A VERY ' FRESH' AND STILL DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 4^th/ JANUARY 2020.

Well to say that we had a nice long lie in this morning is somewhat of an understatement, if fact we overslept until 11-00am! Our excuse is that the village was very quiet, as usual, no children, no neighbours etc, as well as no deliveries, in fact the gas-bottle delivery man was also late! We had the shutter totally closed and of course we have no guests in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – and no alarm going off to get me out on my travels!!

After freshening up we had Brenda’s famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, scrambled for her on brown, with mugs of hot/strong tea to get us on our way for another ‘ Bank Holiday Weekend’ down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ in sunny Manilva!

We then has a nice surprise ‘ guest’ as ‘ Chispa’ came crashing in, she is back to her normal happy self, full of joy, barking etc, after her nasty operation, just before Xmas, she looks fully recovered and back to normal.

Brenda then popped along to our local ‘ Chemists’ in Calle Mar for some of our prescription tablets.

This morning has started ‘ fresh’ as the breeze has got up a little, the sky is clearing and the clouds are going away, the blue sky is just showing, so by lunchtime it will reach just 15 degs+ staying the same tomorrow, overnight down to 9 degs+ - with also the small threat of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ hanging in the air.

Next week is starting dry & sunny, partly cloudy and with a stiff breeze, so we are in for more of the same, hovering in the mid ‘teens’ – 14/15 degs, cold for the time of the year, by next weekend going a little ‘damp’ as the next ‘ Atlantic’ front comes in, watch this space.

Yesterday on the ‘ Councils’ web-page they announced that the work is to start, next Tuesday, after the ‘ Bank Holiday’ - on the main road, ’Alvarez Leiva’ into the village, starting at the main roundabout and up past the Police/Fire Station/ Wine Museum & the ‘Plaza de la Vendimia’ to the junction with the old ring road/the entrance to ‘ Call Mar’!  They are replacing the drains and water mains, rejoining all the services etc and then resurfacing the road and pavements, as well as new lighting and seating, there is going to be a one-way traffic system during all the work, all this will cause major traffic problems coming into and leaving  the village, the local bus will have to be diverted, as well as maintaining the ‘ Fire Station’ accessibility!!  Watch this space.

On the sports front this weekend; over in the UK it’s the Third Round of the ‘ Emirates FA Cup’ as Manchester City welcome Port Vale and tomorrow Liverpool are at home to Everton! Over here the ‘ La Liga’ returns after the three-week ‘Xmas’ break, Real Madrid travel to Getafe and Espanyol welcome Barcelona, their near neighbours!

The ‘ National Hunt Racing’ this afternoon is from Sandown Park & Wincanton.

For our supper this evening Brenda is having her favourite ‘ Confit of Duck Leg ‘- ‘ crisped’ in a very hot oven, while I’m having a ‘ Grilled Rib-Eye Angus Steak ‘ garnished with seared Button Mushrooms, cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – pink no blood! Both served with whole Baby ‘French’ Green Beans & Broccoli Florets and of course triple-cooked ‘ Frits’

This afternoon we will be watching the horse racing and then later after supper channel hopping, last night we caught the final episode to the three-part Police/Murder crime drama ‘ Bancroft ‘ on ‘ITV’ – with two big surprise endings, which I won’t give away, watch is to find out!!

PP; Not forgetting that tomorrow evening at 6-30 pm-ish it's the parade of the ' Three Kings - Dia de los Reyes' along ' Calle Mar' 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

A CLOUDY BUT LATER SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE STAR OF AN 'HELLUVA' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 7^th/ DECEMBER 2018.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, ‘Scoobie’ & Brenda had a little lie in, I popped into ‘ itZabar’ for my toast & tea before ‘ Mercadona ‘ opened, for our main shop, after picking up the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’  I dropped down into the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to call at the ‘ English Butchers’ for some essentials, then I shot along to the far end of the promenade in Sabinillas to go to the local market for some fresh flowers, wall plants and our first ‘ Poinsettia’! We have ordered 3 large special ones locally from a friend ( local Charity) Finally on the way back up the hill I stopped at ‘ Super Sol’ for our usual essentials, before unloading back at the house.

Brenda had taken ‘ Scoobie’ out for his first walk of the day, he’s settled in very well and is great company, he’s real character and so easy to look after, at lunchtime little prince ‘ Paddy ‘ is arriving for his long weekend break, ‘Chispa’ as usual, is in & out all the time.



PS; Little Prince ' Paddy ' has just arrived, with his bed, blanket, a bag of ' goodies' and his 'Xmas Coat ' ! He's already settled in and is his usual 'Happy' self, sat on my knee as I'm typing this!!

This morning has started grey & overcast and very cold, last night on our final walk of the day there was a thick sea mist all over the village, it was the same this morning as I set off down to Sabinillas, you couldn’t see the Mediterranean, the forecast is for the sun to break through and by this afternoon it will be hovering on the 22degs+ mark, over the weekend we are in for more of the same, next week is now looking  more settled, partly cloudy, but the ‘ wet-stuff’ has gone away, hovering in the low 20s, good news for our trip out next Thursday afternoon/evening, to go across to Malaga to the see the Xmas Lights! Watch this space.

As I was walking back up from the underground car park, past the ‘Plaza de la Vendemia’ it was all happening , the stall holders were stocking up, the Council have finished the stage/seating for this evenings opening concert, by a well known local ‘Flamenco’ singer, last night they put up the modern ‘Xmas Tree’ ( larger this year) – the official opening of the “ Gastronomic Food & Wine Festival “ is at 7-00 pm this evening when at the same time all the ‘Christmas Lights’ at the entrance to the village, sadly no lights along the new ‘ Calle Mar’ at the moment, as well as the Tree, will be turned on, at the same time the local ‘Parranda’ Bands (3) will be playing! Three days of partying, singing, dancing, eating & drinking will follow!! Watch this space. 

PS; This afternoon the ' Council' finally put up White lights along/under the new Canopy in 'Calle Mar' - just in time for the official ' Switch-On ' this evening!

Yesterday afternoon/evening we started to put up our ‘ Christmas’ decorations & tree, we ‘ found’ a new Pine Tree locally, for the bits over the glasses cabinet, see below a ‘ three-shades’ picture selection!

We have also bought our lottery ticket(1) for the “ El Gordo – The Fat One “ draw on Saturday 22^nd, its’ the same number every year, in the village, it costs, 21 Euros, - watch this space as we all could be ‘Millionaires’ by Christmas !!



At lunchtime on our walk with the two dogs we first checked out the new Dress Shop in 'Calle Iglesia ' before calling into the 'Butchers' for a local Chicken, to roast on Sunday, we then came back to ' Bar Rojas' for a nice cool drink, sat outside in the now warm sunshine, where we had some perfect Tapas, Brenda had two large ' Gambas a la Plancha' and I had Monica's excellent savoury ' Empanada's' just out of the oven! 



This afternoon ' Father Christmas ' and his ' Assistants' have arrived in sunny Manilva !  See below.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Pan-Seared Tail-End of Salmon Fillets’ finished ‘ A La Meuniere’ style, with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas, with Baby New Parsley Potatoes in their Skins! On Saturday it’s going to be a large ‘ Grilled Rib of Beef – on the Bone’ with all the trimmings.

After supper we will channel hop to find something to watch later.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

A VERY COLD, OVERCAST & DAMP SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 6^th JANUARY 2018.     “ FIESTA DE LOS REYES “

We had a nice lie in this morning as the village is very quiet, to say the least, it’s a ‘ Bank Holiday ‘ here in Spain on ‘ Three Kings Day ‘ – all the shops and bars are closed, for now, the children are still on holiday, no neighbours out as it’s rather cold, with a very stiff breeze blowing, the Church bells will start later!

Yesterday evening I missed the ‘Three Kings ‘ parade as I was out collecting the car from the garage, it’s all repaired and going very well, as it should after all the work, at great expense! It was due to be dropped off earlier, before we went out to James & Michala’s wedding reception down in ‘Bar Pedreta’ – but as usual ‘Pedro’ didn’t arrive on time!

James & Michala were married in Gibraltar earlier in the morning with our dear Irish friends Mick & Illona as the witnesses, we popped down to congratulate the happy couple and ended up staying for the Paella, two sorts, Fish & Meat, before the cake cutting. The photographer at the registry office was Daniela, as she was off work, it’s one of her many talents!


See below the ' classic ' Gibraltar wedding picture of the happy couple.

And at the reception;

During all the excitement of yesterday I forgot to pick up our 'Roscon de Ryes ' cake from the local Bakery so we will have to wait until Monday!

Brenda shot out with the camera, in the early evening, while I was sorting the car out, but sadly just missed the start, of the rather poor parade, this year, as it set off around the village on a different route.  So sadly no pictures this year.( so far )

See  below some pictures from earlier in the day;

Overnight the rain arrived along with a very cold wind, this morning, at the moment, it’s dry but overcast, cloudy with storm clouds in the sky, more rain to come later, no doubt, by this afternoon it will be only 12/13 degs, if we are lucky, over the next two days it’s more of the same, but keeping dry, the rest of next week is looking a little warmer, reaching 16/17 degs, fingers crossed, with just the threat of the wet stuff in the air, watch this space.




See the view down in Sabinillas this afternoon as the storm clouds clear over the beach.

Meanwhile over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, Sandra's house is covered and the road outside is looking beautiful as the ' Winter Snow ' hits them hard !

All this means that we are now able to meet up with, as arranged, our dear friend Joyce ( Baby) tomorrow lunchtime and go along to our favourite restaurant for their excellent ‘ Sunday Roast Lunch’ – “ Kokomo “ over in Estepona, were we will have a good catch-up & gossip with all her news.

Next week in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’  ‘Chico’ is arriving on Tuesday for another weeks holiday and then on Wednesday little princess ‘ Reina’ is back with us for her usual three days, no sign of ‘ Chispa’ at the moment, as Isobel is not very well and is not letting her out!

Earlier this evening we had a nice surprise when Jan called in with ' Charlie' to wish us a ' Happy New Year ' - she also gave Brenda a very nice bouquet of flowers as a 'thank you ' - sadly on 'New Year's Eve' morning ' Charlie' was attacked and badly bitten by a local Alsatian, on his back, while Brian was out walking him, unusually Brian had him on the lead, he's back to his normal self and came charging up our street and shook the front door!

We are also going to make appointments down at the Medical Centre, in Sabinillas, next week, to see our Doctor, Natalia, for check-ups/reviews etc, as we have some Hospital appointments on the horizon over the next couple of months, hopefully the transfer has gone through from the local surgery up here in the village, watch this space.

On Wednesday the new ‘Pizzareria’ is opening in our street, two doors down from us, “ Pizza Lovers “ – we have been asked to pop along by our Italian friend Domenico, who own’s it.

On Friday I will be out on my travels down in Sabinillas for the weekly shopping.

At the moment Brenda is taking down all the Xmas decorations, not her favourite job, so I’m keeping a low profile and only appearing when she shouts!

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Grilled Fillet Steaks ‘ cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest, garnished with seared Asparagus Spears & Button Mushrooms and deep-fried Onion Rings ( Milk & Flour!) with whole Baby French Green Beans and of course twice-cooked ‘ Frits ‘ – Dijon Mustard to taste!  

On the sports front this weekend; over in the UK it’s the Third Round of the ‘FA Cup’ – last night Liverpool welcomed Everton in a very exciting game as they won 2-1, when their new Dutch player ‘Van Dijk’ scored the winning goal! Today Manchester City welcome the high flying Burnley, over here it’s the return of the ‘La Liga’ after the Xmas break, Barcelona are at home to Lavante & Real Madrid travel to Celta Viga.

This afternoon we will be watching the ‘ National Hunt Racing’ from Sandown Park and Chepstow, where the rescheduled ‘Welsh Grand National’ is taking place.

After supper this evening we will be channel hopping before watching over on BBC Four the next two episodes of the excellent French police/crime drama series ( Sub-Titles!) – “ Spiral “




                                                                                                            " RETURNS " 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....