MANILVA

Tuesday 13th. May

After our busy weekend we caught up with all the jobs around the house and popped out for some shopping in the local shops.we are now finding which ones to go too for different things,for intense the small one down the road has the freshest vegetables.another one the best bread and so on.They all stock everything just like Ronnie Barkers in Open All Hours !We also have a chemists and opticians in the main street and a dentist’s just around the corner.For supper we had omelettes and then watched an DVD.

Wednesday 14th.May.

The weather is now warm and sunny and as the day goes on it gets hotter so we end up on the roof terrace in the late afternoon and in the early evening we have a drink in our chill out room on the first floor in which we have now got a small water feature with the sound of the running water to add to the atmosphere and tranquility. On the blog page there was a comment from one of Penny’s friends from Bridgnorth who we met last year,Veronica( Ronnie ) left some very nice comments about the blog and told us that her and Penny are coming over for a week’s holiday at the end of this week.They are going to “ Las Alcazares” which is about three hours away just past Cartagena and by Murcia on the coast,it’s a little too far for the Smart Car but we hope to see them later in the year.As we were having a drink at lunchtime in the main street with Anna,Carlos and Fabio Brenda was nibbling some nuts and raisins and damaged a tooth,the local dentists was closed so she rang the dentist in Estepona which we have used over the last year and he saw her within an hour and she went back in the early evening and was fixed up by 8-oopm and not very expensive also ! In the evening we had dinner at Carlos’s apartment as Ana Mari was also off and Mano came round after work,so with Anna there as well we all sat down all at once ! Fabio was his usual happy self and when we came to walk home he took my hand and took me to his wardrobe and pointed to his coat as he wanted to come home with us ! A very nice family night was had by all as very shortly Carlos and Ana Mari are moving into a new house which they have just bought on the edge of the village next to the Aparthotel.

Thursday 15th May.

We walked down to Mano and Anna’s house which is a minute away from Carlos’s new house as they have been having some interior renovations done in their lower lounge which now looks like a New York loft with the new Brick faced walls which is just what Anna wanted as New York is her favorite city!Most days now we walk up and down the village and are starting to get some much needed exercise at long last! In the evening we had a light supper and listened to the local music station “ Kiss FM ”which we also drive to all the time as it plays non stop golden oldies.

Friday 16th.May.

We now make Friday our day out for shopping at the hypermarket and the English butchers on the same side of Estepona and then call into the garage to check on the Winnebago.In the evening Vidal dropped Gissy off on his way to a gig just down the coast below us as she was cutting my hair and giving Brenda the full works .For supper we had Pan-Fried Fillets of Sea Trout with a lemon butter sauce and local new potatoes and asparagus.Before Gissy arrived I went out for a walk around the village in the siesta hour and took the pictures below showing the village at its best,next week I am going to do the same but show all the amenities.

Saturday 17th.May.

We had a lie in and then when we went downstairs we found that we had a leak in the toilet next to the kitchen coming from the tiled wall by the wash basin,it got worse by the hour so we called the owner and her son Rafael and his wife Marjoleine called in and arranged for a plumber to come around later, we then showed them around the house in which Rafael was born!They seemed very impressed with what we have done to make it our home. At lunchtime we are eating more healthy food with crisp lettuce and local Beef Tomatoes top of the list with the local olive oil and a lovely Tuna Pate from the shop opposite. In the evening we then had steak and frits for supper !

Sunday 18th.May.

Sunday started as a normal day but ended up as one of the best and funniest days that we have had here since we moved in! “ One Helluva Sunday ” We had a late brunch with the homemade Pork sausage from the English butchers and then started to get the Sunday Roast on the way,Anna was joining us and Vidal and Gissy after some rain tickets finally made it also so we put the Roast Lamb in the oven,studded with garlic and Rosemary with Brenda’s famous vegetables,Carrots glazed with Ginger,Cauliflower and Leeks in Cheese sauce, Cabbage with Smoked Bacon and Garden Peas a la Francaise which I had made the night before as well as Roast Potatoes in Duck Fat and Boulangere Potatoes-all local and fresh !We then made some English style Tapas for starters and local strawberries for dessert.The problem with the leak had got worse and by the time Vidal and Gissy arrived Brenda was having to bail out all the time so we rang again and said that it was now an emergency and that somebody would have to come around ASAP. Vidal soon found the problem was in the back wall behind the sink so we turned off the mains and waited !Vidal then did a couple of jobs around the house including putting a socket back into the wall in my office and hanging a beaded curtain on the inside of the front doors.Anna arrived and we then started on Gin and Tonics,Cuba Libres and the local Rioja.The owner of the house Senora Maria arrived to see what the damage was and Gissy and then Anna spoke to her as she speaks no English,and with Vidal also telling her what the problem was she said that she would see what she could do as it was Sunday,ie.” Manana”!! As she was in the kitchen I showed her what I was cooking and she was very impressed and said Muy Bonito as Brenda then showed her around and we said goodbye.The evening went on and just as we were about to sit down at 8-30pm.the front door bell went and it was the senora with two senors who just went to the toilet to check the leak that we had stopped! I was just putting out everything and the next moment Anna came into the kitchen and told me to look into the dining room- the senora had sat down in the main chair and was obviously expecting dinner! One of us must have given her the impression when she called earlier that she was invited but nobody was owning up to it !! I even for one moment thought that the two senors were going to sit down as well and Anna and Gissy said that my face had to be seen to be believed !!! as I carved the Lamb and counted the Roast Potatoes!!!! We all sat down but the two senors had left so we re-arranged the table and had a very funny and lively dinner with the wine flowing and the conversation in Spanish and English getting louder all the time. Mano’s plated meal was the Lamb Bone and Vegetables.! Senora Maria after we had dessert then left but not before she had gone to her car and brought back a book with all kitchen gadgets and food pictures in it and she then went all thru it in detail as if she was trying to sell me the gadgets! Mano and Anna set off home still laughing and Vidal and Gissy stayed late and chatted about the evening. Hopefully the plumber will arrive in the morning as we have no water till then.