A FRESH & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 26^th/ JANUARY 2020   “ AUSTRALIA DAY “ 

                      A very " Happy Australia Day " to all our extended family - Have a ' Helluva' Day '

We had a little lie in this morning and after a quick freshen up we had out toast and tea, to set us up for the day ahead. Little ‘ Miss Bella’ came crashing in, as she was out for her morning walk, with Deemy, she is with us for three days next week Monday/Wednesday, as usual, in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ - still no sign of ‘ Chispa’ as Isobel is not well and staying at her daughters on the far side of the village, for a couple of weeks.

It was then time to get this evenings supper on the go; my special recipe of the classic “ Lancashire Hotpot” – the ‘ Spanish’ Lamb Chops/Cutlets’ are seasoned and browned off in a hot griddle pan, I then prepare the sliced Onions, Shallots & Garlic, Carrots, Leeks, Turnips, Celery and Baby Mushrooms, I then layer (3) the ‘Hotpot’ – starting with hand-cut sliced potatoes ( three thinner slices each time ) with the ‘ Chops’ and a selection of all the Vegetables, building up the seasoned layers, the top as thin as possible, before adding/topping up the pot with a rich ‘Meat & Vegetable’ stock and sealing it with Tin Foil, ready to go into a hot oven this evening, half-way through cooking I take off the lid and dot the top with knobs of butter, to crisp and brown off!  The ‘ Aromas’ are to die for!!  It will be served with local Cabbage with Acelgas and Pickled/Sliced Red Beetroot – ‘ Remolacha’

As it came out of the oven! 

As I have been typing/posting today's Blog I have been listening to the 'Pete Black Retro Roadshow ' on " Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW " as the 'Film Quiz' came on, I got it straight away, it was " Live And Let Die " from 1973 with 'Roger Moore, I went into the monthly draw, again, but sadly didn't win it, again! 

Overnight the ‘RAIN’ has gone away and this morning we have, as the next ‘ Atlantic’ front comes in, a clearing and blue sky with a few patchy clouds and a light cooling breeze, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 15 degs+ - still down to only 8/9 degs during the night, from Monday onwards it’s steadily going warmer, each day, with settled weather,  a light breeze, with lots of sunshine and going up to 20 degs+ - 12/13 degs during the night time, by next weekend, back to normal for the time of the year down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ and in sunny Manilva, watch this space.

At lunchtime we went out for a nice walk, for the first time in over a week, and ended up sat outside ' Bar Castillo ' in the very hot sunshine , with our drinks, some friends came along, Alfred & Jane and Russel & Jackie, and joined us for a good gossip/catch-up.

We have for the rest of the day a nice relaxing time, with just ourselves for company, staying inside and keeping warm, later this afternoon watching the football  ( Shrewsbury Town v Liverpool) and catching after supper the next new episode of the excellent ‘ Vera’ with Brenda Blethyn as the  ‘Detective’  obsessed with her work, fighting her inner demons, who has a caustic wit and singular charm!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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