A 'CRISP & FRESH' SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 5^th/ DECEMBER 2019.

We were up a little early this morning and after a quick freshen up we shot down to Sabinillas to the ‘ English Bookshop’ for some more special ‘Xmas’ cards/calendars etc, it also happened to be the re-opening of the new refurbished ‘Mercadona’ – so we had a quick look around, see below.

When we came back to the house we had a nice toast & tea to set us up for the day ahead, here in Spain, this weekend it’s a long/official ‘ Bank Holiday’ as on Friday it’s the “ Dia de la Constitucion – Constitution Day “  ( back in 1978) – when they celebrate Spain becoming a democracy and then on Sunday it’s the main religious celebration of the “ Dia de la Inmaculada Concepcion – The Day of the Immaculate Conception “ – of the ‘ Virgin Mary’ – so Monday is the ‘ Bank Holiday’!

I will be out on my travels, down to Sabinillas on Saturday morning this week for our weekly shopping, as the new ‘ Mercadona’ is closed tomorrow! ( Bank Holiday ) !

Of course this weekend here in sunny Manilva we have the annual “ Xmas Gastronomic Food, Wine & Music Festival “ all taking place on the ‘ Plaza de la Vendemia’ from Friday to Sunday, starting tomorrow evening at 7-00 pm when the Mayor, Mario, turns on all the ‘Xmas’ decoration/lights, around the village, in the square and the new canopy of lights along ‘ Calle Mar’! Watch this space.

This morning started a little grey & overcast, but it’s now clearing and the sky is blue with a few patchy clouds hanging around, there is a light, cooling, breeze, with a little sunshine, so by lunchtime it’s only due to reach 15 degs+ - down to 9 degs during the night, tomorrow and over the weekend it’s going a little warmer, as the breeze drops, back up to 18/19degs+ - next week it’s staying the same, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ with sunshine and patchy clouds, next Thursday when we are going across to Malaga to see the new ‘Xmas Lights & Music Spectacular’ in ‘Calle Larios’  it’s at the moment showing ‘RAIN’ - sadly next weekend is now looking like we could have some more of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ – watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having a ‘Lob Scouse’ – I have added, last night, to the ‘Beef & Vegetable Stew’ some diced/boiled Potatoes, so when we re-heat the pan it will be a proper ‘ Lob Scouse’ – as it ‘ thickens’ - which we will have with Savoy Cabbage, Glazed Carrot Batons and of course ‘ Pickled Shredded Red Cabbage’!

                                                                                                   " LOB SCOUSE "  

At mid-day we are meeting Simone, down on the ‘Plaza de la Vendemia’ as she drops off ‘ Sunny’ for her short weekend break, she’s with us until Monday, on Sunday ‘ Chico’ is due to arrive for his short mini-break, until next Thursday morning, on Monday morning, next week, little ‘ Miss Bella’ is back with us for three days, watch this space.

This afternoon/evening we will be relaxing and taking things easy, Brenda is writing all the ‘Xmas’ cards, ready to go in the post by the start of next week. After supper we will be channel hopping to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A BEAUTIFUL WARM & SUNNY DAY HERE IN SUNNY MANILVA.

THURSDAY 15^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We were up early this morning and after a quick freshen up and toast & tea we shot off along the coast road, past a sparkling & calm Mediterranean, towards Sotogrande, we dropped down into ‘Pueble Nuevo de Guadioro ‘ to go the ‘ Overseas Supermarket ‘  (Iceland) for all our ‘ Christmas’ goodies! It’s an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ and we ended up buying far more than we should!!

The sun broke through earlier and the sky is bright blue with no clouds, there is no breeze so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 18/19 degs,  overnight 15 degs, the ‘ wet-stuff’ has gone away tomorrow, when we are out on our travels, down in Sabinillas, but then on Saturday it’s going to be heavy rain, which is in for the rest of the weekend and all of next week, going a lot cooler, as the week goes on, down to only 13 degs, overnight only 9 degs! The Oil Heaters will be on!! What is happening down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’?? Watch this space.

At lunchtime we went up to ' Bar Rojas ' and sat out in the very warm sunshine for a nice cool drink and Tapaas-

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Scouse’ I’ve added more diced/boiled Potatoes to the pot, the ‘Beef & Vegetable Stew’ has now ‘Matured’ into a proper ‘Lobscouse’ – it’s always better on the second day after re-heating!

On Friday evening it’s going to be a ‘Fish n’Chip Supper’ with Mushy Peas, then on Saturday we will be having our regular ‘ Steak Night’ – for Sunday Brenda has requested, for a change, an ‘English Pork Chop’ with the Kidney on and crisp ‘ Crackling’  - I will pick them up from the ‘ English Butchers’ down in the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ tomorrow morning, I’m going to top them with a ‘Mixed Herb Crust’ and bake them in the oven, served with ‘Lyonnaise’ Potatoes and a rich ‘Oxtail’ Gravy!

Last night after supper we settled down to watch the next riveting two-part episode of ‘ Dark Heart’ as the team, in and around seedy London, have another murder/murders to solve, at the same time with major family problems of their own to resolve, it’s the last in the series this evening.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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