A BEAUTIFUL WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY 28^th/ OCTOBER 2019.

We all managed a little lie in this morning before ‘ Sunny’ let us know that it was time to go out, she slept, as usual, downstairs on the settees, little ‘Paddy’ joined us on the bed sleeping on his ‘comfort’ rug, he’s due to be picked up later today, we love having him with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – he’s a real character, ‘Sunny’ is with us until Sunday, no little ‘ Miss Bella’ today & tomorrow as it’s the half-term holidays, as usual, ‘Chispa’ had been in & out all over the weekend. We then took then both out for their first walk of the day around the bottom of the village.

When we returned we had our regular light breakfast of ‘Weetabix’ with sliced Banana for me and brown toast for Brenda, also with some sliced Banana, with mugs of strong tea, to set us up for the week ahead,  Brenda is now washing/shampooing her hair and I have retired upstairs to the office/studio to go on the ‘ WWW’ and then type/post today’s ‘Blog’

We have another beautiful down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sun broke through earlier and the sky is blue with just a few patchy clouds hanging around, there is a very slight breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 22 degs+ - the perfect time of the year to be out & about, overnight staying on the 16/17 degs mark,  tomorrow it’s going to be warmer, up to 26 degs+ for the rest of the week, up to and including  Saturday, then on Sunday, as the new cold ‘Atlantic’ front comes in we are, possibiliy, in for some of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ – going a lot cooler as the breeze returns into next week, dropping down to 18/19 degs during the daytime and as low as 11 degs at night,  watch this space.

Over in North Wales it’s a little bit colder, as you can see below, in the two pictures, a view of ‘ Mount Snowdon ‘ and the top of the mountain, showing the ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’ station now closed for the winter!

Meanwhile over in ‘Mississauga ‘ – a large Canadian city, neighbouring Toronto, on Lake Ontario, at the “  Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens “ it was the marriage of Bill’s son, Dylan & Kritika, yesterday morning, with all the family wishing them a lifetime of ‘Happiness and Love’

See the pictures above, showing Sandra & Bill ( suited and booted!) in their finest, with Alanna & Blake and Neil & Nicole, one ‘ Helluva’ wedding, ‘ Health, Wealth & Happiness’ to Dylan & Kritika xxxx

Just a quick update on the sports results from yesterday; Liverpool won 2-1 and are six points clear at the top of the ‘Premiere League’ – over at the ‘Mexican Grand Prix’ – Lewis Hamilton was the surprise winner, as his team’s tactical gamble paid off!

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of ‘ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto ‘ – on Tuesday it’s going to be ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks’ with ‘Campo’ Fried Eggs & Chips, then on Wednesday I’m making a ‘Chicken & Mushroom Tarragon Pie’ – Thursday we be a ‘ left-over’s’ day, on Friday a ‘ Fish Supper’- Saturday our ‘ Steak Night’ and then on Sunday we will be ‘ Roasting’ – Brenda has asked for ‘ Lamb’ – watch this space.

This afternoon/evening we will be catching up with all the ‘Quiz Shows ‘ that we follow, then later channel hopping on the ‘BBC I-Player & ITV Hub’  as the ‘ITPV’ system is still playing up, when Lee returns from the UK, he will hopefully sort the problems out as well as getting the technical storage space sorted, so as I can show the pictures from last week, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 25^th/ JANUARY 2019.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas, for the weekly shopping, as the sun was coming up a above the Mediterranean, blinding you as I drove through the vine fields.

See below;

I was first into ‘ Mercadona’ for our main shop, I then popped along to the ‘ English Bookshop’  for the local weekly newspapers, next I called into our Bank, before going along to the far end of the promenade  for the fresh flowers & a wall plant, I then shot back up the hill to a very sunny Manilva to unload back at the house, this morning on my way to collect the car from the underground car park I stopped at the local ‘ Sub-Post Office’ to post a birthday card off to the UK, watch out it could be you! As I was putting the car away I went along to our local Garage to check out the new Owner, Tony, who has sub-let it from Pedro, nothing has changed and Pedro is still around. Watch this space.

As I said above we have a beautiful day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sun was out first thing and the sky is blue and cloudless, there is no breeze so it’s very pleasant to be out & about, it’s still ‘ crisp’ in the shade, but warm on the sunny side, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 20 degs+ but during the night it’s back to 8 degs+ - still cold for the time of the year, over the weekend it’s staying the same, if a little cooler, next week is looking like we are in for more of the same, but the threat of the ‘ wet-stuff’ is still in the air, hovering in the mid ‘teens, for now , watch this space.

See below the weather forecast for Estepona for next week.

While I was out Andrew Charles on the ‘ Breakfast Show’ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.S & Online on the WWW’ held the draw for this week’s winner of the ‘ Music Quiz’ ( no prize !) – I won, again, so he gave us a mention and sent his congratulations!

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Deep-Fried Fillets of Hake in Cruzcampo Beer Batter ‘ – served with Homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce and lots of Lemon Wedges, with ‘ Mushy Peas’ and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ – for our Saturday night special it’s going to the classic ‘ Steak Diane ‘ – using ‘ French’ trimmed ‘Entrecote Steaks’ – the on Sunday we are ‘ Roasting ‘ a fresh Chicken, with all the trimmings, including ‘ Goose Fat Roast Potatoes’!

At lunchtime we will go for a short walk around the village, and no doubt stop for refreshment at one of the local Bars, depending who is open, for a nice cool drink, this afternoon we will catch the ‘Quiz Shows’ and then this evening after supper we will settle down to watch the Friday evening regular programmes, yesterday evening on the ‘ Great Canadian Railway Journeys’ – Michael Portillo was on the “ Rocky Mountaineer “ from Kamloops to the spa resort of Banff, a spectacular journey on the private luxury train, see below;

PS; We ended up at ' Bar Castillo' sat outside in the hot sunshine, for our drinks and some of Juan's excellent 'Tapas'!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY ' SHARP ' BUT STILL VERY SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 13^th/ JANUARY 2019.

Well this morning we actually overslept for the first time in ages, the village as usual is very quiet, more so on a Sunday, with no children playing out, the traffic not passing, the neighbours not chatting outside, as it’s too cold, no dogs asking to go out and the church bells not ringing until later! After showering/ freshening up we had our usual fresh fruit, toast and tea.

See below the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ yesterday.

The sun broke through earlier in the morning and as there is a light breeze the clouds have cleared and the sky is already blue, so the sun is back in sunny Manilva, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 16 degs+ down to only 8 degs during the night, next week is starting the same but by Wednesday we could be in for some of the ‘wet-stuff’- partly cloudy at times, but still hovering in the mid ‘ teens’ – next weekend is looking settled but still cool by our standards, for the time of the year, watch this space.

Next week we only have ‘ Scruffy’ on Tuesday afternoon, with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ – ‘ Chispa’ will no doubt be in & out all the time, she’s just called this morning and is the cleanest and prettiest little ‘ girl’ in the village , as she been trimmed & shampooed and smells like a little ‘ tart’!

Next week, one morning, now Monday, we are going across to Estepona to my ‘Barber’- Manuel and for some retail-shopping, no doubt, we are then making contact with the family lawyers to arrange an appointment with them to renegotiate the contract on the House, which is due in February, at the same time we give them a list of the repairs etc ( long!) that needs attention, watch this space.

On Friday I will be out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping. We will also be chasing up the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ for some overdue appointments, Brenda’s ‘Heart’ Consultation and my ‘Hand’  Physiotherapy!

While I’ve been typing today’s Blog I have been listening to the “ Pete Black Retro Roadshow “ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online  on the WWW’ – the ‘Movie Clip Quiz’ this morning was a little more difficult, but I got it right, it was Leonard Nimoy as ‘ Spock’ in the 2009 movie “ Star Trek “ – as Pete says – ‘Bang On ‘ – you must win the mug before long ! Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Pan-Seared Medallions of Pork Fillet’ cut from the center of the Fillet, the rest of the Pork will be flattened and used for ‘ Pork Schnitzels’ tomorrow evening, the ‘ Medallions’ are garnished with seared Button Mushrooms and are accompanied with a sauceboat of a creamy ‘Green Peppercorn’ Sauce, with Glazed Carrot Batons with Ginger, whole ‘French’ Green Beans and our favourite ‘ Pommes Rissolees’ – Baby New Potatoes in their skins, boiled, then cut in half and tossed in foaming Parsley Butter until crisp & brown all over!

At lunchtime we are going for a short walk along ‘ Calle Mar ‘ to stretch the legs, as we missing going out walking with all the dogs, early this evening we are making contact on the ‘ Skype’ video with Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, at 6-00 pm here, noon over in Canada, for our first catch-up of 2019.


We ended up back at ' Bar Rojas' sat outside in the very hot sunshine, as the breeze had dropped, having nice cool drinks and Monica's excellent Tapas, including her ' Empanadas Carne ' - slices of short-cut/puff pastry filled with a savoury Mince! 

On Friday there was a deadly bus crash in Ottawa, a double-decker, besides Alanna’s workplace, she takes the ‘ OC Transpo’ daily  and it happened at the bus station that one of Sandra’s best friends uses, so very tragic, but all her family & friends are safe.

After supper we will settle down to watch the TV, a new series of the excellent ‘ Vera’ starring Brenda Blethyn in the title role, starts the evening.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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 SUNDAY 13^th/ JANUARY 2019.

Well this morning we actually overslept for the first time in ages, the village as usual is very quiet, more so on a Sunday, with no children playing out, the traffic not passing, the neighbours not chatting outside, as it’s too cold, no dogs asking to go out and the church bells not ringing until later! After showering/ freshening up we had our usual fresh fruit, toast and tea.

See below the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ yesterday.

The sun broke through earlier in the morning and as there is a light breeze the clouds have cleared and the sky is already blue, so the sun is back in sunny Manilva, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 16 degs+ down to only 8 degs during the night, next week is starting the same but by Wednesday we could be in for some of the ‘wet-stuff’- partly cloudy at times, but still hovering in the mid ‘ teens’ – next weekend is looking settled but still cool by our standards, for the time of the year, watch this space.

Next week we only have ‘ Scruffy’ on Tuesday afternoon, with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ – ‘ Chispa’ will no doubt be in & out all the time, she’s just called this morning and is the cleanest and prettiest little ‘ girl’ in the village , as she been trimmed & shampooed and smells like a little ‘ tart’!

Next week, one morning, we are going across to Estepona to my ‘Barber’- Manuel and for some retail-shopping, no doubt, we are then making contact with the family lawyers to arrange an appointment with them to renegotiate the contract on the House, which is due in February, at the same time we give them a list of the repairs etc ( long!) that needs attention, watch this space.

On Friday I will be out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping. We will also be chasing up the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ for some overdue appointments, Brenda’s ‘Heart’ Consultation and my ‘Hand’  Physiotherapy!

While I’ve been typing today’s Blog I have been listening to the “ Pete Black Retro Roadshow “ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online  on the WWW’ – the ‘Movie Clip Quiz’ this morning was a little more difficult, but I got it right, it was Leonard Nimoy as ‘ Spock’ in the 2009 movie “ Star Trek “ – as Pete says – ‘Bang On ‘ – you must win the mug before long ! Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Pan-Seared Medallions of Pork Fillet’ cut from the center of the Fillet, the rest of the Pork will be flattened and used for ‘ Pork Schnitzels’ tomorrow evening, the ‘ Medallions’ are garnished with seared Button Mushrooms and are accompanied with a sauceboat of a creamy ‘Green Peppercorn’ Sauce, with Glazed Carrot Batons with Ginger, whole ‘French’ Green Beans and our favourite ‘ Pommes Rissolees’ – Baby New Potatoes in their skins, boiled, then cut in half and tossed in foaming Parsley Butter until crisp & brown all over!

At lunchtime we are going for a short walk along ‘ Calle Mar ‘ to stretch the legs, as we missing  going out walking with all the dogs, early this evening we are making contact on the ‘ Skype’ video with Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, at 6-00 pm here, noon over in Canada, for our first catch-up of 2019.

On Friday there was a deadly bus crash in Ottawa, a double-decker, besides Alanna’s workplace, she takes the ‘ OC Transpo’ daily  and it happened at the bus station that one of Sandra’s best friends uses, so very tragic, but all her family & friends are safe.

After supper we will settle down to watch the TV, a new series of the excellent ‘ Vera’ starring Brenda Blethyn in the title role, starts the evening.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY. " DIA DE CORPUS CHRISTI "

THURSDAY 31^st MAY 2018.

We had a nice lie in this morning, as the village and our street was very quiet, the ‘ Contractors’ workmen are clearing away all the mess, doing the last touches to the flag stones etc, we are now waiting to see how it is finished, outside the Town Hall they have just put up four new flag poles on the front of the building, all the Bars ( 6) have their Tables, Chairs & Umbrellas out ( White!)

See below ‘ Bar Rojas and the Town Hall ‘ this morning.

After freshening up we had our normal light breakfast of toast & tea as we sorted out the shopping list for tomorrow morning, when I’m out on my travels down to Sabinillas.  ‘ Chispa’ came calling early, she will be very happy next week when ‘Paddy’ arrives on Monday lunchtime for  (two months!) holiday. ‘Reina’ is also back with us on Monday for three days! ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ is back to normal! 

  

I have just been along the local Bank in ‘Calle Mar’ for some cash, the sun was out first thing this morning and the sky is clear and bright blue, as you can see above, it was already warm, there is just a very slight breeze, so by lunchtime it will hotter and reach 26/27 degs+ - the rest of the week and over the weekend it will be hovering in the mid 20s, next week is now looking dry, settled, warm & sunny, getting hotter as the week goes on, reaching nearly 30 degs at times, it’s looking very good for next Thursday when our dear friends Jason & Donna are here with us in sunny Manilva for the day/ night! Watch this space.

Yesterday afternoon I popped across to the local Hospital in Estepona for my appointment with the ‘ Trauma Consultant ‘ She was very thorough and gave me a good check over and re-viewed all my records/medications etc, she then checked my ‘Dodgy’ left-hand and confirmed that it’s ‘ Arthritis ‘ caused by ‘ Tendinitis’ – she then started me on a course of ‘ Cortisone ‘ injections (2) in the palm of my hand, I’ve to go back in six weeks time for more injections and then will be re-viewed for more if necessary, watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Omelettes of Choice ‘ – Brenda is having Cheese ( grated Cheddar & Parmesan) and I’m having “ Omelette Parmentier “ – diced  Crispy Smoked Bacon & cooked Potato – with a little selection of fresh vegetables and some hand-cut, twice-cooked ‘ Stringfellows’ in the ‘Basket’! Both Omelettes have the ingredients folded in, not added before cooking, before the Omelette is tuned out/over onto a warm plate and shaped.

This evening we will be channel hopping to find something to watch, next week there are some new series starting/returning, as at the moment, all the main channels are very un-interesting, with at times only documentaries on animals, nature, flowers etc!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A ' CRISP' & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 4th/ APRIL 2018.

I was up early this morning to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she shot upstairs and joined us on the bed for a little lie in for all of us, later she went into her duvet, as usual, later this morning ‘ Scruffy’ is joining us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ for the day as Rose has to go back to Hospital for a check up, we will wait and see how long he could be with us, no doubt ‘ Chispa’ will come calling later to see her friends, which she has missed, watch this space.

NB; ' Scruffy ' as been to ' Groomer's ' this morning, see below his before and after pictures!

We had our regular light breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ toast & tea, before sorting our day out, I have to go down, later this afternoon, to the main ‘ Medical Centre’ in Sabinillas to start my course of injections for my ‘ B12 Vitamin’ deficiency, two to start and then one a month, for the first six months, Brenda picked up the prescription/vial, from our local Chemists, yesterday lunchtime, which I have to take with me! Watch this space.

This morning has started dry & sunny, for a change, the sky is clear and blue, there is just a light breeze and by lunchtime the temperature is due to reach 19/20degs+ - Thursday & Friday are the same, then on Saturday the wet stuff is due to return, on Sunday its dry, next week is now looking mixed, with sun and scattered showers with the overall temperatures hovering on the 17/18 degs+ mark! Watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks’ – topped with seared Pineapple Rings and of course a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg!- served with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas, with twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ – not forgetting the ‘HP’ Brown sauce on the side. On Thursday evening it’s our favourite ‘Grilled Chicken Wings ‘ with a Baked Potato, Friday will be a ‘ Fish Supper’ depending on the market selection and then on Saturday it’s ‘ Steak Night’ Sunday is still TBC – watch this space.

After supper this evening we are going to channel hop and find a film to watch, or perhaps I will be able to watch the football as in the ‘ Champions League’ it’s the Quarter Finals, as Liverpool welcome Manchester City in their first leg clash and Barcelona are at home to Roma?!

Last night Real Madrid thrashed/demolished Juventus 0 -3 with Ronaldo scoring an  incredible, acrobatic overhead bicycle- kick, to beat the veteran goalkeeper Buffon, one of the great goals of the ‘ Champions’League, even the Juventus crowd rose to applaud him!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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