A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 2^nd/ APRIL 2017.

We managed another little lie in this morning,  ‘Reina’ has slept all night in her duvet after starting on the bed, she has settled in very well, we had our breakfast of toast & tea and then got the ‘ Roast ‘ on the go.

‘Roast Shoulder of New Zealand, South Island, Lamb ‘ studded with Garlic Cloves & Rosemary, with my famous ‘finger licking’ Pan Gravy; the ‘ Vegetable Chef ‘ has prepared Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets in a Three Cheese sauce, Glazed Whole Baby Carrots, Whole Green Beans, Wilted Acelgas, Braised Onions & Garden Peas, this evening I will bake in the over the ‘ Boulangere ‘ Potatoes, the classic dish of finely sliced Potatoes & Onions, layered and covered in a rich Chicken & Vegetable Stock, near the end I add knobs of butter to crisp off the top layer of Potatoes! Not forgetting the Mint Sauce!!

We have yet another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ – the sun was out early and the sky is bright blue, there is no wind and by lunchtime it was into the mid 20s, the week ahead is looking fine and sunny and by next weekend it’s getting warmer, watch this space.

See below the first leaves on the old Black vines just starting to grow.

Mano & Anna called in just as we had finished getting the ‘ Sunday Roast ‘ ready so we had a drink with them and caught up with all their news & gossip, Mano is on a week’s holiday.

See below a picture taken this morning of the ‘ Albert Dock ‘ and up the waterfront in Liverpool.

At lunchtime we went up to ‘ Bar Rojas ‘ for a nice cool drink sat under the ‘ Sonbrajo’ – we met a nice couple, Kevin & Carolina, who have a holiday apartment down in Sabinillas, we had a nice, long, chat & gossip, we hope to meet them again when they are next over.

This afternoon, later, we will watch the ‘ Boat Race’ – then the ‘ Open Tennis Final’ over in Miami as Roger Federer plays Rafael Nadal,  this evening after supper we will then catch the second episode of  ‘Line of Duty ‘ on BBC TV. Finally we will watch the highlights of the football over here and in the UK.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 26^th/ FEBRUARY 2017.

We had a nice lie in this morning as the village is very quiet, the church bells started later and we have no dogs with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ Brenda had a quick shower, I’m showering later, we then had breakfast of ‘Smoked Bacon & Mushroom Butties’ with mugs of ‘ PG Tips’ to start the day in the right fashion.

PS; ' Campo' Eggs  could be back on the menu's nest week as our neighbours 'Hens' have started laying again! 

Overnight the stiff breeze has dropped and it’s gone a lot milder, 11/12degs overnight and going up to 21degs today, the sun was out early and the sky is blue, the week ahead is looking fine & settled with more of the same, getting a little warmer, over next weekend there is still the chance of rain on Saturday, watch this space.

We are taking things easy today, basically doing nothing, because we can! On Monday lunchtime I have an appointment with our Doctor, Natalia, for my review/check up after the results of last week, she will also arrange an updated blood test ASAP to be ready to go and see the ‘Anestesia Consultant’ on the 10^th March across at the hospital for the assessment for the ‘Prostate’ Operation. On Friday I will be out on my travels down in Sabinillas for the weekly shopping.

Next week Tuesday is the ‘ Big One’ as it’s ‘ Dia de Andalucia’ – with the Brass Band parading along Calle Mar, the dignitaries out in their finest, as they rise the flag, on the stage in front of the Town Hall, followed by music, singing & dancing.

It’s also ‘National Scouse Day ‘when all ‘ Scousers’ all over the world celebrate all things, including, of course, eating ‘ Lob Scouse’! Finally it’s ‘ Shove Tuesday ‘- so ‘ Crepes ‘ to finish!!

Meanwhile next week in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ little princess ‘ Reina’ is back with us for her normal five days from Monday to Friday, then on Tuesday evening ‘ Charlie’ is back with us for a week’s ‘ Holiday ‘ as Brain & Jan are going over to Liverpool to see all the family.

At lunchtime we went up to ' Bar Rojas ' for a drink and a light ' Tapas' lunch sat under the ' Sonbrajo' in the warm sunshine, Mario, the Mayor, was sat with friends and had just confirmed to Susanna that the work on ' Calle Mar ' being made pedestrian free is due to start in May?! It means that the traditional ' Sonbajo' will be knocked down as all the bars have to have the same umbrellas?! Also it's just as the holiday season starts?! What about the new ' Feria' date and ' Vendimia' at the start of September, will it be ready in time?! Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are picking up a ‘ Roast Chicken’ – which I’ve ordered from the ‘ Rotisserie’ in Calle Mar, we are having for a change ‘ Fondant ‘ potatoes, barrel shaped potatoes, hand cut by the ' Second Chef' then browned in butter and nearly covered in a rich Chicken & Vegetable stock to cook in the oven,( See below ) - whole baby Green Beans and a little Mixed Salad on the side.

Just a quick update on the sports results; Everton won 2-0, the ‘La Liga’ matches are later today, Scotland won 29-13 & Ireland won 19-9 with the help of Jonny Sexton! In two weeks time it’s the highlight of the ‘National Hunt Racing’ season with the ‘ Cheltenham Festival ‘ over five days.

Finally last night we watched the last episode of ‘ Taboo ‘ – the lunacy was an absolute riot! The main character was let out of the Tower of London after poisoning himself, he then bluffed the nasty boss of the ‘East India Company’ – his sister did the decent thing and drowned herself by jumping off London Bridge, then all the main ‘ Baddies’ where set up and shot,  meanwhile the main character gathered all his cronies/followers down at the docks for a final stand against the ‘ King’s Men’

Heavily outnumbered and outgunned, carnage followed, some of them were killed, one shot and one blown up, the royal regiments were decimated, the survivors made it to the ship that he had arranged, as the set off to the Azores and then the new world under the ‘ American’ flag,  meanwhile the main ‘ Baddie’ back at the offices of the ‘ ‘East India Company’ was ‘ Blown Up ‘!!  Will it return, watch this space?!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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