A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 30^th/ MAY 2018.

I was up first this morning to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she went into her duvet for the rest of the morning, next week she is back with us for 3 days from Monday, yesterday she met ‘ Paddy’ when he called in with some of his stuff, they got on very well, he’s arriving on Monday lunchtime, for his extended 2 month holiday. Today he’s at the local groomers having his ‘ summer’ cut, so he will be looking a little different when he arrives!

See him below, at home, before he went for his ‘ trim & cut’!

I then shot down to ‘ Mercadona’ in Sabinillas to top up some goods for our supper this evening, when Lee is joining us. When I returned we had ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce, open on Brown, as usual, for Brenda, with mugs of hot tea.

I then prepared my famous ‘ Beef, Mushroom, Onion & Vegetable Casserole ‘ – using sliced ‘Irish’ Beef for a change!  – the Beef is dusted in seasoned flour and browned off, I sliced & sautéed the Onions and layered them with the Beef in a large casserole dish,  I then made the sauce with diced Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Celery, Carrots & Turnips, all ‘sweated-off’ in a glug of Brenda’s Red Wine, with a good dash of ‘Lee & Perrins’ & Tabasco and a large spoon of ‘Tomato Frito’- before adding the rich Beef & Vegetables stock, leaving it to simmer, I then adjusted the taste and consistency before coating the ‘Beef & Onions’ in the casserole dish, ready to go in the oven this evening.

The ‘ Vegetable Chef’ meanwhile was preparing ‘ Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets’ in a three- Cheese sauce, Whole French Green Beans, GLlazed Carrot Batons & Garden Peas, as well as her famous ‘ Mashed Potato’ – this evening I’m also preparing, as a garnish “ Hasselback Potatoes’ –  a selected Potato in it’s washed skin ,sliced, resting on a large spoon, so as the cut dosn’t go through all the way! – then seasoned and ‘ roasted ‘ in the hot oven with ‘Goose Fat & Oil – until cooked, crisp & brown! We are having some light ‘ Tapas’ to start and ‘Apple Tort’ for the dessert.


At lunchtime we went up to ' Bar Rojas' for a nice cool drink & Tapas, as we were sat under the new umbrellas, Mario, the Mayor, our neighbour, came out of the 'Town Hall' - he confirmed that there will be seating, waste bins and trees(?) - as well as awnings, along the new ' Calle Mar ' - this morning the ' Contractors' workmen have finished laying all the flag stones and have started to seal the central walkway with weather-proof paint, it only remains to enquire what colour the street lights will be, Golden/Yellow, which we prefer or White which we don't like ! -  as there are a lot more lamp posts than before!


See the picture below;

This afternoon I’m going across to the local Hospital in Estepona as I have an appointment with a ‘ Trauma Consultant ‘ for a re-view/diagnosis on my ‘Dodgy’ left-hand. On my way back I’m calling into the ‘Hypermarket- Carrefour ‘ to pick up a nice bottle of Pink Champagne, for when Jason & Donna are with us next Thursday, watch this space.

The sun was already out, above the ‘ Mediterranean’ this morning as I shot down through the vine fields to Sabinillas, the sky was clear and there was just a light breeze, by lunchtime it going to be 24/25 degs+ . over the next few day and into the weekend it’s going hotter, with sunshine everyday, reaching 28 degs+ - overnight up to 18/19 degs! Meanwhile over in Australia they are in the middle of an ‘ icy-blast’ – we have just arranged to speak to Jack, Lyn & Debs, who is visiting the folks, on the ‘ Skype’ video in the next half-hour. Watch this space.

We had a nice long catch up with all Jack & Lyn’s news over in Melbourne, as their ‘ Winter’ starts to hit them! They are both very well and full of the joys, as usual!

PS: Just a quick reminder to all our family & friends all over the World, that when you are out & about, to try and send us a ‘Post Card’ from wherever you have been visiting! We will sent you one back from Sunny Manilva down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ – promise!!

Thoughts for the Day;   See above.

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