WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF ANOTHER WEEK;

MONDAY 5^th/ MAY 2014.

I took scruffy for his first walk of the day before he was picked up after breakfast, his and ours! He’s coming back on Wednesday for three more days until Saturday morning so we are looking forward to seeing him again; he’s great company and no trouble.

Yesterday afternoon Mano called in after his sleep as he was walking his dog ‘Feria’ – he is still working the night shift at the ‘Aparthotel’ and is off on Monday’s so we have asked him to join us for some supper this evening,Anna has gone away on another ‘Jolly’ to North Wales!

So this morning I shot down to the butchers for some Braising Steak to go with some that I had already and I’ve just made some ‘Braised Steak with Onion, Mushrooms and Vegetables’ which we will have with Cabbage and last nights ‘Boulangere’ potatoes. The steak is seasoned in flour and browed off after sweating off lots of sliced Onions, the sauce is made with diced Onions,Carrots,Leeks ,Celery and baby Mushrooms, a good strong Beef & Vegetable stock, a dash of Red Wine, when Brenda was not looking! – Tomato Frito and the secret ingredients, then seasoned to taste and the consistency is adjusted with ‘Maize Fina’ and the colour with gravy Browning! (Thanks to Gillian!)

Meanwhile Brenda has been washing/shampooing her hair before the dog comes calling for her walk; the weather forecast for this week is very good with clear Blue skies, hot sunshine and just a little breeze, perfect in fact down here in sunny Manilva!See the picture above.

Yesterday we caught two very good films that we had not seen before, for a change! First in the late afternoon it was “ City by the Sea” from 2002 with Robert DeNiro,James Franco and Frances McDormand – based in ‘Long Beach’ – hence the title, but filmed in New Jersey as the good folks of Long Beach wanted nothing to do with it! A gripping story of a father/son relationship – one a good cop and one a small time druggy criminal – guess who plays the cop!

Then after supper it was the late film “ The Next Three Days ” from 2010 with Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks, based in Pittsberg its the story of a husbands obsession with getting his wife free from prison after she is charged and convicted of murder, at one moment in the story the excellent Liam Neeson, in a small part gives him some advice – watch it to find out what happens and if she was guilty?!

PS; Oh dear - " B----r ! " Liverpool have just conceded 3 goals in 9 mins and the final score is 3-3 to Crystal Palace !!! lLIVERPOOL have just gifted the title to City!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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