A BREEZY,WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 28^th/ SEPTEMBER 2017.

I was up early to welcome back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, as usual she shot into her duvet, for the last time this week, she will be back with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ the week after next. I then shot down to Sabinillas and went along to the new ‘ Steam Clean/ Valet’ garage to give the car the ‘ full works’ – while it was being seen too I walked down to ‘Puerto de la Duquesa’ and picked up a newspaper and had a mug of tea and toast in one of the Bars, overlooking the marina.

I then collected the car, they have done a very good job, inside & out, they also fitted some new seat covers in the front and checked the oil & water at the same time, I popped along to the garage and topped up the petrol and had the tyre pressure checked, the ‘ Limousine’ is ready, the ‘ Chauffeur’ will get  himself ready before the weekend!

This morning there is just a slight breeze, the sky has cleared and the sun came out by mid-morning, it’s now in the mid 20s, tomorrow and over the weekend it’s more of the same, next week is still looking warm & sunny, getting a little hotter as the week goes on, watch this space.

Yesterday evening we drove across to the ‘ Sotogrande Marina’ to collect Kelvin & Gaye, we then came back along coast road with the ‘ Mediterranean’ still sparkling in the early moonshine, we walked into ‘La Choza ‘ to be greeted by the friendly staff who have been there for many years, we had a nice round table giving us plenty of space, in fact it was the first restaurant the Mano & Anna took us to all those years ago!  It was busy with mainly ex-pat business with some late Spanish  customers.

Kelvin ordered the wine, ‘Torres Vina Sol ‘ followed by a fine ‘ Torres Rioja ‘ – I had my usual ‘Bacardi & Coke ‘ The Menu is international, printed in English, Spanish, German & Russian! Gaye had the house ‘Mixed’ salad, Brenda choose the ‘Asparagus coated in a Cheese sauce resting on Iberica Ham’ - Kelvin & I selected the ‘Avocado & Prawn’ salad. For our main course Brenda had the ‘Grilled Baby Turbot’ and I recommended, for a change, the ‘Beef Stroganoff’ with Rice, it has always been excellent, the Head Chef has worked there for over 20 years, so Kelvin Gaye & I ordered it, it was!

See the pictures below; sorry I had the camera on the wrong setting!

We had a very enjoyable evening with great company, the food & service was excellent, as usual, and the atmosphere is always very welcoming, with our coffee’s we had on the ‘house’ shots of ‘ Caramel Vodka’ On the way back we showed the folks around the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ and then ‘Castillo de la Duquesa ‘ in the balmy/moonlight!

We dropped them off back at their hotel the ‘ Club Marantimo de Sotogrande ‘ on the quayside, earlier they showed us around their ‘ Amazin ‘ room – it’s has two bed rooms en suite, with full facilities including a built in mini-kitchen, 4/5 large screen TVs, with a large lounge over, looking a two-sided balcony with views over the marina and across to Gibraltar & Africa! They will be back! Thanks !!

For our ‘ last supper’ this evening, as the ‘ Head Chef & Staff ‘ are on holiday for the next week or so, we are having a ‘ treat’ – Brenda is having ‘ Confit of Duck Leg ‘ and I’m having a garnished ‘ English Rump Steak ‘ topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg, with a selection of fresh vegetables and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’!

PS; We are picking the keys up later this evening, before supper, to the folks apartment in the ' Manilva Green Aparthotel' - we will check it out and put the ' welcome pack' etc in tomorrow morning, ready for when Sandra & Bill arrive on Saturday lunchtime, watch this space.

                                       “ COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY “ 3 DAYS TO GO.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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