THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A STILL GREY & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA;

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA;

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A LITTLE COOLER SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 23^rd/ OCTOBER 2018.

Just a little lie in this morning, after freshening up we grabbed a quick cup of tea, Sandra & Bill then arrived and we had a nice chilled glass of ‘ Cava Bucks Fizz’ – using freshly squeezed local oranges, with my famous ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce -open on brown, as usual for Brenda.

It was then time to call Jack & Lyn on the ‘ Skype’ video for our chat- room catch up, they were in fine spirits, both looking and sounding very well, Jack was in fine form, as they chatted with the folks, they are keeping up with our travels, down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’! We then gave Jenny a quick Audio call on ‘ Skype’ as well as Norah, who sadly was out shopping!  

We then went along to ‘ Bar Castillo’ for coffee’s sat under the awning, taking the sights & sounds of a not too sunny Manilva, we have arranged to meet the folks this evening and will go for a light ‘ Tapas’ supper, back at ‘ Bar Castillo’ Watch this space.

The weather forecast for today is not looking too good, with patchy clouds & rain, there is also a light breeze, making it a little cooler, down to 20 degs+ overnight at 17 degs, tomorrow is going to be warm & sunny, reaching 22 degs, then on Thursday it’s staying dry, warm & sunny, with a few clouds, so our plans for next couple of days are OK! Friday is still TBC, so we will make the arrangements for Sandra’s ‘Birthday’ when we see how things are, watch this space.

NB; Wednesday’s & Thursday’s Blog will be posted as soon as possible, watch this space.

PS; I guessed correctly this morning 7 second track on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – it was ‘ The Monkees’ with ‘ A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You’ – Andrew also gave a mention for Sandra & Bill, from Canada, “ GO CANADA “ !!

PPS;  We had a Post Card in the post yesterday, it was from ' Puerto de la Duquesa ' - it came ' Hand-Delivered' in our Post Box, from Sandra & Bill !! 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 30^th/ MAY 2018.

I was up first this morning to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she went into her duvet for the rest of the morning, next week she is back with us for 3 days from Monday, yesterday she met ‘ Paddy’ when he called in with some of his stuff, they got on very well, he’s arriving on Monday lunchtime, for his extended 2 month holiday. Today he’s at the local groomers having his ‘ summer’ cut, so he will be looking a little different when he arrives!

See him below, at home, before he went for his ‘ trim & cut’!

I then shot down to ‘ Mercadona’ in Sabinillas to top up some goods for our supper this evening, when Lee is joining us. When I returned we had ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce, open on Brown, as usual, for Brenda, with mugs of hot tea.

I then prepared my famous ‘ Beef, Mushroom, Onion & Vegetable Casserole ‘ – using sliced ‘Irish’ Beef for a change!  – the Beef is dusted in seasoned flour and browned off, I sliced & sautéed the Onions and layered them with the Beef in a large casserole dish,  I then made the sauce with diced Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Celery, Carrots & Turnips, all ‘sweated-off’ in a glug of Brenda’s Red Wine, with a good dash of ‘Lee & Perrins’ & Tabasco and a large spoon of ‘Tomato Frito’- before adding the rich Beef & Vegetables stock, leaving it to simmer, I then adjusted the taste and consistency before coating the ‘Beef & Onions’ in the casserole dish, ready to go in the oven this evening.

The ‘ Vegetable Chef’ meanwhile was preparing ‘ Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets’ in a three- Cheese sauce, Whole French Green Beans, GLlazed Carrot Batons & Garden Peas, as well as her famous ‘ Mashed Potato’ – this evening I’m also preparing, as a garnish “ Hasselback Potatoes’ –  a selected Potato in it’s washed skin ,sliced, resting on a large spoon, so as the cut dosn’t go through all the way! – then seasoned and ‘ roasted ‘ in the hot oven with ‘Goose Fat & Oil – until cooked, crisp & brown! We are having some light ‘ Tapas’ to start and ‘Apple Tort’ for the dessert.


At lunchtime we went up to ' Bar Rojas' for a nice cool drink & Tapas, as we were sat under the new umbrellas, Mario, the Mayor, our neighbour, came out of the 'Town Hall' - he confirmed that there will be seating, waste bins and trees(?) - as well as awnings, along the new ' Calle Mar ' - this morning the ' Contractors' workmen have finished laying all the flag stones and have started to seal the central walkway with weather-proof paint, it only remains to enquire what colour the street lights will be, Golden/Yellow, which we prefer or White which we don't like ! -  as there are a lot more lamp posts than before!


See the picture below;

This afternoon I’m going across to the local Hospital in Estepona as I have an appointment with a ‘ Trauma Consultant ‘ for a re-view/diagnosis on my ‘Dodgy’ left-hand. On my way back I’m calling into the ‘Hypermarket- Carrefour ‘ to pick up a nice bottle of Pink Champagne, for when Jason & Donna are with us next Thursday, watch this space.

The sun was already out, above the ‘ Mediterranean’ this morning as I shot down through the vine fields to Sabinillas, the sky was clear and there was just a light breeze, by lunchtime it going to be 24/25 degs+ . over the next few day and into the weekend it’s going hotter, with sunshine everyday, reaching 28 degs+ - overnight up to 18/19 degs! Meanwhile over in Australia they are in the middle of an ‘ icy-blast’ – we have just arranged to speak to Jack, Lyn & Debs, who is visiting the folks, on the ‘ Skype’ video in the next half-hour. Watch this space.

We had a nice long catch up with all Jack & Lyn’s news over in Melbourne, as their ‘ Winter’ starts to hit them! They are both very well and full of the joys, as usual!

PS: Just a quick reminder to all our family & friends all over the World, that when you are out & about, to try and send us a ‘Post Card’ from wherever you have been visiting! We will sent you one back from Sunny Manilva down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ – promise!!

Thoughts for the Day;   See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA AND ESTEPONA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 9^th/ NOVEMBER 2017.

We were both up early this morning, first to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, a surprise visit, Daniela rang last night to ask if it was OK due to a change in shift patterns, she shot into her duvet, ‘Reina not Daniela’! We then got ourselves ready and shot off to Estepona, we had a quick tostada & coffee and then went our separate ways, Brenda along to her favourite Cosmetics shop to stock up before Xmas and I went into my Barber, Manuel, for the full works, he dry cuts & styles, then shampoos and gives a scalp massage before blow-drying, a dry razor shave and to finish a further trim!

We then went along to the ‘IT Shop’ - were I bought my computer system from, for inks for the printer/photo glossy paper, next we called into ‘ La Casa ‘ for nightlights, face cloths, etc, and spotted some very nice cushions for the two chairs in the ‘ Chill-Out Room’ – then finally the ‘Card Shop’ at the far end of Estepona for the special birthday cards for two of the sisters!

It’s the most beautiful day as the sun was out early and the sky is bright blue, there is just a very light breeze making it warm & very sunny, over in Estepona, as usual, hotter, by lunchtime here in sunny Manilva 21degs+ It’s getting a little warmer over the weekend, up to 23/24 degs, then next week is still looking dry, warm & sunny hovering in the low 20s, watch this space.

See the picture below of the Church of ‘Santa Ana’ at the bottom of the village in front of the fountain in ‘ Moon Square ‘

For this evenings supper I’m making my now famous ‘ Omelettes’ – Cheese for Brenda & Mushroom for me, I use 3 ‘ Campo Eggs’ – beaten & seasoned, I have a dedicated ‘ Omelette Pan ‘ that I pre-heat, it is only dry-cleaned, I lightly oil the pan and then toss in the butter, followed by the beaten Eggs, stir with a large fork and pre-shape to the side, add the fillings and then bring the Omelette together, then turn the Omelette out to the pre-heated plate, bringing the plate to upturned pan, most important, and finally shape into a ‘torpedo’ with kitchen paper – the perfect ‘Omelette ‘!!



See below my Omelette !

Just a quick update on family/friends; yesterday we had a very nice ‘ Thank You’ card from Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, - thank you and lots of love, our friend Gillian over in Torquay sent us an update on the details of the loss of our dear Swedish friend Lillemor, they used to be neighbours here in the village when Gillian lived here, we are also waiting to hear how Donna is getting over in England after going over with her husband, Dean, for a special check-up/ treatment for a nasty illness, hopefully the news will be good.( Surgery next Thursday ! ) 

Finally Tim & Thea were spotted out with the local ‘ Walking Club ‘ in the hills behind Mojacar,  see above, we now have their ‘ site’ address and are also going to call then on the ‘ Skype’ video, at the same time this weekend we will try and make contact with Jack /Lyn over in Melbourne, as they have been away with their caravan, watch this space.


PS; Thanks for the post card from Sandra & Keith over in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. ( Pontcysyllte Aqueduct ) 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.