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

FRIDAY 10^th/ MAY 2019.

I was up early, for the last time this week, and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, I had my usual toast & tea in ‘ ItZabar’ before going along to a still quiet ‘ Mercadona’ – I then popped along to the ‘ English Bookshop ‘ for the local newspapers and a birthday card, I also went into a local ‘Opticians’ for two new cords for our glasses, next I went down to the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to the ‘English Butchers’ to stock up, before coming back along to the far-end of the promenade to the local market for some fresh wall plants. 

I then came back up the very steep back road, through the newly planted vine fields, to unload back at the house, I then put the car away in the underground car park for the weekend.

The sun was out first thing and the sky was bright blue & clear, the breeze has dropped, making it very warm & sunny, by lunchtime it will be 30 degs+ - overnight down to 18 degs, time for all the fans to come out, the office/studio fan is on, the bedroom stack/fan is ready, the small kitchen fan will be on later and the main lounge fan is ready for action! The summer duvet is being aired along with the light cotton sheets. Tomorrow is going to be very hot & sunny and then on Sunday as the breeze come back it’s going a little cooler, next week it’s hovering in the mid 20s, with sunshine and patchy clouds at times, sadly be next weekend, on one of the forecasts, it’s showing the ‘wet-stuff’ returning, as a new ‘Atlantic’ front comes in, watch this space.

Last night after supper we watched more football; it was the second-leg semi-finals of the “ UEFA Europa League “ – as Arsenal beat Valencia in front of a very hostile Spanish crowd, 2-4, on aggregate 3-7, with ‘Aubameyang’ scoring a hat-trick, meanwhile Chelsea were at home to Eintract Frankfurt, it ended 2-2 on aggregate, Chelsea won on penalties 4-3 after their young Spanish goalkeeper ‘ Kepa Arrizabalaga’ saved two penalties!! 

This sets up another all-English Cup Final, this time in the very difficult to reach ‘Baku’ the capital of ‘Azerbaijan’ with a very late ‘ kick-off, at the end of the month?!

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

On Saturday it’s ‘Grilled Fillet Steaks ‘ – then on Sunday for our ‘ Roast’ I bought a small joint of Boned & Rolled ‘ Topside of Beef ‘ from the English Butchers ‘ this morning, which we will have with all the trimmings including ‘ Goose-Fat Roast Potatoes’!

This evening we will be channel hopping to find something to watch after catching up with all the news earlier.

Thoughts for the Day ; See above.

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A VERY WET & COLD SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 13^th / APRIL 2018. !

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels to catch the local bus down to Sabinillas, just beating the rain, I then wait for the ‘ English Bookshop’ to open so as I can collect the local English newspapers, before walking along to ‘Mercadona’ for our main weekly shop. As I reach the cash desk I ask them to call a Taxi to take me back up to the house, by then it was raining hard! After un-loading I had a welcome mug of strong tea and lightly buttered toast to settle me down for the day ahead!

As I set off this morning it was grey & overcast with the black clouds on the horizon, with a light breeze bringing in the latest rain storms, it now looks like they are in for the rest of the day, as forecast, by lunchtime it will be just 15 degs+ - cold for the time of the year, then over the weekend it’s now looking dry, warm & settled, with the sun back with us, just a few clouds in the blue sky, reaching 21/23 degs+ by the middle of next week, about time too! Watch this space.

This evening for our supper I have treated ourselves to a Whole ‘Rodaballo - Turbot ‘ – the ‘ Queen’ of Fish – the Fishmonger took the four large Fillets off the bone after cleaning the fish, it was the first ‘ Rodaballo’ of the season and had just arrived at the fish market counter, I will Pan-Sear of Bake the Fillets, lightly dusted in season flour, this evening, depending if they fit in my Fish Cooking Pan, finishing them ‘A La Meuniere’ style ( in the style of the ‘ Miller’s wife!)  with a burnt Lemon/ Caper& Parsley Butter, the ‘ wife’ has prepared Broccoli Florets, Asparagus Spears & Garden Peas ( a Green extravaganza!) with Parsley New Potatoes! ( more Green!)

This afternoon we will be watching the second day of the ‘Grand National Festival ‘ from Aintree, with the excellent coverage from ‘ITV’ – the course is looking very ‘ green’ after all the rain, it’s ‘ Ladies Day’ with the main race, the ‘Topham Chase’ over the Grand National fences, including the famous ‘ Chair’ and of course ‘ Becher’s Brook’ – then ‘ Valentine’s Brook’ before the ‘ Foinavon’ fence and the ‘ Canal Turn’

Iv'e told the story before about Aintree Racecourse'- as a child I used to play on the course, Mirabel Topham, the owner used to chase us ! I was taken into the famous 'Adelphi Hotel ' on 'Grand National Saturday' to see the flower decorations, as my Uncle was the Head Florist' for nearly 50 years!  For many years I would ride along the 'Melling Road ' across the middle of the course, on our bikes, with my Dad, on our way out to the hills of Lancashire. While I was at the ' Stork Hotel' we had the winning owners staying with us one year, a memorable night/ day followed! Our house in Aintree, in later years was just behind ' Becher's Brook' - you could see it on the TV. Happy Days and many Happy Memories!


 See below;

After supper this evening we will channel-hop to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WET & WINDY SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 2^nd/ MARCH 2018.

We had a little lie in this morning as I decided not to go out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, I will go tomorrow morning instead, when hopefully, as forecast, it’s not so bad! After a quick freshen up I wrapped up in the waterproofs and braved the elements as I took ‘ ‘Scooby’ out for his first walk of the day, when we returned ‘ Scooby ‘ was rubbed-down by Brenda, on the large bath towel, with vigour, meanwhile I was dripping onto the marble-tiled floor!

The only consolation was that Brenda welcomed me back with a ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butty’ and a mug of steaming tea! This afternoon ‘ Charlie’ is due to be dropped off, for his short break, until Monday, perfect weather for him, as he’s a ‘ Water Dog ‘!

Overnight the rain and storms returned, with a vengeance, the wind is very strong and has not stopped since, it’s grey & overcast with stormy clouds overhead, the rain is lashing in, it’s the second ‘Atlantic’ weather front to hit us, the first one, ‘Emma’ is now hitting the UK after the ‘ Beast from the East’ – the whole region, as well as Spain in on ‘Yellow/Orange’ alert, as you can see in the map below; the weekend is not looking as bad, but next week we are in for more of the same, with no sign of the sunshine returning, for now, it’s still hovering on the 12/13 degs mark during the night and the day time temperatures are 16/17 degs mark, so we can’t complain, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Deep-Fried Goujon’s of Hake Fillet ‘ – using breadcrumbs from the local Bakery, with homemade ‘ Tartar’ sauce on the side, with lots of Lemon Wedges, served with ‘Mushy Green Peas ‘ and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’

On Saturday evening it’s going to a ‘ Steak’ night and then on Sunday, for a change, I’m making my famous ‘ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto ‘

Last night we channel hopped and later watched the ‘ live’ football as Arsenal welcomed Manchester City, this time in the ‘Premier League’ – ‘ City’ won, again, 0-3, for the second time in less than a week, and played sublime ‘ team football ‘

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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