THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA;

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A FRESH, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF A ' HELLUVA' WEEKEND AND THE WEEK TO FOLLOW !

FRIDAY 29^th/ SEPTEMBER 2017.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas as the sun was coming up over a sparkling Mediterranean, meanwhile back at the house Brenda was starting on one of her ‘ ing’ mornings! After my regular tea & toast in ‘ Itzabar’ I was first into ‘ Mercadona’ for our weekly shopping+ - I then called into the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers and some ‘ goodies’

I spotted that the ‘ Movistar’ shop was open and managed to find a spot to park outside, the very helpful Manager, Juan, sorted out the new contract for the ‘ Fiber Optic ‘ installation, at long last ( 3 years!) at the start of the week after next, he’s cancelling the contract with ‘Jazztel’ at the same time, over the past week the engineers have been in our street installing the systems into six of our neighbours from the junction box on our wall! Watch this space.

I then carried on to the local market at the far end of the promenade for the fresh flowers and some plants, finally on the way back up the hill I called into ‘ Super Sol’ for some ‘English’ essentials, after un-packing back at the house we prepared the ‘ Welcome Pack’ etc for Sandra & Bills apartment at the ‘ Manilva Green Aparthotel’ – we then went down and checked out the apartment, left the ‘ Welcome Pack ‘ and some over goodies’- then we called into the reception to arrange the taxi’s for tomorrow night to take us down to ‘ Restaurante Macues’ for our ‘celebration’ supper, the very helpful receptionist was also booking a table for us, for next Wednesday at ‘Los Gatos’ in Malaga.

One little ‘logistical’ problem that has arisen is that on Sunday when all the folks are coming to our house for the ‘ Skype’ video call to Jack & Lyn over in Melbourne, the Council are closing ‘ Calle Mar’ for ‘ Works’ – we think that it’s the start of the new pedestrianization scheme as this morning there have been surveyoyrs along the street taking the measurements! Watch this space.

This morning the sun was out early and the sky is bright blue, there is a little ‘ Lavante’ breeze coming off the sea, making it very pleasant, it’s due to reach 25/26degs by lunchtime, over the weekend it’s staying the same and next week is going to be warm & sunny hovering on the 26/27 degs mark, watch this space.

Just as I returned from the shopping Sandra called on my Mobile phone as they were driving from Valencia to Granada, we have not heard from them for the past couple of days, they had bad ‘IT’ reception at the hotel in Valencia, they were surprised  with its culture and ‘ energy ‘ – they ended the day down on the beach, we are making contact with them tomorrow morning as they get near to us, we are going to go down to Sabinillas and meet them as they come off the A7 and show them the way up to sunny Manilva!


PS, They have just arrived in Granada, next stop " SUNNY MANILVA " 

See some picture below of Valencia;

                                           “ COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY “  1 DAY TO GO.

Norah & Jenny set off early this morning to catch their flight from Manchester to Malaga, we have arranged to meet them at the ‘ H10 Estepona Palace’ this evening, after they have had their supper, we are going out to ‘ Marlow’s’ – the same people who own ‘La Tabena 2’ – for our ‘ Fish n’ Chip’ supper, as the ‘Head Chef & the Staff’ are on their annual weeks holiday!


PS; Norah & Jenny have just arrived and have a nice sea-view room.


PPS;We met up with the girls after they had their supper, we sat in the Bar/Lounge and had a nice glass of the excellent House 'Cava' - later the ' Cabaret ' show came on.


See the three sisters re-united !!!

See below a picture that brings back 'Happy Memories ' of how things used to be ! 

And ' Marlow's' - " Giant Haddock, Chips & Mushy Peas " 

NB;  THE ‘ BLOG’ WIIL NOT APPEAR FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS WE HAVE A ‘ HELLUVA’ ITINERARY  WITH SANDRA & BILL WHILE THEY ARE DOWN ON THE ‘ COSTA DEL SOL ‘ AND IN SUNNY MANILVA.I WILL TRY AND POST SOME PICTURES AS THE WEEK GOES ON, WATCH THIS SPACE!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A BREEZY,WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 28^th/ SEPTEMBER 2017.

I was up early to welcome back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, as usual she shot into her duvet, for the last time this week, she will be back with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ the week after next. I then shot down to Sabinillas and went along to the new ‘ Steam Clean/ Valet’ garage to give the car the ‘ full works’ – while it was being seen too I walked down to ‘Puerto de la Duquesa’ and picked up a newspaper and had a mug of tea and toast in one of the Bars, overlooking the marina.

I then collected the car, they have done a very good job, inside & out, they also fitted some new seat covers in the front and checked the oil & water at the same time, I popped along to the garage and topped up the petrol and had the tyre pressure checked, the ‘ Limousine’ is ready, the ‘ Chauffeur’ will get  himself ready before the weekend!

This morning there is just a slight breeze, the sky has cleared and the sun came out by mid-morning, it’s now in the mid 20s, tomorrow and over the weekend it’s more of the same, next week is still looking warm & sunny, getting a little hotter as the week goes on, watch this space.

Yesterday evening we drove across to the ‘ Sotogrande Marina’ to collect Kelvin & Gaye, we then came back along coast road with the ‘ Mediterranean’ still sparkling in the early moonshine, we walked into ‘La Choza ‘ to be greeted by the friendly staff who have been there for many years, we had a nice round table giving us plenty of space, in fact it was the first restaurant the Mano & Anna took us to all those years ago!  It was busy with mainly ex-pat business with some late Spanish  customers.

Kelvin ordered the wine, ‘Torres Vina Sol ‘ followed by a fine ‘ Torres Rioja ‘ – I had my usual ‘Bacardi & Coke ‘ The Menu is international, printed in English, Spanish, German & Russian! Gaye had the house ‘Mixed’ salad, Brenda choose the ‘Asparagus coated in a Cheese sauce resting on Iberica Ham’ - Kelvin & I selected the ‘Avocado & Prawn’ salad. For our main course Brenda had the ‘Grilled Baby Turbot’ and I recommended, for a change, the ‘Beef Stroganoff’ with Rice, it has always been excellent, the Head Chef has worked there for over 20 years, so Kelvin Gaye & I ordered it, it was!

See the pictures below; sorry I had the camera on the wrong setting!

We had a very enjoyable evening with great company, the food & service was excellent, as usual, and the atmosphere is always very welcoming, with our coffee’s we had on the ‘house’ shots of ‘ Caramel Vodka’ On the way back we showed the folks around the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ and then ‘Castillo de la Duquesa ‘ in the balmy/moonlight!

We dropped them off back at their hotel the ‘ Club Marantimo de Sotogrande ‘ on the quayside, earlier they showed us around their ‘ Amazin ‘ room – it’s has two bed rooms en suite, with full facilities including a built in mini-kitchen, 4/5 large screen TVs, with a large lounge over, looking a two-sided balcony with views over the marina and across to Gibraltar & Africa! They will be back! Thanks !!

For our ‘ last supper’ this evening, as the ‘ Head Chef & Staff ‘ are on holiday for the next week or so, we are having a ‘ treat’ – Brenda is having ‘ Confit of Duck Leg ‘ and I’m having a garnished ‘ English Rump Steak ‘ topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg, with a selection of fresh vegetables and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’!

PS; We are picking the keys up later this evening, before supper, to the folks apartment in the ' Manilva Green Aparthotel' - we will check it out and put the ' welcome pack' etc in tomorrow morning, ready for when Sandra & Bill arrive on Saturday lunchtime, watch this space.

                                       “ COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY “ 3 DAYS TO GO.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A NOW SUNNY MANILVA;

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A WET START BUT NOW WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 27^th/ SEPTEMBER 2017.

I was up first this morning to see ‘Reina’ back with us for the day, as usual, she shot into her duvet, we then freshened ourselves up and had a quick cup of tea and toast before setting off to the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ past Marbella for my six month review/check up with the ‘Prostate Consultant’ – for the first time we had to wait nearly 50 minutes for my appointment, most unusual, she reviewed all my results over the past three years including scans and three biopsies etc, all show that I’m clear including the current blood readings etc showing my ‘ PSA’ readings are down! I have to stay on a six month review programme, so I’m back in March/April 2018!

On the way back we called into Estepona as Brenda needed a new battery in her dress watch, we then called into ‘ La Casa ‘ for some tea-lights, sadly the ‘Herbal Essence’ shop has closed down, so we will have to find another source for our scented oils, watch this space.

As we got up this morning and opened the front door we found that it was raining, for the first time in over six months, the forecasted wind change had not seen off all the wet weather, it’s light rain and still warm!

By this afternoon it was dry and sun is breaking through as the sky clears, it’s in the mid 20s, tomorrow and over the next few days into the weekend it’s picking up again, in time for when all the folks arrive, down here in sunny Manilva! Next week is now looking warm & sunny hovering in the mid/high 20s, even reaching 30 degs! Watch this space.

We have heard from Thea, up in Mojacar, they have arrived safe & sound, their new caravan has arrived on the carrier and they are sorting out the pitch on the site and putting the awning up later today, thanks for the kind thoughts and good wishes.

Meanwhile in Cuenca Sandra & Bill were very impressed with the town, later today they are heading across to Valencia where they are staying, for two days, in a very modern hotel in the centre of the city “ Silken Purta Valencia “ – it combines ‘avant-gardism’ with the more traditional elements of Valencia – so it says on the ‘ Poster’! They are starting to behave like us ‘ locals’ by taking a ‘Siesta’ – they are now on ‘Malcolm’s’ time, ready for when they arrive down here in sunny Manilva, watch this space.



                                                             " COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY " 4 DAYS TO GO.

This evening we are collecting Kelvin & Gaye from their hotel on the ‘Sotogrande Marina’ and bringing them back along the coast to another of our favourite restaurants – La Choza’ on the roadside going out of Sabinillas towards Estepona, for a traditional ‘Spanish’ supper, we have changed our minds, as we think it’s got more atmosphere, on reflection, than ‘San Rafael ‘ Watch this space.

Yesterday evening we caught the dramatic penultimate episode, which ended on a sensational cliffhanger, of ‘Doctor Foster’ The ex-husband was left sobbing as his young wife walked out on him, taking their daughter with her, he father sacked him from the property business and chucked him out of the house, and changed the locks, that he owned! This was after he found out that he had cheated on his wife, his daughter, with his ex-wife, meanwhile Dr Foster, with the help of friends had set her ex-husband up and shown to his young wife what a ‘B-----d’ he is! It all ended with ‘Suranne Jones’ character, Doctor Foster, speeding towards her ex-husband in her car, in the final seconds! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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