SUNNY AND HOT MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND

FRIDAY 20^th/ SEPTEMBER 2013.

This morning we been have been down to Sabinillas for the shopping in the car after we went down to the local market first for some fresh flowers and a plant; I called into the bank and we picked up the papers as usual and headed back up the hill to the village, the car engine did not sound quite the same and it was not pulling as well up the hill.

After going to the butchers for our weekend steak we went back to the garage, so he checked out the engine and put new spark plugs in, he fitted the two new inside door panels and we went for a test drive up and down the hill! I’ am sorry to say that it was no different, it seems that after further examination we could have a problem with one of the four cylinders!! At the moment we are going to leave it as we only go out once/twice a week and it will be fine to go through the ‘ITV – MOT’in a few weeks time – fingers crossed.

This morning and at lunchtime there was chaos on the streets of sunny Manilva! The work on the new side pavement along the 'La Pedreta' is nearly finished so this morning they started to burn-off the old road surface with a large machine,no traffic lights just a police man with a whistle and a' Road man' with hand signals!!

After parking the car as we walked up past the ‘Plaza de la Vendimia’ Mario our local councilor and the man responsible for the work called  us in to give us the ‘VIP’show round! They have started to take away all the rubbish and are busy putting the finishening touches to the park, the last job is going to be a ‘Mosaic Mural’ on the wall of the grape crushing pit of two men crushing the grapes in costume! So of course I asked straight away why not three?! His answer was because of the cost of the tiles, he was joking I think??!!

See the picture above of the park this evening with the lights on and the sign floodlit as well as the waterfall and on the other side the Wine Museum - spectacular! 

The weather forecast after tomorrow and into next week is more sun and getting hotter, at the moment its 29/30degs and the breeze has dropped. This afternoon I will be watching the ‘Tour of Britain’ stage 6 which starts in Sidmouth in Devon and ends after 138kms up on the top of Dartmoor in Hayter,the first time in the history of the tour that they have had a mountain top finish! It was won by a young English rider Simon Yates and Wiggins is still in the lead by 32 seconds with two stage to go.

In the ‘America’s Cup’ the USA Team won the delayed race so New Zealand only need one more win to get their hands on the cup!

This evening we are having our ‘Happy Hour’ early, as well as or shower, as we are going down to the council presentation at Castillo de la Duquesa at -7-00pm

The 'Presentation' which was in the court yard of the Castle was in fact more of a  reason to drink( On the council) and eat the 'Paella' ( Not very good!) - Diego gave a perfectly rehearsed speech in English and Valentina then compered the show in Spanish and very good English! The 'Elvis' look a like singer came on, the same as one as on Brenda's birthday,in fact he is from Liverpool and used to work in Chester - Oh yes it's a wig!! Then the Flamenco teacher performed and at the end was joined by her English students - finally there was a crooner/singer from a bar in the port giving it his all!! See the picture above.

Later we are coming back up to Bar Rojas for supper( Chef’s night off!) We had a lovely meal sat under the full moon - Chicken Breast a la Plancha, one with a local tomato salad and one with Frits and a fried egg! Guess who had what!! 

For a nightcap we walked down to the new Bodega of our dentist as you can see in the pictures above - some 'Marketing' required me thinks !!

When we got back to the house I found an e-mail from Kelvin in Ruthin, our dear friend and loyal assistant manager from the days of the 'Seventy Degrees Hotel' - he is over next week with his wife Gaye on a short break and is staying by Puerto Banus - so we are going to meet up for a late birthday lunch on Wednesday at " La Sala' the in/celeb restaurant above Puerto Banus!!

This morning in the fish market we bought the Catch of the Day’ – ‘Rodaballo – Turbot’ which was on offer at 6.9 euros per kilo, a third of the normal Xmas price! So we had to have a whole one as they skin the black side and gut, clean and trim the fish to your liking! This means that we have changed around the menus for the weekend as we were going to have on Saturday a ‘Fish & Seafood Risotto’ instead of on Friday, this has now been cancelled for another day – in place the ‘Rodaballo’ baked in the oven and on Sunday its going to be “ Steak Diane” with homemade ‘Frits’ !!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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