A " VERY COLD " BUT STILL SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 9^th/ FEBRUARY 2018.

We were both up very early this morning, I saw ‘ Chico’ back with us, he’s here until a week on Tuesday, ‘Scruffy’ slept all night in his bed, he could be with us over the weekend and into next week, we are waiting to hear from Rose as to how the operation on Adrian went, after a quick freshen up we took both the dogs out for their first walk of the day, I then shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping.

I was first into ‘ Mercadona’ as they opened, for our main shop, I then collected the local English newspapers from the ‘English Bookshop’ and a ‘ Welcome to your New Home’ card, as Lee & Daniela have moved into their very large villa, down the coast, above ‘La Paloma ‘ with her Mum & Dad, they have split the villa in half!

I then went down into ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa’ to go to the ‘English Butchers’ were I bought the ‘Pork Chops’ for Sunday and two, very large, ‘ Rib-Eye Steaks’ for Saturday night, I also picked up some English Pork Sausages & Smoked Back Bacon’ as well as some essentials including ‘ Goose Fat’ etc, next, for a change, I called into the local ‘Spanish Supermarket’ by the marina and picked up more essentials, instead of going to ‘ Super-Sol’ – on the way back I went along to the far end of the promenade to the local market for our fresh flowers and some more wall plants, I then shot back up the hill to sunny Manilva to unload back at the house, after putting the car back in underground car park I walked back up to the house were Brenda had our toast & tea ready, which was very welcome as it’s ‘ Arctic’ out this morning! ( See below )

This morning the sun was out early and the clouds had cleared, the sky is bright blue, there is a light breeze but it’s very cold, ’Crisp & Brisk’ with a ‘ bite’ in the air, everybody you meet says how cold it is, it’s a beautiful day here in a very sunny Manilva, but you need to wrap up with scarves and a woolly hat! It’s due to reach 14 degs+ by lunchtime, over the weekend and into next week it’s going a little warmer, 17/18 degs+ - keeping dry & sunny, overnight hovering on the 8/9 degs mark, watch this space.

See below an unusual, spectacular, picture taken last night of the Liverpool waterfront looking up the River Mersey out to the Irish Sea and the’ Albert Dock’ at it’s finest!

At the moment ‘ Chispa’ has just called in to see her friends, all three dogs are playing around in the lounge, ‘Scruffy & Chico’ have been with me up in the office/studio under my feet on the cork-matting, which they love to lie on and have a good scratch!!


After our lunchtime walk with the two dogs we ended up back at ' Bar Rojas' sat in the hot sunshine, still wrapped up in our scarves and woolly hats, for a nice refreshing drink, as we were speaking to the ' Contractors ' workmen we found out the on Tuesday the second phase is starting on ' Calle Mar ' down from the Town Hall, at the top of our street, to the junction by the fruit & vegetable shop, they will be digging up and then installing all the new drains etc, as they have in the rest of the street, watch this space.

This evening for our supper it’s going to be “ Posh Fish’n Chips “  – ‘ Goujons of Hake Fillet’ using local breadcrumbs from the Bakery, with Mushy Peas and small-diced, twice-cooked ‘ Frits’ – “ Pommes Baitaille “  with Homemade ‘ ‘Tartar’ sauce on the side with lots of Lemon Wedges.

On Saturday we are having the very large ‘ Rib-Eye Steaks’ seasoned with Sea Salt and crushed Black Peppercorns, then cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest, topped with a ‘Rondel’ of the classic “ Maitre d’Hotel Butter “ ( Chopped Parsley & Lemon Juice mixed in the unsalted Butter!)   - garnished with seared Asparagus Spears, Button Mushrooms and deep-fried Onion Rings ( Flour & Milk) and Whole French Green Beans.

Then on Sunday we are having the ‘ English Pork Chops’ – seared on a very hot griddle-plate, then Baked in the oven, with caramelized ‘ Fuji’ Apple slices, with the classic ‘Pommes de Terre Lyonnaise ‘ and a selection of fresh local vegetables, accompanied with a sauceboat of a rich ‘ Oxtail Gravy ‘!

Another ‘ Helluva ‘ – “ Gourmet Weekend “ in sunny Manilva – ‘Comfort’ food at it’s finest!!

This evening after supper we will channel hop and find something to watch, the ‘ Winter Olympics’ from PyeongChang, South Korea, are taking over all the sports coverage!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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