ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 23^rd/ DECEMBER 2016.

I was up very early this morning and took ‘ Charlie’ for his first walk of the day, while I was out, Brenda saw his friend ‘ Reina’ arrive for the day, they are now playing together, ‘Reina’ flirts with him and he is very good and pats her on the head! ‘Charlie’ was dropped off by Jan yesterday evening and he then came with us down the 20^th ‘Anniversary Manilva Brass Band Concert’ – he was very good as we watched the concert from the back of the hall, no doubt ‘ Chispa ‘ will call in later to see her friends.

The Concert was spectacular, the full band was in their new uniforms led by Fernando Antiñolo, there was a light & video show and three choirs joined in, there was a tribute to past members, award given to current members and the whole present band shown rehearsing, over the years it’s always been a ‘ Family’ band from the village, Fathers & Mothers, Sons & Daughters, Brothers & Sisters, Uncles & Aunts etc, the ‘Mayors’ son is the latest member!

They played a selection of tunes from a long programme, ‘ Memories of Africa, Serenata Nocturna, Pirates del Caibe, Sonrisas y Lagrimas, El Ultimo Mohicano & Jingle Bells ‘! The choirs were from the ‘Junior School, a Senior Mixed Choir and the Manilva & Sabinillas Choral Society’ See the pictures above.

My first port of call on my travels was our bank in Sabinillas, sadly the cash machine was not working, ‘Plan B’ – I then did our main ‘Xmas’ shop in ‘Mercadona’ before popping along to the ‘English Bookshop’ to collect the local newspapers, next on my travels was the ‘ English Butchers in ‘Puerto Duquesa’ for the ‘ Xmas Turkey ‘ and lots of other goodies! ( Pig’s in Blankets, Gammon Steaks, Pork Sausages & Homemade Pies etc!)  

Finally I went along the promenade to the local market for the fresh flowers & wall plants as well as more ‘ Poinsettia’s’! After unpacking back at the house I went along to our local Bank in Calle Mar and called into the Chemists for my tablets, most important, ‘Keep Taking Them’ as our Doctor, Natalia says!

As I was going down through the vine fields the sun was rising over the ‘Mediterranean’ – it’s another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sky is clear, there is no breeze and it’s crisp & sunny, getting warmer later, tomorrow and over the weekend on Xmas Day & Boxing Day we have more of the same in store for us, next week is also looking fine and settled, watch this space.

For our supper this evening the ‘ Chef’ is having the night off, so I’m going down to our local ‘Chippy’ in Sabinillas for their excellent ‘ Take-Out’ – ‘ Haddock, Chips & Mushy Peas’! We are working on our ‘Mise en Place’ today and then tomorrow it’s all hands to the deck as we prepare the Christmas Lunch including roasting the Turkey etc!

This afternoon I'm going to try and go down to Michelle’s apartment to check it out and put in all the essentials including the ‘ Welcome Hamper’ after making contact with the key holder, then tomorrow evening on ‘Xmas Eve’ I’m meeting them at the Airport in Gibraltar, off their flight from Manchester, we can’t wait to see them!


PS, Just arranged to see the apartment at 2-30 pm!


PPS; The apartment is spectacular in a prime sea front position over looking the sparkling 'Mediterranean' as you can see in the pictures above.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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