A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 24^th/AUGUST 2019.

We all had a little lie in this morning after another hot night, ‘Pucci’ as usual slept on the settees downstairs and ‘Sunny’ was on the marble floor by the side of our bed, this morning ‘Pucci’ came up and jumped on the bed to wake us up! After a quick freshen up we took them out for their first walk of the day, before it gets too hot, ‘Pucci’ is due be collected in the early evening ( flight arriving on time!) – ‘Sunny’ is with us until Monday lunchtime ( flight arriving on time!!) Watch this space.

Brenda was on the breakfast rota when we returned so I had her famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast –Scrambled for her – with mugs of strong ‘ PG’ Tips tea, to set us up for the weekend ahead! Brenda is in her ‘ ing’ mode, so I’m up in the office/studio on the ‘WWW’ before typing/posting today’s Blog.

The sun was out early this morning, the ‘Lavente’ breeze has dropped, the sky is blue and so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 27 degs+ tomorrow will be the same, with a few patchy clouds hanging around, next week is starting with the possibility of the ‘ wet-stuff’ returning, very unseasonal for the time of the year, but still hovering on the 26/27 degs mark, during the night still on the 21 degs mark, if it rains it will be warm! From Wednesday onwards its now looking warm & sunny, with a few patchy clouds, still only hovering in the high 20s, just in time for the ‘ Vendemia Wine Festival’ over next weekend, a little cooler than normal, watch this space.

On the sports front this weekend; this afternoon the ‘Vuelta d’España ‘ starts in Torrevieja with a Team Time Trial, over in the UK the 3^rd ‘Ashes Test’ Match at Headlingley in Leeds is nearly over after England were bowled out for 67! Down at Twickenham in the ‘World Cup’ warm-up game it’s England v Ireland, with no Johnny Sexton, as the Irish fly-half is injured.

Meanwhile in the ‘ Premier League’ last night Everton lost at Aston Villa 0-2 – today Liverpool welcome Arsenal and Manchester City have the long journey down to play ‘ AFC’ Bournemouth, over here in ‘La Liga’ Real Madrid are at home to Real Valladolid & Barcelona welcome Real Betis,  later at the ‘ Knavesmire’ racecourse at York, it’s the final day of the ‘Ebor’ meeting.

Just a quick picture below, of the cruise liner the ‘ Black Watch’ berthed at the Pier Head on Wednesday before it set sail on a five day ‘ Scottish Isles’ cruise, returning on Monday.

For our supper this evening we are having, for a change, keeping it still very simple, ‘Grilled Escalope’s of Pork Loin’ –  with a squeeze of Lemon Juice, garnished with seared Button Mushrooms, served with whole Baby ‘French’ Green Beans and Baked Potatoes, On Sunday it’s going to be ‘Poached Chicken Breast’ – sliced when cold, with a Mixed Salad and Parsley New Potatoes.

At the moment our ‘IPTV’ system has gone off, I think it’s because the ‘PayPal ‘ payment for the annual renewal, which Lee was sorting, has not gone through, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A BREEZY, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY OF THE ' FERIA SANATA ANA'

SUNDAY 27^th/ JULY 2019.  “ FERIA SANTA ANA “

We had a nice long lie this morning after a very late night of the music/bands finishing ( 4-00 am!)  After freshening up, as Brenda was on the breakfast rota I had her famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast’ – boiled for her with brown toast fingers – with mugs of hot tea, to set us up for the next ‘Fiesta’ day ahead!

Later in the evening, last night and overnight the breeze got up, a ‘Poinente’ blowing down from the mountains behind the village, this morning it’s a little cooler, the sun was out early with just a few clouds, by lunchtime it will reach 28 degs, tomorrow a little warmer, as the breeze drops, next week is looking warm & sunny, hovering in the high 20s, then as the breeze drop, by the weekend, it going back up to 32 degs+ Watch this space.

On the sports front today; Over at Hockenheim it’s qualifying for the ‘ Grand Prix of Germany’ – meanwhile at the “ Tour de France “ today’s ‘Stage 20’ . the penultimate stage in the Alps, has been shortened by 71 kms due to landslides, floods and hailstones! Yesterday the race was stopped, at the top of the highest mountains, for the same reasons!! On Sunday the race finishes in Paris.

Over in Liverpool, see below, two pictures of Liverpool, old & new,  the ‘ Three Sisters’ at their finest and new modern buildings shooting up, as well the ‘Landing Stage’ at the Pier Head, as I remember it!

Yesterday evening we found a nice table outside ‘ Bar Castillo ‘ and settled down to watch all the festivities as it happened. The ‘ Manilva Brass Band’ led the procession, with all the new ‘Queens’ following, including the older ‘ Senoras’ in their finest, the ‘Council’ leaders are also in the parade, including the newly elected members, three of nearest neighbours joined in, Maria & Pilar, from the two houses in ‘Calle Mar’- next to the Town Hall and Encarni, who lives opposite our house, her husband is ‘Juan the Tiller’! Finally the ‘Tronos-Tableau ‘ of ‘Santa Ana’ follows, carried by the faithful. See the pictures above.

‘Pepe’ then gave this year’s speech of welcome and official opening of the ‘ Feria Santa Ana’

“ VIVA ESPAÑA – VIVA MANILVA”

During the evening the two bands played on the stages, on the main stage a five piece combo and on the second stage the same band as last night, then after mid-night the main act ‘ Joana Jimenez’ came on the main stage with her very professional band, see below.

This evening we will be back up outside ‘ Bar Castillo’ as it all starts again, with a parade, floats and the ‘ Charanga’ band etc, before later on the main stage ‘ Flamenco ‘ dancers etc, later with the two bands back again, until the wee small hours!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY ' BRISK' AND GETTING COLDER SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE ' THREE KINGS' WEEKEND!

FRIDAY 4^th/ JANUARY 2019.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the first weekly shopping of 2019! I had a quick toast & tea in ‘ itZabar’ – the last for six weeks as Kevin & Jane are closed and on holiday, I  was the first customer in ‘ Mercadona’ and shot to the ‘Fish Market’ counter and bought a large, fresh ‘ Rodaballo  – Turbot ‘ for our supper this evening, it was then gutted, dark skinned & trimmed, ready for the oven this evening.

After picking up the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’ I popped into the ‘ Wholesale/Retail Fruit & Vegetable Market ‘ for some Fresh Asparagus, then shot along to the local market at the far end of the promenade for our fresh flowers and wall plants, finally on the way back up the hill I called into ‘ Super Sol’ for the English essentials, back at the house I unloaded and put the car away.

‘Charlie’ spent the night with us, he sleeps on the rugs around the bed, this morning Brenda then took him for his first walk of the day around the bottom of the village, ‘Chico’ was collected yesterday afternoon, we are missing him already, ‘ Chispa’ has been in & out, as usual, over the New Year.

As I set off this morning the sun was just breaking through and the dark clouds were clearing, as there was a stiff breeze blowing up from the Mediterranean, it was ‘ Brisk’ – to say the least, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach only 14 degs+ - down to 5/6 degs overnight, the weekend is going to be the same, getting just a little warmer by Sunday, next week we are in for a dry ‘ Cold-Snap’ – only reaching 11 degs at times, the coldest spell we have had, down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ since we arrived here back in 2006! An extra ‘ Duvet’ is called for, as well as keeping the Oil Heaters on longer!! Watch this space.

We have just had a call from Tim up in Mojacar to say that the ‘ Jiffy-Bag ‘ with their ‘I-Pad & Sun Glasses’ has arrived in the post this morning! By ‘ Spanish ‘ Post Office standards, that’s unbelievable, as it was only posted on Wednesday morning!!( within half an hour of the call)  Brenda also had difficulties at the local ‘Sub Post Office’ as the Postmistress, at first, would not send it, due to the shape etc, in the end it went with a covering note, no insurance, the contents were wrapped in foam and a small Jiffy Bag inside the main bag, double addressed!!  “ RESULT “

All part of the service at the “ Casa Sexton Boutique Hotel “

This evening for our supper we are having the whole ‘ Rodaballo – Turbot ‘ – baked in the oven and then finished ‘ A La Meuniere’ style’ – after taking off the Fillets, served with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas, with Parsley New Potatoes, on Saturday it’s going to be a ‘Grilled Rib of Beef ‘ with all the trimmings, then on Sunday for our ‘Three Kings ‘ supper I’m making my version of the classic “ Lancashire Hotpot “ – using ‘ Spanish’ Lamb Chops!

Last night after supper we settled down to watch the 3^rd episode of “ Luther “ – the final one is this evening, 16 stabbings, 50 gunshots, 20 punches, 5 electrocutions and 11 dead bodies – so far!! The Detective’s partner, Benny, from past episodes, who was beaten up by the gangsters, was then shot by a hit-man, sent to kill Luther & Alice, Alice and a friend who was keeping them safe in his house, are now kidnapped by him, the hit man also killed the ‘ Grass’  for good measure. The gangster also shot his henchman, that let Alice kill his son.

Meanwhile the ‘ Killer ‘ surgeon and his psychiatrist wife started to torture the girl he kidnapped, before the wife tried to kill her by injection & strangulation, saved by Luther, but the husband is on the run! Tonight’s episode if going to rather exciting to say the least, more blood & guts for sure, watch this space to see how ‘Luther’ sorts it all out, still keeping his short overcoat on and driving without a seat-belt!!

Thoughts for the Day ; See above.

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A NOW SUNNY ' CRISP' AND STILL DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 29^th/ DECEMBER 2018.

We managed a little lie in this morning before ‘ Charlie’ came up and woke us up, by jumping on the bed, he has spent the night on our settee in the lounge, ‘Chico’ slept all night on the blanket by the side of the bed, after freshening up, Brenda took the ‘ lads’ for their first walk of the day, as the gas-bottle delivery man was due to exchange bottles, I stayed at home and prepared a surprise breakfast of ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs & Crispy Smoked Bacon for me and sautéed sliced Mushrooms with Brenda’s Bacon, as well as toast & tea.

Brenda then popped along to the Chemists in ‘Call Mar’ for our prescription tablets, I then went down to our local Butchers to collect the ‘Rib of Entrecote Beef on the Bone’(4) for the New Years Eve weekend.

See below;

This morning it’s very ‘ Crisp’ as there is a stiff breeze blowing up from the Mediterranean, it’s overcast & cloudy at the moment and sadly the ‘ wet-stuff’ is in the air and on all the forecasts! It’s only reaching 14/15 degs+ by lunchtime – down to 10 degs overnight, at the moment the sky is blue, tomorrow is going to be the same, New Years Eve will be dry but cold, the rest of next week is looking settled and dry with the sun breaking through but even getting a little colder at times, especially overnight dropping to 8 degs! Watch this space.

See below the sunrise this morning along the coast.

On the sports front this weekend; over in the ‘Premier League’ Everton have the long journey down to play Brighton, Liverpool are at home to Arsenal, tomorrow Manchester City also have a long trip down to play Southampton, this afternoon’s ‘ National Hunt Racing’ is from Newbury.

Yesterday when we were out & about in sunny Manilva ‘ Calle Mar’ was closed at there was ‘ Council’ workmen on a ‘ Cherry Picker’ – they were still out in the evening and the street lights had not come on, later when we went out for our last walk of the day with the dogs it had all changed, they have put ‘ LED’ lighting around all the Lamp Posts as well as ‘ Snowflakes ‘ signs at the top, ‘ Christmas’ has arrived in sunny Manilva, better late than never!  When the ‘Xmas Lights’ were turned on, at the start of December, they only had a string of white light bulbs along the street, Mario, the Mayor, at the time was not very impressed and said he would see what he could do! This means that the new ‘ Calle Mar’ will be at it’s best for next Saturday’s “ Three Kings “ parade and floats, the highlight of the ‘ Spanish ‘ Festive season, as last year it was a ‘ mud-bath ‘ after being dug up before Xmas! The procession went around the outside of the village on the old, lower by-pass!!

See below;

For our supper this evening we are having  ‘ Grilled Fillet Steaks ‘ – cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – the left to rest, garnished with Asparagus Spears & Button Mushrooms, served with whole ‘ French’ Green Beans and twice-cooked ‘ Frits’

We are taking things easy, later, Brenda is in one of her ‘ ing’ modes, getting ready for the arrival of the ‘ Moffatt’s of Mojacar ‘ tomorrow! Sadly the ‘ wet-proofs ‘ are out, ready for our walks with the dogs, ’Charlie’ will love it, as after all he is a ‘ Water Dog ‘!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY HOT, CLOSE & CLAMMY SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY " NOCHE DEL EMBRUJO "

SATURDAY 4^th / AUGUST 2018.   “ NOCHE DEL EMBRUJO “

We had just a little lie in this morning as ‘Lex Baby’ needed to go out for her first walk of the day, she spent the night roaming around downstairs & upstairs, after another very hot night, when we returned Brenda made her now famous ’Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast with mugs of strong tea, to set us up for the day ahead!

‘Lex’ is now being collected tomorrow morning, so we have changed our plans for this evening, we are now going along to ‘ Bar Castillo’ a little earlier, to get a good spot and will spend the night there, giving the ‘ Head Chef & his Staff’ the night-off! Last night on out last walk of the day the ‘Festival Electricians ‘ had installed all the kaleidoscope ‘Led’ spotlights all along ‘ Calle Mar’ and had them all on to test the effects! The four large stages are also all set up with lighting & sound rigs, its’ going to be a ‘ Helluva’ night, watch this space.

See below;

This morning it’s still very hot, close & ‘clammy’ with just a slight breath of air, in the shade, by lunchtime it’s going to be very hot & sunny, reaching 31 degs+ - overnight hovering in the low 20s+ tomorrow is the same and then next week is now looking very warm & sunny, with a few patchy clouds at times, in the mid 30s, a lot hotter inland, where the ‘ Red’ alerts are still in force, watch this space.

We are now having at home day, keeping as cool as possible, with all the fans on, drinking lots of cold water and thinking positive! In the mid-afternoon a ‘ Siesta’ is called for, I go and lie on the bed in a darkened room & Brenda stays on the settee, even ‘ Lex’ who is always on the move, has a quiet time!

Watch out for all the pictures on tomorrows Blog, as it’s a late finish, again, this evening!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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