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

MONDAY 21^st/ JULY 2014.

I was rudely awoken by the street cleaning machine this morning and Brenda dusting/polishing in the bedroom! No rest for the ‘Wicked!’ The ‘Lavante’ breeze has dropped so its very hot and sultry today a bit like Brenda!! After breakfast we had our weekly planning/activity/menu’s meeting, the result is that in the week ahead it’s all happening, on Tuesday and Thursday little princess ‘Reina’ is here with possible ‘Scruffy’ on Friday – “ Doggy World Heaven ” is open! In fact 'Scruffy' is coming for a sleep-over on Friday & Saturday as Rose has just called to confirm.

On Thursday evening Den & Josie have invited us out for supper down in Sabinillas at one of their favorite ‘Tapas Bars’ for a ‘Tapas’ extravaganza, then on Friday it’s the turn of the ‘Manilva Brass Band’ to give a concert in Calle Mar followed by on Saturday one of the big festivals of the year when the whole village celebrates ‘Santa Ana’ the patron saint of the village with a religious procession followed by lots of singing, dancing and eating into the wee small hours!

In fact it starts at 8-00am when the village is brought to life by the  " Chi Chi Pom Band "playing very loud,then in the morning there are children's games in Calle Mar;then in the evening the procession of the Tableau is led through the streets by the village Brass Band and later there is a live band on the stage!

On the menu front we have just been out for a short walk first to the ‘Tabac’ to charge up my mobile phone, we have a very good deal as when you put in 5euros you get 50% more! – then down to the butchers for a Breast of Local Chicken sliced into Escalope’s for tonight’s supper which I will pan-fry in foaming Lemon Butter, we are also having Garden Peas and an old favorite ‘ Pomme Parisienne ’- potato balls tossed in foaming Parsley Butter with my rich Tomato salsa on the side. There will be enough Chicken Escalope’s to have ‘Schnitzels tomorrow night, then on Wednesday we are having ‘Baked Pork Chops- cut English style!

This morning Den & Josie have gone off on one of their adventures, they are staying in Malaga for two days and are doing the ‘Art’ scene, which of course is right up their street! They are going to see ‘El Lissitski’ at the Picasso Museum and then tomorrow ‘Marina Abramovitch’ at ‘CALMALAGA’ – they use public transport and ‘Shank’s Pony! Then next week they are going up to Seville for a ‘Cultural’experince to see the ‘Giralda’ and the cathedral, the ‘Alcazar’ Palace and then the ‘Torre Del Oro – The Golden Dome!’ Finally they will cross the river into the ‘Triana’ district, the home of Flamenco and Tapas!!

Today is a rest day for the riders in the ‘Tour De France’ before they hit the ‘Pyrenees’ over the next few days, this year the organizers have changed things around as on Saturday before the final stage on Sunday into and around Paris there is a long and hilly Time-Trial.

Last night after our ‘Entrecote’ steak supper which was very tasty and succulent we watched a good epic film drama about the ‘ Crusades’directed by Ridley Scott called “ Kingdom of Heaven ”from 2005 starring Orlando Bloom. Eva Green,Jeremy Irons,Liam Neeson,David Thewlis,Brendan Gleeson and Ed Norton with a cast of thousands!

Thoughts for the Day’ See above.

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