A NOW CLEAR, CRISP' & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 23^rd/ DECEMBER 2018.

I was up very early this morning and shot straight out, down to the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina ‘  to collect our pre-ordered fresh ‘Turkey’ etc, from the ‘ English Butchers’ – I also bought the ‘Pigs in Blankets’ – made with his Pork Sausages & Streaky Bacon, ‘Gammon Steaks’ for another day and I could not resist a Boned & Rolled ‘Aged Entrecote Beef Joint’!

Back at the house ‘ Chico’ spent the night on his blanket and ‘ Charlie’ for the first time came and joined us on the rug on my side of the bed, Brenda then took then out for their first walk of the day, where I met them outside the underground car park entrance, as I was putting the car away, when we returned Brenda was on the breakfast rota so we had her famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast with mugs of strong Tea, to set us up for the day ahead.

It was then time to get this evenings supper on the go, a ‘Roast Loin of Pork’ – which I managed to cut-off two ‘Pork Steaks’ from, for another day. We are keeping it simple with a small selection of fresh, local Vegetables and of course my famous ‘Goose-Fat Roast Potatoes’- accompanied with a sauceboat of ‘ finger-licking’ Pan Gravy and Glazed ‘ Fuji’ Apple slices. The ‘ Turkey’ is going in the oven on Christmas Eve, Monday, to roast, the Butchers took off the Legs & Thighs, the ‘ Crown of Turkey’ will be roasted in the traditional way, and a rich Pan Gravy then made from the residual juices etc!

The day has started a little grey & overcast but still with a full ‘Red Sun’ coming up above the Mediterranean as I was going down this morning, by lunchtime it’s due to break through as the clouds clear, hovering on the 17/18 degs+ mark, next week is now looking settled, dry & sunny, with patchy clouds at times, staying in the high ‘ Teens’ – by next weekend leading up to the ‘ New Years Eve’ celebrations the –wet-stuff’ could return, watch this space.

See below a spectacular picture of  Colwyn Bay, North Wales, showing the ‘ Expressway’ yesterday evening.

As I’ve been typing/posting today’s Blok the main ‘ Manilva Xmas Parranda Band’ has passed down our street. ‘ Christmas’ must be just around the corner!!

See below;

Just a very quick update on the football results so far; Barcelona won 2-0, Real Madrid won 4-1 and sadly Manchester City lost, at home 2-3, making Liverpool top of the ‘Premier League’ by 4 points!

We are taking the rest of the day very easy, relaxing and basically doing nothing, because we can!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A CRISP AND SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 12^th/ DECEMBER 2014.

We were up bright and early this morning and after a quick breakfast we shot off on our travels; our first port of call was down to the local market by the sports ground for some plants for the outside pots and yet another ‘Poinsettia’ (no 6!) Next it was the bank in Sabinillas before we picked up the papers from the ‘English Bookshop’ and another ‘Ken Follett’ for Brenda, her 3^rd!  We then did a major shop in ‘Mercadona’ which included topping up the wine cellar back at our house.

Then we went down to Duquesa Marina to the ‘English Butchers’ for some Xmas essentials, Goose Fat, English Pork Sausages & Smoked Back Bacon, Gammon Steaks and this year for a change as requested by Brenda a large Gammon Joint for a ‘Honey Roast Gammon’ over Xmas, they were just making their large Chipolatas so we called back later and picked some up. I’m picking up our Turkey on Xmas Eve.

Finally we carried on around the coast to Sotogrande to go to ‘Iceland’ where we picked up a lot of treats and goodies that we don’t normally have, including ‘Pukka’ Meat Pies, a large Leg of Lamb, Shortbread Biscuits, a box of ‘Heroes’ Very small baby New Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts etc!

After unpacking back at the house which is now fully stocked, the pantry cupboards are full, the wine rack are full and the deep freeze is full as well as the fridge – we are ready to welcome any surprise visitors!!

‘Chispa’came crashing in just as we got back to the house so we will go for a little walk a bit later after ‘Scruffy’ arrives for his three day sleep over; he's just arrived with his 'Winter House' - see the picture below; 

The weather today is crisp and clear with blue skies and the sun is out, its reaching 18/19degs today but we are defiantly in for some of the wet stuff over the weekend before it clears and picks up again on Monday.

So this evening for our supper we are having some plain ‘Fillets of Hake’ dusted in seasoned flour and shallow fried in a little Vegetable Oil with Garden Peas and some very small Baby New Minted Potatoes (Iceland!) We will then find a good film to watch as its Film Night on all the major channels.

One good result after Brenda went to the surgery on Wednesday was that the relief doctor arranged a priority call to the ‘Heart Department’ at the hospital and they rang back one hour later to confirm an appointment in January for her over-due ‘Heart Check Up’ It was our fault in the first place as we did not understand the procedures with all the documents.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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