THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT & CLAMMY SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 30^th/ JUNE 2015.

I was up early this morning as ‘Reina’ is with us for the day, she’ back on Thursday as well as Saturday evening for a possible sleep over; the workmen are back and as usual making as much noise as possible as they work on the top floor/roof.See the view below taken from Den & Josie's roof terrace this morning of our now totally obscured terrace,soon they won't be able to see the Town Hall when the roof goes up!!

                                                       And the front of the site this evening;

We had our usual breakfast and then sorted our day out, Brenda is up in the drying room next to the terrace catching up with her ironing and I got this evening’s supper on the go; we are ‘treating’ ourselves to a “Sausage & Mushroom Casserole” with a selection of fresh local vegetables and a small dish of Brenda’s Mashed Potato!

I grill the ‘English Pork Sausages’ until they are crisp & brown, meanwhile I sautéed off the diced Mushrooms with sliced Onions & Shallots with a little chopped Garlic, before a good slug of Brenda’s Red Wine is thrown in! I then add a strong Beef & Vegetable stock and season with my secret ingredients before adjusting the color and consistency. Finally I place the cooked Sausages in the Casserole dish and coat them with the Mushroom & Onion Sauce ready to go in the oven this evening this evening.

Last night was the hottest night so far his year, there was no breeze and it got really hot & sticky, you are unable to sleep for long as you stick to the bed, I ended up down on the settee in front of the large fan and fell a sleep for a short while and woke up with a stiff neck! For the next couple of days it’s going to be a little cooler (33degs!) but it’s’ picking up again on Friday and the weekend is going to be very hot.

We have started to make some plans for next week as we are going out on Wednesday with Den & Josie for the day; we are taking them across to Tarifa, which they have not visited, and then we are going a little further up the coast to Bolonia for lunch by the spectacular beach, Bolonia was the southern most out post in Spain of the Roman Army and there is a very old ruined Roman Fort/Temple, one strange fact about the small town is that they allow the local cattle to roam around the streets unattended! You bump into them as you are driving, if you are not careful!

At lunchtime we will go for a short walk with ‘Reina & Chispa’ and check out what’s happening in the local bars as yesterday Café Plaza was closed as they knocked through to the new terrace and they are still working on Bar Las Vinas down at the entrance to the village. No signs of anything happening up at Bar Rojas, there is a new sign saying opening shortly! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA;

ANOTHER VERY HOT & SUNNY DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK;

MONDAY 29^th/ JUNE 2015.

We had a surprise this morning with a nice long lie in as the workmen on the site have not arrived! (Yet) I’ve just caught a site meeting with the builder/architect along with owner so I went and voiced my complaints, they tried to shut me up, but with no joy, so they had to answer my questions about the dry coursing between the adjoining walls and why that are working on a Saturday which is illegal?!  - As well as the total loss of our roof terrace views – they quoted that the ‘Council’ had approved the plans and they are working to all the planning rules, Watch this space.

We are up early on Tuesday & Thursday to welcome ‘Reina’ then on Wednesday we have early appointments at the surgery for our check ups before an early start on Friday for the shopping!

Today is another hot one as the sun was out early and there is no breeze, it will reach 33degs by lunchtime and the night time minimum temperatures are hovering on the 27degs mark! In parts of Andalusia inland it’s reaching 44/45degs and yesterday afternoon in Cordoba it was 48degs! For the rest of the week we have more of the same but its going a little cooler as the hot front from Africa reaches up to the UK on Tuesday & Wednesday – watch out, for a day its going to be hot over there!

Some early news this morning from the Council is that finally ‘Fiber Optics’ are reaching up to sunny Manilva over the next year TBC – watch this space as this has been promised for some time now!

After our usual breakfast of fresh Nectarines, toast & tea we had our weekly menu planning meeting for ‘Week 3’ of the diet! This evening we are having ‘Minute Steak’ with a Mixed Salad & Baked Potato, no butter (Josie) On Tuesday for a little treat we are having a ‘Sausage & Mushroom Casserole’ with lots of vegetables before plain dry grilled flattened ‘Chicken Breast’ on Wednesday.

‘Chispa’ has just arrived after crashing in through the front door shutters and is playing around the house as Brenda is up in the drying room next to the roof terrace catching up with her ironing; we will go for a little walk later for a bit of fresh air and to stretch the old legs.

We went for a short walk along Calle Mar to the local bank and on the way back we stopped at 'Bar Castillo' for a cool drink,I had my usual and Brenda had a refreshing 'Tinto Verano' made with the local Red Wine,a slice of Lemon,a dash of Lime,lots of ice and a can of Sprite! Juan Holgado Pienda,the new owner and our friend also brought us a small Tapas of local Baby Tomatoes in Garlic Oil ( Comp) as you can see in the pictures below.

We took in the sights & sounds of sunny Manilva as all the locals passed,I called Tim on my mobile as we used to sit and enjoy 'Bar Castillo' when he first came down many years ago,Thea answered as they were driving back from the 'Glastonbury' in their Mobile Camper Home where they had a 'Helluva' time! Lumy's son Paco came along so we found out the 'Bar Rojas is due to open on the 10th July with Lumy's cousin 'Kino'?! taking over,he used to run it for a couple of years many years ago!! Watch this space,

Last night after supper we found a film to watch “ Soul Surfer” from 2011 – a true story about Bethany Hamilton ( AnnaSophia Robb) who is surfing and looses an arm when bitten by a shark, she goes on to become a professional surfing champion with the help of her family played by Dennis Quaid & Helen Hunt – don’t miss it!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 28^th/ JUNE 2015
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A nice lie in this morning as we look forward to a relaxing day at home doing nothing! The sun was out early and it’s going to be another hot one today with the week ahead staying very warm & sunny; the sky is bright blue and there is just a slight hint of a little breeze to make it very pleasant.

Last night after we returned from collecting Den from the bus station over in Estepona, his flight arrived early at Malaga, we drove back along the coast road on the most beautiful balmy evening, Estepona was ‘bouncing’ as it was the annual ‘Feria’ in the town, all the restaurants and bars were packed.

After dropping Den & Josie off I put the car away and we went out for a nice cool drink as ‘Bar Castillo’ in Calle Mar – our first local before ‘Bar Rojas’ opened 7 years ago, is under new management, we noticed on Friday evening that it was packed after all the locals came up from the Theater after a play, it was the same again with lots of the local’s with their family’s as they ate their Tapas – our friend Juan who has worked there for many years has taken on the bar and is the new ‘Jefe’ We wish him all the very best and good luck!

Its all happening on the bar front here in sunny Manilva; ‘Café Plaza’ also in Calle Mar is extending by building a new terrace on the back of the building which over looks the valley and mountains, meanwhile Maria has left ‘Bar Las Vinas’ at the entrance to the village next the ‘Bodega Augustin’ and its presently being renovated for the new owners TBC?! We are also eagley awaiting the arrival of the new proprietor of ‘Bar Rojas’ tomorrow!! Watch this space.

Next week in ‘Doggy World Heaven’ its just ‘Reina’ on Tuesday & Thursday as normal, we are at the surgery on Wednesday morning for our check ups and Friday is shopping day, no doubt we will be in touch with Den & Josie as the week goes on. It’s also ‘Pension’ week so fingers crossed the ‘Euro’ keeps strong despite those Greeks! Oh and yes the “Tour De France” starts next Saturday in Holland!! Watch this space

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For our supper this evening we are having dry-grilled ‘Escalope of Turkey Breast’ with savory Basmati Rice; the menus for week ‘2’ of the diet are yet to be finalized, we are waiting to see the results of the official ‘weigh in’ tomorrow morning!

The roof terrace is calling later this afternoon for our ‘Happy Hour’ especially as there are no workmen, next week is going to be horrendous as they erect the walls and ceiling and then the roof around/above our terrace.

Later after supper we will channel hop and find something to watch

PS; As we have been showering etc we have been listening to " Castle Radio FM 89.2 - " LOUD" so I sent in a request via Facebook for anything by " Creedence Clearwater Revival" - Andrew Charles played " Proud Mary" - then later I asked for " Eddie Cochran" singing " Three Steps to Heaven" which he closed the show with!! Thanks.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY'

SATURDAY 27^th/JUNE 2015.

Just a little roll over this morning before we both took ‘Scruffy’ out for his first walk of the day; it was all ready hot, in fact the minimum temperatures over night was 23degs, today its going to be a very hot one in sunny Manilva as the front comes up from North Africa cross the whole of Spain; it looks like next week we are going to have more of the same - July & August are just around the corner!

After our breakfast of ‘Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast with a mug of steaming tea we planned our day ahead, Rose picked ‘Scruffy’ up – as usual he’s a joy to have with us, he slept all night under the bed on the marble floor- the best place to be! We will see him again soon hopefully as Rose settles into her new life of no work and all play!

We have started to put the ‘word’ out that we can look after another dog; we don’t advertise it’s just by the word of mouth though friends. ‘Charlie’ is booked in with us for two weeks over Xmas again this year; he calls into to see us when he’s passing with Brian. Not forgetting little ‘Chispa’ who is in & out everyday, for now, as she is due to go on her holidays with all the family as the go to their Campo up in the hills for a couple of months. ‘Reina’ is with us next week as normal on Tuesday & Thursday. Watch this space.

We are taking thing things easy today just pottering about the house keeping as cool as possible, we have all the fans on as we move about the house, in the kitchen there is a small one as we prepare our meals, in the main lounge we have a large executive fan for when we are eating at the dining table (old fashioned) and sitting on the settee watching the TV – then in my office I have a small one behind my back when I’m upstairs; in the bedroom we have a special stack fan which we use during the night.

We do have air conditioning but we don’t use it as it’s hard to get used too and also very expensive to use! One of our things is that we do have the windows open and the doors on all of the four ‘Juliet’ balconies all the time to let in as much air a possible, as well as the shutters up to let in some light – very un-Spanish as all our neighbors and the village in general are shuttered and closed up!

At the moment we are lost without ‘Bar Rojas’ – we are so used to popping up for a cool drink and a chat sat under the ‘Sonbajo’ taking in the sights & sounds of the village, its where we also meet people as they pass and our friends know where we are at certain times! What will we do for our Sunday ‘Paella’ and more importantly where will be our new ‘second’ home?! We are waiting to see what happens next week as Lumy has suggested  that after they finish giving the place a deep clean one of her family, that we don’t know, is taking it over, watch his space!

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Minute Steak’ – ‘Entrecote’ grilled on a very hot griddle plate ‘Pink’ with finely sliced Green Beans and some sautéed Baby Mushrooms with a dry Baked Potato and a little Mixed salad on the side.

 BUT NO 'FRITS !   

We are eating a little earlier than normal as we are due to pick up Den from the bus station, later, either in Marbella or Estepona depending on what time his flight arrives at the airport in Malaga! Josie is ringing us when she hears and we will collect her on the way.

                                                                           Re- united !!

Last night after our supper we found a good film to watch “Déjà Vu” from 2006 with the excellent Denzel Washington in the main role with the as usual ‘wooden’ Val Kilmer along with Paula Patton and Jim Caviezel as the baddie! It all takes place in New Orleans and is about a terrorist bomb plot with lot of twists and ‘time travel’ back into the past – honest!

PS' We will be back upon our roof terrace later for our 'Happy Hour' as the workmen did nor finish in fact they had delivered all the ceiling/floor joists which took time to get up the top floor!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 26^th/ JUNE 2015.

We were up as normal this morning despite the workmen and the delivery men making as much noise as possible, after a quick breakfast we collected Josie and set off on our travels; first we called into the surgery to make our appointments for a check up, next Wednesday morning, which fits in with our plans.

We then shot down to Sabinillas and called into the ‘English Bookshop’ for the papers and some more books, I’m reading at the moment ‘Simon Kernick’ It was then the main shop in ‘Mercadona’ for all of us before going along to local market at the end of the promenade for some more plants and fresh flowers, Josie also picked up some plants before we called into the large ‘Chinese Bazaar’ for Josie.

It was then time to come back up the hill through the vine fields with the ‘Red Limousine’ on full throttle! Its another hot one today and the weekend is getting hotter and by Monday some parts of the region & Spain will be up to 42degs or more – see the map below;

For our supper this evening we are having again, as it’s so cheap and plentiful at the moment, “ A whole Baked Rodaballo – Turbot” – fresh in this morning, Garden Peas & a few Saffron Potatoes, simple but nice! Tomorrow evening its plain ‘Grilled Entrecote Steak’ and salad then on Sunday dry pan-fried ‘Turkey Escalope

We don’t know if we will make it to the roof terrace this afternoon for our ‘Happy Hour’ as the workmen(6) are going flat out, we suspect that they will try to lay the concrete later in the day for the walls and ceiling TBC  -which then means that they will be back in the morning with a vegenence! Watch this space.

In the lunchtime post there was a very large postcard from our Swedish friend Lillemor up in Gothenburg - one 'Helluva' postcard as you you can see below! Thanks Lillemor,your's is in the post! Also there was a birthday card from our friend Penny in Bridgnorth, which had got lost in the post! Thanks & love Penny xxxx

‘Scruffy’ is due back for a surprise sleep over early this evening, we didn’t think that we would see him back so soon! Of course ‘Chispa’ was waiting for us when we came back from the shopping and is playing around my feet as I’m typing the Blog.

On Saturday evening we are collecting Den off the same flight that Josie came on, so it will be either Marbella or Estepona depending on when it arrives in Malaga! ‘Ryan Air’ always aims to arrive early!!

This evening is film night on lots of the channels so we will find one to watch later.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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" CALLE SAN VINCENTE " 3RD/4TH FLOOR SHOOTING UP!