" CALLE SAN VICENTE " ON SUNDAY EVENING;

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK;

MONDAY 3Oth/JUNE 2014.

Another good nights sleep for Brenda which is very good considering that it’s also so hot, the weather for this time of the year is not normal, we usually have these temperatures later in July and through August!

As Brian was going out I came and picked Brenda up to take her down to the surgery to get an emergency appointment to sort her tablets out, both our doctors were not there but the relief/stand-in Doctor saw us later after a long wait; Spanish ‘Bureaucracy’ then cut in as we needed to get one document stamped and validated, then photocopies of some of the others before we could go to the chemists, even then one of the prescriptions was not in the system but our very helpful chemist issued them all- we then shot back to the surgery to get the missed prescription sorted out and drop off the photocopies – so two hours later on the hottest day of the year so far we had a result!

We also ordered a 'Blood Pressure Testing Kit' so as we can check and monitor her levels on a regular basis as recommend by the hospital and the Doctor this morning; it seems that it's most important in helping her with a full and speedy recovery!!

Brian had shot off to Gibraltar for his interview, see the picture below, Andy has gone with him and is bringing him back later; so it’s fingers crossed for a good result in two weeks time when they are going to let him know! He’s just arrived back shattered but happy – nothing else to do for now but wait.

Over the weekend we had more nice messages/E-Mails come in for Brenda, Claus & Doreen in Germany sent their regards, they are coming back down here in two weeks time and over in France Terry & Alma also sent a nice message, Thea called from Old Colwyn – thanks to all – last night one of our neighbors,Yolande from down the street came up with a very nice ‘Homemade Chocolate Cheesecake’ which was delicious; at lunchtime today Mano & Anna called in for a chat and gossip before ‘Scruff’s’ mum Rose called so we will see him back later in the week, meanwhile Chispa is running in and out all day and her Mum Isobel has just called in – finally a lot of the old ladies from ‘Calle Mar’ have sent their regards and best wishes! So she’s not doing so bad in the ‘Get Well Soon Department’!!

Now on the sports front its mainly been the ‘World Cup Football’ on Spanish TV as there is no coverage of Wimbledon, Marc Marquez made it 8/8 wins in the ‘ Motor GP’ So next as far as I’ am concerned it’s the big one when the start of this years “ Tour De France ” kicks off in Yorkshire around Harrogate !!

The ‘Dietician Chef’ has been working on the convalescing girls menus for the week, it’s mainly going to be simple poached food, Chicken, Pork, Fish etc with poached vegetables and dry Baked Potatoes all salt free being the main ‘Diet’ she’s also drinking of course lots of water and ‘Manzanilla' Tea !’

Last week on ‘TVE 1’ a new series started “ Mr Selfridge” which we are able get in English so that’s one to watch out for as they are back to back episodes.

Thought for the Day’ See above.

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A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA AT LUNCHTIME TODAY;

A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY'

SUNDAY 29^th/ JUNE 2014

It’s an all good news day here in a very hot and sunny Manilva after a ‘Helluva’ week! Brenda has had the best nights sleep in a long time despite it being the hottest night of the year so far; a warm breeze from across Africa is making it just bearable today as we settle back into our quiet life in the village, last night we had our neighbors in the street calling in to see how she was, Lumy and Manolo came down from ‘Bar Rojas’ with a little present – we are going up for a cool drink and some Paella later.See the picture below in her new top!

Brian is out most of the time in the village and down in Sabinillas, yesterday afternoon I picked him up from the border in ‘La Linea De La Concepecion’ after his four hour assessment – he’s back on Monday morning for the full interview when Andy is doing the ‘Taxi Service’ He is no problem and its nice to have him around, we have had a good catch up and gossip; he’s very excited about the job, it’s with “ Bet 365.com ” – so fingers crossed both for him and Lilli as there is a slight possibility that there could be an opening for her also! 

The hospital was excellent from the consultants, doctors, nurses and the system even to the food – just! In Brenda’s little private two-bedded room her companion was a very nice Spanish lady, Mecedes who spoke perfect English as she lived in England for many years, she helped explain things when required and was very helpful, thanks and hope that everything is OK with your heart operation soon in Malaga – thanks!

The main thing with the food and diet Brenda was given was that it was all salt-free so the new ‘Dietitian’ chef is already planning the new menu regime!  Poached Salmon Fillet last night, Poached Chicken Fillets tonight!!

On the news front we have heard that Jack & Lyn have reached Broome at the top of ‘Western Australia’- last night Den arrived and has joined the ‘Queen of Skelton’ here at their summer retreat! Lots of phone calls at the moment so Brenda is answering the phone to give everyone a nice surprise!

The Blog will be back to normal tomorrow ?!

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" LA LINEA - GIBRALTAR THIS MORNING;

A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON A GOOD NEWS SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 28^th/ JUNE 2014. 

                      NEWSFLASH UPDATE; ON BRENDA’S HEALTH – DAY FOUR – SHE’S HOME !!

This morning I dropped Brian off in La Linea on the border so as he could go across into Gibraltar for his interview and assessment’s; see the pictures above.

I then shot back across to the hospital past Marbella in the hire car, so nice to have power steering,air-con,speed and a radio! All sadly lacking in the ‘Red Limousine! As I was driving Brenda called on her new mobile to say that they were letting her out later today( The new Mobile’s are working fine!) When I got to the hospital the car park was very quiet as was the hospital; she has had more treatment this morning and they had sorted her ‘Water- works’ out over night! I was then time to sort out the paperwork’s and get her un- hooked, nine different spots, then presentable for the trip home.See the picture below.

We are now back in a very hot and sunny Manilva and looking forward to a peaceful and settling time as she starts to convalesce  - I’ am as usual very proud of Brenda and how she has handled the past few days and I’

am so happy to see her back to her old-self !!

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MARBELLA BUS STATION THIS MORNING BRIAN IS " HOME "

A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA AND AN EVEN HOTTER MARBELLA ON FRIDAY;

FRIDAY 27^th/JUNE 2014.

                                          NEWSFLASH UPDATE; ON BRENDA’S HEALTH – DAY THREE.

Well this morning I had a little running round to do to pick some things up for Brenda, check the car as the hire-car is not coming until this evening before going across to Marbella to pick Brian up from the bus station as he arrived early; we then crossed over to the hospital where we were greeted by Brenda at the door to the ‘Cardiology Ward! She was up on her feet, walking normal and looking a lot better, this morning she had been seen by three consultants including the main ‘man’ - received more treatment and injections, been taken down to an advanced ‘Electo – Cardiograph’ machine for more tests and then as we arrived she was being preparered to go down to the theater for a ‘Catheter/Camera check on her heart, she had just signed the consent forms!

The results an hour later were very good, both her Arteries and Valves are fine! She then had to rest and not moves for a little while, she is very content and being very brave and taking things all in her stride. It sounds like she could be let out tomorrow to come home and convalesce, she will be on an new regime of Tablets for a month or so before we go back to see the main Consultant to see what the next stage has in store! So it fingers crossed and a good news day!

Brian and I then shot back across to Sunny Manilva and had an ‘Celebratory Drink’ in ‘Bar Rojas’ and then down in ‘Bodegon Andaluz’ !!

PS; All our thanks to all the messages sent to Brenda,in no particular order; Anna,Barbara,Carlos & Anna,Josie,Gillian,Michelle,Penny,Jane,all the village and more! Thanks - it helps !!

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A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA AND THE " COSTA DEL SOL " HOSPITAL ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 26^th/ JUNE 2014.

                                 NEWSFLASH; LATEST UPDATE ON BRENDA’S HEALTH;

This morning I shot down to Sabinillas and Sorted our new mobile out with Mano’s help; BRENDA’is; 631208774 and MALCOLM’S is; 631209233 !!

I then went back across to the hospital with Brenda’s things as requested, they are keeping her in and she has been transferred to a special two-bedded room on the ‘Cardiology Ward’ after this morning’s visit by a specialist Heart Consultant who has re-confirmed the diagnosis as “Severe Cardiac Arrhythmia” – she has to be stabilized and also the other problem of water on her left lung has to be sorted before they can start the process of the treatment; it sounds like they use electric shocks to stop and start the heat to get it back into a normal and proper rhythm! Everybody I’ve spoken to seems to know someone who has had the same problem!!

Brenda is settling into her new regime of doing nothing and lying down to be pampered and nursed! She has already made requests for some money and the right soap! At the moment I’ am waiting to here when the hire-car will be arriving as I can’t keep pushing the very old ‘Red Limousine’ across to the hospital and back, it’s a return journey of over 110kms!

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SUNNY MANILVA EARLY ON THURSDAY MORNING - " NEWSFLASH"

THURSDAY 26^th/JUNE 2014. 

                                                    NEWSFLASH; UPDATE ON BRENDA’S HEALTH;

At 5-00pm we went into see the ‘Heart Consultant’ at the hospital and by 5-15pm Brenda was rushed into the ‘Emergency Department’ on the other side of the hospital and immediately put on an ‘Electo Cardiograph’ and see by another Consultant and diagnosed as having a very high irregular Heart beat that needed to be brought down ASAP – they took all the usual tests and later a special Heart X-Ray after they had given her some multi-injections to help stabilize her; she was then transferred into the ‘Observation Ward’ and put on the Heart/All Checks Monitoring machine and made to rest!

That’s were she has stayed for the last 7 hours, being checked every hour by the Consultant and watched over by the very attentive staff in the small ten bed very peaceful ward. They then decided at 2-00am to keep her in for the night and will see what tomorrow brings.

I then came back home and stopped in Sabinillas at the bank and topped up the petrol ready for a quick getaway first thing in the morning to go and pick up our new mobile phone numbers before heading back across to the hospital – fingers crossed that she is a lot better!! We have been l totally lost without them just when we needed them the most.

Watch this space later today for a news update.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT SUNNY MANILVA

A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 25^th/ JUNE 2014.

Up this morning bright and fresh to welcome in another hot and sunny day here in sunny Manilva; the weekend forecast is looking good and it’s getting hotter, today it’s only 31degs! The news on Gillian is that she finally made it to Bristol in the early hours of this morning after her flight was delayed and kept waiting at Malaga Airport; she stayed with her daughter and is now on her way back to Torquay later.

NEWSFLASH FROM PORI FINLAND;

Brian has just called us on the Skype video to say that he has managed to book another flight from Helsinki early on Friday morning to Malaga and has re-arranged his interviews for Saturday, he’s arriving at the Bus Station in Marbella at 11-45am so we will pick him up after we have done are usual morning shopping! His ticket is rather expensive and is only one-way so we don’t know how long he will be here – sunny Manilva beware!

The only problem is that the ‘French Air Traffic Controllers’ strike is for six days starting today?! As they say “ Sacre Blur!” This could also affect Den who is flying in late on Saturday evening – we will have to wait and see – he’s also on our Marbella pick-up list!! As Josie puts it “ Le Tosseures !”- She does have a way with words!

This morning after breakfast I made a large pan of Chicken Curry for tonight’s supper, it was for Brian originally but now Josie is joing us as she also likes it! The menu’s for the rest of the week are now ‘Up in the air’ as they say at the moment; watch the space TBC.

So this afternoon we are going across to the ‘Costa Del Sol’ Hospital past Marbella for Brenda’s appointment with the ‘Cardiology Consultant’ with her X-Rays,ECG and all her prescriptions – fingers crossed for a good result – this week she has been struggling a bit and very out of breath as she walks, only this morning she went down to the post office to post a birthday card, watch out it could be yours, and it took her ages!!

Tonight we will have a nice relaxing time with Josie and later catch up with all the news,sport and weather updates.

The late film last night was a 'French Classic' - " The Intouchables"from 2011 - a true story about a ethnic man from a ghetto in Paris who goes to work for a multi-millionaire writer who is a 'Quadriplegic' and how he helps him get back his self respect and his love for life by Music,'Smoking' and 'Masseues!' - It stars FrancoisCluzet & Omar Sy - even in French it is very good to watch !

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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" MARBELLA BUS STATION " THIS EVENING;

" WE LOVE SMART CARS "

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A LITTLE DAMP SUNNY MANILVA'

A LITTLE DAMP AND OVERCAST IN SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 24^th/ JUNE 2014.

This morning we had a good lie in until the gas bottle delivery van came down our street blowing his horn! No matter as it’s grey and overcast as forecast and the wet stuff has just started, it’s still warm but the rain is warm!

We are still very lucky as the rest of Spain has severe rain storms,lightenine and large hailstones.

We made contact with Brian over in Pori last night and confirmed the arrangements to pick him up at Marbella Bus Station at 6-00pm tomorrow night after we have been to see the ‘Cardiology Consultant’ with Brenda; one problem is that this morning there is a ‘French Air Traffic Controllers’ strike – we have just spoken to Gillian who’s flight is tonight back to Bristol from Malaga as we are due to take her to the bus station this evening?!   See the pictures above, Watch this space.

NEWSFLASH; FROM PORI FINLAND.

Brian's flight has just been cancelled due to the strike !! He is devastated and very unhappy,at the moment,Ican't reprint his words/thoughts on the 'French' - there are no other flights available or at a very high cost! We are all ready to welcome him back to sunny Manilva - we were looking forward to seeing him again and his company!!

Last night we watched the “ Notche de San Juan ” on ‘Manilva TV’ – live sat on the settee like ‘Derby & Joan’ in the comfort of our home. I took some good picture off the TV with my camera and then went to put them on the Blog, I hit a problem as they would not down load to the page – it looks like I need the help of Andy to sort the problem out, I’ve spoken to him on Skype and he is going to try and come around later today as it’s his day off! Plan ‘B’ is that at the moment I’ am downloading some other pictures from the ‘Resident Newspaper’ thanks to Gary, the theme of the tableau this year is taken from very famous Spanish TV cartoon characters - see above – fingers crossed!

Tonight for supper we are having ‘ Escalops of Pork Loin’ cooked in foaming Lemon Butter with finely sliced Green Beans and crushed Carrots & Turnips, dry-sautéed thick-cut Baked Potatoes with a little Tomato salsa on the side. Later we will watch the news, sport and weather updates and then channel hop to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day’ See above.

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" NOTCHE DE SAN JUAN 2014 " SABINILLAS BEACH AT MIDNIGHT;

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA;