A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 27^th / AUGUST 2016.

We both managed a nice lie in this morning before the gas bottle delivery man came down the street blowing his horn! After breakfast, I’ve gone back onto ‘ Weetabix’ to help me get back on the straight & narrow, I shot along to the Chemists in ‘ Calle Mar’ for some tablets and toiletries, Brenda is shampooing her hair in the downstairs bathroom and I’m up in the office/studio on the WWW.

It’s another very nice day here in sunny Manilva, the sun was out early and the sky is blue, there is just a little light breeze and as the day goes on its getting hotter, very pleasant for the time of the year, tomorrow it’s going to be the same and the forecast for next week is looking like more of the same and getting a little hotter in time for the “ Vendimia Festival “ next weekend.

Today here in ‘La Liga ‘ Real Madrid welcome Celta Vigo and tomorrow Barcelona travel across to play Ath, Bilbao; over in the ‘ Premiere League’ Everton are at home to Stoke and Liverpool are off down the M1 to play Tottenham, then on Sunday Manchester City welcome West Ham; the qualifying for the Belgium Grand Prix is just about to start and I will catch up later with the ‘Vuelta d’Esapana’

This evening I’m going to venture back into the kitchen, all things considered, we are going to have a quick & simple ‘ Steak & Chips’ and then tomorrow if I’m still feeling up to it I will make my now famous “ Smoked Chicken & Green Bean Risotto “ Watch this space!

We are having a nice relaxing weekend basically doing nothing, because we can, ‘Reina’ is due to be dropped off later this afternoon for a sleep over, if she’s feeling better, the hot weather has been getting to her as well, this evening we will channel hop after watching the special feature-length, 30^th year, anniversary episode of ‘ Casualty ‘ on BBC 1.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.






PS; Since there is no word from the ' Moffatt's ' over in Old Colwyn I ' arranged ' yesterday for an aerial photograph of Old Colwyn Colwyn Bay and further, to be taken, including the Little & Great Ormes, Llandudno etc,  we can spot their house in Wynn Avenue?! Click on to enlarge!!

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 23rd / JULY 2016.

We had a nice lie in this morning after a noisy & hot night, there was a music concert going on somewhere in the village, that did not start until 1-00am with a very loud sound system blasting out in the calm hot air! I then shot along to the Chemists in Calle Mar, before it got too busy for my tablets, the street is covered with the green awnings to keep the sun off the festivities happening over the weekend and next week, this morning its the children’s games. See below;

After a very hot & humid night there is just a little breeze this morning making it very pleasant, we are in for a hot weekend and next week could be the hottest week on record, for many years, watch this space. See below, its for Jack & Lyn over in Australia!

Brenda is catching up with the ironing and I’m in the office/studio on the WWW catching up with all the news,E-Mails, Facebook messages etc. before typing and posting today’s Blog.a At lunchtime we went up to 'Bar Castillo' for a light Tapas lunch,including from the new Menu a rather tasty 'Mexican Chicken Burrito' - it was very pleasant sat under the large umbrellas with the cool breeze.

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of the ‘Seafood Risotto’ – cold- as its just as good, with a little salad on the side, so tomorrow night its the ‘ Grilled Entrecote Steak’ cooked on a very hot griddle plate ‘ Med-Rare’ and then left to ‘rest’ before slicing it ‘French’ style with of course some ‘thrice’-cooked ‘ Frits’! Watch this space.

Last night after supper we watched over on BBC Four the 'Proms' from the Royal Albert Hall' It was a bit different as it was ' Strictly Proms' celebrating the music of dance, with dancing in front of the 'BBC Symphony Orchestra' by the professionals from the programme!

Later I will be watching the Qualifying for the ‘Hungarian Grand Prix’- yesterday in practise Lewis Hamilton crashed but is all right to race today, speaking of crashing, in yesterday’s stage of the “ Tour De France “ on the final descent before the last climb to mountain top finish, the sky opened and the rains came down making it very slippery and dangerous for the riders, many crashed including Chris Froome, when crossing a white line on the road, he got up and his team mate gave him his bike and another team mate then ‘paced’ him up to the top of the final climb, he retained the Yellow Jersey and increased his overall lead. 

Today’s Stage 20 of the “ Tour De France ‘ is from Megeve to Morzine over 146 kms, with four major climbs on the way, see the route map below.

All this means that we are taking things very easy over the weekend, keeping as cool as possible, doing nothing, because we can!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 17^th/ JULY 2016.

Another nice lie in for all of us this morning, ‘ Reina’ has been on the bed most of the night after going up to bed early last night, she’s been out for her first short walk of the day, just around the corner, and then she shoots back! There is no sign of ‘ Chispa’ over the last couple of days so she must be on her holiday down at the family ‘ Campo’ in the valley below the village. For our breakfast we had ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, they were dropped off late last night from our neighbours, Anna’s ‘ Campo’ Next week ‘ Reina’ is with us as usual for five days from Monday and ‘Scruffy’ is joining us for a short stop over on Monday afternoon.

We have another very hot & sunny day here in sunny Manilva, there is a little breeze which makes it rather more comfortable, next week is going to be a hot one, hovering in the 40s+ with ‘ Health Warnings ‘ out right across the Region, the Motto’ is be prepared, drink lots of cold water, keep in the shade, use ‘ Sunscreen ‘ etc. Watch this space. See the picture below of 'Puerto de la Duquesa' this morning!

First thing tomorrow morning we are going down to the surgery for our appointments for our Blood Tests etc, Brenda will then make an appointment to see the Doctor and I will ring the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ Hospital over in Marbella to arrange to see my ‘Prostrate Consultant’ Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Pan-Seared Escalope’s of Turkey Breast ‘ finished in a foaming Lime Butter and served on a bed of Savoury Basmati Rice with sliced Green Beans and a creamy Mushroom sauce on the side, next week’s menu’s are yet to be decided.

Today’s ‘ Stage 15 ‘ of the “ Tour De France “ starts in Bourg-En-Bresse, we once many years ago we stayed at the main hotel in square when we were on holiday, for Brenda’s 40^th birthday, we were visiting ‘ Michelin ‘ 3 *** Restaurants and for her birthday  we went to ‘ Jacques Lameloise in  Changny-En-Bourgogne’  See the picture below.

‘Stage 15’ goes over 8 climbs including the  fearsome ‘ Gran Colombier to Culoz 159 kms away! See the route map below.

Its a day at home day taking things very easy and relaxing, watching some TV including the last round of the  ‘Open Golf Championship’ from the ‘ Royal Troon Golf Club’ later.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A DRY & BREEZY SUNNY MANILVA ON ' EASTER SATURDAY'

SATURDAY 26^th / MARCH 2016.   “ EASTER SATURDAY “

We had a little lie in this morning as the village is still very quiet, for our breakfast Brenda requested Cheese on Toast and I treated myself to ‘ Campo Fried Eggs & Crispy Smoked Bacon’ with toast and tea, see the picture below.

After breakfast we watched ' Saturday Kitchen Live' as it was James Martin's last show as the host, after 10 years.

Its still dry and sunny with clear blue skies but there is a stiff breeze blowing, good drying weather, so I put a wash on and will hang it out later up on the roof terrace. The forecast for tomorrow is dry & sunny and then its getting a little warmer at the start of the week.

This evenings supper is going to be ‘ Surf & Turf – Fillet Steak garnished with Prawns’ – cooked on a very hot griddle plate ‘ Med-Rare’ with sautéed Baby Mushroom, whole Green Beans and once again ‘ Pont Neuf’ - ‘ Door Step Chips’ No roast tomorrow as I’m out and about for the last two parades, at lunchtime, along Calle Mar, at the end of ‘ Semana Santa’ week. I will pick up a ‘ Rotissiere Chicken’ while I’m out for tomorrow nights supper.

See below the pictures from yesterdays evenings parades led by the ladies in their all black court dresses and the traditional 'Mantillas'

On ‘ Easter Monday its ‘ Roast Leg of New Zealand Lamb’ studded with Garlic & Rosemary, a large dish of ‘Boulangere’ potatoes and a selection of vegetables being prepared by the ‘Vegetable Chef’ who is back from her ‘ sick leave’! Watch this space.

This afternoon I will be watching the Horse Racing from ' Haydock Park' on Channel 4 and later the ‘International Football Friendlies’ as England travel to play Germany in Berlin and Spain are in Romania on Sunday.

We are taking things easy today, Brenda is keeping off her feet and is now only using one crutch, she is still sleeping downstairs for now, next week as she fells stronger on her feet she will try to use the stairs more, its going to be a slower process to get her back to normal, one step at a time!! Watch this space.

                                          PS; Don't forget the clocks go forward an hour this evening!

Today’s pictures of Liverpool, see below, have the headings ‘ Equilibrium, Symmetry & Orbs’ – click to enlarge for the ‘ Wow’ factor!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A VERY CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 9^th/ JANUARY 2016.

Up early again this morning and after a quick cup of tea we shot down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping; our first port of call was at the English Bookshop for the local newspapers, a birthday card (?) and to collect two 2016 wall charts, next we did our main shop in ‘Mercadona’ before checking out the shop that takes the passport photos, for next week, then finally it was ‘Super Sol’ for the English essentials.

As we arrived back home ‘Chispa’ was waiting to welcome us back as she had missed us yesterday, she is playing around my feet as I’m typing & posting the Blogs! The sun is out and the sky is blue, during the night we had a heavy rain storm but its now calm but crisp with a little breeze coming up from the Mediterrean coast.

After unpacking Brenda went to the chemist in Calle Mar for some tablets and on the way back called into our local shop in our street for some more goodies; for our supper this evening we are having ‘Grilled  Entrecote Steak’ cooked ‘Med-Rare’ with sautéed Baby Mushrooms, finely sliced Green Beans along with twice-cooked ‘Frits’ – a sauceboat of Béarnaise sauce on the side. Tomorrow evening we are having ‘Baked Pork Steaks’ with a ‘Charcutiere’ sauce on the side and a selection of Brenda’s vegetables along with my version of ‘Patatas Bravas’

On the football front over in England its a ‘FA Cup’ weekend, last night Liverpool’s second team drew at exciter 2-2, today Everton are at home to ‘Dag & Red’ while Manchester city travel down the M1 and across to Norwich, meanwhile over here in ‘La Liga’ Barcelona are at home to Granada and Real Madrid welcome Deportivo de la Coruña

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We have a nice relaxing weekend doing nothing and tasking things easy, for a change, we will channel hop this evening and find a film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 27^th NOVEMBER 2015.

We were up early this morning and after a quick breakfast we shot down to Sabinillas in the ‘Red Ferrari – Fiesta’ listening to the new radio! The sun was out early and it was not cold, just crisp, by lunchtime it will reach 21/22 degs, over the weekend its staying fine and the start of next week is now looking settled and getting a little warmer. Its a beautiful day down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’

I called into our new bank for some cash and then collected the local newspapers from the ‘English Bookshop’ before doing our main shop in ‘Mercadona’ We then shot along the promenade for some fresh flowers & plants before finally calling into ‘Super Sol’ for some English essentials.

When we returned to our house I went along to the chemists for my prescriptions, keep taking the tablets, as our Doctor says! We are taking things easy today as we are out playing on Sunday as its our 44^th wedding anniversary, we have booked a table at ‘La Sala’ the celebrity restaurant over in Puerto Banus.

At lunchtime we went up 'Bar Castillo' and had a very nice 'al-fresco' Tapas lunch sat in the warm sunshine under a bright blue sky taking in the sights, sounds, & aromas of sunny Manilva.

For our supper this evening I’m making my famous ‘Seafood Risotto’ with large Gambas & Prawns, Shrimps, Cod, Mussels, Crab, Saffron Rice with diced Red & Green Peppers, Garden Peas, White Wine ( thanks Brenda !) and a rich Fish stock. See below;

Just some more memories from the 50s/60s with my Dad ‘Tommy Sexton’ One of regular rides/ day out was when we used to go over to Manchester down the East Lancashire Road to go to the “ Fallowfield Stadium’ – the home of the ‘Manchester Wheelers Club’ - to watch the  track cycling on the concrete oval 509 yard outdoor track with 30 degs banking; it was when the World Champion was the legendary Reg Harris and all the great champions of Belgium, France & Italy used to race against him in the sprints!

It was the forerunner of  indoor ‘ ‘Velodrome Cycling’ As it happens the commentator at the time was the now ‘infamous’ Jimmy Savile'!  Now not a lot of people know that, they do now!! See the pictures above of the track and Reg Harris in his 'Rainbow' Champions  jersey as well as his 'Carlton' team jersey,my dad road for the same team, but for distance races, and had a special 'Carlton' bike which he once let my ride when I was old enough! The picture of the two riders 'standing still' on their pedals was the classic move by sprinters to get the advantage and could last for over 20 minutes!

Last night after supper we watched a Clint Eastwood produced & directed movie with him starring also called ‘Gran Torino’ from 2008; its a drama with Bee Vang, Amhey Her, & Christoper Carly about a old grumpy veteran with a heart, the title refers to his old car, the classic Ford muscle car the ‘Gran Torino’ Watch it right up to the end.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF A HOT WEEKEND

FRIDAY 14^th/ JUNE 2013.

As usual on Friday morning we have been down to Sabinillas for the shopping, this week it is just a small one as we are going to top up on Wednesday lunchtime after the hire car arrives, Bank Street is open and busy as you can see in the pictures above. I also picked up two new ‘Patterson’s’ to read over the weekend; we have just come back from a long walk with the dog around the village, as you can see in the pictures above, the Municipal pool has been cleaned and painted ready for the season and looks very inviting! We have picked up some plants for our outside window display and a couple to go in the folks apartment next week as well as some fresh flowers for our lounge.

This afternoon we are going across to the bus station in Marbella to pick up Gillian as she is flying in from the Isle of Wight into Malaga airport; today is the hottest day so far and the forecast for next week is looking good and for the week the folks are here.Mano has just called in for a cold Cruz Campo, a chat and to collect the newspapers.

Tonight for supper we are having ‘Gambas a la Plancha’- cooked on the griddle plate with Sea Salt with a Tomato salad on the side, it will then be time to find a film to watch, hopefully!

I found a film called " Red Dawn " from 1984 - about the start of 'World War 3'in the USA and actually in Texas in the 1980s! It stars a young Partrick Swayze,a even younger Charlie Sheen,Jennifer Wrey,Lea Thompson and C.Thomas Howel - what utter 'Tosh' !!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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