A STILL VERY ' CRISP' & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 11^th/ NOVEMBER 2017.

We managed a little lie in this morning before a quick freshen up, we then tried, unsuccessfully, to speak to Jack & Lyn, over in Melbourne, on the ‘ Skype’ video, Jack could not get ‘ online’ I had called them, first, via the new ‘ Skype’ landline system to let them know that we were calling, it worked fine!  ‘Plan B ‘ – We will try again later this evening, after midnight here, 10-00 am ( Sunday ) over in Australia, watch this space.

At mid-day, today, Tim & Thea are calling us from Mojacar on the ‘ Skype’ video, we arranged it yesterday, then this evening we are calling Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, hopefully with more success !! Watch this space.

PS; We have just a had a nice ling catch-up with Tim & Thea up in Mojacar, they showed us around the caravan and outside awning set-up!

PPS; We also have just come off the ' Skype¡ video after a long chat ( 1 Hour! ) with Sandra & Bill, we are now up to date with all their news including their Xmas plans! The temperatures over in Everett are 'MINUS 16 DEGS ' !! 

We then had a late breakfast, Brenda treated me to her famous ‘ Campo Poached Eggs on Toast’ with a mug of steaming tea, she had her favourite ‘ Campo Boiled Egg ‘ with Brown Bread ‘ Soldiers ‘

See below this morning’s surprise breakfast!

The morning has started very ‘ crisp’ & sunny, as forecast, overnight 11/12 degs going up to 23/24 degs today, by the afternoon it was very hot, tomorrow we are in for more of the same, possibly as high as 25 degs, next week is looking dry, sunny, but still a little cold in the shade, hovering on the low 20s, watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having the ‘ classic ‘ – “ Steak Diane “ as I was shown by the old Head Waiter, Mr Oliver, back in 1964, at the ‘ Stork Hotel’ in Queens Square, in the centre of Liverpool.

I first ‘ French Trim’ the ‘Entrecote Steak ‘ – then flatten it before seasoning it and smearing it with Dijon Mustard, it’s then seared in butter in a very hot pan before taking it out, to rest, the finely chopped Onions& Garlic are then added to the pan, which you then de-glaze, with 'Lea & Perrins & Tabsco and then a slug of Red Wine, the sliced Mushrooms are added along with a good dash of Dijon Mustard and a little Beef Stock,it’s then time to ‘ flame’ the sauce with a slug of Brandy before adding the Double Cream, the steaks are then added back into the sauce, to finish cooking ‘ Med-Rare ‘ as the sauce thickens you sprinkle the dish with chopped Parsley, and serve! We are having Whole Baby Green Beans on the side and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’!!

Tomorrow’s ‘ Sunday Roast ‘ is a fresh, local, Chicken, I take off the Legs & Thighs before cooking them, separately, on a bed of ‘ Trivets’ with the Chicken, I use the roasting tray to make the ‘ finger-licking’ Pan Gravy’ later, I will also make a savoury Mixed Herb Stuffing and of course we are having ‘ Goose-Fat’ Roast Potatoes and a large selection of local fresh vegetables from the ‘ Vegetable Chef ‘ !

On the sports front this weekend; over here and in the UK there is no league football as it’s a weekend of friendly internationals, the ‘Grand Prix of Brazil’ is the pen-ultimate race of the season.

For the rest of the weekend we are taking things easy, on the ‘UK TV’ it’s all the ‘Remembrance’ celebrations, at the moment it’s the ‘Lord Mayor’s Procession’ then this evening the ‘Royal Albert Hall ‘ concert and tomorrow morning the ‘Cenotaph ‘ when for the first time in over 50 years the Queen is not laying the wreath of Poppies ( Prince Charles is !)

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...