Sexton's Travels: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

THE " FERIA SANTA ANA " ON SUNDAY EVENING IN SUNNY MANILVA.

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

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY 31^st/JULY 2017.

I was up early this morning to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ for the day, we all then had a little lie in after a ‘ Helluva’ night ( more later!) She’s just here for three days this week as Lee & Daneila’s shift patterns have changed.

At breakfast ‘ Chispa ‘ came calling, on Wednesday morning she is having the full works, groomed, clipped, washed & shampoo, styled etc, by Anne, the dog groomer, who looks after all the dogs we have!

‘Chico ‘ was collected yesterday evening by her folks, who came up to the village and went around the ‘Feria’- he’s back with us for a three day sleep-over on the first weekend in September which happens to be the ‘Vendimia Wine Festival’ Then ‘ Charlie’ is back with us for his two week summer holidays!

‘ Chico’s’ mum & dad had been to an “ International Air Show “ along the coast past Malaga in ‘ Torre De Mar ‘

See below some pictures taken yesterday afternoon.

Brenda treated me to her famous “ Perfect ‘Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast “ ( see below ) this morning, with a mug of strong ‘ PG Tips’ For our supper this evening we are having ‘Grilled Chicken Wings ‘ with a Baked Potato and Mixed salad, the rest of the week we are taking one day at the time, watch this space.

This morning, since early, all the Council' workmen have been out in force clearing, cleaning, removing the two main stages etc, it looks like they are leaving the sun awning along Call Mar in place for this weeks festival and then for the 'Vendimia Wine Festival' at the start of September.

We then sorted the week ahead out; Tomorrow morning we have a local Spanish friend, Juan, who has done some work for Mano, coming to re-grout the main bathroom, on Wednesday morning our Irish friend, Mick, ( a man with a drill!) is calling in to hang our three new walls pots to the wall outside the bedroom balcony, he’s over with his wife & children at their house in the top of the village, they are now based back in Dublin so the children can go to school there. Anne, the dog groomer is seeing to ‘ Chispa’ down at her house in the morning. Watch this space.

I’m then planning, on Thursday, to park the car in the underground car park space ( no 100) that we have reserved, first I’m making sure that it opens with the remote control and the key works in the side exit door, watch this space.

On Friday morning I will hopefully be out in the car, not on the bus and taxi, for the weekly shopping down Sabinillas.

Finally on Saturday, here in the village it’s the “ Noche Embrujo – Enchantment Evening “ it takes place along ‘Calle Mar’ when the street is covered in scented leaves and candle lights, there are small stages with different types of music & dancing ( Tango!) etc.

This week and over the weekend it’s hot & sunny with the temperatures hovering in the mid/high 30s, 22/23 degs during the night.

See below a picture taken two years ago by the new Padre, Jose, after the ‘ Iglesia Santa Ana Church’ had been refurbished and the two new bells had just been installed, he showed me around and then we went up the very steep steps to the top of the church spire to see the main bell ‘ Maria’ on a very windy day! That’s why, what hair I have got, is blowing in the stiff breeze!!

Last night after ‘ Chico’ had been collected we went along to ‘Bar Castillo’ and found a nice table on the side of the street, Juan slipped me, from a side window, our regular drinks in glasses, at locals price! The two different bands on the stages had finished and while the final band set up on the top stage there was a short dance display by the young children from the ‘Modern Dance School’

The “ Planet 80 “ pop band played all the old Spanish pop hits as well as some Rock & Roll numbers in English, they were just right for the last group of the ‘Feria’ and everyone was dancing and singing along to all the songs.

See below a picture of the Mayor, Mario, and his wife, Anna earlier in the evening.

We then came back to the house for a late supper of ‘ Scouse’ before shooing out, again, to catch the ‘ Fire Work ‘ display, which for a change was on time! The children’s fair was bouncing and all the food stalls were doing great business, the man ‘Fair’ ground, down by the sports complex was also doing the business with some great rides ( all cheap!) and including in the late afternoon a ‘Foam Dance’ party!!

The ‘Fire Works’ were spectacular and very loud and finished with the biggest bang on a moonlit night over sunny Manilva, the last day and evening was very special and was full of all the locals/friends from the village, the whole ‘Feria’ was a great success and we are already looking forward to next year’s!

See all the pictures above.