Don’t forget the HP sauce) – you could say from the
‘Sublime to the Ridiculous’ after last night ‘Steak Diane!’ which was rather
delicious.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Sunday, September 22, 2013
SUNNY AND HOT MANILVA ON SUNDAY PORI FINLAND OK
SUNDAY 22nd/
SEPTEMBER 2013.
This
morning we had a good lie in and when we finally got up the sun was cracking
the flags and it’s going to be another ‘Helluva’ sunny and hot day in Manilva!
After our tea, toast and fresh fruit we got things ready for tonight’s supper;
the classic “Steak Diane” made with our local steak flattened and smeared with
two sorts of Mustard, chopped Onions & sliced Mushrooms, flamed in Brandy,
a little Beef stock and finished with lots of Cream; Brenda has cut and sliced
the Green Beans and also produced some very fine sliced ‘Frits’ to be ‘Twice’
cooked! We can’t wait for tonight!!
We are then
having our showers and going for a walk around the village, still no sign of
‘Chispa’returning from her extended summer holidays down at the family campo,
on the way back I think we will call into Bar Rojas for a nice cool drink sat
under the Sonbrajo! This week is going to be a rather exciting and ‘Helluva’
one as we are out on Monday morning to go across to Estepona to go and get my hair
cut and so Brenda can pick up some cosmetics as the last time we tried to go
the car broke down!
Then on Tuesday,
my birthday, we are taking our friend Gillian across to the bus station in
Marbella as she is flying back to England to move into her new house outside
Torquay; no doubt that while we are out we will have a celebration glass or two
of something sparkling! And of course on Wednesday we are meeting Kelvin and
Gaye for a late lunch at the ‘In’ celebrity restaurant in Puerto Banus “ La
Sala ” which we are really looking forward to as we celebrate my 68th
birthday in the style that we used to be accustomed too!!
" We don't stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing "
" We don't stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing "
At
lunchtime it’s the ‘Singapore Grand Prix’ which is on Spanish TV – I think its
going to be rather boring as Vettel drive off into the distance to win his
third consecutive race in Singapore and probably seals the World Drivers
Championship at the same time!Vettel won and Alonso was second. Over in San Francisco London Whitehall
Oh and yes
I nearly forgot that there is a certain football match on later this afternoon
– Manchester City
We have
just had a nice long chat and gossip with Brian over in Pori,he called on
‘Viber’ and it was a very good clear connection at the same time so we have put
the world to rights, he has watched the Everton game from yesterday three times
! Lots of love to Brian and Lilli – we miss you terrible !!
This
evening after our highly awaited supper we will then settle down to watch a
film and prepare ourselves for the week ahead; it’s a ‘Hard’ life but somebody
has to do it down here in sunny Manilva !!
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Saturday, September 21, 2013
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