A MISTY BUT LATER SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 24^th/ APRIL 2015.

We were up early this morning, no workmen to wake us needed, as we were out on one of our shopping expeditions down to Sabinillas; last evening a second cement lorry arrived and they carried on to cover nearly all of the ground space, so they now have to wait for the cement to harden, they left the streets in a right mess and despite being told by the responsible Councilor, our neighbour Mario, they did not wash down the street.

This meant that before we went out I had to wash down the street in front of house using buckets of water from the well, one of the nieghbours came and helped with a hard brush, what we needed was a large hose or the Council water wagon, we will now have to wait until Sunday when a surprise rain storm is due to hit us! Its blowing in for the day, Saturday & Monday are fine!

As we set off the village and down the road to the coast was covered in a thick sea mist which at the moment is still clearing, no doubt the sun will braked through later.

The first port of call was the bank, we then picked up the papers from the English Bookshop and a new collar & lead for ‘Chispa’ from the Chinese Bazaar, our main shop was at ‘Mercadona’ before some essentials from ‘Super Sol’ and some fresh flowers from the market on the front.

Last night we had a marvelous time at the Jazz concert in the Wine Theater; the young 25 piece ‘Big Band’& the 6 singers were very professional and put on a really excellent and entertaining show; the “ Conservatorio Supereror de Musica de Malaga” gave us a night to remember as the performed various Arti Shaw,Jimmy Dorsey,Cole Porter,Johnny Mercer,George Gershwin,Duke Ellington classics, all in English,just one number in French with an excellent ‘Flugelhorn’ player.

We sang along to ‘One of Those Things’’ One for my Baby’ ‘Acentuate the Positive’ Cheek to Cheek’ and many more, Then ended the consort with the whole ensemble singing together in harmony ‘Today I Sing the  Blues’ which brought the house down!! See the pictures above.

Back to now and for tonight’s supper we are having ‘Poached Cushions of Hake Fillet’ garnished with fresh local Gambas and coated in a rich & creamy Lobster Bisque, spears of local Aspargus,Garden Peas and Saffron New Potatoes. See below;

Tomorrow morning I’m making another batch of my now famous ‘Ensaldilla Rusa’ before we go out to the church as our friends Peter & Barbara are christening their fourth child their new baby boy ‘Leo’! 

‘Reina’ has just arrived, she’s with us for a sleep over this evening and being picked late tomorrow evening ‘Chispa’ is also here at the moment and we will go for a walk at lunchtime.

As we were out with the two dogs we bumped in the Mayor,Diego and Mario our local Councilor, we thanked them for last nights concert and then I asked could we have the water wagon down our street? Result! At 4-00pm this afternoon it arrived !! Thanks. It pays to know people in high places! See the pictures below;

Another result this afternoon,later on, the repair man arrived and fitted two new filters to the taps in the bathroom,fixed the toilet flush and has ordered a new window catch,downstairs in the small back kitchen were I cook he has ordered a new water tank for the hot water gas boiler.We have also got the 'go' on a new four-ring gas burner and extraction hood - now that is a 'RESULT' !! Watch this space.

When we came home last night from the concert there was a very good film just starting on the ‘Paramount Film Channel’ – it was the multi award winning ‘Coen Brothers’ movie “ No Country for Old Men ” from 2007 with Javier Bardem ( Oscar) as a very menansing killer with a weird haircut in the classic Neo Western thriller; the excellent support cast of Tommy Lee Jones, with his Texan drawl, Josh Brolin,Woody Harrlelson & Kelly MacDonald made this a film not to be missed!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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