A ' FRESH' WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 3^rd/ MARCH 2020.

We managed a little lie in this morning before we were woken up by neighbours talking outside in the street, both ‘ Chico’ & ‘ Lolo’ slept all night, they then wait while we freshen up and take them out for their first walk of the day around the bottom of the village, when we returned we had our usual toast & tea before getting another day on the go down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’

This morning the sun was out early and the sky is practically cloudless and blue, there is cooling breeze, so by lunchtime it’s forecast to  only reach 18/19 degs+ - overnight down to 10/11 degs+ - tomorrow as the breeze drops it’s back up to 22 degs+ - the rest of the week and over the coming weekend is staying warm & sunny, with a few patchy clouds at times, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – next week as the next ‘Atlantic front blows in, it’s starting a little wet & windy, back down to the mid ‘ teens’- towards the end of the week picking up again, with warm sunshine, watch this space.

At lunchtime I’m taking our friend Andy across to Estepona as he needs to call into his Bank, which happens to be ours also, on the way back I’m calling into Sabinillas to have my mobile phone updated to a ‘ Pay As You Go ‘ system, the same as Brenda’s – yesterday I managed to change/update our new landline/house number with the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ – so fingers crossed we are all up to date with the new ‘OliveNet ‘ system, watch this space.

                                            PS; A REMINDER OF OUR NEW HOUSE NUMBER – 951 567 542 !

                                                AND NOW MY NEW MOBILE  NUMBER - 602 147 884 !!

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Pan- Seared Lambs Liver’ – dusted in seasoned flour and ‘ flash’ cooked on a very hot griddle-pan, served with ‘Grilled English Pork Sausages’ and ‘Crispy Smoked Bacon’ – garnished with seared Button Mushrooms & Tomato, accompanied with a sauceboat of a rich ‘Red Wine, Onion & Shallot Gravy’ – served with Glazed Baby Carrots and Thinly Sliced ‘ French’ Green Beans – not forgetting the dish of ‘Boulangere’ Potatoes!

On Wednesday I’m making, for ‘ National Pie Week’ my now famous “ Chicken & Mushroom ‘Tarragon’ Pie “  - topped with a crusty Puff-Pastry lid! For our supper on Friday it’s going to be my famous ‘ Fish Pie ‘ which of course is topped with Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato ‘ topping!

We are having a nice relaxing afternoon, taking things very easy and then after supper we will channel hop to find something to watch,  last night the ‘ The Split’ was very gripping and moving as all the ‘ infidelity/adultery ’ was finally brought out into the open, of the family & clients!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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

MONDAY 17^th/ FEBRUARY 2020.

I was up early this morning to welcome back little ‘ Miss Bella’ for the day, she is back tomorrow also, she as usual shot upstairs onto our bed, ‘ Chico’ stayed on his duvet after sleeping all night, he goes to bed when we do and doesn’t move until we get up, he’s with us all this week and next, after freshening up we took them both out for their first walk of the day around the bottom of the village.

When we returned, as I was on the breakfast rota, youv’e guessed, I had my favourite ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butty’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce – open on brown for Brenda, with some of her favourite seared sliced Baby Mushrooms, cooked in the bacon juices with a knob of butter, a few of which made into my butty! Mugs of strong/hot ‘PG’ Tips Tea helped to wash them down at the start of another ‘ Helluva’ week down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ in sunny Manilva.

I then rang ‘ Movistar ‘ to cancel our contract with them, and obtain a ‘Code/Ref No’  - thanks to our friend Josie, who wrote down all the details of how to join ‘ OliveNet’ and leave ‘Movistar’! I then shot down to the ‘ Movistar’ office in Sabinillas to hand in the old router and finish all the paperwork, ‘Fingers-Crossed ‘ that we are nearly finished, our ‘Landline’ number, which we are keeping is still not back online, it takes a few days to re-set, my Mobile no - which is with ‘ Movistar’ also will stay the same, I will change it to ‘Pay As Go’ ( Lycra) in the next few days. Watch this space.

Tomorrow morning Brenda is going down on the local bus ( 9-30 am)  to Sabinillas as she has an appointment with her hairdresser Annie, for a shampoo, cut & style, as usual on Friday morning I will be out on my travels, down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping etc!

We have yet another beautiful start to the day and week, here in sunny Manilva, the sun was out first thing and the sky is cloudless and blue, with just a slight breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 20/21 degs+ - overnight down to 11/12 degs+ - tomorrow, as the next colder, wet & windy ‘ Atlantic’ front comes in, we are in for a few days of unsettled weather, with some of the ‘Wet-Stuff’ as well as going a little cooler, as the breeze stiffens, then we are back to a spell of warm and sunny weather, with a few clouds at times, but staying dry & settled, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – by next Tuesday back up to 21 degs+  - warmer and sunny, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Escalope’s of Pork Fillet  Schnitzels style ‘ – flattened and coated in Breadcrumbs, from the local Bakery, then shallow fried in Vegetables Oil until crisp & golden, served with lots of Lemon Wedges, garnished with Anchovy Fillets Capers and a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg – ‘ Holstein style’ – accompanied with finely sliced ‘ French ‘ Green Beans and ‘ Spaghetti Milanese’ ( tossed in a rich Tomato salsa with strips of Smoked Ham)

On Tuesday it’s going to be ‘ Posh Chicken N’ Chips’  - Wednesday Brenda has requested ‘Pan- Seared Entrecote Beef Slices’ – garnished with a Mixed Pepper ( Red, Green & Yellow ) ‘ Stir/Fry. Thursday will be a find something in the deep-freeze day, Friday it’s going to be ‘ Fish N’ Chips’ with Mushy Peas, on Saturday our usual ‘ Steak Night and then finally on Sunday we will be ‘ Roasting’!

Yesterday evening after supper we watched, for the first time ever, over on ‘ Channel 4’ – the American spy thriller “ Homeland’ which is now into series ‘8’ – starring Claire Danes as a ‘ Central Intelligence Officer ( CIA ) – very gripping and exciting, we must watch it again. 

This afternoon/ evening we will be catching up with all the ‘ Quiz Shows’ that we follow and then after supper it’s the final episode, of the current series, of the award winning ‘ Cold Feet ‘ – will it return – watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A ' FRESH' AND SUNNY MANILVA ON ' THIRTSY' THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 30^th/ JANUARY 2020.

We had a nice lie in this morning after a few early starts this week, tomorrow morning I’m going to be up very early as I’m going down to the ‘Medical Centre’ in Sabinillas, first thing, to book our appointments to see our Doctor, sometime next week, I will then carry on with my travels for our weekly shopping etc.

After freshening up we called Lyn, over in Melbourne, Australia, on the ‘ Facebook Video’ link up, she was able to see us, for the first time in a while, so we were able to have a nice catch up with her and get all the news about Jack, she is looking a lot better and is more relaxed, and goes into see Jack, everyday, at the ‘Respite Home’ where he has settled in, they have been putting family picture ‘ Collage’s’ up for him, Annette called in to see her yesterday and they went for a swim in the ‘Village/Complex’ pool, the first time in a long while for Lyn, tomorrow Jeff is calling in to see her, as he’s down from Brisbane on business, they are going out for lunch and to see Jack later, at the moment over there its up 43/44 degs+!  

We then had our regular light breakfast of fresh fruit ( sliced Banana) toast & tea, as we put tomorrows shopping list together, I’m also going to call into the ‘English Butchers’ down in the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to stock up, as well as going along to the local market at the far-end of the promenade in Sabinillas, for our fresh wall plants, the first this year.

We have another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ and up in sunny Manilva, the sky is blue with just a few patchy clouds hanging around, there is ‘ fresh’ breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 19 degs+  still warm on the sunny side of the street, tomorrow and over the weekend it’s staying the same and going a little warmer as the breeze drops, up to 20 degs+ - at night 12/13 degs, next week is starting very warm and sunny, up to nearly 22 degs+ by next Tuesday, then as the next colder ‘Atlantic’ front comes in, it’s going cooler, as the wind picks up, back down to 15/16 degs – overnight down to 10/11 degs, but mainly staying dry with now just a small chance of the ‘Wet-Stuff’ coming back, watch this space.

At lunchtime today we went along to the Bank to get some cash from the machine, on the way back we stopped at ' Bar Castillo' and sat outside in the hot sunshine for a nice cool drink and Tapas - excellent crispy ' Tortillitas de Camarones  - thin Shrimp Fitters ' - on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday lunchtimes, we did the same, when we were out for a walk with little ' Miss Bella' ! 

Yesterday afternoon we finally managed to make contact with the ‘Moffatts’ – Tim & Thea, up in ‘Magical Mojacar’ – on the ‘ Skype’ video, we had a nice catch up with all their news, it’s Thea’s birthday today, we sent her card (late) on Monday, from our local ‘Sub Post Office’ – she received the card on Wednesday, at the same time Brenda posted Norah’s birthday card (early) and she received it on Wednesday also! ( A record for both!)

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of the ‘ Chicken & Mushroom Curry’ – 50/50 – with ‘Basmati Rice’ and triple cooked ‘ Frits’!  On Friday we will be having a ‘ Fish Supper’ and on Saturday it’s our usual ‘ Steak Night’ – then on Sunday we are ‘ Roasting’  - possibly ‘Pork with Crackling’ ! Watch this space.

Last night we watched, before supper, the latest Michael Portillo “ Great Asian Railway Journeys “ starting in Hong Kong and moving onto Thailand, after supper we watched the ‘Red Arrows’ in the USA, this evening it’s the next episode of “ Death in Paradise” as the main character, played by Ardal O’Hanlon, moves on, and a new Detective takes over’?!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 11^th/ SEPTEMBER 2019.

I was up early this morning to see little ‘Miss Bella’ back with us for the day, she shot upstairs and joined us on the bed, she’s back on Friday morning for her first three nights sleep-over, with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ ‘ Chispa’ will be ‘ crashing’ in, no doubt later.

We managed a further little lie in before freshening up, as I was on the breakfast rota I had my favourite ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butty’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce – open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of hot tea.

After breakfast we shot along to the local ‘Chemists’ for our new prescriptions etc, ( see below) I called into the local Bank (machine now working) for some cash, the ‘Contractors’ have started laying the stone flagging down ‘Calle Iglasia’ finally, there has been a long delay as the various stone did not arrive?!

Tomorrow morning we are going across to the ‘La Cañada’-  ‘Hypermarket/Shopping Mall’ – above Marbella, for some retail shopping etc, next week, on Monday evening, we have our re-arranged appointments with Carmen, the ‘Council Chiropodist’- then next  Thursday morning Brenda is going to have her hair cut etc, down in Sabinillas with her hairdresser Annie, we will then be ready to welcome the ‘ Canadian Clan’ – all clean & booted (toe nails trimmed) - hair shining, best ‘bib & tucker’ on, waiting in ‘ anticipatory excitement’ for the arrival of the family ((8) on Sunday the 29^th September 2019!

“ Countdown 20 Days “

Yesterday evening we shot across to the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ past Marbella, along a still very busy coast road, for my emergency appointment at the ‘ Dermatology Department’ – we had a little wait, before the regular ‘Consultant’ gave me the once-over, she reviewed all my history notes, she agreed with our Doctor, Natalia, changing one of my tablets, to help, the ‘ Herpes’ various on my left arm is improving slowly as expected, as is the ‘Cellulitis ‘ on my right leg, still needing an anti-biotic cream ( very expensive, not on prescription ) before going to bed, last weekend I had, suddenly on my right ankle, a very large liquid blister, which burst as we were out walking one of the dogs, if another blister appears she has given me an emergency number to ring, to go across to the hospital straight away to have it tested!

Also I have had a ‘Red Rash’ around my waist, it turns out to be just a sweat rash, needing an ointment, she gave me a prescription of two creams, ( on prescription) that when mixed, make up the very expensive anti-biotic cream for my leg!  I will be back up & running ‘ fully’ by the time the folks arrive from Canada, watch this space!   

This morning the breeze has dropped and the sky is clearing, it’s now warm & sunny, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 27 degs+ - over the next few days and the weekend it’s going a little cooler as the breeze picks up again, hovering in the mid 20s, with a little threat of the ‘ wet-stuff’ in the air, next week is now looking the same, warm & sunny with patchy clouds at times, changing as the breeze does, still going back up to  28degs+ - overnight still warm and close, watch this space.

Yesterday evening we came back along the coast road, past a sparkling, choppy, Mediterranean, and dropped down into Sabinillas, after parking ,we walked along the promenade, past all the ‘Fish Restuarente’s’ offering open ‘BBQ’ cooking on the beach,( Sardines etc!)  and found the new “ Susi Gastro Tapas Beach House “ –next to the excellent ‘Hotel Doña Luisa’ – on the centre of the promenade, the ‘Tapas Bar’ opened earlier this year, with excellent reviews.

We had a nice table, on the front, with the beach & Mediterranean shimmering  in the dusk, with a brilliant sky, our drinks arrived, large & cool, we chose from the short ‘ Gastro Tapas Menu’ ( 3/8 Euros) . Brenda had to start an excellent and very tasty ‘ Russian Salad, topped with ‘Smoked Salmon & a large Prawn and Caviar’ served on a crusty toasted ‘Crostini’- drizzled with a ‘Tarragon’ dressing, I had an open toasted ‘Ciabatta topped with a slice of cooked ‘Iberica Beef & warm Foie Gras’- drizzled with a ‘Port Wine’ glaze and served with three excellent thick-cut door-step ‘Golden Chips’! Both served on grey ‘Slates’- as all the Tapas are.

Next Brenda had the ‘ Crispy Skin Sea Bass’ - resting on savoury ‘Pommes Lyonnaise’ -with grilled Asparagus Spears & Balsamic dressed salad, I choose the ‘ Grilled Scallop resting on a Curried Cauliflower & Parsnip Puree’ – topped with Caviar and garnished with ‘ Crispy Smoked Bacon Rashers’! – and a ‘Fish ‘ glaze, we ordered a side of the ‘ Hand-Cut’ Chips, which was a very large plate of the thick-cut Golden ‘ Pommes Pont Neuf’ style Chips – very tasty and cooked to perfection!

It was a nice surprise and an excellent ‘Gourmet’ supper, we will go back again, sadly I didn’t have my camera with me, so I took some pictures with my simple camera, that have not downloaded to the system, sorry!

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Breaded Chicken Breast Escalope’s’ – shallow fried in Vegetable Oil, until crisp & golden, topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg and served with finely sliced ‘ French’ Green Beans and sautéed Baby New Potatoes.

When we returned we watched the second episode of “ The Capture “ on BBC TV, the ‘ CCTV’ of the attack was ‘ Redacted’ by the Secret Service ( MI5?) Any of the evidence has been ‘ cleaned’ away, all the ‘CCTV’ images have been altered, the main Lady Detective uses her friends and gets into the centre that runs all the ‘Police’ video live cameras around the city, but all is not as  its’ seen, as there are more cameras watching the cameras, using delay methods and more people watching the Secret Service people?! At the end, the released main character, Shaun, is taken out of action by more men, wearing  consealed guns, working from ‘No 48’ in Eaton square ( CIA?) – with a nasty looking ‘ Boss’  Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See Above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 4^th/ JUNE 2019.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off across to the ‘Estepona Hospital ‘ for my first appointment this week, at the ‘Physiotherapy Department’ with Encarni, the ‘Head Physio’ for more extensive treatment on my left-hand, its’ a Training day’ tomorrow, so I’m back on Thursday morning, next week for four days from Monday/Thursday.

‘Lolo’ spent the night on Reina’s duvet, he sleeps very well, this morning Brenda took him for his first walk of the day, before it gets too hot, he’s eating everything we give him and drinking lots of water, yesterday evening ‘ Chispa’ joined us for our early evening walk, keeping in the shade, were possible, tomorrow ‘ Scoobie’ is due to arrive back with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ for a three day sleep-over.

As I set off down through the green vine fields, the ground vines are growing each day, the sun was blinding above a sparkling and very calm Mediterranean, as I shot along the coast road, the sky was cloudless and bright blue, there is just a very slight breath of fresh air, as the breeze is slight, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 31 degs+ - the hottest so far this year, over the next few days and the weekend it’s going a little cooler, as the breeze picks up, still hovering in high 20s – overnight 17/18 degs, next week is now looking warm & sunny, starting on Monday at around 29 degs+ - a little cooler during the rest of the week as the breeze stiffens, watch this space.

See below a very old picture of sunny Manilva taken many years ago! ( Sorry no date!)

Over in Liverpool yesterday another large cruise line arrived and berthed at the Pier Head, the “ MS Mein Schiff 3 “ – the pictures are taken as usual from ‘  A Ferry Across the Mersey “ !

At lunchtime we went along to ' Bar Castillo' and sat in the shade for a nice cool drink and some light 'Tapas' - our old friend Josie was sat there, so we joined her for a nice chat and gossip.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Chicken Schnitzels “ – ‘ Escalope’s of Chicken Breast’ – coated in breadcrumbs from the local Bakery, shallow fried in Vegetable Oil, until crisp & golden, topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg and Garnished with seared Button Mushrooms, served with finely sliced ‘ French Green Beans and ‘Triple’ cooked ‘ Frits’

On Wednesday evening we its’ going to be ‘ Grilled Lamb Cutlets ‘ – marinated in Rosemary Olive Oil, accompanied with ‘ Mint Sauce’ and Glazed Carrot Batons with Ginger and my famous ‘ Pommes de Terre Rissolees ‘

Thursday will be a ‘ left-over’s’ day, Friday is as usual, ‘ Fish Night’ and ‘Steak Night’ on Saturday, Sunday is still TBC, watch this space.

This weekend here in a very sunny Manilva it’s one of the main religious festivals, it all takes place down in the valley, below the village at the small church next to the ‘Roman Baths’ – the “ Romeria Festival’ - takes place over two days, with music, singing & dancing,  lots of food & drink, as well as the religious prayers/mass etc.

This afternoon we will catch up with all the ‘Quiz Shows’ that we follow; ‘ Countdown, 15 to 1, Tipping Point, The Chase, Pointless, Eggheads ‘ etc – later it will be time to channel hop to find something to watch, on Saturday evening the second series of the award winning “ Killing Eve “ is due to return, the ‘ trailers’ look very exciting! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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