Friday, January 31, 2014
OVERCAST AND DAMP IN SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;
FRIDAY
31st/ JANUARY 2014.
After our
tea and toast we shot down to the local market first for some fresh flowers and
then carried on down to Sabinillas for the weekly shop; I called into the bank
and then we went onto the wholesale/retail fruit & vegetable market, next
it was a major shop at ‘Mercadona’ before picking up the papers and sending a
birthday card – who?! Just a quick line to say “ Happy Birthday” for yesterday
to Thea over in Old Colwyn who we rang last night !
The weather
has changed a little today, its overcast and cloudy with a little drizzle but
we are back to normal by Sunday; after un-packing I shot around to our butchers
for our Saturday night ‘Steak a la Plancha’ When I came back I got tonight’s
supper ready, ‘Goujons of Hake Fillet’ coated with local breadcrumbs, Homemade
Tartar sauce, Mushy Peas and twice- cooked diced Chips!
This
evening before supper we are going around to Fabio’s 8th birthday party,Mano is
coming along after work,Sally Ann made the cake as you can see above,as we were leaving there was a beautiful Red Sky sunset over the village - sorry no picture!
On Sunday
we are back to roasting so we have invited Klaus and Doreen to join us for
supper as they are due to go back to Germany soon! We are looking forward to
welcoming them to our house and are planning a ‘Helluva’ evening!
Tonight is
film night so after our supper we will catch the news and weather and then find
a film to watch.
Thought for
the Day;See above.
..
Thursday, January 30, 2014
A VERY CLEAR AND CRISP DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;
THURSDAY 30th/
JANUARY 2014.
This
morning we rolled over and had a good, long lie in after the early start’s in
the last two days! Today we have a clear blue sky and the sun is out but it’s a
bit on the ‘Crispy’ side with a stiff breeze – we can’t complain as we are
still the hottest spot in Europe !
After our
tea and toast we went for a nice walk with the dog around the village, they are
working on the street by the new small ‘Plaza; this morning and they have
started to paint the walls in the new passage way from Calle Iglesia as you can
see in the pictures above; while I’ am typing the Blog ‘Chispa’ sits at my feet
watching – every so often I pick her up and give her a look at the PC!
We spoke to
our dear friend Joyce last night after I lost her latest E-Mail by touching the
wrong button on my mobile, normal service is resumed and I’ve just sent her a
new E-Mail! We are looking forward to seeing her later in the year!
Tonight’s
supper is sorted, today is leftovers day, I found some small Lamb Cutlets,
Chicken Wings and English Pork sausages in the deep-freeze so I’ve cooked them
off and coated them in last nights ‘Bourguigonne’ sauce and will pop the
casserole in the oven with the leftover Mashed Potatoes, Brenda has just got
ready some Cabbage with Acelgas – we really enjoyed last nights supper, the
Beef was succulent and the Shallots were sweet along with the Smoked Bacon
Lardons the sauce was to die for – even if I do say so myself! The vegetables
were just right with the meal and especially the Baby Brussels Sprouts for a
change!
Last night
was a football evening over here and back in the UK Manchester City Barcelona
As you will
have noticed at the top of the Blog-page there is a green sales/promotion
header appeared- “SFI” Andy posted it last week when he was working on my PCs
and at the same time I became an agent/ associate with my own Company to help
him gain points with the business so as he gets more commission! He sells
on-line various watches, gadgets etc. on his page with the pictures and prices
on show, then he orders them from a large company in China( Clever those
Chinese!) which is the supplier and pays by ‘Pen Pal’ – they are dispatched all
over the world and he collects his commission – its working and he has started
a spread sheet as he is so busy!
My page is
up and running, in fact in the first two days with only one item on display I
received orders and enquiries – they are automatically transferred to Andy’s
system which he then processes! The page also appear on his ‘Facebook’ page –
watch this space.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
CRISP AND SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;
WEDNESDAY
29th/ JANUARY 2014.
This
morning we were up bright and early and after our tea and toast we set off to
the hospital past Marbella
On the way
back we called into ‘Habitat’ in Marbella for some night lights and then
stopped at ‘Super Sol’ down in Sabinillas for our English shopping, HP Sauce,
Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Sarsons Malt Vinegar,etc. I then got tonight’s supper on
the go; my version of the old classic “ Beef Bourguigonne ” I first brown off
the seasoned Beef cubes, then I sweat off the diced
Onions.Garlic,Celery,Leeks,Parsnips and Carrots, add my secret ingredients and
a large slug of Red wine( Thanks Brenda!)
I then
browned off the Smoked Bacon Lardon’s and whole Shallots before adding them to
the pan with the Baby Button Mushrooms, some Mixed Herbs, seasoning and a good
dash of Tomato Frito goes in next before adding a rich Beef & Vegetable
stock. Later after its nearly finished cooking I will adjust the consistency
and colour and it will go into a casserole dish to finish cooking in the oven
this evening with a large dish of Brenda’s famous ‘Mashed Potato’ at the same
time! Baby Brussels Sprouts and Garden Peas ‘A la Flamande’ will go very nicely
with casserole.
Last night
just after supper I went upstairs to the office to go online and watch the
Derby Match between Liverpool and Everton when the Skype alarm went off, it was
Tim calling from Old Colwyn with a news update about what has been happening to
him and all the family and what’s also going to happen! Next month on the 18th
February Tim & Thea with their two friends Wes & Judith are off on
their trip of a lifetime to Australia
PS; Liverpool beat Everton 4-0 and one of the
commentators said “ The Everton defense was ‘Melting away like Snowmen!” –
Sorry Big Bri over in Pori Finland
Over the
last week I have been E-Mailing an old friend from back in the good old days of
North Wales and the Hotel 70* Just after Xmas we had a long newsy E-Mail from
our dear friend Joyce who had not been over to her house behind Malaga last
year, in it she told us that he ex-husband John was now following the Blog and
would love to hear from us – so last week I made contact and we re-newed our friendship,
his E-mail’s are typically John as we knew him and we are now up to date with
all his news over in the Wirral where he lives with his wife and son; John was
always a lot of fun to be with and a great lover of Wine ,Food and the good
things in life! Still is !!
Joyce, who
lived in the same street as me as a child of five! - and John when they were married spent a lot of
year’s over here in Spain and lived in Gibraltar and all places North up to
Andorra! John is now also into cooking food in his later years – just like
somebody I know so he is enjoying reading the Blog! Great talking to you John
and we are looking forward to our future chats and news !!
Finally in
the last couple of days the best film that we watched was “ Das Boot” – The
Submarine from 1981- the story of the fictional U-96 in an epic war time
thriller showing the life under the sea, the Captain is played by Jurgen Prochnow
– you need to watch it right up to end ! As it happens this takes place in La
Rochelle on Xmas Eve and shows the submarine as it reaches its home port and
the safety of the U- boat ‘Pens’ Five year’s ago we visited La Rochelle with
two friends when we where broken down in the Winnebago above the town and
happed to go down to the docks to go to local café and actually saw the U-boat
pens which are still standing to this day! See the picture above, I can’t find
my pictures at this moment so I’ve taken this from Google !
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
CRISP AND DRY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;
TUESDAY 28th/
JANUARY 2914.
I was up
before the sunrise this morning and after a quick cup of tea and toast (Thanks
Brenda!) I collected Andy and we shot down the coast to ‘La Linea de la
Concepcion’ to give it its full name; As we went down the back hill out of
Manilva there was a full, bright sun coming up over the Mediterranean but sadly
my camera is not good enough to take a picture!
The first
problem was finding somewhere to park as the large car park opposite the
offices next to the border was full; this is because more people are now
parking and walking across the border so also all the ‘Blue’ parking zones
around the front of the town are also full! I ended up having to go back along
the front for about a mile before finding a spot!!
As we walked
into the Traffic Department Offices it was very quiet, normally it’s a mad
house; we soon found out why, you now have to make an appointment on-line, I
was given all the documents to fill in and all the necessary information needed
to proceed with the transfer of my English license to Spanish. So we went to
McDonalds by the border and had Sausage and Egg Mac Muffins!!
On the way
back to the car next to the offices we spotted a shop that took the necessary photo’s
(see the pictures above) so I had the ‘Mug’ shot taken and when we came back to
the house I filled in all the documents with Andy’s help and then went on-line
and booked an appointment – result as its next Tuesday at 10-00am! The
information desk at the office spoke English and the on-line booking system was
also translated to English, the print off of the appointment also! Result all
round so now its all down to next week – fingers crossed.
We have
just been out for a quick walk and called in to the chemists for Brenda’s new
tablets and ointment; they are working on the new small Plaza at the top of
Calle Mar and are starting to lay new cobblestones, the new clock has gone up
but is not working at the moment as you can see in the pictures above.
Tonight’s
supper is all cooked at the last moment, I breadcrumb the flatted Pork fillets
and dry-griddle them, I cook off the Spaghetti and then toss it in my rich
Tomato salsa (Hot) and then top the ‘Schnitzels’ with the Campo fried Eggs that I fry in cool Virgin
Olive Oil so they are soft, not crisp! Garnish with Capers and local Anchovy
fillets and chopped Parsley (Brenda!) Diamond cut Green Beans on the side
(Brenda again!)
Last night
we watched the start of the latest series of the Spanish version of ‘Strictly
Come Dancing’- its know where as good as the English show; we will catch the
sports reports this evening as the second round of the ‘Copa Del Rey’ is on –
results later. The forecast on the weather for the next few days is looking
better with no rain and getting warmer again by Friday.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Monday, January 27, 2014
A CLOUDY AND OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEK;
MONDAY 27th/
JANUARY 2014.
Overnight
the wind got up and the weather has changed suddenly, last nights forecast
hinted that it was coming but not as bad, it’s the tail end again of the
weather front hitting the UK; what it means is that we are now overcast and
cloudy with the sun trying to brake through but the main effect is in the
temperature that has gone come down from a lovely 26 degs yesterday to 16 degs
today!! Oh dear or words to that affect!!
Just a
little lie in this morning as the street cleaning machine woke us up; after our
tea and toast we have sorted our week out, later I’ am going down to put some
petrol in the car ready for the trips out on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the way
back on Wednesday from the hospital we are calling into to pick some night
lights from ‘Habitat’ in Marbella and then picking up our English shopping from
‘Super Sol’ The main shop will be as usual on Friday morning from Sabinillas.
The menu’s
for the week are now starting to take shape; tonight we are having ‘Medallions
of Pork Fillet’ pan-seared on the griddle in foaming Lemon Butter with
diamond-cut Green Beans and Carrots mixed with Garden Peas(a la Flamande!) and
savory ‘Breton-style’ Potatoes( cooked Potatoes tossed with Diced Red
Peppers,Celery,Leek and Onions) I’ve just made a very sharp piquant ‘Charcutiere’
sauce to go with the Medallions.
Tomorrow
night it’s the rest of the Pork fillet flattened and bread crumbed into ‘Schnitzels’
garnished with a fried Campo Egg and Capers and Anchovy Fillets with Spaghetti
Milanaise( My rich Tomato salsa!) on the side. On Wednesday we are having for a
change a classic from the past with my version of “ Beef Bourguigonne” with
Baby Shallots, Button Mushrooms and lardons of Smoked Bacon! Thursday is left-over day and Friday is going
to ‘Fishy!’
Last night
after the news, sport and weather reports, Barcelona beat Malaga 3-0 and are
back on top of the’La Liga’ on goal difference from Atl.Madrid, we found a
rather interesting true story film to watch called “ Charlie Wilson’s War” from
2007 with Tom Hanks in the tile role playing a USA Congressman who is a bit of
a ‘Lad about town’ who takes up the course of the war in Afghanistan on his
own, watch it to find out what happens! Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent as a CIA officer and
Julie Roberts is miss-cast as a rich American know it all! - Amy Adams and
Emily Blunt are also in the cast.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
..
Sunday, January 26, 2014
A VERY WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;
SUNDAY 26th/
JANUARY 2014.
We had a
nice long lie in this morning as we are having a quiet day with no roasting for
a change; after our tea and toast we pottered about and sorted ourselves out
for next week, on Tuesday morning Andy is coming with me over to La Linea to go
to the traffic department to hopefully sort out the transfer of my driving
license to Spanish; then on Wednesday I have my appointment at the hospital
past Marbella for my check up/results with my ‘Prostrate’ consultant!! Fingers
crossed for both!!
This
morning Andy called in and sorted out my mobile; I now have Facebook and Skype
online and all my other apps are working; we then went for a short walk with
the dog as Brenda’s back is acting up a bit – I gave her a little massage
earlier this morning! (Brenda’s not the dog!) See the picture above of the
‘Plaza de la Vendimia’ where we sat and took in the warm sunshine on another
fine day in sunny Manilva.
When we got
back we had a small, by our normal standards ‘Brunch’ for a change from the
Paella up at Bar Rojas; Campo fried Eggs in Virgin Olive Oil,crispy Smoked
Bacon and sautéed Mushrooms,toast and of course HP Sauce! After I made a savory
Basmati rice with finely diced Onions, Celery, Leeks, Red Peppers and Garden
Peas ready for ‘supper – flattened Breast of Turkey cooked in foaming Lime
Butter with Green Beans and a creamy Mushroom sauce on the side.
Yesterdays
‘Moroccan’ Feast at ‘La Bodega Espanola’ was one ‘Helluva’ meal! It started
with a savory pastry followed by a min-Brochette of marinated Lamb, then
another type of savory dry bread small vegetable pie. The next course was a
very Moroccan dish of marinated Chicken in a sour yoghurt Turmeric flavored
Filo Pastry crust – then the ‘Tajine’ of Lamb with Dates, Olives.dry fruits and
Almonds followed- we were then surprised by another dish of a very rich Lemon
sauce Chicken with a large dish of a Cous- Cous with braised vegetables and
topped with more chunks of marinated Beef!! To finish it was small tasty sweet
fruit pastry parcels.
We had a really
enjoyable time with Klaus and Doreen who you can see in the pictures below;
they are from Bremen outside Hamburg and have an on-line IT ‘Militaria’
business, they live just down the coast before Estepona in a large villa that
they visit during various times of the year; we got on with them very well and
soon became friends, they were good company and we are looking forward to
seeing them again soon! Copious amounts of a very good and cheap Argentinean
white wine went down well with the girls, some glasses of a similar Red for
Brenda, beer for Klaus and I was in on a vintage reserve Gold Havana spirit
with Coca Cola !!
This
evening after supper we will catch up with the news,sport and weather details
before settling down to find a film to watch.
PS; A very
“ Happy Australia Day’ to all our family over in a very hot and sunny Australia
Thought for
the Day; See Above.
..
Saturday, January 25, 2014
HOT IN SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;
SATURDAY 25th/
JANUARY 2014.
This
morning it’s another beautiful day down here in sunny Manilva; the sky is blue
and the sun is out, the forecast for the temperatures later today are up 23
degs – honest! ( Sorry Big Bri over in Pori
It’s the
chef’s day off also and I’ am getting myself shaved and showered after Brenda
has finished, at the moment I’ am watching BBC TV1 ‘Breakfast Show’ on the smaller
PC as later I will catch ‘Saturday Morning Kitchen’ before we walk around to
the Bodega where we are meeting the German couple Klaus and Doreen who we are
sitting with.A big thank you to Klaus and Doreen for their company over lunch,we really enjoyed meeting you and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Today over
in England Bournemouth v Liverpool ( Early kick-off), Manchester City Watford and Steveange v Everton; over here
in ‘La Liga’Real Madrid welcome Granada Barcelona Malaga
Last night
after our ‘Fish & Chip’ supper we channel hopped and watched various programmes.
Thought for
the Day; See above.
.
Friday, January 24, 2014
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