A VERY CLOUDY & OVERCAST, CRISP SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 9^th/ DECEMBER 2016.

I was up first this morning and shot out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, Brenda saw ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, I did the main shop in ‘ Mercadona’ before going along to the ‘ English Bookshop’ to post the ‘ Xmas’ cards, pick some more up and collect the local newspapers, watch out for your card in the post! I also dropped off all our books that we have acquired over the past few months, he checks them out and gives you credit against the next books that you choose.

PS, Don’t forget to keep the ‘postcards’ coming in, last week we had one from the ‘Orient Express’!

I then went along past the badly damaged promenade to the local market for the fresh flowers and wall plants, ours were all washed away in the weekend storms, finally on the way back up the hill I called into ‘ Super Sol’ for the English essentials and some of ‘ Scruffy’s favourite dog food, the main Sunday market on the ‘Feria’ Ground down in the valley, next to River Manilva, is closed until the New Year as it also was badly damaged when the river flooded.

We then took ‘ Scruffy’ out for his first walk of the day, he’s settling in, he goes up to bed when he is ready, his appetite is getting better. Brenda has just popped out to the local shop and along to the Chemists for her prescription tablets, this morning our Doctor, Natalia, called on the phone to see how Brenda was, she asked about her daily blood pressure/frequency reading and spoke to Brenda for a little while, she adjusted one of her tablets and confirmed next week’s appointment on Wednesday lunchtime, she is being very considerate and giving Brenda her full attention, it’s exceptional service from a local Doctor, we are very grateful.

This morning it’s rather grey & overcast with a stiff breeze, the sun is forecast to break through by this afternoon, the weekend should keep dry and next week is starting to look settled, watch this space.

For our supper this evening I’m making my famous ‘ Fish Pie ‘ – I sweat off in White Wine a ‘Mirepoix’ ( finely diced!) of Carrots, Leeks, Celery & Onions, the Cod, Hake & Salmon are lightly poached off, I make a rich fish Veloute, seasoned to taste and the consistency adjusted, the flaked fish along with Gambas & Mussels are mixed in and then the pie is topped with Brenda’s famous Mashed Potato, my classic recipe doesn’t contain hard-boiled egg and the mash is plain not with cheese! See below;

See below a ' Blast from the Past ' - the " Hotel Seventy Degrees " at it's prime in the late 70's!

After supper we will settle down and watch the Friday night regular programmes after channel hopping.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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