AT THE MOMENT A DRY & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 19^th/ OCTOBER 2019.

I was up early this morning and left Brenda and ‘ Lolo’ sleeping in their beds, as I was going to watch the first ‘ Quarter Final’ of the ‘World Cup Rugby’ over in Japan, as England played Australia, which they have just beaten the ‘ Aussies’ 40-16 and totally out-played them!

After freshening up Brenda then took ‘ Lolo’ out for his first walk of the day, around the ‘ Plaza de la Vendimia’ – last night on his last walk of the day, we spotted a very large fire, in the hills, in the next valley, to the village, it was a very severe fire-storm effecting various urbanisations and homes, including friends villas above in ‘La Paloma’ – the local and national ‘Fire Brigades’ did a marvellous job, very quickly and it was put-out by 4-00 am, I have just spoken to the Mayor, Mario, our neighbour, as he returned from co-ordinating the various fire fighters!  “ Congratulations & Well Done to All “ !!

See below;

This morning Brenda was on the breakfast rota, so when she returned I had my favourite ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, Scrambled on brown toast for her, with mugs of strong tea, to set us up for the day ahead.

This morning has started bright & sunny, there are few light clouds hanging around, as there is still a light breeze, blowing in from the Mediterranean ( Lavente) – keeping the sky blue, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 24 degs+ - but with the threat of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ still in the air, tomorrow is looking the same, if a little cooler, next week is now looking more settled, with patchy clouds, staying mainly dry & sunny, hovering in the low 20s, overnight down to 13/14 degs, with a stiff breeze still blowing in off the Atlantic, on Wednesday, when we are out & about on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ ( up in Alhaurin el Grande) –  it’s now staying ‘ DRY’  Watch this space.

On the sports front this weekend; this afternoon it’s the final day of the ‘Flat Horse Racing’ at Ascot, in the ‘Premiere League’  - Everton welcome West Ham and Manchester City travels down the M1 to play Crystal Palace, tomorrow it’s the ‘ Match of the Day’ as Manchester Utd welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford, over here in ‘ La Liga’ Barcelona travels across to play Eibar and Real Madrid fly to Mallorca.

Meanwhile over in Japan, at the ‘ World Cup Rugby’ - at the moment, Ireland are playing New Zealand, the winners will play England, next weekend in the ‘Semi Finals’! Tomorrow Wales face France & Japan come up against South Africa, in the other ‘ Quarter Finals’

For our supper this evening I’m cooking ‘ A La Carte’ my version of the old classic “ Steak Diane “ – using ‘French-Trimmed’ ‘Entrecote ( Sirloin) Steaks,  served with finely sliced ‘French’ Green Beans & triple-cooked ‘ Frits’ – tomorrow it’s going to be a local ‘Roast Chicken’- accompanied with a savoury ‘ Chestnut & Mixed Herb’ stuffing, along with ‘ Goose-Fat Roast Potatoes’ and of course my famous ‘ Finger-Licking’ Deep Pan Gravy! Not forgetting a large selection of fresh local Vegetables, from the ‘ Second Chef’!

Yesterday evening before and after supper we watched various programmes, ‘ Mastermind, A Question of Sport, Still Open All Hours, Gardening World, Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie To You, QI, The Graham Norton Show and finally Even Later – with Jools Holland’!!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY ' CLAMMY' WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE 'VENDEMIA' WEEKEND.

MONDAY 26^th/ AUGUST 2019.

We managed a little lie in this morning after a slightly cooler night, after freshening up Brenda took ‘ Sunny’ out for his first walk of the day, she, as usual, slept all night on the marble floor at the foot of our bed, ‘Sunny’ not Brenda! She’s due to be picked up at lunchtime ( flights arriving on time!) No little ‘ Miss Bella’ this morning, as it’s a ‘ Bank Holiday’ in Gibraltar, where Leah works, she is back with us early tomorrow morning, on Thursday evening ‘ Scruffy’ is with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ for a sleep-over as Adrian has an hospital appointment, ‘Chispa’ called in later to see her friend and us!

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 strong tea, to start the week in the right direction!

As we were walking back to the house last night, after our last walk of the day with ‘Sunny’ it was starting to spit, overnight the anticipated thunder storms & rain did not hit us, at the moment it’s dry & close, with no sign of the needed ‘ wet-stuff’ for now, with a few patchy clouds hanging around, still by lunchtime it’s due to reach 27 degs+ - so if it does ‘RAIN’ it will be warm! There is a light breeze which is with us all week and over the weekend, the overall temperatures will be hovering in the high 20s, down to 20/21 degs overnight, for the rest of the week and over the ‘Vendemia Wine Festival’ Next week is at the moment looking the same, watch this space.

First a quick update on the football results; Manchester City won 1-3 & Barcelona won 5-2!

Over here in Spain at the ‘La Vuelta d’ España 19 ‘ the  overall race leaders ‘Red Jersey’ was taken over by the Irish rider Nicolas Roche, the son of the great Stephen Roche,  as the Colombian rider Nario Quintana won the second stage, today’s it’s Stage 3 from Ibi Ciudad del Jugete to Alicante over 188 kms.

Yesterday afternoon we happened to watch the ‘ ‘Ashes Test Match’ from the ‘Headingley’ Ground in Leeds, ‘ Live’ on the excellent ‘ Sky Sports’ coverage, as the greatest ever innings by an Englishman, Ben Stokes, the all-rounder, single-handedly held off the Australian attack to give England one of their most unlikely victories, after their batting collapsed in their first innings for 67!

England needed 359 runs to win, as Ben Stokes pummelled the bowlers with eight ‘sixes’ & eleven ‘fours’ to score 135 not out and win the game, with the help of Jack Leach, the bespectacled slow bowler, who shared a last wicket stand of 76, he only scored 1 run, as England won by one wicket, as they were steered to their highest ever run chase! The ground went mad as Ben Stokes collapsed to his knees after the most intense concentration needed, to achieve his famous innings!

Meanwhile over in Liverpool yesterday the cruise liner the “ Viking Sun’ arrived in the morning and berthed at the Pier Head, for the day, before departing  in the evening on her ‘UK’ cruise, taking in England, Wales, Scotland & Ireland, see below the ‘am/pm’  pictures and then this morning a picture from a ‘Ferry Across the Mersey’ showing the deserted water-front!

For our supper this evening we are having the same as last night, the sliced (cold) ‘Poached Chicken Breast’  with a selection of Mixed salads and some triple-cooked ‘ Frits - the menu’s for the rest of the week are still TBC, tasking things one day at the time, for now, the ‘ staff’ will be given a night-off, at the same time, before the ‘ Vendemia Wine Festival’  weekend, which we are taking as easy as possible, keeping a low-profile over the ‘ Mad’ weekend! Watch this space.

Last night after supper we settled down to watch the pen-ultimate ever episode of “ Poldark “ as our intrepid hero ‘ Captain Ross Poldark’ travelled between London and Cornwall on his various escapades! We can’t wait to see what happens this evening in the final ever episode, as all the characters story lines come together?!

Then it was time to watch the first episode of the return the classic “ Peaky Blinders” as the dysfunctional family, from Birmingham  came back, still wearing their razor-capped hats, with a vengeance! Just two killings this week, both assassinations, as it all happening back in 1929, just as the ‘Wall Street Crash’ losses all the family’s money, as the brothers, sisters, husbands, wife's & lovers, plan their return to power,  watch this space

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY CLOSE & 'CLAMMY' SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 12^th/ JULY 2019.

We were both up very early this morning, for the last time this week, after a quick freshen up we shot down to the main ‘Medical Centre’ in Sabinillas, for my emergency appointment with our Doctor, Natalia, she supervised my ‘Blood/Glucose’ reading and then raised my ‘Insulin’ injection, I have to go back first thing on Monday morning for a review/check up, while we were there she checked Brenda’s ‘ water works’ problem, she has given her an antibiotic and test, for a review in a week’s time.

I then carried on to ‘ ItsZabar’ for my toast & tea, while Brenda waited for the test, ‘Mercadona’ was packed with holiday makers, I picked up the local newspapers from the ‘English Bookshop’ before going back along to collect Brenda, then we called into the local markets, at the far end of the promenade, for our fresh flowers & wall plants, before finally  stopping at ‘ Super Sol’ for the ‘English’ essentials, we then unpacked back at the house, where we had a quick toast & tea.

This morning has started very grey & overcast, but still very warm & close, it’s going to clear by lunchtime, with just a few patchy clouds hanging around, as there is just a slight breeze in the air, reaching 30 degs+ by this afternoon, over the weekend we are in for more of the same, next week is still going to be a ‘ Hot-One’ – reaching 33 degs+ by Tuesday, the breeze will then pick up, keeping it in the low 30s/high 20s, over next weekend,  overnight only dropping to 21/22 degs+ -watch this space.

This afternoon ‘ Scruffy’ is back with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – no doubt he will be with us next week, for the five afternoons, little’ Miss Bella’ is back on Monday/Tuesday, yesterday afternoon our ‘ IPTV’ system went off, so yesterday evening Daniela called in and fixed the problem, while she was here she asked if we could look after little princess ‘ Reina’ as the start of August, which just fits in as ‘ Chico’ is back for his three week holiday at the same time!

On the sports front today; It’s the Semi-Finals at Wimbledon of the Men’’ Singles, at Silverstone they are practising for the ‘ British Grand Prix’ – meanwhile at the ‘Tour de France ‘ today’s  ‘Stage 7’ goes from Belfort to Chalon-sur-Soane, over 230 kms, the longest stage in this year’s Tour!

Last night after our supper at ‘ Bar Castillo’ we went down to the ‘ Casa des Torres’ Cultural Centre’ for the ‘ Tango/Bossa Nova’ Concert, it was performed by the group “ Sonlalson “ – three men on various Guitars, Double Bass and Percussion, all singing, along with a couple of dancers, changing costumes all the time, all very professional, the dancers were spectacular and the singers all took the lead at different times, as well as playing multi-instruments, with a selection of classic ‘ Bossa Nova’ songs & dances, and terrific ‘Tango’ routines, finishing with a version of “ Guantanamera “ See above a selection of pictures.

See below the ' Council' members with the group;

We are having a ‘Lazy’ weekend, basically doing nothing, because we can, taking things very easy, keeping cool, drinking lots of cold water, relaxing, taking short ‘ Siestas’ – getting our energy back, still eating a little, watching all the sport, with all the fans on – ‘Full Blast’ – with the occasional glass of ‘ Vino Tinto’ for Brenda and a nice chilled ‘Cuba-Libre’ for me! 

PS; “ Poldark “  Starts on Sunday, the final series!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 6^th/ JULY 2019.

We had a nice lie in this morning, after another hot night, as we starting to get freshened up the ‘ Skype’ video call went off, it was Jack & Lyn, over in Melbourne, who we havn’t spoken too in a little while, they are both well and we had a good catch up with all their family news, all ours, of course, is on the ‘Blog’! – which they follow!!

Later today we have arranged a ‘ Skype’ video call link-up with Sandra & Bill, over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, for a good catch up, they have a busy family weekend, yesterday Sandra had ‘ IT’ problems in work and then came home to a exploding ‘ A/C’ unit,  ( yesterday 35c !) - they are then heading off to ‘Long Island, New York’ and then ‘ Glamping’!

For breakfast Brenda was on the rota, so I had her very famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, ( 2) – she had her favourite ‘Campo’ Boiled Egg with toast fingers, with still, mugs of strong/hot tea, the ‘ Gas Bottle’ delivery man called and we exchanged bottles.

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ we have ‘ Scruffy’ joining us for a sleep-over on Sunday, then all day Monday, on Monday morning little ‘ Miss Bella’ is back with us, as well as on Tuesday, no doubt ‘ Scruffy’ will be back with us on Tuesday to Friday, in the afternoons, as Adrian continues with his radiotherapy, we have just had to say sorry to Stuart, as the folks wanted to drop off little ‘ Winnie’ for a sleep-over on Monday ( sorry) – as usual ‘ Chipsa’ is crashing in & out all the time to see all her friends and us!

Today we are in for a ‘ Hot-One’ – the sun broke through earlier and the sky is cloudless & blue, there is a very light breeze, so by lunchtime it will be 31 degs+ - at the moment it’s gone a little overcast,  tomorrow a little cooler as the breeze picks up, next week is going to be a ‘ Scortcher’ – hovering in the low 30s+ all week, overnight only dropping to 21/22 degs, hopefully it’s forecasting that there will be good breeze, most of the time, watch this space.

Speaking of the ‘ Wind/ Sea Breeze’ – over in Liverpool in the ‘ Canning Dock’ you can see below the “ Kathleen and May “ – the last remaining British built( 1900)  wooden hull three mastered top sail schooner, as well as the “ Tactona “ a ‘Gaff Ketch’ sale training ship.

Meanwhile in Liverpool the pictures below were taken from the top of the ‘ Royal Liver Building’ ( special permission given) during this week and show the River Mersey at it’s best, the cruise liner shown, was on a visit, but I havn’t got any pictures of it, the ‘ fast ferry’ passing in on the way to the Isle of Man/Ireland!

Finally below is a picture of the quay at Conwy, in North Wales, showing the local ‘ Lobster’ boatman, washing down all his pots!

The last time we had fresh Lobster was when Sandra & Bill visited us for the first time, nearly three years ago, when I ordered it for a special cold-starter at ‘Restaurant Macues’- overlooking the ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina, when Norah & Jenny joined us! No doubt the folks will be having some fresh ‘Lobster’ on their travels next week as they visit ‘Long Island’ etc!! Meanwhile we can only ‘ dream’!!

This afternoon we will be following the Tennis from Wimbledon, yesterday is was very exciting as the new very young (15 years old) ‘ Coco’ Gauff, from the USA, reached the fourth round, then I will be watching the start of this year’s ‘ Tour de France ‘ as Stage 1 goes around Brussels over 195 kms. See below;

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Grilled Fillet Steaks’ and some triple-cooked ‘ Frits’ – then tomorrow it’s going to be sliced cold ‘ Poached Chicken Breasts’ with Mixes Salad and Potato Salad.’ Keeping it simple!

After supper we will settle down to channel hop to find a good film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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