THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY NEW YEAR EVE 2015.

THURSDAY 31^ST/ DECEMBER 2015.

A little lie in this morning as there was no workmen on the site, they are off until Monday when the painters are due back to finish off the back walls and our old terrace, weather permitting; we went for our first walk of the day with ‘Charlie’ along Calle Mar and down to the local Post Office  (closed!) The sun was out early and the sky is blue, there is no breeze and the views across the valley to the mountains are spectacular, in the sun it was hot and at the moment there is no sign of the threatened rain!

It was then time for breakfast of ‘Weetabix’ toast & tea, the dogs slept in our room last night as it was a little colder than normal, they both ended up on the bed under my bathrobe, the change in temperature’s at this time of the year is quiet considerable ie. 21 degs down to 9 deg ‘s over night!

We are having an at home day taking things easy, Brenda is pottering ( Shampooing the lounge rug!) and I’m up in the office on the WWW. catching up with the E-Mails, Facebook messages, Skype video calls etc. I then read the news on the BBC, ITV,Sky, Ch4,CNN, Aljazeera etc and then the newspapers, both national and local.

Meanwhile over in New York the folks are walking themselves into the ground, what about the ‘Metro’ and the ‘Yellow’ Taxi’s?! They went by the Empire State Building, in the mist, as you can see below, collected their tickets/ passes for the New Year celebration party in Time Square  and last night went to the “ Radio City Music Hall “ to see the ‘Rocketts’ & ‘Xmas’ show with live Camels, Donkey’s and Sheep!

‘Reina’ is posting later her ‘New Years’ message on her Blog page to her Dad & Mum as she ‘Parties’ over here! See below with her in her Xmas Hat!

For our supper this evening, a little earlier than normal, we are having a ‘Grilled Rib Steak’ on the bone, cooked on a very hot griddle plate ‘Med-Rare’ then sliced ‘French style’ with sautéed Baby Mushrooms, whole Green Beans and more twice-cooked ‘Frits’ and lots of ‘Bearnaise’ sauce on the side! 

Later our friend Andy is joining us to see in the New Year, we are getting ready a little ‘Nibbles Buffet’- a nice chilled bottle of ‘Cava’ and drinks, not forgetting the traditional ‘Twelve Grapes’ to eat on the chimes of Mid-Night!!

PS; I’ve taken our new ‘Post Box’ off the wall outside our front door as last year and the year before it was blown to bits by local ‘Kids’- it happens all over the village as the locals go ‘bonkers’ with the firecrackers! ‘Reina’ will be up in the office in her large day duvet as its the quietest spot and ‘Charlie’ will stay with us.

Thoughts for the Day, See above.

              And now something to sing and dance too!!

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A CRISP & VERY SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 30^th/ DECEMBER 2015.

I was up early this morning and after taking ‘Charlie’ for his first walk of the day I shot out on my travels, I called into the surgery to make an appointment for both of us to update our prescriptions for 2016; I then drove down through the vine fields as the sun was coming up over the Mediterranean, the sky is blue and there is no breeze, its another beautiful day down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’ - by lunchtime it will reach 21 degs!

I called into the bank in Sabinillas for some cash and then stopped at the ‘English Bookshop’ for the local papers, a New Years card, a calendar and some wall charts ( not arrived !) I also made the arrangements with Steve in the bookshop to re-new our Passports in the next couple of weeks, we need new Passport Photos from another shop in Sabinillas first!

I then carried on to ‘Mercadona’ for the main shop before calling into ‘Super Sol’ on the way back for some English essentials. When I arrived back at the house Brenda made ‘Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ with a mug of steaming tea after unpacking; we have planned the menus for over the New Year weekend, this evening we are keeping things simple with some local cold ‘York Ham’sliced thin, from the shop in our street, served with ‘Campo’ fried Egg and twice-cooked Chips. Tomorrow we are having ‘Grilled Steak on the Bone’ – ‘French style’ – then on New Years Day its ‘Goujons of Hake Fillet in Cruzcampo Batter’ On Saturday night I’ve treated ourselves to Fillet Steak ie. ‘Tournedos Rossini’ and the finally on Sunday we are having ‘Lamb Shanks in Minted Gravy’!!

‘Reina’ and ‘Charlie’ have become great friends, they play all the time and are both settled into the routine, they are sleeping well, ‘Reina’ in her duvets and ‘Charlie’ as usual roaming around before ending up on our bed in the morning; yesterday ‘Barny’ was collected and will be back with us in February, ‘Reina & Charlie’ are with us until next Monday,'Reina' has just left a message on her Facebook page for her Dad & Mum, meanwhile over in New York Lee & Daniela are hitting the sites, yesterday it was the ‘Rockerfella Center’ & the ‘Chrysler Building’ See the pictures below;

The workmen are back on the site this morning knocking and playing the radio loud, the painters have arrived and have commenced to paint all the back of the building including the walls around our old roof terrace ‘ White’! Watch this space.

Last night after supper we channel hopped over here and in England but could not find anything to watch so we ended up watching some more episodes of ‘New Tricks’ again!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A WET SUNNY MANILVA;

A WET & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 29^th/ DECEMBER 2015.

We all had a little lie in this morning despite the workmen on the site banging away and the surprise of the sound of the ‘ Wet Stuff – Heavy ‘RAIN’ falling, it was not forecast and very unexpected to say the least, on yesterdays forecast on ‘TVE 1’ it was fine and dry and getting warmer with the sun out for the next two days, with the threat of rain on New Years Eve?! This afternoon the sun returned to sunny Manilva,the sky is blue and we are back to normal, for now!

So we wrapped up and took ‘Barney & Charlie’ out for their first walk of the day just as the rain let up a bit, we put the towels down for when we returned as particularly ‘Charlie’ who is a ‘ Water Dog’ likes to shake himself dry! Meanwhile little princess ‘Reina’ kept herself out of the way her in her ‘Day Duvet’ after sleeping all night in her ‘Night Duvet’ She’s settled in very well and gets on with all the other dogs, in fact she was kissing ‘Charlie’ last night! See her picture below, she has just posted a message on her own ‘Blog’ for her Mum & Dad over in New York where its snowing!!

                                      See below a picture of 'Grand Central Terminal/ Station' in New York today!

After breakfast of ‘Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ with a mug of steaming tea, just right for a wet morning in sunny Manilva, we then feed all of the three dogs with their particular meals as well as giving ‘Charlie’ his tablet, they line up and sit waiting!

I then made the ‘Fricassee Sauce’ for tonight supper, I sweat off small diced Onions, Leeks, Celery, Carrots, Mushrooms, Red, Green & Yellow Peppers along with a little Garlic, Tarragon and the secret ingredients,  with a good slug of White Wine ( thanks Brenda !) - then I add a rich Chicken & Vegetable stock and leave to simmer and cook under the supervision of the ‘Second Chef ‘ Brenda! 

This evening I will add the cream and adjust the seasoning and consistency before adding the diced cooked Turkey with some Garden Peas and chopped Parsley. We are having plain ‘Basmati Rice’ with some Diamond Cut Green Beans.See below.

Last night after our supper we channel hopped and we then watched back to back episodes of the first series of  “ New Tricks “ using the new web-site that Andy installed on the TV computer system.

PS; ' Barny' has just been collected a day early - he will be back in the New Year.

PPS; We have just had a surprise phone call from a dear friend from the past when we first arrived down here all those years ago, 'Vidal' - he has just come back from Trinidad after seeing his mother ( 95) He's still playing down here,we see his brothers name, playing at one of our old favourite restaurants on the far side of Marbella, we have many happy memories of our time in the Motor Home and all the help he gave us, all the very best for 2016 and we look forward to seeing you again for a good catch up!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK;

MONDAY 28^th/ DECEMBER 2015.

No lie in this morning as the workmen were back on site and commenced by knocking non-stop for next few hours; late last night Lee & Daniela dropped little princess ‘Reina’ off for her New Years holiday instead of early this morning, they are flying from Malaga via Madrid to New York. Have a ‘Helluva’ time! ( postcard ?!)

So for the next couple of days we have three dogs here in ‘Doggy World Heaven’ until ‘Barney’ goes home on Wednesday, they all get on very well, each has their separate ways, food etc. At breakfast time its like feeding time at the Zoo as they line up at the kitchen door, I take ‘Charlie’ out first, then ‘Barny’ and finally Brenda goes for a short walk with ‘Reina’ Overnight ‘Barny’ sleeps on his bed in the lounge, ‘Charlie’ wanders from the settees in the lounge and ends up on our bed in the morning and ‘Reina’ sleeps all night in either of her two Duvets, one in the office and one in the bedroom!  Of course ‘Chispa’ will no doubt be calling in to play with all her friends, we are going to post pictures of ‘Reina’ everyday, at the request of Lee, on her own Facebook page ‘Reina – The Duquesa Doxie’ – see picture below - or here!

Last night we had a Facebook message and later a phone call from our dear friend Jane over in Northwich to let is know that she and David are coming over for three days at the end of January, they fly into Malaga and are staying at the ‘ Estepona H10’ – our favourite local hotel, we are looking forward to welcoming them back as they have not been over for a couple of years, no doubt we will be out and about on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’!

After speaking to Tim& Thea on ‘Boxing Day’ Tim has posted a large set of pictures of their year on their travels in the new motor home as well as the family, please find below one of us when we welcomed then to sunny Manilva for my 70^th birthday with ‘Reina’ and some of Jo & Ben.

Over in England today in the ‘Premiere League’ Everton welcome Stoke, the tomorrow Manchester City travel to Leicester and then on Wednesday Liverpool travel across to Sunderland, yesterday afternoon the racing from Kempton Park on Channel 4 was very exciting as ‘ Sprinter Sacre’ won a thrilling ‘ Desert Orchid Chase’ - Speaking of which please see below a picture of the “ El Parque Botanico Orguidario “ over in Estepona at night!

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Cold Roast Norfolk Turkey’ ( a la Bernard Mathews ) with some Baby New Potatoes in their skins & Baby Carrots & Garden Peas, then on Tuesday I’m making a classic ‘Turkey Fricassee’ with the leftovers!

Last night after our supper we settled down and watched a film on TVE1 “ Cowboys & Aliens” from 2011 – a science fiction western starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and the delectable Oliva Wilde.

PS, I’m listening to ‘Castle Radio FM’ on the WWW. at the moment as I’m typing the Blog, its playing non-stop back to back music! They are now back on 89.2 with reduced power?! 

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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