MANILVA START OR THE WEEK.

SUNDAY 22nd JULY 2012.


After a little lie in we had a ‘ Smoked Bacon and Egg ’ breakfast for a change – a little bit of what you fancy does you good ! We then took our time and had a nice leisurely freshen up before watching the start of the Grand Prix from Germany – we then walked up to Bar Rojas for our regular Sunday lunchtime ‘Snifter ’Mano and Anna had just arrived as Mano had the day off so we caught up with all their news and then had a small plate of Paella. It’s Mano’s birthday on Wednesday so we are going to try and get together up at the golf club. Brenda is having her hair done tomorrow in the village, the full works, for the first time, on Wednesday in Calle Mar there is a theatre show on the stage ,then on Thursday it is ‘ Santa Ana Day ‘ the patron saint of the village with processions and music and dancing and then on Friday it is the time for a band concert ! This week our neighbors as they come back from their ‘ Campo’s ’have been passing in fresh fruit and vegetables – dark Red Plums from the lady opposite, beautiful Green Peppers from out next door friend Anna and lovely large Onions from our butcher !

In the afternoon I watched the final stage of the ‘ Tour De France ’ into Paris and the sprint finish on the ‘ Champs Elysees ’ – it was very exciting and the atmosphere was terrific as the British flags and banners along with the crowds took over Paris ! Bradley Wiggins actually ‘ Led Out ’ the sprint to the line with the help of Froome and the Edvald Boassen Hagen all of the Sky Team as Mark Cavendish won ! It is a new record as he has now won on the ‘ Champs Elysees ’ for the last four years – it was his third stage win of the Tour and his 23rd in total ! The day belonged to Bradley Wiggins as he became the first British rider to win the Tour De France – with Chris Froome second ( also British ) and the Italian Vincenzo Nibali third; as you can see in the pictures below , in the podium picture on the right you can just see the opera soprano ‘ Lesley Garret ’ – an inspired choice , belting out “ God Save the Queen ” – it brought tears to my eyes !! Now it is the turn of the “ Olympics ” with the road race this Saturday after the opening ceremony on Friday – Tim is going down to London with some friends to watch it and the Ladies race on Sunday - I’ am very envious !! Come on Mark and Bradley go for it !!

Fernando Alonso won the German Grand Prix with an excellent drive from James Button who was promoted to second place after Sebastian Vettel was given a 20 second penalty after an illegal passing move on the next to last lap ! We then retired to the roof terrace for our early evening ‘ Snifter ’ before having a late supper of Escalope of Turkey Breast pan fried in Lemon Butter with my Savoury Rice made with diced Green and Red Peppers, Onions, Mushrooms and Green Peas added at the end – along with a quickly made creamy Mushroom sauce ! Delicious !! The late film was another old classic “ The Eiger Sanction ” from 1975 with Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy.


Thought for the Day;


Alone we can do so little ; together we can do so much.

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