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

MONDAY 14^th/JULY 2014.

We are starting the week with a very hot one and it’s getting hotter by the day as the front from Africa comes across us; Andy called in to take Brian out for breakfast and I had already shot around to the surgery to make an appointment for Brenda for her check-up/review with our doctor.

Last night we met Antonia the Mayor up at a concert outside the Town Hall, more about that later, we were going up to ‘Bar Rojas’ with Den & Josie to watch the football but it was dead so we sat out side and took in the football and the live concert! We thanked Antonia for her kind thoughts that she had sent Brenda and as we were talking about her problems she told me to drop in Brenda’ details to her secretary and she would set up a ‘Heart Monitor’ device for her via the ‘Junta De Andalusia’

So on my way past this morning I dropped her documents and details in; Result – 20mins later two very nice ladies called into the house from the ‘Social Services Department’ in the Town Hall - so I went back to their office as I ‘am registered with the ‘Junta’ as pensioner and its on its way to us! It pays to have friends in high places!! Thanks to Antonia and Magdalena. For their very kind and quick attention.

We then set off down to Sabinillas for some essential shopping to ‘Mercadona’ We now know why we go first thing on a Friday morning as it opens, it was extremely busy, the underground car park was full and there were no trolleys, all the check outs were very busy with the queues 6/9 deep! We survived the hordes.

Last nights “ Buffet a la Sexton ” was very well received by the royal party(Den & Josie!) and the surprise dessert was the hit of the night – our individual ‘Muscat Trifle’ made with local ‘Muscat Dulce’ – for the sponge we use ‘Magdalene’s’ with Raspberry Jam and diced Peaches & Nectarines, then Strawberry Jelly, Brenda’s Custard and topped with whipped Cream sprinkled with grated Milk Chocolate! See the pictures above taken by Den with his ‘Nikon camera and Josie's phone!

The Concert was a surprise, we had wondered why the stage had been left up outside the Town Hall; it was a new version of “ Mary Poppin’s ” in Spanish performed by a semi-professional thertre group with very good music, singing and dancing. It went a bit surreal when they sang hip-hop, danced to ‘Thriller’ and ‘Spiderman’ appeared! I sang along to ‘Chim-Chim-Cher-ee’ and danced to, wait for it – “ Supercalifrgllisticexpialidocious”  much to the amazement of the locals!! See the pictures above( none of me dancing!)

This afternoon I will follow the 10^th stage of the ‘Tour De France’ when it travels from Mulhouse to the top of the famous ‘La Plancha Des Belles Filles’after six other climbs before! Its ‘Bastille’ day in France so watch out for a French rider to win, the ‘Yellow’ jersey is on the shoulders of the French rider Tony Gallopin at the moment. Yesterday’s stage was won by the German rider Tony Martin in an epic solo ride!

Nibali has just won the stage today and re-taken the 'Yellow' jersey, Alberto Contador has crashed out!

Tonight we are having for our supper the left-over ‘Grand Buffet’ and will later catch up with all the news, sport and weather details.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

..