MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEK

MONDAY 4^th/ TUESDAY 5^th/ WEDNESDAY 6^th/ FEBRUARY 2013.

The forecast for the week and into the weekend is sun and clear skies with a slight breeze at times; Monday was just this as we got up after a little lie in,Mano and Anna called in for a chat in the morning and we went for a walk at lunchtime with the dog. No siesta at this time of the year so we read and sometimes catch a film; a nice easy to watch film called “ Paradise” from 1991 which you need your hankie’s for was the afternoon movie of the day on the Paramount channel – it stars Melanie Griffiths and Don Johnson( Miami Vice) who at the time the film was made were actually husband and wife, the two young actors are played by Elijah Wood and Thora Birch in their first movie. In the evening for supper we had cold Pork and leftovers before we settled down to watch “ Crimson Tide” from 1995 with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington in the main roles as the story unfolds in an American Nuclear submarine.

On Tuesday morning we went for a long walk around the village with the dog; the pictures below show the ongoing work on the new underground car park and the church getting ready for the start of the work; the new food shop is getting painted and smartened up – it is next to the old Town Hall at the end of Calle Mar and the main equipment is the large ‘ Rotisserie’ as you can see – watch this space. We picked up some Pork Cutlets for supper and also some boned Chicken Thighs for the curry on Wednesday.

The late film was the classic film of the week “ A Bridge Too Far”from 1997 – An epic war film telling  actual story of ‘ Operation Market Garden’ during World War 11 as the Allies attempt to break through the German lines and seize several bridges in the Netherlands ending with Arnhem – hence the title ! The ensemble cast includes, wait for it – Dirk Bogarde,James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliot Gould, Gene Hackman,Anthony Hopkins,Ryan O’Neal, Robert Redford,Denholm Elliott, Jeremy Kemp, Colin Farrell,Hardy Kruger,Maximillian Schell, Laurence Olivier and Liv Ullmann – even the director Richard Attenborough has an unaccredited cameo ! The characters are based on actual people and the facts in most parts are true as the British, American and Polish parachute regiments attempt the largest ever airborne drop behind enemy lines. The part played by Anthony Hopkins, Major General John Frost CB,DSO & BAR,MC,DL was a hero talked about all the time in the Parachute Regiment, he was one of the first to join when it was formed and with served with great distinction in many wartime operations – I was privileged to meet him in 1964 at a Parachute Training course in Leeds and spoke to the great man!

This morning, Wednesday is bright and sunny and warm even though there is a little breeze; I made a large pan of the famous ‘Sexton Chicken Curry’ using the Thighs and Breast for supper this evening when Andy and Marie are joining us; Andy is off work so we are making up for when they could not make it a few weeks ago. I have also made some Pancake Batter for our ‘Pudding’ – ‘ Crepes a la Casa’

Thoughts for the Day;

In every triumph there’s a lot of try.  You must do things you think you cannot do.

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