MANILVA THIS WEEK.

MONDAY/THURSDAY 12^th/ 15^th DECEMBER 2011.

On Monday morning after our tea and toast we went round to the surgery as Brenda had a appointment; our Doctor was on holiday so the relief one soon sorted us out, Brenda had her tablets prescription extended but her results have not arrived yet. The weather forecast for the week and over the coming weekend is good with clear blue skies and the sun out, by Thursday it is getting warmer; when we got back from the surgery we then went for our walk with Cheta around the village. In the evening we had cold Chicken with salad and a baked potato for supper which was a change, we then settled down to watch the TV.

We were up bright and early on Tuesday as Brenda had an appointment at her hairdresser’s down in Sabinillas; she got a lift down with some neighbours from the street behind us, one of our regular lifts! I settled down in the office and typed and posted the blog on the ‘ Frozen Earth ’ Anna also had made an appointment to get her hair done a bit later so she had the car and brought Brenda back after doing some shopping and retail therapy ! On Monday we had picked up some Pork Cutlets for dinner which we had with our favourite Lyonnaise Potatoes after which we watched a good old fashioned cowboy film ‘Gunfight at the OK Corral’ from 1957 with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in the main roles.

Wednesday morning was another early start as we were going down to the English butchers in Duquesa marina to place our order for Xmas; we went on the bus as it is the next stop along from Sabinillas and then walked into the port. The picture of the marina above was taken just after dawn and the sky had not yet turned to blue; we stopped on the way to the butchers as the ‘ Crosscutters ’ English supermarket and picked up some essentials on their buy two and get the third one free offer ! At the butchers we ordered out Turkey and Rib of Beef along with Chipolatas, Parsnips, Goose Fat etc. to be picked up next week, we then walked back to Sabinillas along the sea front on the ‘Plaza Maritime ’In Sabinillas we called into shop on the front for some gentleman’s essentials-new underpants ! Brenda had spotted them the day before as she was in the shop buying herself something for Xmas ! We then had a coffee in the square before we caught the bus back up to the village. For dinner we had Gammon Steaks topped with a fried Egg with Garden Peas and Chips – and HP Brown Sauce !

Today, Thursday, was our at home day, we went for our walk with the dog after freshening up; it is another glorious day, we sat by the Mirador at the start of the village in the morning’s hot sunshine – the rest of Spain is getting battered by Atlantic storms and heavy snow in the high mountains ! Jack and Lyn called on the Skype Video so we had a long chat and caught up with all the news; for Xmas they are going this year to Jack’s family up in Sydney, they are taking their caravan on the trip as it is over 1000kms. to Penrith in the mountains behind Sydney, the family has booked a very large house with a big pool so as they can all be together, Jack and Lyn are using the caravan. We know that they will have a “ Helluva ” time ! Meanwhile back in the village they have started to erect stalls for the Xmas market next week as you can see in the pictures above, this is the first time that they have arranged it in Calle Mar, also Bar Rojas was getting a waterproof cover put over the Sonbrajo as you can see. The Xmas programme of activities has also just come out, it is arranged by the Culture department of the council, this year it is a lot less then normal due to the financial cuts – no Xmas Lights for instance, but the Music Concert by the town brass band is still taking place at the Santa Ana church next Friday evening.Mano and Anna called in later in the afternoon for a catch up. This evening we are having for dinner pan fried Turkey escallops with a sweet Red Pepper cream sauce that I made this morning, with my new local ‘ Pimenton Dulce ’and Sliced fine Green Beans and diced fried potatoes !! Tonight is Spanish ‘ Soap ’ night on TVE1.

Thought for the Day;

You can learn a lot by watching.

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