A DRY & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 4^th/ NOVEMBER 2015.

We were up early this morning as the gas bottle delivery man was due, he drops off the new one and collect the old one, the price has dropped again, its controlled by the government! At the moment the ‘Euro’ is rising steadily so this week’s two Pension transfers were up on last month, here’s hoping that it keeps going up as we have another one due next week!

After our regular breakfast we planned our day ahead; Brenda has put the washing on as the forecast is starting to look better, by tomorrow its getting warmer and there will be none of the wet stuff or wind, over the weekend is also looking a lot better.

At lunchtime we went for a nice walk with 'Chispa' in the very warm sunshine and ended up sat in the 'Plaza de la Vendimia' like Derby & Joan!

This evening Andy is joining us for supper, we are having ‘Baked Pork Chops’ that are cut especially for me by our butcher ‘English’ style, Brenda is getting ready Cabbage with Alselgas, Carrot Batons, Cauliflower Florets in a three Cheese sauce & Garden Peas, this evening I’m making my special ‘Breton Style Potatoes’ – diced boiled local potatoes tossed with Red & Green Peppers; to start with we are having ‘Ham Croquettes’ and for dessert ‘Apple Flan’ with Strawberries.

We have also invited our Swedish friend Lillemor to join us for supper on Sunday as she is due to go back to Gothenburg the following week.

See below a old picture of the 'Collegiate Grammar School' in Shaw Street at the top of London Road in Liverpool city center, I was there back in 1958 and my classroom was on the second floor on the right hand side -large window!!

Last night before our supper we watched the new series of ‘Rick Stein Venice to Istanbul’ now this was serious cooking at its best, the night before Nigella’s programme was slated in the press, rightly so, as ‘Word Porn’ with the worst non-recipe ever of ‘Avocado on Toast’?!

 It was based in Venice and he made all the classic ‘Venetian’ dishes; ‘ Gnocchi con Granseola’ – Potato Gnocchi with Crab, a classic ‘Venetian Seafood Risotto’ with the addition of seven ground spices! A delicious looking diced Liver & Onions, ‘ Spaghetti Alle Vongole' using baby Clams. He then went to the most famous bar in the world “Harry’s Bar” were he met Giuseppe Cipriani who’s father invented the ‘Bellini’ back in 1948 – the classic White Peach puree with Prosecco cocktail,at the same time he also brought to the world “ Carpaccio of Beef” with a Mustard Dressing!!

Tomorrow morning ‘Reina’ is due back with us and at lunchtime we have our appointments at the surgery for our ‘Gripe –Flu’ jabs, at the same time I’m arranging for my Blood tests ready for my appointment with my ‘Prostrate’ consultant at the hospital over in Marbella at the start of December. Fingers crossed and watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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