A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 22^nd/DECEMBER 2015.

I was up early this morning, even before ‘Charlie’ as ‘Reina’ was due first thing for the day, I then took ‘Charlie’ out for his first walk of the day followed by ‘Barny’ – it was then feeding time in the kitchen as they all line up for their breakfast, we then had ours! Next I shot along to the chemists in Calle Mar to collect my prescription tablets for over the Xmas holidays. 

See below 'Barny' on his bed relaxing and 'Charlie' crashed out on his favourite settee!! 

We have another fine day here in sunny Manilva with the forecast for over the Xmas weekend and into next week to be more of the same with no rain and just a little breeze from day to day up to the end of the month! See below the map of Andalucia for today!

It was then time to get this evenings supper on the go,  “ Beef & Mushroom Stew with Dumplings “ To make the sauce I use diced Onions, Carrots, Celery & Leeks as well as lots of Button Mushrooms, they are sweated off with a good slug of Red Wine ( thanks Brenda!) along with the secret ingredients before adding the cubed ‘Stewing Beef’ which I dust in seasoned flour and brown off first; then I use a good strong Beef & Vegetable stock and check the seasoning and consistency as well as the colour, its then left on a low light, to cook slowly, under the supervision of the Assistant Chef ( 2^nd ) – Brenda! See below !!

This evening I will make the Dumplings and then add them to the stew in the oven so as they cook ‘crispy’!! The Vegetable Chef ( 1^st ) – Brenda, again, is preparing Cabbage with Acelgas & Carrot Batons as well as her famous Mashed Potatoes! Andy is joining us for supper this evening so we are having some small ‘Tapa starters and for our dessert it will be Apple Flan with fresh local Strawberries and Vanilla Ice Cream.

At the moment on TVE 1 and all the main TV Channels its the Lottery Draw, live from the ‘Teatro Real’  in Madrid of the “ El Gordo – The Fat One “ National Lottery.  By lunchtime we could be ‘Millionaire’s ! See below.

The winning number has just been drawn - 79140 !! All the tickets are from Almeria ! So we will have to wait for another year!! " We could be 'Millionaire's this time next year "

Last night after supper we channel hopped over in England and then ended back on Spanish TV for a late film.

PS; The ‘Euro’ is down at the moment and it looks like it will not pick up again over the Xmas weekend which is not good news as our monthly Pensions are due in our Spanish Bank Accounts over the next two weeks!!  

PPS; More Xmas cards in the post today, we are nearly there,keep them coming!

Thoughts for the Day , See above.

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