MANILVA,TIM'S VISIT.

Sunday 10th August.

On Saturday night after the parade the village and the bars were very busy so we went around to Bar Castillo and joined in with the crowds and had some tapas and watched the Senoras and Senoritas in their finest costumes including the children as they strolled up and down the main street in the cool night air.We got up late on Sunday morning and after our usual cooked breakfast we caught up with the chores and got things ready for Tim’s arrival on Monday.

Monday 11th August.

The phone went first thing in the morning,it was the car hire people to say that the car had be dropped of a day early at the Aparthotel and if we wanted to we could go and collect it but it was very dirty and had no petrol! We walked up to the Aparhotel and collected the small Fiat Panda four door which was free for the day and went down to the garage in Sabinillas to top up the petrol and put it in the car wash, it ment that Brenda could come to the airport later in the evening to collect Tim.We drove over to Malaga Airport at 10-00pm and picked Tim up outside the Arrivals doors at 11-30 as he came out as you are not allowed to stop any where but we now have it down to a fine art- for any future guests!! When we got back to the house we went on the roof terrace and had a few drinks as we caught up with all the news,we ended up at 4-00pm feeling no pain as we went to bed!

Tuesday 12th August.

Breakfast is served on the roof terrace for guests as they rise, fresh fruit,orange juice and toast to start the day! The weather at the moment and for the next two months on the forecast is very hot and sunny,in the evening a warm breeze from Africa is a bonus,during the night it stays very hot and humid so we have the fans on and the window blinds open and use the air conditioning in the lounge when we need it,at the moment I am typing this not in the office but downstairs as it is very hot today.We stayed on the roof terrace and introduced Tim to Tinto de Verano which he is now in love with!For lunch we had some Gambas cooked a la plancha with salad,later in the afternoon Tim and Brenda stayed on the terrace to catch the sun then I served cocktails at six o’clock with nibbles! After a quick shower around 9-00pm we then called in to see Mano at the bar in the Aparthotel before we went down to a favourite restaurant that we use in Sabinillas for supper.Brenda had John Dory in a Lemon butter sauce and Tim and I had Sirloin steaks and frits,the steaks are marinated in a herb dressing and pan fried in butter,all washed down with a local Rioja! We sat outside by the pool and finished with Brandy for Brenda and Cuba Libre’s for us until one o’clock on the morning.

Wednesday 13th August.

After a light breakfast Tim walked down to the Aparthotel to spend the day by the pool as we had to pick up more ice and do some shopping,whilst we where out we picked up our first parking fine outside the supermarket in Sabinillas,it’s a place in the shade and everybody parks there all the time even though it is a no parking area! My phone went as we drove back up the hill,it was a person offering us work as he had seen our house-sitting advert in the paper so we arranged to go and see him across in Marbella at lunch time.We have a meeting at the end of next week with another person who wants us to look after his three bedroom apartment in the Punte Romano hotel complex,so after great difficulty and two hours later we found the villa on a very large estate just below the Man mountain behind Marbella,The job is full time and is live in,in a lodge by the villa working for a Iranian property developer.We spoke to his associate and are waiting for a phone call later today as we want more details before we commit our selfs to anything.The whole area above Marbella has the largest and finest villa’s, house’s and “ palace’s” that we have ever seen and is just mind blowing! As we got back late in the afternoon Tim came home and we went onto the terrace for some drinks as we had planned to stay in and have dinner.We had Pork cutlets cooked in a lemon butter sauce with Brenda’s now famous Leek and Cauilflower cheese bake,Ginger Carrots and Saute potatoes all washed down with a fine Faustino Rioja.

Thursday 14th August.

This morning Tim and Brenda have gone on a “ Path Finding” day out to the beach down in Sabinillas! They went to catch the village bus and find out where it stops and picks up.Brenda has just rung to say that Carlos and Ana stopped and picked them up so they still don’t know where! it goes The best plans of man and mice etc.! They have hired sun beds and umbrellas and they are being served drinks as I type this by a very nice Senorita who also brings them fresh fruit and ice pops as well as serving them lunch.The" Rilax" bar is next to the Argentian steakhouse which we go to,Tim had scrambled eggs with crispy bacon and Brenda had Thai fishcake's! Tonight we are going out for a Tapas supper in the village then we are going to see Vidal and Gissy as he has a regular gig down in the marina at Puerto De La Duquesa.Tomorrow it is Anna 60th Birthday so we have kept the day free,watch this space!