A CLOUDY BUT LATER SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE STAR OF AN 'HELLUVA' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 7^th/ DECEMBER 2018.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, ‘Scoobie’ & Brenda had a little lie in, I popped into ‘ itZabar’ for my toast & tea before ‘ Mercadona ‘ opened, for our main shop, after picking up the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’  I dropped down into the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to call at the ‘ English Butchers’ for some essentials, then I shot along to the far end of the promenade in Sabinillas to go to the local market for some fresh flowers, wall plants and our first ‘ Poinsettia’! We have ordered 3 large special ones locally from a friend ( local Charity) Finally on the way back up the hill I stopped at ‘ Super Sol’ for our usual essentials, before unloading back at the house.

Brenda had taken ‘ Scoobie’ out for his first walk of the day, he’s settled in very well and is great company, he’s real character and so easy to look after, at lunchtime little prince ‘ Paddy ‘ is arriving for his long weekend break, ‘Chispa’ as usual, is in & out all the time.



PS; Little Prince ' Paddy ' has just arrived, with his bed, blanket, a bag of ' goodies' and his 'Xmas Coat ' ! He's already settled in and is his usual 'Happy' self, sat on my knee as I'm typing this!!

This morning has started grey & overcast and very cold, last night on our final walk of the day there was a thick sea mist all over the village, it was the same this morning as I set off down to Sabinillas, you couldn’t see the Mediterranean, the forecast is for the sun to break through and by this afternoon it will be hovering on the 22degs+ mark, over the weekend we are in for more of the same, next week is now looking  more settled, partly cloudy, but the ‘ wet-stuff’ has gone away, hovering in the low 20s, good news for our trip out next Thursday afternoon/evening, to go across to Malaga to the see the Xmas Lights! Watch this space.

As I was walking back up from the underground car park, past the ‘Plaza de la Vendemia’ it was all happening , the stall holders were stocking up, the Council have finished the stage/seating for this evenings opening concert, by a well known local ‘Flamenco’ singer, last night they put up the modern ‘Xmas Tree’ ( larger this year) – the official opening of the “ Gastronomic Food & Wine Festival “ is at 7-00 pm this evening when at the same time all the ‘Christmas Lights’ at the entrance to the village, sadly no lights along the new ‘ Calle Mar’ at the moment, as well as the Tree, will be turned on, at the same time the local ‘Parranda’ Bands (3) will be playing! Three days of partying, singing, dancing, eating & drinking will follow!! Watch this space. 

PS; This afternoon the ' Council' finally put up White lights along/under the new Canopy in 'Calle Mar' - just in time for the official ' Switch-On ' this evening!

Yesterday afternoon/evening we started to put up our ‘ Christmas’ decorations & tree, we ‘ found’ a new Pine Tree locally, for the bits over the glasses cabinet, see below a ‘ three-shades’ picture selection!

We have also bought our lottery ticket(1) for the “ El Gordo – The Fat One “ draw on Saturday 22^nd, its’ the same number every year, in the village, it costs, 21 Euros, - watch this space as we all could be ‘Millionaires’ by Christmas !!



At lunchtime on our walk with the two dogs we first checked out the new Dress Shop in 'Calle Iglesia ' before calling into the 'Butchers' for a local Chicken, to roast on Sunday, we then came back to ' Bar Rojas' for a nice cool drink, sat outside in the now warm sunshine, where we had some perfect Tapas, Brenda had two large ' Gambas a la Plancha' and I had Monica's excellent savoury ' Empanada's' just out of the oven! 



This afternoon ' Father Christmas ' and his ' Assistants' have arrived in sunny Manilva !  See below.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Pan-Seared Tail-End of Salmon Fillets’ finished ‘ A La Meuniere’ style, with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas, with Baby New Parsley Potatoes in their Skins! On Saturday it’s going to be a large ‘ Grilled Rib of Beef – on the Bone’ with all the trimmings.

After supper we will channel hop to find something to watch later.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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