MANILVA/ ESTEPONA.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY 9th/10th MAY 2012.

Well the hot weather that was forecast for this week has certainly hit us; it is coming across from North Africa and each day it is getting hotter especially down here on the Costa del Sol and around the corner up to Cadiz and Sevilla, the temperature today is just reaching 30degs here and down on the coast 32/35 degs and up to 38degs by tomorrow ! In Manilva there is just a little breeze that makes it very pleasant but down in Estepona this morning by early lunchtime it was hot, the rest of Spain is also a lot warmer and sunnier but nothing like what we have got ! On Wednesday after breakfast I made the Braised Steak and Onions for dinner, it also has lots of vegetables in it and then goes in the oven in the evening; Brenda had got Cabbage with Alselgas ready and local boiled potatoes to go with it – comfort food. After freshening up we went for a short walk with Cheta who is definitely missing Derrick who was ‘ Dog- napped ’ back from us by Mano on Tuesday afternoon as Anna had arrived back late on Monday evening, we had got used to having the little ‘ Mutt ’ around and he was no trouble to look after even though we don’t have any outside space here at the house. No word from Anna yet as she settles back into life here in sunny Manilva and gets ready to welcome Sally Ann and Dylan sometime this weekend we think. At lunchtime after our walk we stopped at Bar Rojas and treated ourselves to an alfresco Tapas lunch under the Sonbrajo,Brenda had the diced Liver and I had Lumy’s Albondigas in a rich Tomato sauce with a side of her famous Patatas Fritas ! In the evening after dinner we watched the Europa League Cup Final from Bucharest – a brilliant double from Radamel Falcao and a bustling performance from the rest of the Atletico Madrid undid Athletic Bilbao 3-0 – it turns out that the Colombian also scored the only goal in last years final for ‘ Porto ’! The film later was the award winning “ The Pianist ” directed by Roman Polanski who won the Oscar and starring Adrian Brody who won the Oscar for best actor as well as the film for best film !

This morning we were up bright and early and shot across to Estepona for our appointment at the ‘ Policia National ’ to get a Residency Card – it turns out that what we have got in another document is fine and correct and we our totally up to date and legal! So with some time on our hands we parked up in the underground car park on the front and walked into the main shopping area; we bought a top up phone card for Brenda’s good old mobile and I had a Haircut and face massage in the Barber’s shop before we sat and had a coffee and took in the sights and sounds of our favorite town down here. The Euro has just reached a three and a half year high so now is a good time to come and visit us as you get more Euros for your pound ! Bookings now being taken !! At lunchtime we met some friends outside Bar Rojas so it gave us an excuse to have a ' Tincture ' At the moment I'am weening my self back onto the ' Cuba Libre's ' as I have stopped taking the pain killing tablets !Every afternoon Brenda is up on the roof terrace in her Bikini ( Just! ) reading and taking in the sun until it gets to hot The pictures below taken at lunchtime show the work slowly progressing on the new square and the small garden center that has been opened by the owner of the ‘ Antiguedades ’ Bar Carlos outside his Bodega next to it .The late film was " Mississippi Burning " from 1988 - it is an American crime drama loosley based on the FBI investigation of the murder of three civil rights workers in the State of Mississippi back in 1964 - starring Gene Hackman and William Defoe as the waring FBI agents.


Thought for the Day;

When you cannot make up our mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should – choose the bolder.


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