A CRISP DAY HERE IN SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 11^th/ FEBRUARY 2015.

This morning we had a nice lie in before getting up to catch the gas bottle delivery man as we were having our regular breakfast; last night during the evening as we were having our ‘Happy Hour’ cocktails when we noticed a lot of people coming past our house down the street, it turned out that a very old lady, Maria (91), who had been ill for quite a while had died and they were family and friends rushing down to her house to pay their last respects to her with the family, as is the tradition here in Spain.

We found out when the hearse arrived a little later and again, by tradition, all the neighbors in the street come outside to pay their last respects including us, she was a very dear old lady and always talked to us with her non- stop chatter when we saw her, the funereal is this evening at 5-00pm, another Spanish tradition! Our thoughts are with all the family at this very sad time.

After breakfast I got tonight’s supper on the go “Steak, Kidney & Mushroom Pie” to my special recipe, the Steak & Kidney are tossed in seasoned flour and then browned off in foaming butter, meanwhile I make the sauce with Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Celery, Carotts & Turnips along with the whole Baby Mushrooms all sweated off with a good slug of Brenda’s Red Wine and the secret ingredients.

Then the Steak & Kidney’s are tossed in and topped up with a rich Beef & Vegetable stock, I then adjust the seasoning,colour( Gravy Browning – thanks Josie!) and consistency and leave the pan on the stove to cook out under the able ‘eye’ of the assistant chef! This evening I will top the dish with pastry and decorate and brush with egg-wash before baking it in the oven. The ‘Vegetable Chef’ (the same person – two jobs!) has got ready Cabbage with Alselgas; Glazed Carrots with Garden Peas and of course a dish of her famous Mashed potato!! See the picture below before it goes in the oven,the 'Rose' center piece was an addition from Brenda!

And after coming out of the oven;

It’s a little grey and overcast today but the sun is attempting to brake through and the wind has dropped, it’s keeping dry, at the moment and the temperature has risen a little to 17degs! ‘Chispa’ is here as usual full of the joys of spring, chasing around the house and sliding on the rugs!!

We went for a walk at lunchtime in the warm sunshine with the dog down to the 'Plaza De La Vendimia' - it looks like the 'Junta Andalucia' is going to en-case/sort out the 'Roman Ovens' that were unearthed when they did the park - at long last - watch this space! 

This evening here in Spain it’s the Semi-Final- First Leg of the ‘Copa del Rey’- like the ‘FA Cup’ but played home and away, when Barcelona play Villarreal and Ath.Bilbao welcome Espanyol ( Mano’s team) The ‘Espanyol’ game is on TV.

Last night after supper we watched one of the ‘Batman’ movies “The Dark Knight” from 2008 with Christian Bale in the title role and the late Heath Ledger as the ‘Joker’ – a role that he was posthumously awarded the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ “Oscar” It also stars Gary Oldman. Arron Eckhart,Morgan Freeman,Michael Caine and Maggi Gylenhaal.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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