A GLORIOUS WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 2^nd/ JUNE 2019.     “ RED SUNDAY “

We had a little lie in this morning as we had to be up to welcome back ‘ Lolo’ for his holiday with us in ‘Doggy World Heaven’ – he remembered us and has already settled in, he’s at my feet as I’m starting to type/post today’s Blog.

After freshening up Marta and her husband Jose, dropped him off, we then had breakfast, Brenda squeezed the fresh, local Orange Juice, meanwhile I was on the breakfast rota so we had ‘ Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – on soft, white, buttered bread for me, smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce, on the latest bottles, the company have changed the picture of ‘Big Ben ‘ – now showing it all covered in scaffolding, as it’s not going be finished until 2021!  Brenda had her butty, open on brown toast as usual, with mugs of strong tea.

We have yet another glorious morning down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sun was out first thing as there is a very pleasant light breeze, the clouds have cleared and the sky is bright blue. It’s the perfect time of the year, before the really ‘ hot-weather’ hits us,  along with the holiday hoards! It will be 25 degs+ by lunchtime, at the start of next week it’s going up to 31 degs+ - then for the rest of the week and over next weekend it will be hovering in the high 20s, watch this space.

See below, even Spain has turned ‘Red’!

So Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 and won the ‘UEFA Champions League Cup ‘ for the sixth time! A early penalty, by Salah and a late goal by Origi,  secured the win, as they made history!!

See below, as the sky over Liverpool went ‘Red’!

Yesterday evening we picked up Kevin & Caroline from their apartment down in Sabinillas, in a taxi, and then carried on down to the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’- we first had a nice round of drinks at one of the main ‘Bar/Restaurants’ at the front of the Marina, which of course was packed with Liverpool supporters, as we caught the first, very early goal, we then went upstairs to the ‘Kinnaree Thai Restaurante’ were the  very pleasant lady owner, who over the past years has had three baby girls! -  welcomed us to a nice window table, overlooking the Marina at dusk!

A nice bottle of a chilled ‘Cava Rosado’ was enjoyed as we chose from the extensive Menu;  to start the‘ Thai Chicken Spring Rolls, Siu Mai Pork Dumplings, Deep Fried and Spare-Ribs with Salt & Pepper’ - for our main course Brenda & Caroline had the ‘ Sizzling Lamb with Ginger, Spring Onions & Garlic, Kevin choose the Crispy Roasted Peking Duck with Pancakes, Spring Onions, Cucumber & Hoi Sin sauce’ and I had my usual  ‘ Massamen King Prawn Curry*** ‘ all accompanied with side orders of ‘ Vegetable Chow Mien Noodles, Three Delights Egg Fried Rice & Singapore Rice Noodles’! I choose a very nice bottle of ‘ Rueda Sauvigon Blanc ‘ to accompany our meal, the usual ‘ House’ Liquors to finish, Brandies & Caramel Vodka!!  

A lovely evening with nice friends and great company, ‘ Thanks ‘ – yet again for supper, we are looking forward to your next visit.

Just a quick update on the sports results; Anthony Josha lost all his three  ‘World’ boxing heavyweight titles, at ‘Madison Square Garden, in New York, to a Mexican ‘Rouded’ fighter, who was the underdog at ‘1-25 on’ to be beaten by a knockout!

Over at the ‘French Open Tennis’ in Paris, Serena Williams was stunned, in the third round, as a young, unseeded American beat her.

Meanwhile in the ‘Derby’ at Epsom Downs,  the horse‘ Anthony Van Dyck’ won, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his record-equalling seventh winner.

Finally in the ‘ Giro d’Italia’- the ‘Ecuadorian’ Richard Carapaz retained the ‘ Maglia Rosa’ Leaders jersey going into today’s final individual time trial in Verona.

At lunchtime we are going along to ‘Bar Castillo ‘ after our first walk with ‘Lolo’ – for a nice cool drink and some light ‘Tapas’ sat outside in the hot sunshine.

In the early evening we  are making contact with Sandra & Bill, over in a  rather wet & damp Everett, Ontario, Canada, on the ‘Skype’ video, for a catch up with all their news.

For our supper this evening I’m cooking to order my now famous “ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto “ – I first ‘ sweat-off’ the finally diced Shallots, with a little Garlic, add the ‘ Spanish Arborio’ Rice, together with a large ‘ glug’ of White Wine, before slowly adding the hot ‘Chicken & Vegetable’ stocks, stirring all the time, it’s then time to add the Diced, Cooked ‘Smoked Chicken’ with all the juices, before the pre-cooked ‘Baby Broad Beans, Runner Beans & ‘ French’ Green Beans- prepared by the ‘ Second Chef’ – then adjusting the seasoning to taste, with a little cream & Parmesan cheese, garnished with Asparagus Spears.

This evening after supper we will settle down to watch the next episode of ‘ Gentleman Jack ‘ – back in 1832, as she ‘ fights’ to save her ancestral home and gain the love of her life, the ‘ sweet’ virgin ‘Ann’! Watch this space.

PS; As usual while I have been typing/posting today’s Blog I have been listening to the ‘Pete Black Retro Roadshow’ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – this month’s first  ‘Film Quiz’ came on, ‘Lady’ Brenda got it, again, and has gone into this month’s draw for the ‘ Mug’ – “ Airplane “ from 1980 with Leslie Nielsen! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....

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

FRIDAY 24^th/ MAY 2019.

I was up early this morning, for the last time this week, after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas, through the green vine fields, with the sun up above a calm & sparkling Mediterranean, for our weekly shopping, down in Sabinillas.

I popped into ‘ ItZabar’ for my usual toast & tea, Kevin, the owner is away for ten days, working on his new house up in Alicante, next week, ‘Big Brian’ with Brad & Andy had been in for an afternoon session yesterday!

I then did our main shop in a busier ‘ Mercadona’ – where I bumped into Kevin, our friend from Brighton, who arrived yesterday with his wife Caroline and two friends, at their apartment in Sabinillas, just across the road from the Supermarket! We have booked a nice round table, on the terrace at ‘ Restaurante Sarmiento’ tomorrow lunchtime, Saturday, as it’s Caroline’s 60^th Birthday celebrations, over the weekend! Watch this space

This morning started a little cloudy & overcast, but the sun soon broke through and the clouds are clearing as there is a light breeze, by this afternoon it’s going back up to 27 degs+ - over the weekend it’s staying the same as the breeze drops a little, next week we are in for a hot & very sunny time, with just a few patchy clouds, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – on Wednesday reaching 30 degs+ - a little cooler next weekend as the breeze stiffens, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having “ Posh Fish n’Chips “ – Fillets of Hake dipped in a ‘ Cruzcampo Beer Batter ‘ – shallow fried in Vegetable Oil, until crisp & golden, served with ‘Mushy Peas’ and of course ‘ Triple’ cooked ‘ Chips’ – with lots of Lemon Wedges and not forgetting the Homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce on the side! Our ‘ Steak Night’ has been moved to Sunday , as we are out for lunch tomorrow with the folks.

Yesterday evening after supper we watched a very exciting documentary about the American rock climber ‘Alex Honnold’ - best known for his free solo ascents of big walls, without ropes or safety gear, as he attempted to climb the 3,200 foot face ‘ El Capitan’ in the ‘Yosemite National Park’  in California’s Sierra Nevada – which he did in 3 hours & 56 minutes, in 2017, becoming the first and only person to ‘ Free Solo’- the ‘Freerider’ route – one of the great athletic feats of any kind, catch the award winning ‘Free Solo’ documentary, even the cameraman filming it couldn’t watch!!

See below;

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....

A ' FRESH' WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON 'MOTHERING' SUNDAY.- HERE IN SPAIN.

SUNDAY 5^th/ MAY 2019.   “ MOTHERS DAY – DIA DE MADRE “

We all had another long lie in this morning as the village is very quiet, the church bells don’t start until later, calling the ‘faithful’ to Mass,  it’s also ‘ Communium ‘ time, so there are lots of ceremonies/parties taking place at the same time, as it’s ‘ Mother’s day’ here in Spain, it will be busy with all the famlies getting together later.

‘Chico’ spent most of the night on the Marble floor under the bed, as it’s getting a little warmer, Brenda took him out for his first walk of the day, around the bottom of the village, he’s such a good little ‘ Boy’ – great company, he gets on with the other dogs, ‘Chispa’ is in and out all the time, he’s due to be collected on Tuesday morning.

As I was on the breakfast rota we had ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP ‘ Brown sauce – open on brown for Brenda & Chico! Not forgetting mugs of strong/hot ‘PG ‘ Tea, to set us up for the day ahead.

Next week I’m back at the ‘ Estepona Hospital’ for more treatment on my left hand, at the ‘Physiotherapy’ Department, on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday morning, Tuesday is a ‘ Training Day’ – then on Friday morning I will be back out on my travels, down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping.

Yesterday we sent a message to Sandra & Bill, on  the ‘Facebook Messenger’ - over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, as it was Bill’s birthday ( the card made it!) They had just had a lovely lie in, Bill was getting their trailer out of storage later, as the weather forecast was good, after more snow last Monday, in two weeks time they are going on a ‘ Glamping ‘weekend to Hope Bay, they were going out for dinner, this evening, at a friend’s house, who have a home theatre with a 107 inch HD screen! Today they are going for a drive and a spot of Lunch, “ Happy Birthday ‘ Bill -  it means so much to us, also, to have you both in our lives!!

This morning we have another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sun was out first thing, the sky cleared, as there is a stiff breeze blowing, of the Mediterranean, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 25 degs+  - a little cooler in the shade, overnight down to 14/15 degs, tomorrow will be a little warmer, then the rest of next week is hovering on the 26/27 degs, mark, with sunshine and just a few patchy clouds at times, going a little cooler next weekend as the breeze increases, the following week is looking even better, watch this space.

Just a very quick update on the footballs scores; most importantly Liverpool won 2-3, going into the final ‘ Premiere League’ game next weekend, over here Barcelona lost 2-0, with a changed team as they prepare to face Liverpool, at Anfield, on Tuesday evening, in the second-leg of the semi-finals of the ‘ UEFA Champions League’ – with a 3-0 lead!

At lunchtime we went along to ' Bar Castillo ' for a nice cool drink, sat outside in the warm sunshine, it was very busy with locals, we had a small selection of 'Tapas' including his Paella & 'Tiger Prawns' on skewers! 

This evening for our supper it’s a ‘ Favourites Night’ – as requested Brenda is having ‘ A Confit of Duck Leg’ – with ‘ Al dente’ Stir-Fried assorted Vegetables and I’m having an ‘ Angus Rib-Eye Steak ‘ topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg! – both served with ‘ Pommes Allumettes’ !!

While I have been typing/posting today’s ‘Blog’ and Brenda has been doing the ironing, we have been listening to ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW ’ – then the ‘Pete Black Retro Roadshow’ - as the ‘ Movie Quiz’ came on, ‘Lady’ Brenda got it straight away, it was ‘ Robert De Niro’ in “ Taxi Driver” from 1976! Hopefully she will be in the draw for this month’s ‘ Mug’ Watch this space.

This evening after supper we will be settling down to watch the final extended episode of the very gripping & exciting “ Line of Duty “ as series 5 reaches it’s climax,  will all the questions be answered?!  Watch this space to find out, if you want too?!

                                                                                                                
                                                                                            " Who is H " ?! 

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

....

A WET & WINDY SUNNY MANILVA ON ' MAUNDY' THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 18^th/ APRIL 2019.    “ MAUNDY THURSDAY “

We were both up very early this morning and after freshening up we shot out on our travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping and Brenda going to her hairdresser, Annie, for a cut/style, we had a quick toast & tea in ‘ ItZabar’ before popping along to a very busy ( holiday makers)  ‘Mercadona’ -  we shot back up the house to drop off all the shopping and we then popped back down to the hairdressers shop, just as the heavy rain was starting, I put the car away in the underground car park and then collected her later, when she called, to pick her up!

Overnight the ‘RAIN’ hit us and it looks like we are in for more of the ‘ wet-stuff’ later today, the sky is black with storm clouds, there is a light ‘ Levante’ breeze blowing up from the rough & grey Mediterranean, we are in for a wet & cold ‘ Easter Weekend’ sadly, with patchy clouds, moderate to heavy rain and hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – low 20s – down to 11/13 degs overnight, next week is not looking much better, when we will be staying over in Malaga with Jane & David, on Tuesday/Wednesday, by next weekend hopefully the sun is due to return, watch this space.

This evening the procession of the tableau of ‘ Jesus Nazareno ‘ – my ‘ Brotherhood’ is due to take place through the village and along ‘ Calle Mar’ –  at 11-00 pm, after Mass at the ‘Iglesia Santa Ana’ Church, they are watching the weather with ‘ Fingers-Crossed’! Fridays main village procession is looking very unlikely and Sundays two processions are also under threat, watch this space.

See below the start of last year s procession when the ‘ Brotherhood’s Penitants’ raise the tableau above their heads!

Last night we were glued to the TV as we watched the most exciting, riveting, breathtaking, dramatic, extraordinary game of ‘European Football’ ever, as Manchester City lost to Tottenham Hotspur, they won 4-3 on the night, but lost 4-4 on aggregate on the away goal rule, after Manchester City scored in the final minutes, only for it to be ruled by the ‘VAR’ system offside! From ecstasy to agony in seconds, as City’s chance of winning four ‘ Cups’ disappeard in a flash!! Tottenham Hotspur face the young exciting team of Ajax in the semi-final two legs, meanwhile this Saturday in the ‘Premiere League’ – Manchester City are home to guess who, Tottenham Hotspur! - watch this space.

At the same time we were watching Liverpool blitz AC Porto 1-4, on aggregate 1-6, to breeze through to a mouth-watering ‘ UEFA Champions ‘ League semi final first leg against Barcelona, with the second leg back at Anfield!! 

This evening for our supper we are having the rest of the ‘ Cottage Pie’ – we are saving the ‘ Chicken Wings’ for another night, for our ‘ Fish Supper’ on ‘Good Friday’ it’s going to be ‘Pan-Seared Fillets of the Tail-End of Salmon’- then on Saturday the classic ‘ Steak Diane’ –using ‘ French’ trimmed ‘Entrecote Steaks’ – finally on ‘ Easter Sunday’ for a change it’s going to be my now famous ‘ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto’

See below, Jane’s ‘ Baps’ – this morning’s ‘ Hot Cross Buns’  appearing at her ‘Williamson’s Bakery’ over in Northwich, Cheshire!

After supper we will settle down to watch the TV and then later if the procession takes place I will shoot out to the top of our street to take some pictures, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....