Sunday 27th./Thursday 31st. July.
After Saturday night we had a lie in as we did not get to bed until 3-30am.A hearty cooked breakfast started the day on the right note,in the afternoon Brenda was out on the roof terrace reading and I watched the end of the Tour de France,The Spanish rider.Carlos Sastre won! It’s definitely Spain’s year,watch out for the Synchronized Swimming at the Olympics !On Monday we called into the bank in Estepona and the card shop as August is a busy month for birthdays,the cards are in the post,Jane,Ben,Andrea,Anna and Darren! Over the weekend we texted Tim in Crete to see how his holiday was going and he phoned us on Tuesday morning to update us and say that the island is beautiful,he is due to come and stay with us for ten days on the 11th. August! In the afternoon I made a curry for supper.Later on in the evening I ended up on the Pete Price show on Citytalk FM in Liverpool talking about the Wirral,including Port Sunlight,then Chester and North Wales and all the places we had been,the conversation then got onto food costs here in Spain.The show now has a web-cam in the studio at the top of the tower and so I am able to watch what goes on in the high-tec studio at the same time,Pete waved to me to check the time delay,it was six seconds!We called into the fish market in the Hypermarket and bought some very fresh large Gamba’s for supper on Wednesday and in the evening we went for a couple of drinks around the corner on the main street in the cool night air.Today we have just been for a short walk to the butchers and at the same time we met Anna Mari with Fabio outside the shop.This evening Gissy is coming to the house to cut,colour and style Brenda’s hair and give me the once over! Watch out for the picture!!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
MANILVA VERBENA SANTA ANA 2008.
Saturday 26th.July.
Well the pictures below don’t give you the full atmosphere but we had a “ Helluva ” night in Manilva.The parade starts at 8-00pm and passes through the village twice with the village band lead by the Bandmaster with the Mayor and the councillor’s following the Santa Ana statue.The whole village dressed in their finest follows on behind.The two main bars on the Calle Mar were very busy and the stall holders did a roaring trade.We then joined the Spanish side of the Guerrero family. for supper with all the family sat around a large table on the terrace of the family house,with all sorts of tapas and plancha dishes.After some fine 8 year old rum we then walked back upto the main street where two Samba/Spanish bands played very loud music for dancing until past 3-oo o’clock in the morning.We were guests of the local PP party and danced the night away as we drunk a very fine chilled bottle of Cava with Mano and Anna.Carlos looked after us during the night and kept the drinks flowing,thanks! And also “ Muchas Gracias” to the family who as usual made us very welcome in their lovely house with over thirty of them including the great grandmother sat at the head of the table!
Well the pictures below don’t give you the full atmosphere but we had a “ Helluva ” night in Manilva.The parade starts at 8-00pm and passes through the village twice with the village band lead by the Bandmaster with the Mayor and the councillor’s following the Santa Ana statue.The whole village dressed in their finest follows on behind.The two main bars on the Calle Mar were very busy and the stall holders did a roaring trade.We then joined the Spanish side of the Guerrero family. for supper with all the family sat around a large table on the terrace of the family house,with all sorts of tapas and plancha dishes.After some fine 8 year old rum we then walked back upto the main street where two Samba/Spanish bands played very loud music for dancing until past 3-oo o’clock in the morning.We were guests of the local PP party and danced the night away as we drunk a very fine chilled bottle of Cava with Mano and Anna.Carlos looked after us during the night and kept the drinks flowing,thanks! And also “ Muchas Gracias” to the family who as usual made us very welcome in their lovely house with over thirty of them including the great grandmother sat at the head of the table!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
MANILVA.
Wednesday 23rd. July.
Another hot day in Manilva as we did the chores and looked after the plants,we are having some luck with the plants on the balconies but our main indoor plant on the stairs is not looking too healthy,it’s an “ Ukka? ” ! In the afternoon I watched the Tour de France and the three main climbs in the Alps including the last one up the famous L’Alp D’Huez in which a Spanish rider broke away and now leads the tour,the Spanish commentators went mad! The French TV coverage was rather special as well with some very good helicopter pictures of the race and scenery in the Alps. Brenda was out on the roof terrace reading,James Patterson and the Alex Cross thriller’s which we are both into at the moment.Later for supper we had some local Pork Cutlets in a lemon butter sauce with pan fried green peppers and onions.
Thursday 24th. July.
Today we went across to the English butchers on the far side of Estepona to stock up ready for when Tim arrives in a couple of weeks,he went on holiday today to Crete with his family.We then checked out the Winnebago at the garage and called to see Vidal and Gissy at their new apartment above the old site,they are very busy at this time of the year with gigs every day and are enjoying living a normal life for a change!In the evening we had omelette’s for supper and then went for a drink in the cool night air around the corner in the main street,Calle Mar.
Friday 25th.July.
In the morning we did some shopping down in Sabinillas and when we came home we rang Mano to wish him happy birthday,he was at home and not working but they had a burst in the kitchen earlier in the week and the repair people had arrived so he was stuck with them.We invited them for a “ Fish Supper ”as we had bought some fresh Salmon fillets in the fish market but they did not make it due to the problem.Over the weekend there is a very big festival in the village “Verbena Santa Ana” who is the patron saint of the village,they are putting the lights up along the main street and the stage is built again and the band and procession are on Saturday evening so watch out for the pictures as this time the camcorder and the digi-camera are charged!! We popped out for a drink at our favorite bar which was very busy as usual,it’s the most popular bar in the village and serves the best Tapas as well,we are going to have a evening out tomorrow night to watch the festival.
Another hot day in Manilva as we did the chores and looked after the plants,we are having some luck with the plants on the balconies but our main indoor plant on the stairs is not looking too healthy,it’s an “ Ukka? ” ! In the afternoon I watched the Tour de France and the three main climbs in the Alps including the last one up the famous L’Alp D’Huez in which a Spanish rider broke away and now leads the tour,the Spanish commentators went mad! The French TV coverage was rather special as well with some very good helicopter pictures of the race and scenery in the Alps. Brenda was out on the roof terrace reading,James Patterson and the Alex Cross thriller’s which we are both into at the moment.Later for supper we had some local Pork Cutlets in a lemon butter sauce with pan fried green peppers and onions.
Thursday 24th. July.
Today we went across to the English butchers on the far side of Estepona to stock up ready for when Tim arrives in a couple of weeks,he went on holiday today to Crete with his family.We then checked out the Winnebago at the garage and called to see Vidal and Gissy at their new apartment above the old site,they are very busy at this time of the year with gigs every day and are enjoying living a normal life for a change!In the evening we had omelette’s for supper and then went for a drink in the cool night air around the corner in the main street,Calle Mar.
Friday 25th.July.
In the morning we did some shopping down in Sabinillas and when we came home we rang Mano to wish him happy birthday,he was at home and not working but they had a burst in the kitchen earlier in the week and the repair people had arrived so he was stuck with them.We invited them for a “ Fish Supper ”as we had bought some fresh Salmon fillets in the fish market but they did not make it due to the problem.Over the weekend there is a very big festival in the village “Verbena Santa Ana” who is the patron saint of the village,they are putting the lights up along the main street and the stage is built again and the band and procession are on Saturday evening so watch out for the pictures as this time the camcorder and the digi-camera are charged!! We popped out for a drink at our favorite bar which was very busy as usual,it’s the most popular bar in the village and serves the best Tapas as well,we are going to have a evening out tomorrow night to watch the festival.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
MANILVA.
Saturday 19th July.
The forecast for the weekend is very hot and sunny so we did the chores around the house first thing in the morning which left the rest of the day free.Brenda went out on the roof terrace in the shade to read and I typed up some e-mails and finished off the blog.In the evening after a light supper we walked around the corner to have a cool drink after the sun has gone down and watched the open air Teatro which tonight as well as short plays also had a magician and a childrens entertainer.
Sunday 20th.July.
We started the day with our usual full English breakfast which is our treat for the week and I watched all the sport on the TV.The grand prix was very exciting and Hamilton won in the end! then the Tour de France was on which is my favorite sport and it is getting into the mountain stages over the Pyrenees and on to the Alps at the start of next week.The motorcycling GP was on later from the USA when we came back the from street party.It’s the the very fast and unusual track at Luguna Seca in California and was very gripping and in the end the Spanish riders crashed out and Rossi won! When we went out to the village for a Tapas supper at Bar Castillo it was very busy with all the locals and their families enjoying the evening breeze,we met Carlos and Ana with Fabio who is growing up fast and as soon as he sees us he runs and shouts our names and they joined us for some very good homemade specials of the house,the owner cooks in the back of the bar in a very small kitchen and turns out the tapas all night,the most popular being the small toasted pork fillet baguettes.
Monday 21st.July.
In the morning we went down to our bank in Estepona to sign the papers to change our accounts to resident and rearrange the payments accordingly.This means that we are very nearly fully signed up into the Spanish system and are waiting for one document from England to finish off the process.In the evening we had a light supper and then went for a walk around the village to cool off and stretch the legs!
Tueday 22nd.July.
The phone this morning has not stopped with enquiries about the Winnebago and also job offers for house sitting but it was for full time and we don’t want to tie our selves down.I then rung Tim to wish him and the family a nice holiday in Crete and make the arrangement to pick him up from the airport when he comes to stay with us on his return,at the same time I also rang on the Skype phone and spoke to the motorcycle garage in Colwyn Bay to see if the bike has been sold yet,no joy but watch this space!
The forecast for the weekend is very hot and sunny so we did the chores around the house first thing in the morning which left the rest of the day free.Brenda went out on the roof terrace in the shade to read and I typed up some e-mails and finished off the blog.In the evening after a light supper we walked around the corner to have a cool drink after the sun has gone down and watched the open air Teatro which tonight as well as short plays also had a magician and a childrens entertainer.
Sunday 20th.July.
We started the day with our usual full English breakfast which is our treat for the week and I watched all the sport on the TV.The grand prix was very exciting and Hamilton won in the end! then the Tour de France was on which is my favorite sport and it is getting into the mountain stages over the Pyrenees and on to the Alps at the start of next week.The motorcycling GP was on later from the USA when we came back the from street party.It’s the the very fast and unusual track at Luguna Seca in California and was very gripping and in the end the Spanish riders crashed out and Rossi won! When we went out to the village for a Tapas supper at Bar Castillo it was very busy with all the locals and their families enjoying the evening breeze,we met Carlos and Ana with Fabio who is growing up fast and as soon as he sees us he runs and shouts our names and they joined us for some very good homemade specials of the house,the owner cooks in the back of the bar in a very small kitchen and turns out the tapas all night,the most popular being the small toasted pork fillet baguettes.
Monday 21st.July.
In the morning we went down to our bank in Estepona to sign the papers to change our accounts to resident and rearrange the payments accordingly.This means that we are very nearly fully signed up into the Spanish system and are waiting for one document from England to finish off the process.In the evening we had a light supper and then went for a walk around the village to cool off and stretch the legs!
Tueday 22nd.July.
The phone this morning has not stopped with enquiries about the Winnebago and also job offers for house sitting but it was for full time and we don’t want to tie our selves down.I then rung Tim to wish him and the family a nice holiday in Crete and make the arrangement to pick him up from the airport when he comes to stay with us on his return,at the same time I also rang on the Skype phone and spoke to the motorcycle garage in Colwyn Bay to see if the bike has been sold yet,no joy but watch this space!
MANILVA.
Tuesday 22nd.July.
The picture below shows the local Senora’s at the top of our street who each evening as the sun goes down sit out side their house’s on the bench on the main street and watch the world go by.They always say “ Hola ” and then chat away to you about the weather etc.This happens all over the village as people sit outside their houses in the cool of the evening.Sorry but there are no pictures of the street Teatro over the weekend due to a technical difficulty with the camera! It must be the Vino!!
The picture below shows the local Senora’s at the top of our street who each evening as the sun goes down sit out side their house’s on the bench on the main street and watch the world go by.They always say “ Hola ” and then chat away to you about the weather etc.This happens all over the village as people sit outside their houses in the cool of the evening.Sorry but there are no pictures of the street Teatro over the weekend due to a technical difficulty with the camera! It must be the Vino!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
MANILVA.
Wednesday 16th.July.
After the day to forget we decided to have a day at home and I started the course of tablets and drinking gallons of water to help clear the system;the pain comes back in small spurts but is not so bad as yesterday.We should have been going down to Sabinillas this evening as it is a saints day again.The “ Virgen san Carmen” festival is when they take the statues out to sea as she is the patron saint of sailors and there is a lot of singing and dancing as well as fireworks,so next year we will catch up with it then! In the evening we had a curry and Anna joined us to catch up with all the news.
Thursday 17th. July.
In the morning we went down to Sabinillas and called into the agents of “ Helicopteros Santarios ”and joined with very little difficulty. It gives us 24hr emergency cover for Doctors and Ambulance as required anywhere in Spain and covers us for all emergencies including accidents.The premium is not expensive for the two of us and gives you peace of mind,we will also in the next couple of weeks be signed onto the Spanish medical system when the final document comes from England,which I also chased this morning.We will then have a doctor in the village and will able to use the hospital as needed.Vidal called in later in the evening after his gig to catch up with us,they have now moved into an apartment above the camp site and Gissy was sorting things out back at home.
Friday 18th July.
We went to the Hypermarket in Estepona for the weekly shop and also called into the small market in the village which is every Friday and bought some flowers and Brenda found a sun dress!In the evening we had some lovely Gambas for supper with stir-fried vegetable rice and then walked around the corner to Bar Castillo for a cool drink.Brenda not me as I am still on the water! In the village this weekend there is a “ Semana del Teatro ” festival,they have built a stage across the main street and all the local amateur dramatic groups perform small plays in front of the assembled village sat on chairs down the street and broadcast on the local TV station at the same time,it does not start until 10-00pm and has to be seen to be believed.Pictures to follow.
After the day to forget we decided to have a day at home and I started the course of tablets and drinking gallons of water to help clear the system;the pain comes back in small spurts but is not so bad as yesterday.We should have been going down to Sabinillas this evening as it is a saints day again.The “ Virgen san Carmen” festival is when they take the statues out to sea as she is the patron saint of sailors and there is a lot of singing and dancing as well as fireworks,so next year we will catch up with it then! In the evening we had a curry and Anna joined us to catch up with all the news.
Thursday 17th. July.
In the morning we went down to Sabinillas and called into the agents of “ Helicopteros Santarios ”and joined with very little difficulty. It gives us 24hr emergency cover for Doctors and Ambulance as required anywhere in Spain and covers us for all emergencies including accidents.The premium is not expensive for the two of us and gives you peace of mind,we will also in the next couple of weeks be signed onto the Spanish medical system when the final document comes from England,which I also chased this morning.We will then have a doctor in the village and will able to use the hospital as needed.Vidal called in later in the evening after his gig to catch up with us,they have now moved into an apartment above the camp site and Gissy was sorting things out back at home.
Friday 18th July.
We went to the Hypermarket in Estepona for the weekly shop and also called into the small market in the village which is every Friday and bought some flowers and Brenda found a sun dress!In the evening we had some lovely Gambas for supper with stir-fried vegetable rice and then walked around the corner to Bar Castillo for a cool drink.Brenda not me as I am still on the water! In the village this weekend there is a “ Semana del Teatro ” festival,they have built a stage across the main street and all the local amateur dramatic groups perform small plays in front of the assembled village sat on chairs down the street and broadcast on the local TV station at the same time,it does not start until 10-00pm and has to be seen to be believed.Pictures to follow.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
MANILVA.
Monday 14th. July.
Over the weekend we had a call from somebody that was interested in the Winnebago and so we arranged to meet them this morning at the garage,but they did not arrive due to the bad thunder storms in the area where they live;we put the batteries on charge as they were showing very low and arranged the meeting for the same time tomorrow.When we got back to the house one of our neighbour’s gave us some fresh tomatoes from her garden at their “ Campo” it’s like a summer cottage and lots of the locals in the village have them and go there at the weekend,our next door neighbour always gives us very small apples and pears when she comes home.In the evening as I logged on to the internet I noticed on one of fellow blog-page’s that I check on regulary he had posted a blog all about us!We first found this blog when he left a nice comment on our page last year,the page is called “ Thoughts of Oscar ” and is based in North Wales and especially Conwy and Llandudno so we watch it with interest.He comments and picture blogs on all sorts of topics and has very strong thoughts on the local councilors and the police in NorthWales as well as lots of general items that take his interest so it gives us a feeling of being back in North Wales! “ Oscar ’’has not revealed his identity and we have our own thoughts as to who he is as well as a lot of friends in North Wales also do.The blog was entitled “ Happy Days ” and was all about our time at the Hotel 70 degrees in Colwyn Bay in the 70/80s.The picture at the top was a very old photograph of the hotel and he went on to comment in a very complimentary way about us and our staff and all the good times that were had by him and all our customers!We left a comment on his page thanking him and he has now put our latest picture at the top of the blog and there are already several comments left on the blog-page from customers!Friends from North Wales have been on the phone this morning all ready telling us about the blog,which of course we knew about anyway! but thanks to all and especially “ Oscar ’’ as it brought back some very happy memories about our times in North Wales!
Tuesday 15th.July.
Once again we shot over to the Winnebago to meet these people but they did not show up so we have given up on them; the Winnebago started first time and we then went on to give it a good clean and washed it down whilst we were waiting for them!Vidal called into the garage to check things over with me which is very good of him as he and Gissy are in the middle of moving into an apartment at the moment in between gigs.When we got home we had a salad for lunch using some of the tomatoes that our neighbour gave us,not knowing what was to follow! At 3-00pm. I started to not feel well and went for a lie down but in a very few minutes I was in very severe pain in my groin and through to my lower back by the kidney on my left side,this went very quickly to being an emergency as the pain was unbearable and I was very sick and my temperature shot up and I was nearly passing out,Brenda rang our doctor and he could not come as he was away in his other practice down the coast but after Brenda described the symptoms he suggested that it was either colic or kidney stones,possibly.Brenda with the help of Carlos, who rang the emergency services,they spoke to Brenda and said that a doctor would come with the ambulance asap!By this time it was nearly 5-00pm I did not know if I was on this earth or fullers! The doctor arrived and quickly diagnosed colic and gave me a pain killer shot and one other to help me and said that I did not need to go to hospital.He gave Brenda a prescription and I went to bed and woke up at 9-00pm feeling a lot better and in no pain! I am now drinking gallons of water and taking the tablets!
Over the weekend we had a call from somebody that was interested in the Winnebago and so we arranged to meet them this morning at the garage,but they did not arrive due to the bad thunder storms in the area where they live;we put the batteries on charge as they were showing very low and arranged the meeting for the same time tomorrow.When we got back to the house one of our neighbour’s gave us some fresh tomatoes from her garden at their “ Campo” it’s like a summer cottage and lots of the locals in the village have them and go there at the weekend,our next door neighbour always gives us very small apples and pears when she comes home.In the evening as I logged on to the internet I noticed on one of fellow blog-page’s that I check on regulary he had posted a blog all about us!We first found this blog when he left a nice comment on our page last year,the page is called “ Thoughts of Oscar ” and is based in North Wales and especially Conwy and Llandudno so we watch it with interest.He comments and picture blogs on all sorts of topics and has very strong thoughts on the local councilors and the police in NorthWales as well as lots of general items that take his interest so it gives us a feeling of being back in North Wales! “ Oscar ’’has not revealed his identity and we have our own thoughts as to who he is as well as a lot of friends in North Wales also do.The blog was entitled “ Happy Days ” and was all about our time at the Hotel 70 degrees in Colwyn Bay in the 70/80s.The picture at the top was a very old photograph of the hotel and he went on to comment in a very complimentary way about us and our staff and all the good times that were had by him and all our customers!We left a comment on his page thanking him and he has now put our latest picture at the top of the blog and there are already several comments left on the blog-page from customers!Friends from North Wales have been on the phone this morning all ready telling us about the blog,which of course we knew about anyway! but thanks to all and especially “ Oscar ’’ as it brought back some very happy memories about our times in North Wales!
Tuesday 15th.July.
Once again we shot over to the Winnebago to meet these people but they did not show up so we have given up on them; the Winnebago started first time and we then went on to give it a good clean and washed it down whilst we were waiting for them!Vidal called into the garage to check things over with me which is very good of him as he and Gissy are in the middle of moving into an apartment at the moment in between gigs.When we got home we had a salad for lunch using some of the tomatoes that our neighbour gave us,not knowing what was to follow! At 3-00pm. I started to not feel well and went for a lie down but in a very few minutes I was in very severe pain in my groin and through to my lower back by the kidney on my left side,this went very quickly to being an emergency as the pain was unbearable and I was very sick and my temperature shot up and I was nearly passing out,Brenda rang our doctor and he could not come as he was away in his other practice down the coast but after Brenda described the symptoms he suggested that it was either colic or kidney stones,possibly.Brenda with the help of Carlos, who rang the emergency services,they spoke to Brenda and said that a doctor would come with the ambulance asap!By this time it was nearly 5-00pm I did not know if I was on this earth or fullers! The doctor arrived and quickly diagnosed colic and gave me a pain killer shot and one other to help me and said that I did not need to go to hospital.He gave Brenda a prescription and I went to bed and woke up at 9-00pm feeling a lot better and in no pain! I am now drinking gallons of water and taking the tablets!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
MANILVA.
Tuesday 15th. July.
As promised the pictures below show the plant and flower display outside the house on the balconies and window sill as well as the hanging pot by the front door.The front of the house gets the hot sun in the afternoon so Brenda water’s first thing in the morning and later in the evening.As I was taking the pictures the lady that gave us a couple of cuttings for the window sill came past and one of our neighbour’s came out of her house opposite and both gave me a “ Muy Bonito ” !!
As promised the pictures below show the plant and flower display outside the house on the balconies and window sill as well as the hanging pot by the front door.The front of the house gets the hot sun in the afternoon so Brenda water’s first thing in the morning and later in the evening.As I was taking the pictures the lady that gave us a couple of cuttings for the window sill came past and one of our neighbour’s came out of her house opposite and both gave me a “ Muy Bonito ” !!
Monday, July 14, 2008
MANILVA.
Saturday 12th.July.
Over the weekend the main street through the village has been closed as the local council has put on a children’s festival with face painters,bouncy castles and children’s entertainers and music.It takes place in the late evening as the sun goes down and a cool breeze blows up the hill;last night we met Carlos and Ana Mari with Fabio and sat outside our favourite bar after we had our fish supper with the Sole that we bought earlier in the week.At the sports ground and centre they have also had a 24hr.sports festival with over fourteen different sports from Angling,Climbing,Shooting,Football,Padel Tennis and various other ball games on the pitches both indoor and out.Later this evening we joined Mano and Anna after he had finished work and called into 2/3 of the local bars around the village and ended up sat outside the family home with Fabio running up and down the street with his face painted and watching the world go by.
Sunday 13th.July.
After our usual Sunday cooked breakfast we took things easy and sat and read the papers and books under the sun umbrellas on the roof terrace,later I watched the Tour de France live and the Motor GP from Germany. In the evening Anna joined us for a late supper of Stir-Fried Beef with Ginger and Spring onions and Noodles! We then met Mano down in a bar at the start of the village that also sells all sorts of old wood furniture and bric a bac.for a late game of pool.The owner gave us local’s discount when we found our wine rack there earlier in the year and just recently Carlos and his sister Sally Ann have bought some thing’s for his new house.
Over the weekend the main street through the village has been closed as the local council has put on a children’s festival with face painters,bouncy castles and children’s entertainers and music.It takes place in the late evening as the sun goes down and a cool breeze blows up the hill;last night we met Carlos and Ana Mari with Fabio and sat outside our favourite bar after we had our fish supper with the Sole that we bought earlier in the week.At the sports ground and centre they have also had a 24hr.sports festival with over fourteen different sports from Angling,Climbing,Shooting,Football,Padel Tennis and various other ball games on the pitches both indoor and out.Later this evening we joined Mano and Anna after he had finished work and called into 2/3 of the local bars around the village and ended up sat outside the family home with Fabio running up and down the street with his face painted and watching the world go by.
Sunday 13th.July.
After our usual Sunday cooked breakfast we took things easy and sat and read the papers and books under the sun umbrellas on the roof terrace,later I watched the Tour de France live and the Motor GP from Germany. In the evening Anna joined us for a late supper of Stir-Fried Beef with Ginger and Spring onions and Noodles! We then met Mano down in a bar at the start of the village that also sells all sorts of old wood furniture and bric a bac.for a late game of pool.The owner gave us local’s discount when we found our wine rack there earlier in the year and just recently Carlos and his sister Sally Ann have bought some thing’s for his new house.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
MANILVA.
Tuesday 8th July.
Well this time last year we where on the high seas on our way back to England to service and repair the Winnebago and spend the time seeing family and friends during the months of July and August; how times change. The weather is getting hotter everyday and by the afternoon with the warm African breeze it reaches the high 30s.Vidal is coming over on Thursday to fix the bed as he needed to get some metal brackets and screws in Estepona.Brenda is now getting into reading in the late afternoon in the shade on the roof terrace as we adapt to our new life here in Manilva.We have a late supper as it cools down and listen to our neighbour’s talking away in the back yard and out in front on the street as we have the front doors open all the time and watch the world go by,they all greet us and gossip about the weather, the plants on the window balconies and their families as the local children play up and down in the street.
Wednesday 9th July.
Talking about the plants on all the balconies we thought that we should update you on our gardening exploits so far; we are not having very much success with pot planting and when Tim comes over in August we are going to use some of his expertise and knowledge to get us on the right track. Brenda is the gardener in the family as I just advise on colour and position, our neighbour’s all comment on our display and one very nice lady from around the corner brought us some cuttings to put in the pots on the window sill the other day.Brenda is in charge of watering and talking to all the plants!The sun in the afternoon now hits the front of the house and burns some of the plants to nothing whilst some of them in particular the Geranium’s flourish and are already on their second bloom!Watch for updates on the plant saga and the pictures when we are in full bloom!
Thursday 10th July.
We popped down to Sabinillas for some shopping and called into the ironmonger’s for wire to help to fix the bed in the afternoon as Vidal was calling in on his way to a gig later in the evening.Just before he was due to arrive the agents called to say that a joiner was coming at six o’clock and the owner arrived the next moment and started to talk away to us as we tried to tell her that we did not need a joiner to fix the bed as the problem was with the metal work! Vidal and Gissy then arrived and were able to speak to her and reinforce our idea’s on fixing the bed.As we talked to her the man arrived and he was not a joiner but was a welder!So very quickly the bed was dismantled and he spot welded it in the street outside our front door! He then called me up to bedroom to show me that it was all right and proceeded to dance on the frame! then the senora also did a Spanish dance on the board on top of the frame also!! Gissy decided to stay for the evening and spent some time with me on the PC and showed me how to use Word more,it has a lot more options and I learnt a lot from Gissy on how to make and print business cards and use the photo print facilities as well.She has used Word for many years and her knowledge knows no bounds!Thanks Gissy! For supper we had Sausage and mash with onion gravy which also happened to be a childhood favourite of Gissy’s
Friday 11th.July.
As usual on Friday we went to the hypermarket to do the weekly shopping and as there was a fifty percent discount offer on the clothes we bought some tops.shorts and flip flops all for 4/6 euros each! When we are out we also buy the Papers and pick up the free copy of the Sur in English which comes out on a Friday.I have online the English daily’s and the local papers as well as the BBC news web page which is very good and has video news inserts to watch,I can also log into the Welsh news in North Wales,it even has a facility to see live from the web cams the Express way junctions ! The Sur in English is the Spanish news and so we are able to confirm that what we have seen on the Spanish TV news and what we think is happening-is! After we unpacked all the goods we then went on the roof terrace to read all the papers.We had for lunch Steak and Onion toasted sandwiches as a treat and a change from our normal salad.I was looking through the Sur and came to the page with the results of the monthly photographic competition and the winning picture.If you remember I posted online on the webpage quite a lot of our pictures and have been following them in the various categories as they are viewed.The winning picture was a sea view and we both thought that any of mine were better! Anyway as we looked the runner up picture was a lot better and we both commented on it,it was a view of Puerto Banus taken earlier this year.It was not untill we read the credit that we realized that it was one of mine! Second is better than nothing and it was my first attempt and when I checked online I have also come high up on the ratings that show the most viewed and admired ! A star is born as you can see from the picture below!
.
Well this time last year we where on the high seas on our way back to England to service and repair the Winnebago and spend the time seeing family and friends during the months of July and August; how times change. The weather is getting hotter everyday and by the afternoon with the warm African breeze it reaches the high 30s.Vidal is coming over on Thursday to fix the bed as he needed to get some metal brackets and screws in Estepona.Brenda is now getting into reading in the late afternoon in the shade on the roof terrace as we adapt to our new life here in Manilva.We have a late supper as it cools down and listen to our neighbour’s talking away in the back yard and out in front on the street as we have the front doors open all the time and watch the world go by,they all greet us and gossip about the weather, the plants on the window balconies and their families as the local children play up and down in the street.
Wednesday 9th July.
Talking about the plants on all the balconies we thought that we should update you on our gardening exploits so far; we are not having very much success with pot planting and when Tim comes over in August we are going to use some of his expertise and knowledge to get us on the right track. Brenda is the gardener in the family as I just advise on colour and position, our neighbour’s all comment on our display and one very nice lady from around the corner brought us some cuttings to put in the pots on the window sill the other day.Brenda is in charge of watering and talking to all the plants!The sun in the afternoon now hits the front of the house and burns some of the plants to nothing whilst some of them in particular the Geranium’s flourish and are already on their second bloom!Watch for updates on the plant saga and the pictures when we are in full bloom!
Thursday 10th July.
We popped down to Sabinillas for some shopping and called into the ironmonger’s for wire to help to fix the bed in the afternoon as Vidal was calling in on his way to a gig later in the evening.Just before he was due to arrive the agents called to say that a joiner was coming at six o’clock and the owner arrived the next moment and started to talk away to us as we tried to tell her that we did not need a joiner to fix the bed as the problem was with the metal work! Vidal and Gissy then arrived and were able to speak to her and reinforce our idea’s on fixing the bed.As we talked to her the man arrived and he was not a joiner but was a welder!So very quickly the bed was dismantled and he spot welded it in the street outside our front door! He then called me up to bedroom to show me that it was all right and proceeded to dance on the frame! then the senora also did a Spanish dance on the board on top of the frame also!! Gissy decided to stay for the evening and spent some time with me on the PC and showed me how to use Word more,it has a lot more options and I learnt a lot from Gissy on how to make and print business cards and use the photo print facilities as well.She has used Word for many years and her knowledge knows no bounds!Thanks Gissy! For supper we had Sausage and mash with onion gravy which also happened to be a childhood favourite of Gissy’s
Friday 11th.July.
As usual on Friday we went to the hypermarket to do the weekly shopping and as there was a fifty percent discount offer on the clothes we bought some tops.shorts and flip flops all for 4/6 euros each! When we are out we also buy the Papers and pick up the free copy of the Sur in English which comes out on a Friday.I have online the English daily’s and the local papers as well as the BBC news web page which is very good and has video news inserts to watch,I can also log into the Welsh news in North Wales,it even has a facility to see live from the web cams the Express way junctions ! The Sur in English is the Spanish news and so we are able to confirm that what we have seen on the Spanish TV news and what we think is happening-is! After we unpacked all the goods we then went on the roof terrace to read all the papers.We had for lunch Steak and Onion toasted sandwiches as a treat and a change from our normal salad.I was looking through the Sur and came to the page with the results of the monthly photographic competition and the winning picture.If you remember I posted online on the webpage quite a lot of our pictures and have been following them in the various categories as they are viewed.The winning picture was a sea view and we both thought that any of mine were better! Anyway as we looked the runner up picture was a lot better and we both commented on it,it was a view of Puerto Banus taken earlier this year.It was not untill we read the credit that we realized that it was one of mine! Second is better than nothing and it was my first attempt and when I checked online I have also come high up on the ratings that show the most viewed and admired ! A star is born as you can see from the picture below!
.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
MANILVA.
Monday 7th. July.
Today was a day to remember for all sorts of reasons; we were awoken at 7-00am. when our antique bed crashed to floor with no help from us! We discovered that the iron support frame had rusted and the bar that carried the main spring frame and board had cracked.We have Vidal coming along tomorrow to help us to repair it as it will need some new screws and a metal bracket fitted to get us back to normal! Later in the morning as I was setting up our Spanish house phone,I had found on the internet a English translation of the Telefonica manual so know we can use it hands free and have everybody’s number preset in the memory,our dear friend Tim phoned to say that he was coming to stay with us for ten days in August after he has been on holiday with the family to Crete- to finish off his tan! Then just after lunch our dear friend Carol phoned to say that she was a grandmother for the third time! Ben her son and his partner Andrea have a beautiful baby daughter called Freya Olivia born a few days early,at 9-10am,mother and daughter both fine! This is Carol’s third granddaughter as both Yola and Michelle her two daughters have beautiful baby girls as well. I rang Ben on the Skype phone and caught him at home in Preston to wish him and Andrea all the very best,at the same time Brenda was speaking to Carol in Willaston.The Skype phone is also back up to date with the latest edition just downloaded and the payment details changed to our Spanish bank account,the sound is much better and there is no feedback,so watch out for a call! To see the picture of the new baby just click on the link below.
Today was a day to remember for all sorts of reasons; we were awoken at 7-00am. when our antique bed crashed to floor with no help from us! We discovered that the iron support frame had rusted and the bar that carried the main spring frame and board had cracked.We have Vidal coming along tomorrow to help us to repair it as it will need some new screws and a metal bracket fitted to get us back to normal! Later in the morning as I was setting up our Spanish house phone,I had found on the internet a English translation of the Telefonica manual so know we can use it hands free and have everybody’s number preset in the memory,our dear friend Tim phoned to say that he was coming to stay with us for ten days in August after he has been on holiday with the family to Crete- to finish off his tan! Then just after lunch our dear friend Carol phoned to say that she was a grandmother for the third time! Ben her son and his partner Andrea have a beautiful baby daughter called Freya Olivia born a few days early,at 9-10am,mother and daughter both fine! This is Carol’s third granddaughter as both Yola and Michelle her two daughters have beautiful baby girls as well. I rang Ben on the Skype phone and caught him at home in Preston to wish him and Andrea all the very best,at the same time Brenda was speaking to Carol in Willaston.The Skype phone is also back up to date with the latest edition just downloaded and the payment details changed to our Spanish bank account,the sound is much better and there is no feedback,so watch out for a call! To see the picture of the new baby just click on the link below.
Monday, July 07, 2008
MANILVA.
Tuesday 1st.July 2008.
We stayed at home and caught up with all the jobs around the house after the weekend festivities, in the morning the local fisherman called with two lovely fresh caught soles which will do for two meals in the next week.The weather has now set into a routine and by the late afternoon it’s in the mid 30s with clear blue skies all day and the late evenings are balmy,We have used the air-con for the first time and now have fans in my office and in our bedroom going most of the time.
Wednesday 2nd July.
We went down to Estepona to the bank and signed all the papers to change our account to resident and next week after the new cards come in we will have to make some phone calls to England to transfer our details; for the moment we are keeping the Smart car on English plates and have re-insured with the same insurers till we have to make the changes.The garage was very positive about the Winnebago and might have some news for us some time next week,fingers crossed ! We then called at the English butchers and picked up one and a half Legs of Lamb as we have all the Guerrero family coming for dinner on Friday.On the way back we called into see Vidal and Gissy who are now busy with gigs all the time and brought them up to date with all the news but they now read the blog as we don’t see them as much,so they can keep up with us!In the evening after supper we sat and read as we are now able to pick up a book and finish it!
Thursday 3rd. July.
The local shops are now getting to know are needs and we now use them a lot more for all our daily goods.We had our usual salad lunch as in the evening we had been invited to Carlos and Ana Mari’s new house for a family BBQ.They have not moved in yet but have been fitting new lights and painting so they wanted to show all the family the house and have a party.Carlos was on the BBQ and plancha as things got started.As well as Mano,Anna,Sally and her kids all the Spanish side of Ana Mari’s family came including brothers,sisters,aunts,uncles Great grandmother and all their children as well as all their friends and us! The party was typically Spanish,loud and noisy and a great time was had by all including childrens party games led by Sally, Anna and Brenda! We walked home through the village feeling no pain after one “ Helluva” night.
Friday 4th.July.
As Sally was due to go back to Tenerife on Saturday we asked them round for dinner to say goodbye. We had Roast Leg of Lamb with all the trimmings and as Mano was able to join us from work we had ten for dinner with the children sat around two tables and all our chairs in use with the front doors open-Spanish style! Later we walked around to our local bar and sat outside and had a few more drinks in the cool evening breeze.
Saturday 5th.July.
As it is now so hot all the time we had planned to have a quiet weekend at home doing nothing,which is just what we did In the evening after supper we started to watch the Rock in Rio music festival from Madrid! On TV.last night late on after the folks had gone we saw Amy Winhouse,Jamiroquai,Shakira and the Sterophonics.Tonight it was all Spanish groups until the end when The Police did one helluva gig playing all their hits.
Sunday 6th.July.
For breakfast we had the Full-English cooked Spanish style in Chorizo oil before we settled down to watch the sport on the TV.As we put the TV on it was showing live from Pamplona the San Fermin festival which is the largest and most wild in Spain,they go wild in a very nice way! It’s also the time of the Bull Run in Pamplona and many other cities when the bulls get their own back!We first watched the Grand Prix which was very gripping for us but not for them! Hamilton won! Then The Tour de France was on live and a Spanish rider is leading and is also the favourite to win.In the evening the tennis from Wimbledon was on and off all the time due to the rain and Nadel won in the end! Viva Espania ! Later we the watched the festival from Madrid again which should have been Bob Dylan but due to contact problems with Spanish TV.they only showed a couple of minutes but Lenny Kravitz was unbelievable and he really rocked the show as he did a extended gig and played all his hits including “Fly Away and American Woman ” to bring the festival to a close.
We stayed at home and caught up with all the jobs around the house after the weekend festivities, in the morning the local fisherman called with two lovely fresh caught soles which will do for two meals in the next week.The weather has now set into a routine and by the late afternoon it’s in the mid 30s with clear blue skies all day and the late evenings are balmy,We have used the air-con for the first time and now have fans in my office and in our bedroom going most of the time.
Wednesday 2nd July.
We went down to Estepona to the bank and signed all the papers to change our account to resident and next week after the new cards come in we will have to make some phone calls to England to transfer our details; for the moment we are keeping the Smart car on English plates and have re-insured with the same insurers till we have to make the changes.The garage was very positive about the Winnebago and might have some news for us some time next week,fingers crossed ! We then called at the English butchers and picked up one and a half Legs of Lamb as we have all the Guerrero family coming for dinner on Friday.On the way back we called into see Vidal and Gissy who are now busy with gigs all the time and brought them up to date with all the news but they now read the blog as we don’t see them as much,so they can keep up with us!In the evening after supper we sat and read as we are now able to pick up a book and finish it!
Thursday 3rd. July.
The local shops are now getting to know are needs and we now use them a lot more for all our daily goods.We had our usual salad lunch as in the evening we had been invited to Carlos and Ana Mari’s new house for a family BBQ.They have not moved in yet but have been fitting new lights and painting so they wanted to show all the family the house and have a party.Carlos was on the BBQ and plancha as things got started.As well as Mano,Anna,Sally and her kids all the Spanish side of Ana Mari’s family came including brothers,sisters,aunts,uncles Great grandmother and all their children as well as all their friends and us! The party was typically Spanish,loud and noisy and a great time was had by all including childrens party games led by Sally, Anna and Brenda! We walked home through the village feeling no pain after one “ Helluva” night.
Friday 4th.July.
As Sally was due to go back to Tenerife on Saturday we asked them round for dinner to say goodbye. We had Roast Leg of Lamb with all the trimmings and as Mano was able to join us from work we had ten for dinner with the children sat around two tables and all our chairs in use with the front doors open-Spanish style! Later we walked around to our local bar and sat outside and had a few more drinks in the cool evening breeze.
Saturday 5th.July.
As it is now so hot all the time we had planned to have a quiet weekend at home doing nothing,which is just what we did In the evening after supper we started to watch the Rock in Rio music festival from Madrid! On TV.last night late on after the folks had gone we saw Amy Winhouse,Jamiroquai,Shakira and the Sterophonics.Tonight it was all Spanish groups until the end when The Police did one helluva gig playing all their hits.
Sunday 6th.July.
For breakfast we had the Full-English cooked Spanish style in Chorizo oil before we settled down to watch the sport on the TV.As we put the TV on it was showing live from Pamplona the San Fermin festival which is the largest and most wild in Spain,they go wild in a very nice way! It’s also the time of the Bull Run in Pamplona and many other cities when the bulls get their own back!We first watched the Grand Prix which was very gripping for us but not for them! Hamilton won! Then The Tour de France was on live and a Spanish rider is leading and is also the favourite to win.In the evening the tennis from Wimbledon was on and off all the time due to the rain and Nadel won in the end! Viva Espania ! Later we the watched the festival from Madrid again which should have been Bob Dylan but due to contact problems with Spanish TV.they only showed a couple of minutes but Lenny Kravitz was unbelievable and he really rocked the show as he did a extended gig and played all his hits including “Fly Away and American Woman ” to bring the festival to a close.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
MANILVA.
Monday 30th June.
The party carried on into the early hours of morning with the entire village out and all the cars blowing their horns and blasting out the music as we danced and joined in with all the singing! We went to bed after Beans on Toast at 3-00am. We called into the Police Station in Estepona to checkout our paperwork and they confirmed that we are now in the system so we then went to our bank and changed the accounts to Resident in Spain.Speaking to a friend who is a lawyer she confirmed that in three years time when the next election takes place we will be able to vote.In the afternoon Mano and Anna called in with their granddaughter, Jordan to show her the house and catch up with all the news. As we watched TV after supper the lead item was all about the night before and we caught a glimpse of yours truly dancing around the fountain! A star is born! On the national TV stations all six followed the Spanish team on the flight back to Madrid and the welcome into the heart of the city.All over Spain from the small villages to all the big cities the response has been the same as here in our village. The picture below is the local cameraman filming from Manilva TV.Later on Sunday evening I was live on Citytalk FM in Liverpool reporting on the happenings here on the Costa del Sol and also talking about life in general in Spain including local food and wine as the grapes on the vines all around the village are now starting to become right for picking,Pete Price who is Mr Liverpool was sick as a parrot when he heard about the current heat wave down here on the coast as it was raining in Liverpool and he had been caught in rain storms in NorthWales earlier in the week!
The party carried on into the early hours of morning with the entire village out and all the cars blowing their horns and blasting out the music as we danced and joined in with all the singing! We went to bed after Beans on Toast at 3-00am. We called into the Police Station in Estepona to checkout our paperwork and they confirmed that we are now in the system so we then went to our bank and changed the accounts to Resident in Spain.Speaking to a friend who is a lawyer she confirmed that in three years time when the next election takes place we will be able to vote.In the afternoon Mano and Anna called in with their granddaughter, Jordan to show her the house and catch up with all the news. As we watched TV after supper the lead item was all about the night before and we caught a glimpse of yours truly dancing around the fountain! A star is born! On the national TV stations all six followed the Spanish team on the flight back to Madrid and the welcome into the heart of the city.All over Spain from the small villages to all the big cities the response has been the same as here in our village. The picture below is the local cameraman filming from Manilva TV.Later on Sunday evening I was live on Citytalk FM in Liverpool reporting on the happenings here on the Costa del Sol and also talking about life in general in Spain including local food and wine as the grapes on the vines all around the village are now starting to become right for picking,Pete Price who is Mr Liverpool was sick as a parrot when he heard about the current heat wave down here on the coast as it was raining in Liverpool and he had been caught in rain storms in NorthWales earlier in the week!
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