A RATHER CLOUDY BUT STIIL WARM AND NOW SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE ' VENDEMIA' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 31^st/ AUGUST 2018.

I was up early this morning and after a very quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, I had quick toast & tea in ‘ ItZabar’ before going along to ‘ Mercadona’ as it opened, after fighting my way through the masses, I then called into the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers, before going along to the local market at the far end of the promenade for some fresh flowers & wall plants, finally on my way back up the hill I stopped at ‘ Super Sol’ for our English’ essentials.

As I set off this morning it was grey & overcast with lots of clouds, despite the light breeze that has come along overnight, it was still rather close & clammy, I came back like a wet rag! The forecast for the rest of the week and over the ‘ Festival ‘weekend is more of the same, with the sun breaking through later ,hovering on the 29/30 degs+ mark, still very warm & sunny at times, but very close & sticky, next week is now looking warm & sunny, partly cloudy at times, hovering in the high 20s/low 30s, watch this space.

Later this morning I will be making my famous ‘ Chicken & Mushroom Curry’ which we will have over the weekend, as a standby, with Basmati Rice. This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Pan-Seared Tail-End of Salmon’ – finished ‘ A la Meuniere’ style, with Garden Peas and Parsley New Potatoes.

PS; We have put the Salmon away for another day, as we are now going out! ( See below ) 

Today’s Stage 7 of the ‘La Vuelta 2018’ goes from Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcon over 186 kms,

See below;

For the rest of the day we are taking things very easy before the ‘ Big Weekend’ – this evening it’s still rather quite in the village, as they all go to the ‘ Flamenco ‘ evening, this year down in the senior school theatre, all the local Bars will be setting up the extra bars and getting ready for the rest of the weekend, the locals will be building their Sombrajas’ along the new ‘ Calle Mar ‘  


PS; A change of plans; at lunchtime we went along to ' Bar Castillo' to check out the new awning ( see below) and stayed for a nice cool drink and some Tapas, our friend Lucy, from the 'Festivals' Department  came along and asked if we were going to the 'Flamenco Concert ' - we said sadly no, as we are pensioner's and cant' afford it, we now have two complimentary tickets for the show, it pays to have friends in high places! 

The ‘ Council’ workmen are still putting all the finishing touches to everywhere, they have earlier washed down the street, the terrace is nearly complete, all the lights are up, the two stages along the street are ready and the ‘ Rock’ stage in the main square is ready, at the main junction/roundabout, into the village, they have even re-painted all the road markings and the large parking area on the waste ground below the village has been marked out, finally outside ‘ Bar Castillo ‘the designer, Jesus, is putting up the last White awning. ( looking good, the largest Bar awning in the village !) 

Last night when we were out for our late evening walk, sat taking in the cooler night air, Mario, the Mayor, and his wife Anna, came along, so we congratulated him and the ‘Council’ for this year’s hard work to create a rather special and spectacular ‘ Vendemia’ for 2018!!  Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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