A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF ' SEMANA SANTA' WEEK;

MONDAY 30^th/ MARCH 2015.  “ THE ‘ QUEENS ’ BIRTHDAY ” ( JOSIE) !

I was up before the street lights had gone off this morning and shot down to the surgery for my appointment for my blood tests ready for my six month check up with my ‘Prostrate’ consultant next Wednesday at the hospital over in Marbella.

At lunchtime I went back to the surgery to see the doctor for my 3 month check up,I made the appointment this morning, at the same time my prescriptions were updated.

It was shirt sleeve weather as I set off, the sky is blue and the sun is out, by lunchtime its going to reach 29/30 degs, overnight the temperature only dropped to a balmy 18 degs so we are getting out the summer light duvet, the forecast for the week ahead on over the ‘Bank Holiday’ weekend is for more of the same.

During the week and up to Sunday it’s of course the ‘Semana Santa’ processions  with the various ‘Tronos’ carried by the Brotherhoods( Costaloros) along with the Senoritas in their full black attire with the traditional ‘Mantillas' in their hair and the Seniors in their distinctive robbed capes (Capa) with the tall pointed ‘Capirotes’

When I got back to the house I treated myself to crispy Smoked Bacon & a Campo fried Egg with toast and a mug of tea, just what I fancied to set me up for the week ahead!

Today its ‘Josie’s  official birthday, we are going out on Wednesday to celebrate it in style with a visit to Estepona to check out the new ‘Orchid House & Botanic Park’ – then its lunch at ‘Cocomo’on the Golden Mile past Estepona  followed by a tour around the new ‘Boulevard’ in San Pedro as Den has not see it, a very “ Happy Birthday ” Josie, lots of love Malcolm & Brenda xxxx

PS; The ‘State’ Banquet is taking place on Easter Sunday with on the menu assorted Tapas and chilled Cava to start, followed by Roast ‘Crown’ of Turkey with all the trimmings including the ‘Queens’ favorite ‘Bread Sauce’ and of course a large selection of Brenda’s vegetables & potatoes – the dessert is a rather special ‘Trifle’ served in our new ‘Royal’ cut glass Trifle dish! Various fine wines& liqueurs will be served with the meal and after!!

We had our weekly Menu planning meeting this morning; this evening we are having the rest of the ‘Cottage Pie’ then tomorrow evening its Grilled Gammon with Pineapple and a Campo fried Egg with Chips, on Wednesday we are out for lunch then on Thursday it will be something from the fridge before fish on ‘Good Friday’tbc.Saturday is ‘Steak Night’ before Easter Sunday’s banquet!

See below Brenda's famous " Prawn Cocktail " 'Marie Rose' - lunch today!

‘Doggy World Heaven’ is also very busy this week with ‘Reina’ here on Tuesday & Thursday as well as a sleep over on Friday until Saturday evening ‘Scruffy’ is due on Tuesday for a sleep over as well as the same on Saturday, no doubt ‘Chispa’ will be joining them as the week goes on; yesterday afternoon Brian & Jan called in to confirm the dates at the end of May when ‘ Charlie’ is coming to stay with us for eight days when they go on holiday to Liverpool.

Over the weekend their was some surprises at the ‘Grand Prix’ in Malaya as Vettel won in the Ferrari when Hamilton’s team chose the wrong tires and at the ‘Motor GP’ when Rossi won when Marc Marquez made a mistake on the first corner!!

This evening after supper we will catch up with all the news,sport and weather details before settling down to find something to watch.

See below some pictures taken by our friend  Big Bri' at lunchtime today from the terrace of the Manilva Green Aparthotel;

                                            In the bottom picture you can see the road up from Sabinillas!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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