A NOW VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 21^st/JULY 2020.   “ NEW NORMALITY – DAY 30 “

Just a little lie in this morning after going to bed later than normal ( more later) – as usual, as we were freshening up, we were listening to the ‘ Lockdown Party’ show on ‘ mix106fm’ as the ‘ Mystery Voice’ quiz came on, I got it at my second attempt – it was Felicity Kendal, the actress, see below yesterdays correct answer, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

For our breakfast this morning it was our regular fresh fruit ( peeled/sliced Nectarines) with toast & tea.

Last night as we were going to bed late, we watched the pen-ultimate episode of the first series of the very gripping ‘Broadchurch’ – we still haven’t worked out ‘ Who Done It’?! - which is now on after the evening news.

We suddenly realized that it was raining very hard, in fact it was a severe storm, not showing on any of the three forecasts that I follow, it had hit Gibraltar, first, with thunder & lightening, then moved along the coast past Sotogrande, above ‘Las Palomas’ they had fork-lightening and very loud thunder, as you can see below, taken by our friend Daniela! It only lasted here for an hour, before moving on along the coast!!

This morning started a little cloudy with a stiff breeze, as you can see below;

The sun has now broken through and the sky is clear and blue, with lots of sunshine and a few clouds hanging around, by lunchtime it’s now forecast to still reach 29/30 degs+ - overnight down to 21/22 degs+ - each day it’s going hotter, hovering in the low 30s, by Friday up to 35 degs+ - still with a light breeze and a few clouds at times, over the weekend going a little cooler, next week we are in for more of the same, staying very hot & sunny, leading up to the start of August, watch this space.  

Over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, Sandra & Bill had a spectacular night sky over their back ‘yard’!

See below;

Meanwhile over in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, the new sea-defences along the far-end of the promenade, below Old Colwyn, were tested by the latest storm tides, see below;

Over in Liverpool last night, the ' Comet Neowise ' could be seen, above the waterfront!

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Grilled Pork Steaks’ (Spanish) seared on a very hot griddle-plate, garnished with seared Button Mushrooms and Green Peppers, served with glazed Baby Carrots and our favourite ‘ Pommes de Terre Rissolee ‘ – Baby New Potatoes boiled in their skins and then sautéed in foaming Parsley Butter until crisp & golden!

Tomorrow evening, for a change, it’s going to be “ Albondigas en Salsa Tomate “ –  small savoury ‘Meatballs’ served in a rich Tomato, Red Pepper & Onion Salsa, resting on a bed of Spaghetti, served with some finely sliced ‘ French’ Green Beans.  

As usual at the moment we are channel hopping between ‘BBC TV 1, 2, 3 & 4 – as well as ITV! Last night we caught a very interesting documentary on the history of the great ‘ Atlantic Liners’ as well as Michael Portillo on his ‘ Great Australian Railway Journeys’ – this week he was riding the ‘ Indian Pacific’ from Sydney to Perth, over 2,705 miles, including the World’ s longest straight stretch of railway track, nearly 297 miles,  across the ‘Nullarbor Plain’!

See below;

                                                     PS, Don't forget to ' click-on' all the pictures to enlarge !

“ STAY SAFE & WELL INSIDE AT ALL TIMES – IN SELF LOCKDOWN HERE & MASKED “ 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY ' FRESH' & HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 16^th / JULY 2020.   “ NEW NORMALITY – DAY 25 “

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot down to Sabinillas, as the sun was coming up above the Mediterranean, to go to ‘ Mercadona’ for our main weekly shopping, I was first in after finding a spot to park outside the front door! It was very busy, with only locals, no holiday makers, as its’ a local ‘ Bank Holiday’ tomorrow. I stocked up with all our regular goods, as well as some ‘ treats’ for another day, as we will not be going there very often, for now.

When I returned to the house there was three workmen outside the front door, unannounced, they have come to start the preparation work for the ‘Infestation Company’ sometime next week! Brenda is not a very ‘Happy Bunny’ as they are making a lot of mess, breaking down walls, filling in holes, repairing as they go! watch this space.

They are here for the rest of the day, luckily it’s the ‘ Staffs’ day off!! I had a quick toast & tea and then retired upstairs to the office/studio to type/post today’s Blog.

Overnight the breeze has picked up, the sun was out early and the clouds have cleared and the sky is blue, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 28/29 degs+ again, with a fresh/cool breeze – still overnight only dropping to 22/23 degs+ - over the weekend, starting tomorrow, it’s staying the same, next week is still going to be a ‘ Hot-One’ – with lots of very hot sunshine, lighter breezes, hovering in the low/mid 30s, at times reaching 35degs+ by next weekend, watch this space.

See below some pictures of ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa’ taken from a different view yesterday, also over in Liverpool last night there was a spectacular red sky sunset over the ‘Salthouse Dock’

And Salthouse Dock!

So we are taking things very easy today, at lunchtime popping out for a nice cool drink and some ‘ Tapas’ and then this evening as the ‘ Head Chef & Second Chef ’ have a night-off, we are going out for our supper, along to ‘Bar Castillo’ – having an ‘ Aperitifs’ before at ‘ Bar Rojas Sol Vida’  “ What a Life “

“ STAY SAFE & WELL INSIDE AT ALL TIMES – IN SELF LOCKDOWN HERE & MASKED”

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 11^th/ JULY 2020.   “ NEW NORMALITY – DAY 20 “

We had a nice lie in this morning after a ‘ Helluva’ day yesterday, more later, after freshening up, as usual, on a Saturday morning Brenda was on the breakfast rota so I had her perfect ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on White Toast, Scrambled for herself, on Brown Toast, with mugs of hot/strong ‘PG’ Tips Tea.

I then ‘masked/gloved’ up and shot along to the Bank in ‘ Calle Mar’ for some cash from the 

machine.

The sun was out early and the sky is clearing, with the blue sky starting to appear, there is light breeze blowing up from the Mediterranean (Levante) so by lunchtime it’s forecast to reach 28/29 degs+ - overnight down to 21/22degs+ - with lots of warm sunshine and just a few patchy clouds hanging around, tomorrow is going to be the same, next week is now looking like it’s going to very similar, with light breezes, cloudy at times, with very sunny breaks, hovering in the high 20s, by next weekend, when the breeze drops, going a little hotter, the following week is still going to be a ‘ Hot-One’ – back in the low/mid 30s – all week, staying very hot & sunny, watch this space.

This weekend the football season is nearing the end; over in ‘ Premiere League’ Liverpool welcome Burnley, Manchester City have the long journey down to play Brighton and Everton go along the M6 to play Wolverhampton, over here in ‘La Liga’ – with 4 games to go, Real Madrid only need to win 2 to win the ‘La Liga’ – as they play Granada over the weekend! Watch this space.

So yesterday we had a ‘ Helluva’ Day, to say the least, we met Leah, her husband Ryan and the two boys, Deemy & Carter, sat outside in the shade along at ‘Bar Castillo’ – where we had nice cool drinks and a lovely ‘ Tapas’ lunch, ‘Grilled Sardines, Rosado Frito, Grilled Chicken, Egg & Frits and assorted ‘Tapas’ – they then decided to head off to the ‘ Trampoline’ Park in Estepona, leaving little ‘ Miss Bella’ with us for the rest of the afternoon, a real surprise treat!

We met up again in the evening, as we were sat outside ‘Bar Rojas Sol Vida’ on the shady side of the street, the boys had had a great time, so more cold drinks were called for, as well as plates of Fabio’s excellent ‘ Frits’ for all the ‘ Boys’ (4) -  as we took in the sights and sounds of sunny Manilva, as the World passed us by, some friends of Leah, came along, Mandy & Nigel, and joined us, sat on the next table was a large gathering of our ex-pat friends from around the village.

A couple came along and sat under the umbrellas for supper, so I approached them, as they were new in ‘Town’ – Mark & Claire, had been recommend by friends to try the ‘Pizzas’ – they live along the coast past Sotogrande and it was their first visit to sunny Manilva, so they got the full news update! Nice to meet you and we hope to see you again!!

As Leah and family headed off back to Gibraltar after a very special time with them ( a BIG thanks!) – our dear friend, Brian, came along ‘ Calle Mar’ in his car, so he stopped and joined us for a drink and catch up, by then it was getting past our supper time, so we had another drink with Brian, as we went into ‘ Plan B’ – ( the ‘John Dory’ has gone away for another day) - it was then nearly 11-00 pm, to he took us around/down to his favourite Bar – ‘Cacho Voy’ – next to the ‘Plaza del Pozo de Rey’ in the centre of the village, for more drinks and supper.

Brian had a classic, cooked to order ‘ Thin & Crisp Pizza with Tuna & Prawns ’ –  he also had another one to take away ( topped with BBQ Spare Ribs Meat!)  while we had the ‘House Specials’- which we have not had before – ‘Camperos’ – a traditional Malaga dish -  a batch-like/muffin type bun (homemade/baked to order)- Filled with ‘Blue Cheese & Chicken’ for Brenda and mine with ‘Curried Chicken’ – both served with homemade hand-cut ‘Frits’ – skin on! The service was quick and very efficient, the drinks just right, Brain had an excellent ‘ House Red Wine’ – all at very good and not expensive prices!  Brian then dropped us off at around 12-30 am, we shall return, watch this space.  

' Campero ' Stock photo! 

“ ONE HELLUVA DAY “

For our supper this evening, which I promise that we will be having, as  we are having a large slice of ‘Spanish Entrecote of Beef’- seasoned and cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest- fat on, before carving it into slices- ‘finger thick’- French’ style- garnished with seared Asparagus Spears & Button Mushrooms, accompanied with a classic ‘Bearnaise’ sauce and served with whole Baby ‘French’ Green Beans and of course triple-cooked ‘ Frits’

“ STAY SAFE & WELL INSIDE AT ALL TIMES- IN SELF LOCKDOWN HERE “

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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