Saturday, May 31, 2014
WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY
SATURDAY 31st/
MAY 2014.
Well Brenda
has had another cough free night which is rather surprising as the bedroom was
of course smelling of fresh paint; this morning it’s already warm and getting
hotter later, tomorrow we have a surprise little storm with some of the wet
stuff hitting us down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’ coming in from the
Mediterranean not the Atlantic as normal! We can’t complain as it’s still warm
and on Monday its back to normal as it’s getting hotter for the start of next
week.
After breakfast
of fresh local Orange juice,Weetabix, tea and toast I’ am up in the office
watching ‘BBC TV Breakfast News’ on the smaller PC and at the same time on the
larger PC as you can see after catching up with the news on the WWW I’ am typing the Blog; we have a quiet
weekend ahead with no plans then next week Brenda is having her hair cut ready
for our adventure on Thursday when we are going over to see Joyce in ‘Alhaurin
el Grande’ where she lives, it’s behind Marbella in the hills going up towards
Coin then you turn right!
Later this
morning ‘Scruffy’ is being dropped off for his weekend sleep-over so we will go
for a short walk later with him and ‘Chispa’ We love having him. he’s no
trouble and a real character – he is going home on Monday morning.See the picture above.
Meanwhile
downstairs in the kitchen my assistant/commis/vegetable chef is preparing the
ingredients for this mornings ‘Ensaladilla Rusa’ – ‘Russian Salad’ – then I
will also get things ready for tonight’s supper “ Steak Diane ” with
twice-cooked chips and finely sliced Green Beans; the classic ‘Diane’ sauce is
made with sliced Shallots and Mushrooms, the seasoned steaks smeared with Dijon
Mustard and a good spoon-full added to the sauce, a dash of ‘Lea&Perrins
and Tabasco, then deglazed with a slug of Red wine and finished with flaming
Brandy and Double Cream – we can’ wait!
Then later
after supper we are back to normal as the TV is now working, we will catch up
with all the sports news then find a film to follow.
Thoughts
for the Day; See above.
..
Friday, May 30, 2014
A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;
FRIDAY 30th/
MAY 2014.
Well Brenda
has had another good nights sleep with very little or no coughing, now to get
everything else back to normal and working! We were up early this morning and
after breakfast we shot down to the local market for some fresh flowers after
picking Brenda up from the top of our street; we then went down to Sabinillas
to the bank first then onto the English Bookshop for the papers and to post a
birthday card and pick another one up – watch out it could be you!
After the
main supermarket shopping we tried to find another shop to look at door
shutters but with no luck for now; we finally called into the local Garden
Centre and picked up two hanging wall pots to match the two we found the other
day as well as plants to go in them! Watch this space for the display!!
After
un-packing I shot around to the butchers for our Saturday Night ‘Steak’ – this
week I’ am treating us to my special “Steak Diane” with twice-cooked Chips,
tonight we are having ‘Fillets of Hake a la Meuniere’ with Saffron New
Potatoes, Garden Peas and some lovely fresh local Green Asparagus (Not White)
On Sunday no roast this week, we are having Pan-Fried ‘Escalope of Turkey
Breast’ with savory Basmati Rice.
Last night
we had one sight technical problem – the TV went off, no signal on all the
channels, the local TV Engineer is calling in later this afternoon, hopefully
nothing to serious, yesterday evening the painters were up on the back roof
painting the outside wall by and around the TV Mast/aerial – it was on when
they left but went later?! Watch this space.Miguel arrived and soon spotted the problem, the 'Amplifer Box' upstairs had blown,he went down to Sabinillas for the new one,came back and fitted it - RESULT! He only charged the local's discounted rate!
At the same time the painters arrived and are now in our bedroom,washing,priming and then painting it! Then they moved on to give the bathroom ceiling the same treatment,they are back on Monday to finish off and hang our new wall pots!
Every lunchtime we are still going for our walk with 'Chispa' but only short and what Brenda feels comfortable with; today we wet down to the old 'Morenas Bar' next to 'Bodega Augustin' and had a cool drink as Angela who use to cook for Lumy is now there with some new people,It's now called 'Las Vinas'
As we were sat outside who should come along but Anna who we now don't see or hear from( It's a long story for another day!),she was out buying cigarettes for Mano who is the middle of some very serious dental work with Victor;so we had a little catch up then Barbara came along on her way back from the sports day down at the school,we havn't seen her for a little while also so we were able to check up on her health as she is pregnant!
At the same time the painters arrived and are now in our bedroom,washing,priming and then painting it! Then they moved on to give the bathroom ceiling the same treatment,they are back on Monday to finish off and hang our new wall pots!
Every lunchtime we are still going for our walk with 'Chispa' but only short and what Brenda feels comfortable with; today we wet down to the old 'Morenas Bar' next to 'Bodega Augustin' and had a cool drink as Angela who use to cook for Lumy is now there with some new people,It's now called 'Las Vinas'
As we were sat outside who should come along but Anna who we now don't see or hear from( It's a long story for another day!),she was out buying cigarettes for Mano who is the middle of some very serious dental work with Victor;so we had a little catch up then Barbara came along on her way back from the sports day down at the school,we havn't seen her for a little while also so we were able to check up on her health as she is pregnant!
On the
sports front this weekend you will be happy to know that there is no major
football until two weeks time when the ‘World Cup’ kicks off in Brazil Mugello ,Italy
Thoughts
for the Day; See above.
..
Thursday, May 29, 2014
WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY; " VENTA GARCIA" HERE WE COME.
THURSDAY 29th/
MAY 2014.
We had a
little lie in (Turn-Over!) this morning to set us up for the day ahead; the
weather forecast is looking very good for the next few days with clear blue
skies, warm sunshine and the temperatures hovering around the 29/30degs mark
here in sunny Manilva!
After a
leisurely breakfast we then showerd, shaved (Me only!) and tried on the
trousseaus for today’s adventure ahead; it’s our first time this year back at
‘Venta Garcia’ and Joyce’s first ever; I’ am meeting her down at the roundabout
and she is parking in the underground car park, we will then walk up to the
house for a nice bottle of ‘Cava Rosado’ to start the day off as we plan to go
on!
Brenda is
taking things very slowly, well as slowly as I can make her and there is only a
little walking today, the latest tablets seem to be working and the coughing is
getting a lot better ie.less! Her ankles have gone down a little and she is
starting to feel a lot better; the appointment to see the ‘Cardiology
Consultant’ has come through a lot quicker than normal, hopefully it’s nothing
to serious as the doctors would have reacted to the ‘ECG & X-Rays’ a little
quicker!
PS; The colour's in the picture of 'Llanddulas Pier' gave us the idea to have our tablecloths and napkins in Peach & Apricot for the'Horizon Suite' restaurant at the 'Hotel Seventy Degrees' back in the good old days!
PS; The colour's in the picture of 'Llanddulas Pier' gave us the idea to have our tablecloths and napkins in Peach & Apricot for the'Horizon Suite' restaurant at the 'Hotel Seventy Degrees' back in the good old days!
So watch
out for the pictures later as the day progresses!
As you can see it is the most beautiful day here in sunny Manilva as we reached 'Venta Garcia' To start the girls had a Tomato,Goats Cheese & Advacado salad and to follow the Baby Sole - both off the 'Menu Del Dia' I had the house Chicken Croquettes followed by the largest T-Bone steak, medium rare as you can see!! To drink we had a fine bottle of 'Albarino' - our currant favourite White wine!
PPS' The painters have nearly finished outside,just a little touching up here and there so they are now coming inside to paint our bedroom and bathroom!
As you can see it is the most beautiful day here in sunny Manilva as we reached 'Venta Garcia' To start the girls had a Tomato,Goats Cheese & Advacado salad and to follow the Baby Sole - both off the 'Menu Del Dia' I had the house Chicken Croquettes followed by the largest T-Bone steak, medium rare as you can see!! To drink we had a fine bottle of 'Albarino' - our currant favourite White wine!
PPS' The painters have nearly finished outside,just a little touching up here and there so they are now coming inside to paint our bedroom and bathroom!
Thoughts
for the Day; See above.
..
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;
WEDNESDAY
28th/MAY 2014.
A slightly
better nights sleep for Brenda to help with the next two days ahead; after our
usual tea and toast we are sorting the trousseaus for today’s ‘Birthday’ Tapas
lunch down at ‘Bodegon Andaluz’ for Gillian before we take her across to the
Bus Station over in Marbella this evening to catch her flight home later.
Lillemor( thanks for the lunch!) joined us as you can see in the pictures above,we bought a small Cream Slice yesterday and I put a 'Singing Candle' in it - it worked and it's re-usable! " Au Revoir" for now!!
Then tomorrow Joyce is coming across from ‘Alhaurin el Grande’ when we are going to take her up to ‘Venta Garcia’ for the first time.
Lillemor( thanks for the lunch!) joined us as you can see in the pictures above,we bought a small Cream Slice yesterday and I put a 'Singing Candle' in it - it worked and it's re-usable! " Au Revoir" for now!!
Then tomorrow Joyce is coming across from ‘Alhaurin el Grande’ when we are going to take her up to ‘Venta Garcia’ for the first time.
So I’ve cut
Brenda’s walking to the minimum on doctors orders, today its only two doors
down and tomorrow dropped off at the front door of the ‘Venta’, I also go and
get the car from the underground car par and come back up to the house to pick
her up, where I also drop her off after our trips out! It’s like being the
“Queen” – which of course she is!! The dog walking is also becoming my duty for
both the dogs, a bit like the “Queen’s Corgi’s”! Scruffy is due back this
weekend for a couple of days.Now the only thing that I’ve got to organize is
the ‘Lift’( Not a 'Stenna'!) to get her upstairs to the roof terrace !!
Tonight’s
light supper is griddled ‘Chicken Wings’ with my famous Tomato Salas dipping
sauce and a Mixed Salad. Brenda will then put her feet up on the settee and we
will watch the news, sport and weather up-dates before finding a film to watch.
PS; The hospital rang this lunchtime to make the appointment to see the' Heart' consultant,its on Wednesday 25th June at 5-00pm.
PPS; The painters are back working on the side and the back of the house.
PS; The hospital rang this lunchtime to make the appointment to see the' Heart' consultant,its on Wednesday 25th June at 5-00pm.
PPS; The painters are back working on the side and the back of the house.
Thoughts
for the Day; See above.
..
.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;
TUESDAY 27th/MAY
2014.
Up with the
birds this morning and after a quick breakfast we shot across to the
hospital/medical centre in Estapona for Brenda’s emergency X-Ray at the very
efficient department, you go in on time to the minute and come out with your
X-Ray!
The weather
today is very hot and sunny with just a fine breeze occasionally, it’s another
glorious day down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol ’ with more of the same for the rest
of the week and over the weekend!
We took
advantage of being out so did a few calls down and around in Sabinillas; I
jet-washed the car after topping up the petrol and when we finally got back to
the house I checked the oil and water, we then found the shop that supplies and
fits door shutters as we are arranging to have a new posh one after the
painters finish, then we stopped at the local garden centre to look at some
hanging flower pots for the wall by our front door,finaly we picked up a nice
bottle of ‘Cava Rosado’ for when Joyce comes over on Thursday and a small cake
for tomorrow with a ‘Singing Candle’ for Gillian’s birthday!
Our final
port of call was back at the surgery were Emilio had told Brenda to call in
with the X-Ray; he had our old doctor with him who speaks English so they both
consulted, gave Brenda the once over, checked all her results/ X-Rays and then
issued her with a further prescription to thin her blood ( A strong Aspirin!) She’s
to continue with all the tablets and then go to the hospital over past Marbella
As I was
settling into the office to type the Blog the ‘Skype’ video came on- line. It
was Tim over in Old Colwyn calling to have ask after Brenda as he had just read
yesterdays Blog; we had a good chat and catch up and Jo popped in to say hello,
it’s her birthday next week, the card is going in the post this Friday! We also
had a very nice E-Mail reply from Claus & Doreen’s friend which we met last
week,Kathrin was also concerned for Brenda’s health as she thought she did not
look so good when we met – thanks Kathrin!
PS; Also a 'Good Luck' Clover from Claus & Doreen - see above !
PS; Also a 'Good Luck' Clover from Claus & Doreen - see above !
The dog is
here at the moment playing around my feet, we will go for a short wall after I
finish as I’ am trying to make Brenda take things very easy “ Tranquil ”-if
that’s at all possible !!
Tonight we
are having for our supper ‘Steak a la Plancha’ – cooked med/rare with sautéed
Mushrooms, a nice mixed salad, finely sliced Green Beans and Baked Potato,
Brenda’s with griddled Garlic Buds and of course mine topped with a Campo Fried
Egg! Then we will settle down to watch the news, sport and weather up-dates
before channel hopping to find something to watch.
Thoughts
for the Day; See above.
..
Monday, May 26, 2014
WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK;
MONDAY 26th/ MAY 2014.
After breakfast Brenda has shot around to the surgery for
her appointment with our own Doctor hopefully; fingers crossed for a better outcome.
Well she has just come back from the doctor’s, she actually saw Emilio the main
village Doctor and Deputy Mayor and he has arranged for am emergency ‘ECG’
later this morning when I’ve got to take her in the car and not let her walk,
he actually rang me on the house phone to come and pick her up but I missed the
call, then tomorrow morning, first thing he has arranged an emergency
appointment at the X-Ray department in Estapona Hospital and then back to see
him at lunchtime at the surgery !! Now that’s a result – more fingers crossed!!
So Brenda went back for her 'ECG'- we went in the car and took the dog with us, Emillio went in and checked her while she was having it and then took her back into his surgery to see the results,he has given her a new prescription for her swollen ankles that have returned and also started the procedure to go to the 'Cardiology Department' at the 'Costa Del Sol Hospital' ASAP! Tomorrow after the visit for the X-Ray he's told her to come straight back to him with it so as he can check it out !! No that's service with a capitol " C "
So Brenda went back for her 'ECG'- we went in the car and took the dog with us, Emillio went in and checked her while she was having it and then took her back into his surgery to see the results,he has given her a new prescription for her swollen ankles that have returned and also started the procedure to go to the 'Cardiology Department' at the 'Costa Del Sol Hospital' ASAP! Tomorrow after the visit for the X-Ray he's told her to come straight back to him with it so as he can check it out !! No that's service with a capitol " C "
Last night we had an E-Mail from Josie in reply to my enquiry
about when they are coming over next, so we are picking her up on the 19th
June and Den on the 28th June from the Marbella Bus Station; we had
a very enjoyable ‘Last Supper’ for the moment with Gillian and Lillemor and are
looking forward to this Wednesday lunchtime when we are meeting them in
‘Bodegon Andaluz’for Gillian’s birthday before we drop her off at the Bus
Station later in the evening to catch her flight home to Torquay.
This evening’s supper will be Cold Chicken with a fry-up of
the leftover Vegetables and Potatoes, we will sort out the rest of the weeks
menu’s later this morning after we have been in touch with Joyce to arrange to
meet up with her sometime this week.
We have just spoken to Joyce and have arranged to meet up with her on Thursday lunchtime,she is coming across to us here in sunny Manilva and we are then going to take her up to 'Venta Garcia' for lunch; then the following week we are going across to see here in 'Alhaurin el Grande' - which will be a little adventure as we have not been to the village before!
So the menu's for the week are 'Steak a la Plancha' tomorrow night,something easy on Wednesday and Thursday and Fish on Friday as usual.
We have just spoken to Joyce and have arranged to meet up with her on Thursday lunchtime,she is coming across to us here in sunny Manilva and we are then going to take her up to 'Venta Garcia' for lunch; then the following week we are going across to see here in 'Alhaurin el Grande' - which will be a little adventure as we have not been to the village before!
So the menu's for the week are 'Steak a la Plancha' tomorrow night,something easy on Wednesday and Thursday and Fish on Friday as usual.
The weather forecast is very good, it’s getting hotter and
it looks like the sun is here to stay, which is good news for our week ahead.
Thoughts for the Day; See above.
..
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