" FERIA SANTA ANA " THE START ON THURSDAY EVENING IN SUNNY MANILVA;

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 19^th/ JULY 2019.

We were both up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up we shot off on our travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, we first had toast & tea in ‘ItsZabar’ before ‘Mercadona opened, at this time of the year it’s very busy, with ten times the customers, the traffic and parking is the same, it’s ‘ Mad’ on all the roads, very dangerous with lots of crashes!

We then called into the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers  and post a birthday card, surprisingly the cards are arriving very quick at the moment! We then shot along to the far end of the promenade to the local market for some fresh flowers and wall plants, before stopping at ‘ Super Sol’ on the way back up the hill, for our ‘ English ‘  essentials, then unloading back at the house.

This afternoon ‘ Scruffy’ is back with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ for the last time this week, he will be back for the five afternoons next week, as Adrian continues his radiotherapy treatment over in Malaga, on Monday/Tuesday morning little ‘ Miss Bella’ is with us again, ‘Chispa’ will be crashing in all the time to see all her friends.

As we set off it was a little cool & fresh, but the sun soon came out and by the time we got home it was very hot & sunny, with just a few patchy clouds hanging around, the breeze is very slight and only cooling in the shade, by lunchtime it will be 28 degs+ - tomorrow and Sunday the same, next week is now looking very hot & sunny, by Wednesday up to 30 degs+ then going hotter, by next weekend, watch this space.

Over in Liverpool today it’s the 108^th  anniversary of the “ Royal Liver Building “ 

Today at the “ Tour de France “ it’s the individual ‘Time Trial’ around Pau, over 28 kms, see the hilly route map below;

At lunchtime we popped along to ' Bar Castillo' on the shady side of 'Calle Mar' and sat outside for a nice cool drink and a couple of light 'Tapas'

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Goujon’s of Hake Fillet’ –coated in local breadcrumbs from the Bakery, shallow-fried in Vegetable Oil, until crisp & golden all over, accompanied with homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce, with Mushy Green Peas and triple-cooked ‘Chips’

After supper we will settle down to watch the TV after channel hopping to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE ' SAN JUAN' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 21^st / JUNE 2019.

I was up early, again, this morning, for the last time this week, after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping.

I first had my usual toast & tea in ‘ItZabar’ before going along to a busier ‘Mercadona’ – the early holiday makers are here stocking up, later today the ‘ Spanish’ schools close for the annual 12 week holidays!

I then called into the ‘ Ferraterias’ for some light bulbs before picking up the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’ as well as a birthday card. ( watch out it could be you?!) 

I then dropped down to the far end of the promenade to the local market for our fresh flowers and wall plants, finally calling into ‘Super Sol’- which is being refurbished and is in a complete mess, the Manager showed me around to find the ‘English’ essentials, it was then time to shoot back up through the ever growing green vine fields, to unload back at the house.

See below some pictures of the “ San Juan “ tableau ( ‘Juas’ ) - down on the beach in Sabinillas, that is now finished, this year, strangely, it’s not  ‘ Political’ - ready to be burnt down on the stroke of mid-night on Sunday 23rd June!

The sun was out first thing, above a sparkling Mediterranean, blinding me as I drove down the road to Sabinillas, the sky was cloudless and blue, as there is a light breeze still blowing, by this afternoon it’s due to reach 29 degs+ - today, Friday is the ‘ Summer Solstice ‘ – the longest day of the year, going a little cooler tomorrow, then from Sunday and for all of next week it’s going to be warm & sunny, with a few patchy clouds at times, hovering in the high 20s/low 30s – overnight down to 18/19 degs, watch this space.

Over in Liverpool yesterday the cruise liner, the “ Blackwatch “ returned and berthed at the Pier Head for the day, see below.

On the sports front today and over the weekend we will be watching the Flat Racing from’ Royal Ascot’ – yesterday Frankie Dettori won the first four races, including the ‘Gold Cup ‘ – the Tennis from the ‘Queens Club’ in London, as ‘Sir’ Andy Murray returned, in the Men’s doubles, and won! The ‘Ladies World Cup’ football, as England play Cameroon on Sunday, the ‘ Tour of Switzerland ‘ cycling and the ‘ICC World Cup’ cricket as England play Sri Lanka today, then the qualifying for the ‘French Grand Prix’ at Le Castellet, at the ‘Circuit Paul Ricard’ outside Marseille.

For our supper this evening we are having an ‘ Fish n’ Chip ‘ supper;  Fillets of Hake, shallow-fried in Vegetable Oil, until crisp & golden, after being coated in a ‘ Cruzcampo’ Beer Batter, accompanied with Homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce and lots of Lemon Wedges, served with Mushy Green Peas and of course ‘ triple’ cooked ‘ Chips’

Tomorrow we are going out in the evening, by taxi, to one of our favourites  “ Restaurante Macues’ – overlooking the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ for Brenda’s birthday supper, in the morning the ‘ Breakfast Chef’ is serving her ‘Campo’ Scrambled Eggs on Brown Toast with Smoked Salmon, with freshly squeezed local Orange Juice, together with a glass of chilled ‘Kir Royal’ – made with a local ‘Creme de Cassis’ and chilled Cava, to start the day in the way it’s going to continue!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A ' FRESH' & WARM SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF A ' HELLUVA' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 17^th MAY 2019.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels, well actually I didn’t get started, as the car didn’t start! It sounds like the battery is dead, I called into the Police Station and they called a taxi for me, I just made my appointment at the main ‘ Medical Centre’ for the Blood tests etc.

I then walked along to the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers and two birthday cards, next I did our main shop in ‘ Mercadona’ – they then called a taxi for me, it took me to the local market at the far end of the promenade for the fresh flowers & wall plants, he then came up the back road to our Garage, where Tony is sorting out the problem ‘ASAP’- I left the car keys with him, to sort out a new battery, finally the taxi carried on back to the house to unload.

PS; I have just popped along to the Garage to check out what us happening, the car is there and they are working on it, we should have it back later today, delivered to the house ' Fingers Crossed ' - all of them!!

I called the main ‘ Medical Centre’ to cancel our appointments at noon, for our ‘ Diabetic’ check up/review, ‘ fingers-crossed’ ( on one hand only) that he gets it sorted quickly, as we need the car for first thing on Monday  for my ‘Physiotherapy’ appointment and later in the afternoon when I’m picking up ‘ Big Brian’ from the Bus Station across in Estepona?! Watch this space.

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ we now have ‘ Sunny’ joining us for the first time, on Tuesday 28^th for her  trial ‘short-break – she’s back in the middle of August for her two-week summer holiday.

See her below.

Next week we have another new dog coming to see us, cutie ‘Pucci’ – who will be with us in August, also, for a 4 day ‘short break’ and possibly for a longer stay over Xmas, depending on other bookings ( Charlie!) etc.

See her below.

Yesterday evening the ‘ Iglesia de Santa Ana – The Church of Santa Ana’ was floodlit for the first time after all the repair/update work had finished, on Saturday the ‘ Bishop of Malaga’ is arriving for the day to celebrate and bless the Church.

See below;

Also on Saturday, down in  ‘Castillo de la Duquesa’ it’s the annual “ International Day “ – when all the local foreign communities have food & drink stalls, with traditional music & dancing and social activities.

See below;

This morning as I set off the sun was out and the sky had cleared as there was a stiff/cool breeze blowing, down from behind the village, across the mountains – a ‘Poinente’ – so by lunchtime it will only reach 24 degs+ down to 13 degs overnight, over the weekend we are in for more of the same, staying a little cooler, next week, as the breeze drops, it’s now going warmer, with lots of sunshine, just a few clouds, hovering in the mid 20s, by next weekend back up to 29 degs+!  Just in time for our week of being out & about with all our friends visiting us from the UK! Watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having a ‘Pan-Seared Fillet of Salmon’ for Brenda and I’m having a ‘Pan-Seared Fillet of Hake’ – both finished ‘ A La Meuniere’ style, with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas and Parsley New Potatoes, on Saturday it will be a large ‘Grilled Rib of Beef’ on the bone, with all the trimmings, then on Sunday we are going to have a late ‘ Brunch’ as the Mayor, Mario, has asked us to a Election Party for his ‘Compromiso’ party, taking place in the ‘Plaza de Pozo Rey’ in the center of the village, with live music and dancing, a light buffet & BBQ – all taking place in the early evening! Watch this space.

Last night we caught the last episode of “ 15 Days’ – as the dysfunctional families split up, with one son and another father killed, as the first killer was uncovered, after more flashbacks,  the land deal went ‘ pear-shaped  ‘ – all dark & very black – as it all took place in the ‘ Black Mountains ‘ in South Wales! This evening we will be back to channel hopping to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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