ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY ON SATURDAY IN SUNNY MANILVA.

SATURDAY 26^th/ JANUARY 2019.   “ AUSTRALIA DAY 2019 “

We managed a little lie in this morning, as usual, at the weekend the village is even quieter than normal, after freshening up we had our breakfast, as Brenda was on the rota I had her famous ‘ Campo Poached Eggs on Toast ‘ – Scrambled  for her, with mugs of strong ‘ PG Tips’ Tea. She is then washing/shampooing her hair, I have retired up to the office/studio to go on the ‘ WWW’ and then type/post today’s Blog.

The first news this morning is that the final ‘ Christmas Card ‘ has arrived up in Brisbane, Australia, to Jeff & Annette, on ‘ Australia Day ‘! It was posted on the 30^th November 2018!!  To all our family over in Australia & Canada, don’t be surprised if your ‘ Christmas/Birthday Cards’ etc, arrive early in 2019, marked ‘ Do Not Open ‘ as we are going to ‘ Plan B ‘ – posting them very early at the local ‘ Sub-Post Office’ in the village, not down at the ‘ English Bookshop’ in Sabinillas, via the courier ‘Royal Mail’ service!!  “ Happy Australia Day “ to all the extended family all over Australia.

See the ‘ Xmas Card’ below;

We have another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ this morning, the sun was out early and the sky is clear and bright blue, there is a very slight breeze, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 18/19 degs+ - at one time yesterday it was 23 degs! Tomorrow it will be the same, but a little cooler as the breeze picks up, next week is starting the same but by mid-week we could be in for some of the ‘ wet-stuff’ as the next ‘ front’ comes in off the Atlantic, it will be hovering in the mid ‘ teens’ but next weekend could be cold & damp, down to 13/14 degs during the day and overnight 6/7 degs, watch this space.

On the sports front this weekend; over in the ‘UK’ it’s the 4^th Round of the ‘ FA Cup’ as Manchester City welcome Burnley and Everton travel down the MI to play Millwall, over here in ‘La Lga’ on Sunday, Real Madrid travel across to Barcelona to play Espanyol and Barcelona go up the coast to play Girona. The ‘ National Hunt Racing ‘ today is from the home of the sport ‘ Cheltenham’ & Doncaster, on ITV’s excellent race coverage.

For our supper this evening we are having my version of the classic ‘ Steak Diane ‘ that I was showed how to prepare & cook in the Restaurant of the ‘ Stork Hotel’ in Liverpool, back in 1965, by the ‘ Restaurant Manager’ – ‘Mr Oliver ‘ on the “Gueridon” Trolley, on a Silver ‘ Meths ‘ Lamp,  in front of the customers!

See below a “ Gueridon Trolly “ from back then.

I’m using flattened ‘French’ trimmed ‘Entrecote’ Steaks ( classically Fillet steak) – smeared in ‘ English/Dijon Mustard’ and sealed in a hot foaming Butter, then taken out to rest, the sauce is then made in the same pan with finely diced Shallots & Garlic and sliced Button Mushrooms, a large spoon of Dijon Mustard, a dash of ‘ Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco’ – then de-glazed with a good Red Wine ( Brenda’s!) – reduced and a rich beef Stock added, then the ‘Steaks’ are put back in the pan to cook ‘ Med-Rare’- Pink no Blood - as the Double Cream is added, the sauce is seasoned before flaming in Brandy!  Served with whole ‘ French’ Green Beans and of course twice-cooked ‘ Frits’

Back in the days of the ‘ Hotel Seventy Degrees’ in Colwyn Bay, we had an Italian Waiter on the trolley ‘ Joe Zanni ’ who was in charge of the double trolley, on a busy night in the ‘ Horizon Suite Restaurant ‘ we would server over 50 ‘ Steak Diane’s & Steak Au Poivre’ -  as well as the classic ‘ Crepes Suzette ‘ at your table!

See below a  “ Double Gueridon Trolley “ like we had made for the restaurant.

We will be watching the racing and football as it happens, this afternoon, then in the evening after supper we will channel hop to find a good film to watch.

" MEMORIES " 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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