MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY/MONDAY 11TH/12TH/13TH DECEMBER 2010.

On Saturday morning we had a lie in and after Poached Eggs on Toast we got ourselves suited and booted to go out to Big Brian’s surprise 40th lunch down in Sabinillas to a new Thai restaurant which had just opened,we were their first customers! The Marshall clan had all arrived; Paul and Mo,Brian;s mum and dad, Claire his baby sister and Brad his best mate,Lilli,his wife had arranged their visit as a surprise. We met at their apartment for some nice chilled Cava and then set off in the taxi’s to Sabinillas;the restaurant is on the front overlooking the Mediterranean and Africa with the breakers crashing on to the shore. The picture below shows the Marshall clan and us outside the Sambuca Thai restaurant. We had a very warm welcome and the Thai beers soon arrived with to follow bottles of Cava, house wine and to finish shots We all ordered different and with changes to the menu ;all the food was very good and came out hot and cooked as ordered. Brenda had Saty Kai,marinated chicken with Peanut sauce, I had the Curry De Verduras en un paquetiti de pasta, vegetable curry in puff pastry parcels. For our main course Brenda had the Pla Rad Prik, a whole deep fried Dorada,Sea Bream, with Tamarind sauce,Chilli and Basil whilst I had the Massanman Beef, a spicy curry of Beef with Potatoes, Onion and Peanuts. We retired back up to Manilva in the early evening for a siesta and then met up again in Bar Rojas for drinks to finish off a “ Helluva ”day down here on the warm and sunny Costa Del Sol !

After tea and toast we got our Sunday roast on the way, Loin of Pork with glazed Apple slices, savory stuffing and proper finger licking gravy; Brenda’s vegetables, Cauliflower and Broccoli Mornay,glazed Carrots and whole Green Beans, Cabbage with Alcegas and Garden Peas as well as new Potatoes and of course crispy Roast Potatoes ! In the morning outside the Town Hall at the top of our street they had set up stalls serving a local Xmas delicacy,Tortas Frita which are Deep fried sweet pastry triangles seved with honey and a shot of Aniseed;the mayor,Antonia was cooking and serving as the ladies rolled out the fine pastry.Calle Mar was closed so as the children could play on the Bouncy Castles as you can see in the pictures below. Anna joined us for a lunchtime gossip and stayed for Brunch, English Pork sausages butties ! Mano,Anna.Carlos and Fabio joined us for our first roast back in Manilva,sadly Ana Mari was working, Fabio is growing up quickly and found the Crackers under the tree which he had not seen before as they don’t have them in Spanish houses at Xmas, he was soon screaming with joy as we all pulled them with him !A nice Chablis,which Anna braught,along with a fine Rioja helped the meal along. Later we watched the Spanish Live football, Real Madrid won but Barcelona played some superb football and won five - nil and are top of La Liga. Next Sunday we are going to have Roast Leg of Lamb as the following weekend we are on the Turkey and Beef for Xmas day and Boxing Day.

This morning we have been for a long walk around the village with Cheta,she is back to visiting us every day from last Wednesday morning when we came home! The Xmas decorations are all up along Calle Mar and all the work in the village is up to date; Calle Duquesa is looking great and has been made car free as you can see in the picture and at the top of the village yet another park has been finished, last month the council won an award for the two parks at the bottom of the village. Tonight we are having cold Roast Pork for supper.

Thought for the Day;

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.


.