A VERY BREEZY, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 15^th/ JULY 2018.

We had a nice lie in this morning as the village is very quiet after last night’s big party down in ‘Castillo de la Duquesa’ at the Rock Concert & Feria, today it’s more of the same with the firework display at the end of the night, then at the end of the month it’s our turn here in sunny Manilva, finally at the end of August it’s the ‘Sabinillas Feria’!

The Sardines are nearly ready!

‘Prince Paddy & Chico’ had a nice ‘ cool’ night on the tiles ! They both slept all night, this morning ‘Paddy’ came on the bed for his cuddles and then ‘ Chico ‘ lay on his favourite wicker mat for his! We then took them both for their first walk of the day down to the ‘ Mirador’ keeping to the shady side of the street, it’s ‘ Chico’s’ last day with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ as he’s being collected on Monday morning, we love having him, he’s such a friendly dog and great company, next week on Wednesday we have a new dog with us ‘ Comeboy’ for a short holiday ( 5 days)  - as well as ‘Reina’ for her usual 2 days, watch this space.

Overnight the breeze was ‘ rather windy’ to say the least, everything was rattling, very un-seasonal to say the least, it’s what’s making it a little cooler than normal at this time of the year, the sun is out early and the sky is bright blue, as there is still a ‘ stiff breeze’ blowing, keeping it pleasant on the shady side of the street, it’s still due to reach 32 degs+ by this afternoon, next week is going to be very warm & sunny, not as hot as normal, hovering in the mid to high 30s, overnight on the 21 degs mark, watch this space.

On the sports front today;  it’s the ‘Men’s Final ‘ of the Tennis at Wimbledon, at the same time it’s ‘Stage 9 ‘ of the “ Tour De France “ from Arras to Roubaix over 15 cobbled stages, of the 157 kms route, as you can see below. On Monday it’s a ‘Rest-Day’ before three days in the ‘French Alps’!

                                                                                     A " HELLUVA " STAGE!

Then it will be time for the ‘ Final ‘ of the “ World Cup Football “ from  Russia, in Moscow, as France play Croatia.

At lunchtime on our walk we stopped at ' Bar Castillo' for a nice cool and ended up having a ' Tapas' of the ' House Paella '


This evening on our walk with both of the dogs, again, we bumped into the folks that are staying at the ' Manilva Green Aparthotel' -that we helped the other night in 'Bar Castillo' - Marie and her son Bobby, her mother Anna and 'Auntie' Mary ! They are now regular customers of ' Bar Castillo' - I gave then a programme of the local events for the week ahead! Nice to see you all and enjoy the rest of your holiday's.

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For our supper this evening we are having a small joint of ‘ Roasted Loin of Ham’ – which we are trying for the first time, from ‘ Mercadona’ – which I will carve, cold, and have with a selection of Brenda’s famous salads, next week we are taking it one day at the time on the menu front! Watch this space.

This evening after supper we will be watching the next episode of “ Poldark “

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON ' VENDIMIA' SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 3^rd/ SEPTEMBER 2017.

We needed a nice lie in this morning as the music/bands didn’t finish until 5-00 am this morning!  After freshening up we had our light breakfast of ‘Weetabix’ toast & tea, later at lunchtime we are having a little brunch of ‘ Crispy Smoked Bacon & ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs ‘ before we hit this afternoons ‘ Vendimia Wine festival again, we are taking things easy at the moment, recharging the batteries, watch this space.

The sun is already out, the sky is clear and there is still a rather pleasant light breeze, by this afternoon it’s due to reach 28/29 degs, tomorrow at the start of the week we are in for a ‘ hot one’ – 33 degs+ - the rest of the week is hovering on the 27/28 degs mark, 21/22 degs during the night, watch this space.

See below a pictures taken last night of the waterfront in Liverpool and the liner berthed at the 'Pier Head '

On the sports front yesterday Lewis Hamilton took the pole position, in the wet, for today's 'Italian Grand Prix ' from Imola and Spain beat Italy 3-0 in the 'World Cup Qualifying' game in Madrid, meanwhile in today's Stage 15 in the ' Vuelta a Esapana 17 ' it goes from Alcala la Real to the Sierra Nevada over 129 kms with two high climbs before the summit finish, Chris Froome protected his lead yesterday but will be under attack again today, tomorrow is a rest day.

“ VENDIMIA WINE FESTIVAL 2017 “

Yesterday evening we based ourselves outside ‘ Bar Castillo’ where Juan looked after us, through the side window, with proper drinks in glasses, our new friends Dean & Donna came along with Tom, the golfer cousin of Mano’s Ann, then his Mum, Debbie, who now lives down in the Algarve in Portugal, came along, she had driven down and is staying with Mano & Ann, before they leave for the UK on Wednesday, we enjoyed their company as the procession arrived from the church, along ‘Calle Mar’ – as you can see in the picture below!

See below a picture of the winning bunches of the ‘Manilva Muscatel Grapes’ with our neighbour Mario, the Mayor ( in the white shirt ) with his other ‘ Compromismo Party’ Councillors and a picture of the local children in their ‘Peasant ‘ costumes.

Later we retired to the house for our supper of the ‘ Casserole of sliced Beef Steak ‘ and listed to the music into the wee small hours, on  ‘ Facebook’ now people post  ‘live’ video’s of the bands, music & dancing, so you can watch what’s happening as the music blears out, from the comfort of the sofa, we must be getting older!

Today we are basing ourselves from the house, after lunch we are going out to check the two bands, stalls and the other ‘alternative’ music down in the ‘Plaza De La Vendimai’- then at 5-00 pm it’s the parade of the “  Andalusian Stallions “ also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or ‘PRE’ ( Pura Raza Española ) along ‘ Calle Mar’- in-between we will be back at the house topping up on the cool drinks!

Later at around 7-00 pm it’s the crushing of the first grapes on the wine pit in the ‘ Plaza De La Vendimia’ – all the picture will appear later, above.

Finally after our supper we are going to watch the final episode of ‘Strike: The Cuckoos Calling ‘ before we go out for the last time to catch the end of the two bands and the ‘DJ’ music, it all finishes by mid-night, by local law!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY HOT, SUNNY & CLAMMY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 18^th/ JUNE 2017.

We actually overslept this morning, after another very hot & clammy night, after a quick cup of tea & toast we shot up to Calle Mar to catch the ‘ Curpus Christi’ Festival visiting all the ‘Alter’ displays of the ‘ Last Supper’  around the village, as you can see in the pictures above.

Last night down in Puerto de la Duquesa’ the first ‘ Manilva Pride’ Festival was a great success, as you can see in all the pictures above. Thanks to Gary from the ' Resident' newspaper!

It started a little overcast but soon the sun broke through and the sky cleared, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 31 degs+! Next week we are in for more of the same, hot & sunny every day, 21 degs+ during the night and rising during the day to 33 degs+!! Inland Spain will be in the high 40s. See below. Watch this space.

At lunchtime we will collect the ‘ Roast Chicken’ that Brenda ordered yesterday from the ‘ Rotisserie ‘ and no doubt at the same time have a cool drink in one of the Bars along Calle Mar ( 6 ) – for our supper this evening, we are having with it ‘Mixed ,Tomato & Beetroot’ salad along with ‘ Ensaldilla Rusa ‘ and Parsley New Potatoes.

See below the ‘ Chicken’s’ on the ‘Rotisserie’

We then stopped at ' Bar Castillo' for a cool drink & Tapas, the 'House Paella, Rosado Frito " and Tortillitas de Camarones' ( Shrimp Fritters ) - all very nice especially the fish, it was fresh, very tasty, not dry and the light batter was just right, it's Pink Bream but the flesh is white !

Just a quick update on the ‘Rugby Union Test Match’ over in Santa Fe as Argentina welcomed England in the second and final game of the series; England wrapped up a series 2-0 win with victory in another hugely entertaining Test 25-25 as a young English team once again, with the help of the old hands took on and beat the ‘Pumas’ in their backyard in front of a very partisan  & noisy crowd!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A CRISP & DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 18^th/ DECEMBER 2016.

We had another nice lie in this morning, ‘ Reina’ slept in her duvet and then this morning joined us on our bed, she’s being collected later, next week she’s is back with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ for four days, not on Wednesday, as I have my appointment with the ‘ Prostrate Consultant’ over at the hospital in Marbella for the results of my review/check up. ‘ Scruffy’ has just arrived for his daily break with us, ‘ Chispa’ is calling in all the time, weather permitting. ‘ Charlie’ is due to arrive for his annual ‘Xmas Holiday’s’ on Thursday, for over two weeks.

For breakfast this morning Brenda treated me to her famous ‘ Poached Eggs on Toast’ – sadly still not ‘ Campo’ – with mugs of steaming ‘ PG Tips’ We then sorted the week ahead out ‘ Xmas Week ‘ On Tuesday morning I’m taking Brenda down to the main surgery in Sabinillas for her special blood test etc, early in the morning ( 8-20am ) – then on Wednesday its my appointment at the hospital, on Thursday morning I’m shooting down to Sabinillas for the first lot of shopping ( Michelle’s Welcome Pack! ) before the main shop on Friday morning.

I will also collect the Turkey from the English Butchers in Puerto Duquesa & the fresh Sprouts & Parsnips from the vegetables market, the plants and flowers from the local market on the way back, finally on Saturday morning I’m picking up the ‘Ribs of Beef’ from our butchers in the village and then preparing the ‘ Christmas Day Lunch ‘ and cooking the Turkey before going over in the early evening to meet Michelle & the family off the flight from Manchester at Gibraltar Airport, we will then go along to their apartment to settle them in!

Overnight the rains returned but this morning its dry & crisp with the sky clearing, the sun is due to break through later, as usual, we are waiting to see what next week and the ‘Xmas’ weekend has in store for us over the next couple of days weather forecasts, watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Braised Lamb Shanks’ in a Minted Rosemary Gravy with Florets of Cauliflower in a Cheese sauce, Carrot Batons & Button Baby Sprouts, a little dish of Mashed Potato and ‘ Rissole  ‘ Potatoes, cooked New Potatoes, in the skins, tossed in foaming Parsley Butter. Next week’s menus are TBC – the meeting is tomorrow morning, watch this space!

This evening we are watching, for the first time in many years, the ‘ BBC Sports Personality of the Year ‘

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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ANOTHER FINE SUNNY DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 18^th / SEPTEMBER 2016.

We had a nice lie in this morning and got up on our own time before the church bells starting calling the faithful! Brenda grabbed a quick shower, I’m later, we then had our breakfast, the ‘ Second Chef’ produced her famous ‘ Campo Poached Eggs on Toast’ to start the day in the right fashion!

It’s another pleasant day here in sunny Manilva, the sun is out, the sky is blue and there is a little breeze, perfect for the time of the year, the week ahead is looking fine & settled, getting a little warmer, watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Baked English Pork Chops ‘ with glazed Apple slices, I sear the chops on a very hot griddle plate before placing them in the oven to bake, the ‘ Vegetable Chef ‘ is preparing crushed Carrots & local Green Cabbage and Cauliflower Florets in Cheese sauce, I will make my famous ‘ Lyonnaise Potatoes’ this evening, the ‘ Vegetable Chef ‘ boils the local Potatoes, I then slice the Onions and sauté  them off, the Potatoes are sliced and sautéed off before adding the sautéed Onions & seasoning to taste! See below.

We have just spoken to Michelle, they have now re-booked their Xmas Holiday to a resort on our side of Estepona just before Sabinillas, five minutes away! I’m going to pick them up from the Airport in Gibraltar on the evening of Xmas Eve, we can’t wait to see them all and welcome them to sunny Manilva, fingers crossed!

At lunchtime we are going along to ‘Bar Castillo’ for a light ‘al fresco’ Tapas lunch to take in the sights, sounds & aromas of the village as it’s such a glorious day here in sunny Manilva! We ended up at ' Bar Rojas' as Castillo was closed ?! Brenda had the freshly cooked ' Habas con Jam ' - Broad Beans with Serrano Ham' & I had the ' Seafood Paella' - both very nice.

Just a quick sports update; Manchester City won 4-0, Everton won, again, 3-1 & over here Barcelona won 1-5, Lewis Hamilton could only manage third on the grid for today’s ‘ Singapore Grand Prix’ Yesterday we watched the Murray brothers win the doubles contest in the ‘ Davies Cup ‘ semi-final in Glasgow, the day before we watched, for five hours, the first singles match as Andy Murray lost to Juan Martin del Potro, who he beat for the ‘Gold Medal’ in Rio!

Last night after supper, and before, we channel hopped and caught various programmes across all the stations.

See below a spectacular picture of the famous '  Lime Street Station'  in Liverpool, with its new front, taken during last night '

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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