Sexton's Travels: October 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

MANILVA HALLOWEEN/LEAH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Friday, October 28, 2011

MANILVA ROMAN KILN TO BE SAVED..

FRIDAY 28^th OCTOBER 2011.

NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH. NEWSFLASH.

Manilva’s rich Roman heritage; the Roman Kiln uncovered by Municipal workers clearing the site for a park next to the new Wine centre have made a remarkable find ! The Kiln dates back to the first part of the second century AD ; the archaeologists were able to determine the date of the Kiln which may be a design never before found in Andalucia and might be even unique in all of Spain and Italy as well ! The rescue project is now to be funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucia, thanks !!

A few fragments of pottery and pieces of a large circular-shaped potters wheel have been found but the real significance of the Kiln is in its design; a series of brick-lined chambers where the ceramic objects were placed to be fired with the heat coming from a large furnace built underneath the firing chambers !!

For the moment the Kiln will be kept under wraps to protect it from the elements until it can be consolidated and then prepared for public display; An explanatory plaque will be created so that the locals and visitors can fully appreciate the role of the Kiln in the history of Manilva.

It is about time that Manilva is put on the map as a cultural heritage destination.

MANILVA ROMAN KILN TO BE SAVED.

MANILVA OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE START OF THE WEEK.

SUNDAY 23^rd OCTOBER 2011.

After a little lie in on Sunday morning I watched the final of the Rugby from New Zealand; the “Kiwi’s” won but it was not a very exciting match to watch. We then got the Sunday Roast on the go, Chicken with all the usual vegetables before we freshened ourselves up and went for a walk with the dogs, Cheta and Derrick, they are fine together now that they are used to one another. Later I watched the Manchester Utd. V Manchester City game, the final result 6-1 for City was just unbelievable, they played Utd.off the park!!!! Mano and Carlos in their City shirts went mad and still had them on, on Tuesday! In the evening after our roast we watched a film on the DVD as the TV system was not working as it had not reset after the power cuts on Friday after the storm, at the same time the water went off and when it came back on all the taps needed the filters cleaning as they were blocked with grit and stones.

MONDAY/FRIDAY 24^th/ 28^th OCTOBER 2011.

The weather forecast for most of the week was not as good as normal with some light showers and storms on Thursday; we have had a quite few days at home to catch up with the chores, on Monday the TV engineer called in and fixed the TV, with no charge! Later in the morning I made for a change a Chicken Fricassee for supper which we had with Basmati rice. Monday is my catch up day on the BBC IPlayer,SCD Highlights, Later with Jools Holland and this week the final episode of ‘ Spooks ’which was very moving and gripping with lots of surprises ! Very good and not to be missed.

On Tuesday we walked the dogs in the morning and ended up sat on the Mirador overlooking the valley, mountains and down to the Mediterranean in warm sunshine, so much for the forecast! On the way back up to the house we bumped into Mano and Carlos sat outside Bar Rojas, they were both on their days off and were still celebrating the win, in their City shirts!! A little session followed !! Anna is staying in Tenerife for another week so is not back until late next Thursday.

Wednesday was our quietest day as we took things very easy and in the evening we had one of our favorite meals, Pork Cutlets with Lyonnaise Potatoes for supper.

Thursday was supposed to be storms and severe rain so Mano had offered to take us to the hospital over in Marbella in the afternoon as Brenda had an appointment for an ultra sound scan on her legs, it turned out to be a sunny day and no sign of the bad weather, it hit the rest of Spain but not us ! Before we went out, in the morning, I made a Chicken Curry for supper. On the way back Mano stopped in Sabinillas so as we could do the weekend shopping and then dropped us back at home, very kind and thanks !

This morning, Friday, Brenda has gone down on the bus to Sabinillas to pick up the papers and do some messages as I’ am sitting the two dogs, they are not a problem; tonight it is a fish supper before watching a film on the TV. Next week we have a few things going on, on Monday Brenda is at the surgery first thing to update her prescriptions and is then going down to the hairdressers to get her hair cut as we are over on Wednesday and Thursday at the Marriot Vacation Club helping on their staff training process as we have done in the past over the last few years; they sent an e-mail last week inviting us !Next Tuesday is a national bank holiday in Spain ' Dia de Todos Los Santos ' - All Saints Day.

Thought for the Day;

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

MANILVA AM WEATHER FLASH.

SATURDAY 22 nd OCTOBER 2011.

This morning at 8-30am it finally arrived - RAIN !! It was forecast for today but not as severe as what is now happening ! It is the most heavy rainstorm that we have ever seen since we have been here;along with extreme thunder and lightening it has lasted for an hour,it is the first rain in over five months and it is if it has all come at once ! Yesterday up the coast near Benidorm an elderly British couple were swept to their deaths, they had the same weather with a mini tornado as well-the outside temperature is still 25degs! We will survive !!

PS. Pictures have just appeared on the Manilva Ws page on Facebook of the flash flooding in properties in the area ! The pictures are above,

Friday, October 21, 2011

MANILVA THIS WEEK.

MONDAY/FRIDAY 17^th/21^ST OCTOBER 2011.

On Monday morning after breakfast we went for a long walk with Cheta; she is going in to the vets in the evening for a trim and wash, the weather forecast for the week is good, sun and more sun with the temperatures in the high 20s.We are having a quite week at home, taking it easy, reading, watching the TV, walking and spending time on the terrace for Brenda. In the office I’ am catching up with the e-mails, the blog and Facebook as well as occasionally Twittering! During the day I also watch on the BBC IPlayer the latest Jools Holland shows,SCD,QI,Saturday Morning Kitchen, Something for the Weekend and Spooks which is getting very exciting and is nearly up to the final episode ever ! In the evening after supper we followed one of the series on the TV about Spain which is very interesting, it shows the places, tells you about the history, the people and the food !

In the morning on Tuesday I made some Boulangere Potatoes ready for dinner; we are having them with Lamb Cutlets, Baby New Carrots and Cabbage with Alselgas for dinner later. I then logged onto the ‘ Tour de France 2012 ’web site which I’ am registered on and watched live from Paris the ceremony to launch the route for the 2012 tour; it was very interesting and gave you lots of details, they are going to new climbs as well as some of the classic’s, there are more time trials and it is starting in Belgium, they have stages to Boulogne-sur-Mer,Rouen,Epernay and Macon all places that we know well so it looks like it is going to be a great Tour, the year after 2013 will be very special as it is the centenary of the Tour.

Mano and Anna called in on Wednesday afternoon to ask us to look after Derrick for a week as Anna is going over to Tenerife to see SallyAnn and the grandchildren, she has found a very cheap flight and will be away from today,Friday,they have just dropped him off on the way to the airport at Malaga; In the morning I made a Beef and vegetable stew with Potatoes . Scouse ’for dinner.

This Thursday as Mano was off we went down to Sabinillas to do the shopping as he was going to meet us at the garage to check the tire pressure on the Smart Car because the details are in German and the Air pressure pump is in Spanish and kilo’s ! We had a drink up at Bar Rojas later with them outside under the Sonbajo as the weather is sill very warm and sunny, it is our favorite time of the year. In the evening we had Pork Chops for supper and then watched the Spanish soap that we follow ‘Cuantame ’ which is about a Spanish family in Madrid in the 70s.

Today, Friday, Mano and Anna dropped Derrick off and took Brenda down to Sabinillas on their way to the airport so that she could pick up the English papers, some birthday and anniversary cards; it is our Ruby Wedding this year on the 29^th November. It only seems like yesterday that we where at Port Sunlight church in the autumn sunshine and brown leaves! I have just gone off-line as I’ am typing this to watch the second half of the Rugby World Cup from New Zealand, Wales lost 21 – 18 in the third place play off final to Australia but played well and scored a very good try in extra time, if they had converted their penalty kicks they could have won ! Tonight we are having Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas for supper before we settle down to watch a film on the TV.

PS; We have just had a long and newsy message on Facebook from Brian over in Finland, winter is just around the corner for them! Thanks Big Brian and Lilly it is lovely to hear from you !! HYVIN HYVA. JAKTKU. LAJI LAJIPITAA. as they say in Finnish !!

PSS; On the council web page today there is a suggestion that the Roman Kiln might be saved !

Thought for the Day;

The only people you need in life are the ones that find the time for you; do not make someone a priority if they only consider you as an option.

Monday, October 17, 2011

MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY 14^th/15^th/16^th OCTOBER 2011.

Well after the excitement of the last few days we got back to our normal lifestyle on Friday; the weather over the weekend is changing a little bit, it is still warm and sunny but not as hot, the overall temperature is going down by 5degs but it is still in the mid 20s – 25degs in fact ! We had decided to go down on the bus to Sabinillas to do the shopping, for a change, but we are not very lucky with the local buses, it turned out that the normal bus has stopped running due to funding problems – they have not been paid ! Another coach/bus service has been arranged with the school bus but it did not turn up at the bus stop as we had been led to believe at 9-00am,we were then given a lift together with another Spanish couple by a stranger down to Sabinillas.We did all our usual messages and shopping and I went and got a taxi to bring us back up to the village, after unloading we walked down to the market with Cheta and picked up the flowers and fresh fruit and vegetables; as we reached the market the coach was at the start bus stop so I asked the driver for a timetable, he had just one copy so I took it into the surgery near by and got a copy made ! In the evening we had some more of the fresh Lemon Sole with new potatoes and Garden Peas for supper that we had picked up from the fish market.

Saturday morning after breakfast of local campo Poached Eggs on Toast I settled down to watch the first rugby semi-final between Wales and France, sadly Wales lost in a controversial match which they should have won. I then watched the Liverpool v Manchester Utd. game from Anfield,I am always reminded when they show the aerial shots of the ground that an aunty lived in one of the streets next to the Anfield Road end, it is the same at Everton as another aunty lived in Gladys Street ! The match was a draw, Liverpool should have won. Next I watched the Manchester City game against Aston Villa, City outplayed the Villa and won 4-1 ! This means that they are now top of the Premier League by two points !! Later I caught the Grand Prix and Motor Cycling GP qualifying from Korea and Australia. In the evening it was the turn of the Spanish football, both Barcelona and Real Madrid won. Meanwhile Brenda was up on the roof terrace catching the last of the sun and topping up her tan ! For supper we had Entrecote steaks with Chips and sliced fine Green Beans before settling down to watch a film.

On Sunday morning we got the roast on the go first thing,Chichen,I then left Brenda to work on the vegetables as I went to watch in the office the second semi-final in the rugby, New Zealand ground out a win over the old foes Australia. Later after a freshen up we went for a long walk around the village with the dog and ended up at Bar Rojas as Mano and Anna where sat outside, we all had the Paella, which was delicious, and we asked them to join us for dinner later, as we got back we topped up the vegetables and potatoes to cover the four of us ! I watched the end of the Grand Prix and GPs in the late afternoon. In the evening after a very nice dinner with Mano and Anna catching up with all the news and gossip at the same time we then watched the late film ‘ American Gangster ’with Denzil Washington and Russell Crowe playing the baddie and goodie respectively !

Thought for the Day;

God has given us Ale and Rum, as well as Wine to make glad the heart of man.

Friday, October 14, 2011

MANILVA FIRE STORM.

MANILVA BAHIA DE LAS ROCAS FIRE STORM THURDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2011.

NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH.

Yesterday afternoon there was a large fire storm in the hills behind the village; it took three fire helicopters,two fire planes and the the fire services from Manilva,Estepona ,Marbella Ronda and even Cadiz to get it under control ! Brenda as she is on the roof terrace is used to seeing the fire helicopters going over all the time at the hight of the season but yesterday as it was bit closer to home; they had to bring in the Junta de la Andalusia copters and planes as well as the local ones. The picture above will give you a little look as to how they fight these sort of fires !

NB; The photo's are not mine,they are taken from the Manilva Ws site !

Thursday, October 13, 2011

THE LORD BINNING PUB AND KITCHEN AT KELSALL.

THE LORD BINNING PUB AND KITCHEN.

MANILVA THIS WEEK.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY 12^th/13^th OCTOBER 2011.

Wednesday, is a national bank holiday in Spain; ‘Hispanic Day or National Day ’ ( Fiesta Nacionel de Espana ) which is the anniversary of when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas in 1492 ! We watched the King and all the royal family in Madrid as he took the royal salute at the parade in the main tree lined avenue in glorious weather. All four branches of the forces take part with military vehicles, fly passes and of course all the troops marching pass the dais. It starts when a sky diver lands right in front of the King with a large Spanish flag flowing beneath him, then after the ceremony of rising the flag the parade starts, all the different regiments are in full and very colorful uniforms, the Spanish Foreign Legion has long flowing capes, they are the one regiment that marches at a quicker pace, including the band and the regimental ram! The one problem with the bank holiday is that the Spanish banking system totally closes down, not just the banks, so for instance we have transfers in and out of our account on the 12^th and they are now two days out of sinc! Another piece of good news from over in Burton on Trent is that one of our staff from the Riverside has just given birth to her first child, a boy named William Joseph, so congratulations to Hannah and her husband Simon!

The weather is even more glorious at the moment with clear blue skies, a little breeze and of course hot sunshine, we have just come back from a walk with the dog. Tonight we are having Chicken Curry for supper as we are using our stock from the deep freeze as our house sitting over in Guadalmina has been cancelled because Joan, Clives mum, had a fall on Sunday evening so Clive and Carolyn had to postpone their trip to England, then we will watch a film on the TV, at the moment there is a Clint Eastwood season on one of the channels.

Today, Thursday we are having a at home day, Brenda has now finished with her cleaning regime and is so able to take things a little bit easier, and I’m in the office catching up with the WWW ! Meanwhile over in Kelsall,outside Chester, they are holding at ‘ The Lord Binning Pub and Kitchen’ the first of their special wine dinners, hosted by a Yorkshire man that lives and works in Rioja,the Spanish menu and wines look excellent and there are a few seats left ! David and his partner in the business, Paul Newman, have got the place up and bouncing, the food looks and sound great and the reviews are also very good! There are all sorts of ongoing activities taking place, they have just opened ‘Upstairs ’and are now in the function business as well! The picture above shows a wonderful rare breed, Old Spot, ham glazed with Tarvin Honey, mustard and brown sugar which has just come out of the oven, David is at this moment having a slice with proper chips and free range egg! The other day amongst many specials ‘Rabo de Toro ’ Braised Oxtail was on the menu – check the web page out !!

Tonight we are having local Pork Cutlet with now proper chips !!

SIMPSON DESERT 2011 UPDATE;

The picture blog below only gives you a brief view of the trek; Deb has also sent me the story of the trip and also her diary which lists all the food that they ate. They had a very exciting time as the weather fronts went around them, at one point they had to change their route as there was desert fires over hundreds of Kms.The animals that they saw,Lizards,Marsupals,Camels,Donkeys,Dingoes,Zebra Finches,Kites,Hawks,wedge tail Eagles, Kookaburas,Emu,Owls,Parrots,Galahs and the Pelicans all added to the experience. The menu reads like an gastronomic tour; Italian Chicken casserole with Cous Cous,wraps with Beef and salad, Porterhouse steak with Coleslaw and Cheese Risotto,Chilli Con Carne,Corn Beef with peas, carrots and mashed potato, wraps with Chicken and plum sauce, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Sausage casserole, Bacon Minestrone and not mentioning the breakfasts, Own baked Bread and the desserts ! At one point they ate at one of the outback hotels,Deb had the crumbed fish with chips and Dornoch had an 500gm, T-bone steak ! What a life !!

Thought for the Day;

There is no present like the future.