A STILL GREY & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 25^th/ APRIL 2020.  “ STATE OF ALARM – DAY 42 “

“ ANZAC DAY “

We were up this morning as the gas-bottle delivery man was due, we left the gas-bottle outside our front door last night, he then comes down the street and blows his horn! ‘Service with a Smile’

It was then time for our breakfast, as usual’ on a Saturday morning, it’s Brenda’s famous/perfect ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast –  Boiled for Brenda with brown toast fingers, with mugs of hot/strong tea to set us up for the day and the weekend ahead in ‘ LOCKDOWN’!

Overnight the rain hit us for a short while, this morning it’s cloudy, grey & overcast with a light breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to only reach 16/17 degs+ - overnight down to 13 degs+ - with the threat of more rain in the air,  tomorrow is looking the same, next week is a bit more settled on all the forecasts now, with the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ on some days, but sunshine on the rest, with patchy clouds at times, with a light breeze, but still hovering in the high ‘teens’ – up to 21 degs+ by next weekend, for the start of May, watch this space.

See below the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ this morning in ‘Lockdown’ – looking very peaceful for a change!

And over in North Wales the beach in Colwyn Bay this morning!

“ CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – COVID 19 PANDEMIC “

Yesterday lunchtime our dear friend Leah called by and then shot along to the ‘Iceland/Overseas’ supermarket in ‘Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro’- past Sotogrande, with no ‘Police’ problems, for some ‘ English’ ( Mushy Peas!) etc, essentials for both of us, the other day when she was due to go across, her son ‘Deemy’ had some difficult online homework ( Algebra?!) so she had to stay and help him, as she says ‘ When will he need it in Life’ ?!

At the moment on our main ‘Facebook’ page I’m posting each day my top ten albums that have greatly influenced my taste in music, with no reviews or explanations, just the cover! I have been nominated by a old friend, check them out, as there is a story to each one, which I’m going to talk about in a special Blog, one day next week, just to start my No 1 Album was “ Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers “ from 1961, which has the ‘Beatles’ singing/playing the backing tracks on the old classic, My Bonnie’ – the very first time that they played/sang on a record! Later, back at the ‘ Cavern Club’ on their lunchtime sessions they performed the song at the start of their set, along with ‘Red Sails in the Sunset ‘ – and ‘ Twist and Shout’!

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Grilled Steak’ – a ‘Spanish’ cut – grilled on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest,  before carving into fingers ‘ French’ style, garnished with seared Button Mushrooms & Shallots’ accompanied with the classic ‘ Bearnaise’ sauce and served with whole Baby ‘ French’ Green Beans and of course triple-cooked ‘ Frits’

Last night after supper we watched an episode of ‘ Vera’ with Brenda Blethyn in the title role, as the ‘Detective’ who is obsessed with her work and fight her inner demons while solving murder cases with her trusted Sergeant colleague. Later we caught an interview with Sir Michael Parkinson, as he was questioned by Piers Morgan, which was very revealing and interesting.

                                            “ STAY SAFE & SOUND INSIDE AT ALL TIMES “

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

A VERY COLD, WINDY AND WET SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 31^st/ JANUARY 2019.

I was up very early this morning to welcome back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, last night Daniela sent me a massage on ‘Facebook’ asking if we could have her today, she shot upstairs and joined us on the bed as we all had a little lie in, she’s now in her duvet outside the main office/studio door!   

We then after freshening up had our light breakfast of toast & tea before putting together the shopping list, I’m now going out on my travels down to Sabinillas on Saturday morning, to try and beat the rain and strong winds that are forecast for Friday, also we don’t need any fresh flowers or wall plants this week, the local market at the far end of the promenade is only open on a Friday morning.

Yesterday it brightened up later and was warm and sunny in the afternoon sunshine, the ‘ wet-stuff’ hit us later in the evening and has not stopped since, this morning it’s grey & overcast with a stiff breeze blowing, by lunchtime it will only be 15 degs, tomorrow is the same, going colder and windy as the day goes on, by Saturday it should be dry but very windy as the new front come in from the Atlantic, bringing with it the warmer weather over the weekend and into next week, we are in for dry spell with sunshine and patchy clouds at times, hovering in the mid/high ‘ teens’ – watch this space.

See below ‘ St Georges Plateau ‘ on Lime Street, William Brown Street and the ‘ Beatles’ at the Pier Head, yesterday, as the snow hit Liverpool.

Last night we had a nice ‘ Skype’ video chat, news update & gossip  with Tim & Thea up in Mojacar, it was Thea’s birthday and they had been out with friends celebrating, so they were both very ‘Relaxed’- especially Tim! Thea’s birthday card had only arrived the day before, Brenda posted it in the local Sub-Post Office one week ago! She had also not received any family & friends cards from Spain and the UK!!  

They have also been watching the “ Great Canadian Railway Journeys “ with ‘Michael Portillo’ and have fallen in love with Canada, the spectacular scenery and the grand railways, watch out Sandra & Bill, as they could come calling later in the year!  They have booked to go home to Old Colwyn in North Wales on March 12^th- reaching Colwyn Bay on the 15^th

See below a spectacular picture of the ‘Bay of Colwyn’ taken yesterday, looking a little more peaceful and sunny.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Omelette’s’ – ‘Cheese’ for Brenda ( grated Mild Cheddar & Parmesan) and ‘Paysanne’ for me ( small diced/fried Onions, Potatoes & Vegetables) – with finely sliced ‘ French’ Green Beans and Baked Potatoes.


See below;

Today is definitely ‘a stay at home day’ – keeping dry & warm, out of the cold and wet weather, we are taking things very easy, basically doing nothing, because we can, relaxing and later watching the news updates and later following the ‘Quiz Shows’ as usual and then channel hopping, after supper, to find a good film to watch, watch this space.

Bill, Malcolm & Tim !

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

A GREY & OVERCAST AND VERY COLD AND WET SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 14^th/ MARCH 2017.

I was up first this morning to see ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she shot upstairs and came back on the bed with us for a nice lie in for all of us before disappearing  into her duvet later, after freshening up we decided to have fresh Orange Juice with ‘ Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties ‘ and mugs of strong tea, as it’s definitely a stay at home day, it’s grey, cold & wet!

Last night as we were going to bed the rain arrived, it’s not stopped all night and this morning it’s still raining heavy with a cold wind, as forecast, down in the valley below the village and in Sabinillas it’s already starting to flood again, we are in for more of the same over the next few days, then on Saturday and over the weekend we should be back to normal for the time of the year, warm & sunny, watch this space.

Just as we came upstairs to bed the ‘ Skype’ video came online, it was Jack & Lyn over in a very hot & sunny Melbourne, it was 12-30am here and 9-30am over there, we had a very nice, long, catch up with all their news as well as ours, Jack is looking very well, he’s still on the oxygen during the night and when he needs it during the day, Lyn is fine and they were both full of the joys of spring( Summer for them!)We were talking about travelling to the hospital, 50kms away, they laughed because over there that’s just a stone’s throw, they had just been out for a ‘drive’ – 600 kms !!

We had been watching ‘Pointless’ earlier on BBC TV when a question came up on ‘Food & Drink ’about Bundaberg in Australia, what is it famous for?! The answer was ‘Rum’ –  known as ‘ Bundy’ - we told Jack & Lyn and they turned around and brought out a bottle of the famous golden nectar, all the family like it especially Jeff & Annette who live in Brisbane near to the distillery! It’s a small World!!

See below.- " Bundy ' rules!

We will be watching the ‘Cheltenham Festival ‘ coverage on ITV this afternoon, the main race today is the ‘ Stan James Champion Hurdle’

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Pan-Seared Calves Liver’ with a rich Onion Gravy, Carrots a la ‘Flamande’ ( with Peas)  and Brenda’s famous Mashed Potato. On Wednesday its going to be a ‘ Chicken & Mushroom Tarragon Casserole.

After supper last night we settled down to watch the next episode of ‘ Broadchurch’ – Infidelity, Pornography and Rape – every man in the town was lying, hiding dirty secrets, even the teenage son of the lady detective! 50 male guests at the party, all either secretive, unsavoury, chauvinist or liar’s capable of violence?! The victim was not talking and has lots to hide, new suspects emerged, alibi’s were false, but in the end still no further to uncovering the rapist, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

..