A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA WITH A LITTLE BREEZE ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 20^th/ AUGUST 2014.

This morning we didn’t hang about as we had to shoot down to Sabinillas to go to the bank and the supermarket; so after a quick breakfast off we went, the bank first for some cash to pay our bills and then ‘Mercadona’ for some essential goods for supper tomorrow night as we are excepting a visit form the ‘Queen of Skelton’ and her ‘Consort’!

We also stopped at ‘Super Sol’ for our regular English goods at the same time, when we got back to the house we then went for a short walk with ‘Chispa’ who was waiting for us when we returned; I called into our local bank in Calle Mar to pay the Road Fund Tax and had to wait nearly 50 minutes as the cashier was new and he had to ask for help from the assistant manager all the time, who was also busy! If the Manager had been there I would have complained, not so much about the waiting but because the male cashier was blowing bubbles with his chewing gum as he spoke to me!!

We then stopped at ‘Bar Rojas’ to pay Lumy for our Sunday lunch, they are very good and offer us credit all the time when we have a problem. A little breeze has got up making it very pleasant on the shady side of the street.

So we have now sorted the menu for the ‘State’ visit on Thursday evening; to begin with we are having ‘Tapas’ of ‘Tortilla’ and Fried Breaded ‘Langoustines’ with a savory dip, the main course is an old classic dish normally made with ‘Sole’ but we are using local Fillets of ‘Hake’ poached in a ‘Court Bouillon’ and then coated with the classic ‘Duglere’ sauce that I make at the same time. Its made with finely chopped Shallots, Tomato ‘Concasse’ that I prepare earlier, White wine, a rich fish stock, Lemon juice and chopped Parsley before finishing it and correcting the consistency, unusually with Double Cream! The Vegetable chef is preparing plain Broccoli Florets and seared Green Asparagus Spears and Saffron New Potatoes.

For the dessert we are offering a ‘Sweet Pastry Platter’ followed by coffee, the Wine is ‘Torres Vina Sol’ and cocktails will be served when our guests arrive.

Yesterday we had a surprise ‘Skype’ video call fro Tim over in Old Colwyn as they had just got back from he holiday down in ‘Bergerac’ France; they did not have a particularly good time as the weather was not too good, the villa that they were sharing with four other couples was not as luxurious as expected, they ended up in the worst rooms, the journey in both direction across France and past Paris was horrendous and the last meal they  had, in England on the way back home was the most memorable!!

Hopefully we will see Tim later in the year for a short golf break with us down here in sunny Manilva as yesterday he was due to play but had to cancel due to the heavy rain!

So this evening for supper we are having a little extravagant treat, Brenda is having her favorite ‘Confit of Duck Leg’ with a Mixed Salad and I’m having ‘Medallions of Fillet’ steak with twice-cooked Frits and Béarnaise sauce! How the ‘mighty’ live!!

After supper we will catch up with all the news, sport and weather details before finding something to watch, last night it was back to back football so tonight I will find something for Brenda!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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