A STILL WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY;

SATURDAY 23^rd/ MAY 2015.

‘Charlie’ got me up first thing this morning in his usual way by tapping me with his paw and then jumping in between us and pushing me out of bed, he’s not daft this dog! I now have a regular route to take him around the lower part of the village. At lunchtime ‘Scruffy’ his mate, is due for the rest of the day and no doubt ‘Chispa’ will come calling at some time!

                                                                             'Charlie'

                                                                         
                                                                        and 'Scruffy'

When we got back we went back upstairs and woke Brenda up; the sun is out, the sky is blue and there’s a little breeze to make it another very agreeable day here in sunny Manilva. Our first job is to give ‘Charlie’ his first table of the day, he has one in the morning and then one in the evening, they keep his epileptic fits under control, its just like us as we take our tablets to keep us on the straight & narrow with all our little ailments!

Brenda made her famous ‘Campo Poached Eggs on Toast’ with a mug of steaming tea for breakfast and ‘Charlie’ had his morning meal at the same time. The weather forecast is still the same for the weekend with the threat of some of the wet stuff on Sunday/Monday before it picks up during next week.

Last night in the village and down in Sabinillas & Castillo de la Duquesa it was all happening as the electioneering reached a climax; by tradition on the last day, they have to finish at midnight to leave 24 hour’s before the voting on Sunday. In the early evening all the various parties form ‘Caravana’s’ of all their supporters cars decorated with their emblems and set off around the village’s in convoy making as much noise as possible!

In fact as I was listening to ‘Castle Radio FM 89.2’ via the WWW Internet upstairs in my office you could hear the various ‘Caravana’s’’ passing the studio! See the picture below of my office/studio in full action which had the same problems!!

Then they all have end of election parties, the ‘PSOE’ in the ‘Plaza de al Vendimia’ with free beer and a live pop band, the ‘ASM’ in the ‘Plaza Pozo del Rey’ with a carnival atmosphere, then down in Sabinillas the ‘COMPROMISMO’ party was in the square and the ‘IU’ in a local ex-pats bar with a soul singer!

At the moment I have on the stove a small piece of Ham simmering away; it’s for our supper on Sunday evening when we are going to have with the cold sliced Ham a nice Mixed Salad with Baby New Potatoes; so this evening my classic from the past is “Entrecote Pizzaiola” which I first learnt in the ‘La Busola’Restaurante in Bold Street in Liverpool back in the mid 60s when I worked there as an Assistant manager in the evenings!

It was a ‘Flambé’ dish cooked at the table then; I’m making the classic sauce using my famous Tomato Salsa as the base after sweating off finely chopped Onions & Garlic, diced Tomato,diced Anchovy, Mixed Provencale Herbs and White Wine  (Brenda’s again!) It will then be seasoned to taste by some secret ingredients before flaming it in a good slug of local Brandy! As usual we are having some finely sliced Green Beans with twice-cooked ‘Frits’ I plate up the Steak & sauce and sprinkle a little Parmesan Cheese over the top and then glaze it under the 'Salamander'( overhead grill!) 

Today and on Sunday it's the last day of the Football season both here in the UK; Everton welcome Tottenham, Brian has a ticket to go and see his ‘team’ while he’s home in Liverpool, Liverpool travel down the M6 to Stoke ( Gerrard’s last game for the Reds!) and Manchester City welcome Swansea. Over here Barcelona are at home to Deportivo de la Curuna as ‘Xavi’ plays his last game for his beloved ‘Barca’and Real Madrid welcome their neighbors Gatafe.

At the moment it’s the Qualifying for the classic ‘Monaco Grand Prix’ tomorrow meanwhile over in the’Giro D’Italia they have been battling the elements (heavy rain!) and so crash’s around Lido de Jesalo.Hamlton is on pole and Contador is back in the 'Pink' jersey! 

Over in the UK it’s the ‘Whit Bank Holiday’ so all the trains are on strike – what’s new?! In Liverpool they are preparing for the arrival on Monday of the ‘Three Queens’ – “ Victoria, Elizabeth & Mary 2” in the River Mersey when they will steam up together and turn 180 degrees to face the Pier Head and the ‘Cunard Steamship’ Building on the 175 anniversary of the company! See some pictures above of the Pier Head back in 1933, the mysterious ‘Liver Bird’ at night and last night the ‘Three Gracie’s’ lit up as they wait to welcome the ‘Three Queens’ which as you can see are on their way!

                                                   Just a reminder for the folks over in the UK !

Last night we found another good film to watch as we have just been reading the ‘Lee Childs’ book with the character “Jack Reacher” – the title of the film from only 2012 with Tom Cruise in the title role with the very watch able Rosamund Pike and Robert Duvall in a small part at the end; it was filmed in Pittsburgh, Tom Cruise is very good and the movie follows the story and their characters very well except I had in my mind that ‘Jack Reacher’ would be a lot larger & taller – Tom Cruise is too small in real life although they disguise the fact very well in the film!!

Thoughts for the Day ; See above.

..