OVERCAST AND CLOUDY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY " NOCHEBUENA"

TUESDAY 24th/ DECMEMBER 2013. “ NOCNEBUENA ”  - XMAS EVENING

We were up early so as to get ourselves sorted out before Charlie arrived; as you can see in the picture above he’s here and we have been for a good long walk with both the dogs around the village, so far so good, he seems to be settling in, he’s found Chispa’s tennis ball to play with and his food bowl is already for him!

Later in the morning two Turkey Breasts was dropped off by Dominico along with a nice piece of Beef for roasting – all for tomorrows feast around with the ‘ Guerrero Clan’ – we have decided to do all the roasting tomorrow morning, the Turkey along with a leg first and then make the gravy, then I will roast the Beef joint; lastly before we are picked up I will roast the potatoes in Duck Fat, I’ am also making a savory Cranberry & Chestnut stuffing, Sally Ann has everything else on the go, she’s even making the Yorkshire puddings!

We are then going to smarten ourselves up and have a ‘Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg’ brunch with no doubt something sparkling to start the day in the way we aim to go on!  

We also have our ‘posh’ Sherry, Peach & Strawberry Trifle on the go, for the sponge we used ‘Lemon Magdalena’s’ soaked in the local Manzanilla Sherry from up the coast, Diet Strawberry Jam, tinned Peaches and the juice to make the Strawberry Jelly, fresh local strawberries from Almeria – later Brenda will make the custard and then tomorrow at the last moment the whipped cream and a decoration of Walnuts and baby Mars Bars!!

Also this morning our handyman, Joachim called in to fix the hot water tap in the main kitchen and also fix a new set of taps to the shower unit at the same time – we have lift off – all working and piping hot water! All the water problems are caused by the ‘Cal’ in the local water.

We are going to try and get Charlie into a routine with his walks, he will go on our usual walk with Chispa at lunchtime, and then I will take him in the early evening and again later before going to bed so as we can hopefully not have to get up to early for his morning walk! That’s the plan – watch this space! Today the rain has kept away but its overcast and cloudy bur still warm, sadly tomorrow Christmas Day we are in for the rain and wind from the tail-end of the storms that have hit the UK overnight! It then returns to normal over the weekend.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Steak a la Plancha’ with sautéed Mushrooms & Onions, finely sliced Green Beans and twice cooked chips, mine topped with a fried Campo Egg and Brenda’s with deep-fried garlic buds – a nice béarnaise sauce on the side! We will then settle down to watch the Xmas Eve programmes on the various channels as well as finding a good film to watch.

Thought for the Day; See above.

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