A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 13^th/ JULY 2018.

We were both up early this morning and after a quick wash & brush up we shot off for the first walk of the day with ‘Prince Paddy & Chico’ – they have slept all night, after their ‘ Big Night Out’ – yesterday evening (see below) - they moved about on the marble floor, we, as usual, kept to the shady side of the street, Brenda took them back up to the house, I then carried on and collected the car from the underground car park to go down to Sabinillas on my travels for the weekly shopping.

After a quick toast & tea stop at ‘ itZabar’ - I was first in the large queue in a very busy ‘ Mercadona’ – all the check-outs were open, the cashier at my check-out was our neighbours daughter, Marta, who has just graduated, we have seen her grow up over the years, I then dropped down into the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to go to the ‘ English Butchers’ – for their homemade Pork Sausages & Smoked Bacon, Gammon Steaks ‘ HP’ Brown sauce & ‘Sarsons’ Malt Vinegar ( Brenda’s Poached Eggs!)  as well as White Sliced Bread! I also bought a small selection of their Homemade Pies.

I then shot back up the hill through the very Green Vine Fields, lots of Grapes now showing, to unload back at the house, after another toast & tea, Brenda went along to the local Chemists in ‘Calle Mar’ for our prescription tablets and on the way back called into the local shop at the bottom of our street for some ‘ Goodies’ for the weekend.

The sun was out early this morning and the sky was clear & blue,  there was still a slight breeze keeping it very pleasant on the shady side of the street, by lunchtime it’s forecast to be 29 degs+ - tomorrow and over the weekend we are in for more of the same, as the mountain breeze has moved the ‘ Sahara Heat Wave’ on, next week is going to be very warm & sunny, in the mid 30s, normal for the time of the year, but more very hot weather is on the horizon, watch this space.

Yesterday afternoon I went across to the local hospital in Estepona for my appointment with the 'Trauma Consultant' about my ' dodgy ' left hand, the pain has stopped, after the Cortisone injection so he recommended  I make an appointment with the " Rehabilitation Unit " at the Hospital and then come back and see him at the end of September. Watch this space.

This weekend down in ‘ Castillo de la Duquesa’ it’s their ‘ Feria ‘ with all the usual stalls, rides music, eating & drinking, etc as well as a ‘Rock Concert’ on Saturday inside the Castle!

Then on Monday starting from the small village and carrying onto the Puerto de la Duquesa Marina it’s the celebration for the “Virgen Del Carmen “ Festival – the ‘Patron Saint of Fishermen’ with parades, led by the Brass Band with the ‘Saints Tableau’ carried out to see on a local fishing boat!  

         

This morning the ‘ Contractors’ workmen are putting the finishing touches to the new ‘Calle Mar’- the trees that they planted yesterday are local ‘Orange Trees’ – the new seats, lots of them, all along the street, have been fixed into the side-walk, as you can see in the pictures below, taken yesterday evening just before sunset.

NB; The camera is back in action, it needed new rechargeable batteries!

                                                                                       And this morning ! 

Yesterday evening we had a rather interesting time at ‘Bar Castillo’- on the ‘Head Chefs & Staff’ night-off, which was very busy with locals & holiday makers, the new waitress asked me to translate for an English Family first, then an Irish couple sat next to us asked for help as well, as I went into order an English Lady with her Mother & Daughter, caught my eye and asked for assistance ordering, they were staying at the ‘ Manila Green Aparthotel’

We were sat outside in the shade and out of the stiff breeze that was blowing down from the mountains behind the village, with both the dogs, Paddy goes on Brenda’s lap and Chico is under the tables with his personal water bowl, that he lets Paddy use also!

See below;

Finally we ordered a small selection of Tapas & Combo Platter for me, as we sat outside watching the ‘traffic-free’ world go by, before the ‘Music Concert’ started at 10-30 pm ish! The village  “ Brass Band “ led by the Head of the School of Music, Fernando Antiñolo, was in fine form as they played a selection of various tunes, next week they are performing the same Concert down in the main square of Sabinillas, see the picture of the Concert above.

This afternoon we will be watching the ‘Men’s Semi-Finals from the Tennis at Wimbledon, and at the same time ‘Stage 7’ of the ‘Tour de France’ from Fougeres to Chartres over 231 kms, the longest stage of the year’s Tour!

See below;

This evening we are keeping things simple on the menu front; ‘Pan-Seared Fillets of Hake ’ dusted in seasoned flour and finished ‘ A La Meuniere’ style, served with Garden Peas, Broccoli Florets and Parsley New Potatoes, on Saturday it’s ‘ Steak’n Chips Night’ – with a large Rib of Beef, on the bone, then on Sunday for our supper we are having a ‘Smoked Pork Loin’ – sliced and served cold with a selection of Mixed salads etc.

After supper we will be channel hopping to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day ;  See above.

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