A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 15^th/ MAY 2015.

Overnight it was the hottest that we have had so far this year so we kept the fan on and only a sheet to keep us as comfortable as possible; by this morning the stiff breeze that was forecast has arrived so it’s a lot more pleasant today. the sun is out and the sky is Blue and the temperatures is back to normal for this time of the year – 30degs – over the weekend its picking up again and next week is starting to look like its more of the same.

After a quick breakfast we shot down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping calling at the bank first for some cash, next we stopped at the ‘English Bookshop’ for the papers and also to exchange some books as we are now back into our reading; our main shop was at ‘Mercadona’ before we went along to the local market on the far end of the promenade for some fresh flowers.

We the shot back up the hill through the vine fields which are now in full bloom to our house in the center of the village to un-load, I popped along to the Chemists in Calle Mar for some of my prescription tablets. ‘Chispa’ has just come calling so we will go for a walk a little later and no doubt stop for a cool drink!

For this evening’s supper we are having ‘Goujons of Hake Fillet in Cruzcampo Batter’ with Mushy Peas & twice-cooked diced ‘Frits’ I’m making my own recipe ‘Tartar Sauce’ and of course there will be lots of Lemon Wedges! See below;

Tomorrow night we are having ‘Entrecote Steak’ with all the trimmings and then on Sunday for a change, we are going to pick up a ‘Rotisserie Chicken’ to have with a nice Mixed Salad and Baby New Potatoes.

Yesterday in the ‘ Giro d’Italia’ Alberto Contador crashed just before the end of the sprint finish and dislocated his shoulder, he still retained the leaders ‘Pink’ jersey but was not able to put it on! Today is the longest stage of the Tour over 264kms from Grosseto to Fiuggi – he is going to see how he feels just before the race starts – tough people these cyclists!

Meanwhile over in the ‘Tour of California’ Mark Cavendish has won his third sprint stage of the Tour – and the really good news is that its only 50 days to the start of the ‘Tour De France’!!

We have no plans for the weekend, so far, so we are just taking things as they come and taking it easy in sunny Manilva.This evening after supper we will settle down and find a film to watch.


                                                                 R.I.P.  ' BB KING'

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY 14^th/15^th/16^th OCTOBER 2011.

Well after the excitement of the last few days we got back to our normal lifestyle on Friday; the weather over the weekend is changing a little bit, it is still warm and sunny but not as hot, the overall temperature is going down by 5degs but it is still in the mid 20s – 25degs in fact ! We had decided to go down on the bus to Sabinillas to do the shopping, for a change, but we are not very lucky with the local buses, it turned out that the normal bus has stopped running due to funding problems – they have not been paid ! Another coach/bus service has been arranged with the school bus but it did not turn up at the bus stop as we had been led to believe at 9-00am,we were then given a lift together with another Spanish couple by a stranger down to Sabinillas.We did all our usual messages and shopping and I went and got a taxi to bring us back up to the village, after unloading we walked down to the market with Cheta and picked up the flowers and fresh fruit and vegetables; as we reached the market the coach was at the start bus stop so I asked the driver for a timetable, he had just one copy so I took it into the surgery near by and got a copy made ! In the evening we had some more of the fresh Lemon Sole with new potatoes and Garden Peas for supper that we had picked up from the fish market.

Saturday morning after breakfast of local campo Poached Eggs on Toast I settled down to watch the first rugby semi-final between Wales and France, sadly Wales lost in a controversial match which they should have won. I then watched the Liverpool v Manchester Utd. game from Anfield,I am always reminded when they show the aerial shots of the ground that an aunty lived in one of the streets next to the Anfield Road end, it is the same at Everton as another aunty lived in Gladys Street ! The match was a draw, Liverpool should have won. Next I watched the Manchester City game against Aston Villa, City outplayed the Villa and won 4-1 ! This means that they are now top of the Premier League by two points !! Later I caught the Grand Prix and Motor Cycling GP qualifying from Korea and Australia. In the evening it was the turn of the Spanish football, both Barcelona and Real Madrid won. Meanwhile Brenda was up on the roof terrace catching the last of the sun and topping up her tan ! For supper we had Entrecote steaks with Chips and sliced fine Green Beans before settling down to watch a film.

On Sunday morning we got the roast on the go first thing,Chichen,I then left Brenda to work on the vegetables as I went to watch in the office the second semi-final in the rugby, New Zealand ground out a win over the old foes Australia. Later after a freshen up we went for a long walk around the village with the dog and ended up at Bar Rojas as Mano and Anna where sat outside, we all had the Paella, which was delicious, and we asked them to join us for dinner later, as we got back we topped up the vegetables and potatoes to cover the four of us ! I watched the end of the Grand Prix and GPs in the late afternoon. In the evening after a very nice dinner with Mano and Anna catching up with all the news and gossip at the same time we then watched the late film ‘ American Gangster ’with Denzil Washington and Russell Crowe playing the baddie and goodie respectively !

Thought for the Day;

God has given us Ale and Rum, as well as Wine to make glad the heart of man.

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MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY SUNDAY 7^th/8^th/9^th OCTOBER 2011.

No need for any shopping this week so we had a lazy day at home; as it was Friday we walked down to the market in the village and picked up some fresh fruit and vegetables and some flowers. When we got back to the house as it was such a nice day we decided to give Cheta a shampoo and blow dry for the first time, she was very good as we put her in the bath and after giving her a good scrub and wash we then blow dried her in the chill our room before we took her up onto the roof terrace and sat her on the water tank, which she loved, to take in the lunchtime sunshine as you can see in the pictures below! In the evening we had for a change Scampi Provencale before we settled down to watch the TV.

On Saturday morning I got up early to watch the Rugby from New Zealand; the first quarter final game was between Ireland and Wales, Wales beat Ireland 22-10 and totally outclassed the Irish, next it was the turn of England v France, England played terrible and by half time were 16-0 down ! They lost the match 19-12 and deservedly were out of the World Cup; they have lots of problems on and off the pitch and made no friends with their antics and cheating! After lunch I watched the Jools Holland show from Friday evening which was very good with all sorts of different acts on, Brenda caught up with the ironing up on the roof terrace in her bikini as the sun was out, as normal, and we later had our early evening drinks up on the terrace before I cooked supper, this week we had some Rump Steak, for a treat, from the English butchers that we picked up on Tuesday; it was very tasty and along with chips and fine Green Beans we had a lovely supper before we settled down to watch a film on TV.

Once again, on Sunday I got up with the birds to watch the two other quarter final matches; Australia beat the South Africans and New Zealand beat Argentina so in the semi-finals next weekend Wales play the French and it’s New Zealand against the old foe Australia ! We went for a long walk around the village with Cheta in the lunchtime sunshine before I got our Sunday dinner on the go, this week we had Spanish Lamb Cutlets ‘ Chuletas de Cordero ’finished on our favorite Boulangere Potatoes as you can see in the picture below, Brenda’s vegetable selection was Garden Peas, Baby Carrots, Fine Green Beans and a small dish of Cauliflower Mornay for herself ! A fine Rioja helped to end another great week in sunny Manilva,with more sun to come next week ! We then watched in Spanish a James Bond film ‘ Casino Royale ’with Daniel Craig playing the role for the first time.

Thought for the Day;

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever we are doing and devote our attention to eating.

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MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 20^th/21^st AUGUST 2011.

After a little lie in we sorted ourselves out for the weekend; Cheta has finally gone away on her holidays to the family Campo with Isobel so we are missing her charging in and out through the front door shutters every day, the weather is still hot and sunny and the forecast for this week is good – 11 days and counting to Vendimia! We have arranged a hire car for 7 days over the holiday so as we can do all our running around on the Wednesday, pick up Brian,Lilli,her Dad and his friend on Thursday from the Bus Station in Marbella, then David and Jane on Friday from Gibraltar ! We will then drop them all back on Monday and Tuesday on their return journeys! This is because David could not get a cheap deal as they crossed the border to La Linea, we used our regular chap from Marbella, who we have used for five years, and he gave us the local rate, not the summer rate which is nearly double! We are going out on the Friday evening with David and Jane to ‘Venta Garcia ’and are hoping that Brian and Lilli can join us. Saturday was a sports day on the PC, Cricket, Cycling, Rugby and Football on the list; England are winning against India, the Vuelta stage was won by the Australian rider Chris Sutton, Wales beat Argentina and Liverpool beat Arsenal !! In the evening after our Steak supper we watched a film on TV.

Sunday morning I put a Loin of Pork into roast and Brenda got some vegetables and new Potatoes ready to have with it for dinner. We then smartened ourselves up and went up to Bar Rojas for a Tapas Paella lunch, no Paella as the bar was closed on Saturday as Manolo and Lumy had a family wedding to go to above Malaga so they had started late on Sunday ! We came back after our lunchtime snifter and for a change we had Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon before retiring to our separate ways, Brenda to the roof terrace and me watching England beat India 4-0 in the series, the Vuelta and Manchester City win against Bolton. The pictures below show our window flowers, the Yellow ones are only out for a day, because of the heat, but all our neighbours comment on them; the picture of Fabio and his new Chocolate Boxer puppy, ‘Alf ’who is absolutely beautiful, was taken on Monday lunchtime.

Thought for the Day;

We touch other peoples lives simple by existing.

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MANILVA THIS WEEKEND.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY 8TH/9TH/10TH OCTOBER 2010.

On Friday morning we shot down to Sabinillas to do the weekend shopping; as we got back we bumped into Mano and Carlos at Bar Rojas as they had just dropped Anna in Gibraltar, we then went back down with them to pick up a new toilet seat. In the evening we had Pan Fried Dab Soles in Lemon butter with New Potatoes and Garden Peas for supper before settling down to watch the TV.

The weather at the moment is mixed, we are getting away with any real rain and over the weekend and today we are back to clear blue skies and warm sunshine; Mano and Anna called in to confirm their booking for Sunday dinner with a request for a window table, I think and they think that they are back in the Seventy Degrees in Colwyn Bay ! Brenda has even been out on the roof terrace for a short while to top up the tan, meanwhile the rest of Spain has severe rain storms and floods! For dinner we had Steak and chips with Mushrooms and Sauté Onions along with a little salad.

After our normal lie in on Sunday morning we got things on the go for dinner; Roast Chicken with all the trimmings, next week Mano and Anna are providing the roast, Leg of Spanish Lamb which we are looking forward too all ready, it will be our first Lamb of the season. As I walked up to Calle Mar to drop the rubbish in the bins Mano,Anna,Carlos and Fabio arrived at Bar Rojas; it was a lovely day so we ended up sat outside under the Sonbrajo in the lunchtime sun, Carlos was working on Sunday evening so we arranged to send him a take away plated meal with extra roasties as he produced a very large Potato which he had borrowed from Lumy in Bar Rojas ! In the evening we watched with Mano and Anna on DVD the first series of Gavin and Stacey,it’s a ideal way to see it as you see episode after episode all in one viewing ! Tonight we are going to watch series two.

Thought for the Day;

It only takes one person to change your life – You !


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MANILVA WEEKEND.

SATURDAY/TUESDAY 7TH./10TH.AUGUST 2010.

Over the weekend the weather is just getting hotter and hotter; is now so hot that you can’t go out of the house for long and our walks in the evening are getting later. As we move about the house we put the fans on as we need them, kitchen, lounge, office and bedroom, the air conditiong is only for when it gets unbearable as it is an acquired feeling and can only be used in small periods. The roof terrace is out of bounds until the sun moves around in the early evening, Brenda is even having problems sunbathing and has to be very careful and only goes for short breaks. This is now the hottest summer in the last few years as over the period it has not been as hot as in the past, so the locals tell us. It is now 38degs.today and the forecast for tomorrow is 40degs+!

On Saturday we had a late supper of minute steak and salad with baked potatoe, on Sunday I roasted a Loin of Pork, first thing in the morning, which we have been having cold but with some vegetables, which we have been missing, Brenda bought some Acelgas,Swiss Chard, that she cooks with the cabbage and I stuffed red peppers with savoury rice and topped with a Provencal sauce and popped them in the over with the Pork ! We rang Mano and asked them round for supper on Sunday evening before he goes into work but they did not come as Anna is still in bed with a bad back that she has now had for a couple of weeks; Next weekend it is her birthday so we hope that she is better by then! We have just come back from Bar Rojas after seeing Mano and Anna,she is back in the land of living and in good form - Thursday am.

Tim phoned on Saturday after coming back from their holiday in Rhodes; they went with Ben, their son and another couple and had a brilliant, but very hot, time, over the weekend there have been a lot of messages on Face book from Australia; we have just been on the Skype Video to Jack and Lyn and have caught up with all their news, they are going on a cruise in November for 28 days around Australia on the “ Dawn Princess ”so I have been on the internet and have got all the details and will follow them as they make their way around the coast and stop at various ports; Over in England we spoke to Ben, Carols son, as he and Andrea have sent us a wedding invitation for the 1st.October,we can’t make it but it is very special of them to ask us as part of their family –thanks, it was also both their birthdays in the last week, Ben was 35 and Andrea ? Brenda’s sisters, Norah and Jenny, are here for two weeks from the 15th/29th September so we are going to have a busy time during September as the first weekend is the Wine Festival in the village-the big one and I am planning to crush the grapes for the second time, watch this space !!

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MANILVA.

Wednesday 23rd. July.

Another hot day in Manilva as we did the chores and looked after the plants,we are having some luck with the plants on the balconies but our main indoor plant on the stairs is not looking too healthy,it’s an “ Ukka? ” ! In the afternoon I watched the Tour de France and the three main climbs in the Alps including the last one up the famous L’Alp D’Huez in which a Spanish rider broke away and now leads the tour,the Spanish commentators went mad! The French TV coverage was rather special as well with some very good helicopter pictures of the race and scenery in the Alps. Brenda was out on the roof terrace reading,James Patterson and the Alex Cross thriller’s which we are both into at the moment.Later for supper we had some local Pork Cutlets in a lemon butter sauce with pan fried green peppers and onions.

Thursday 24th. July.

Today we went across to the English butchers on the far side of Estepona to stock up ready for when Tim arrives in a couple of weeks,he went on holiday today to Crete with his family.We then checked out the Winnebago at the garage and called to see Vidal and Gissy at their new apartment above the old site,they are very busy at this time of the year with gigs every day and are enjoying living a normal life for a change!In the evening we had omelette’s for supper and then went for a drink in the cool night air around the corner in the main street,Calle Mar.

Friday 25th.July.

In the morning we did some shopping down in Sabinillas and when we came home we rang Mano to wish him happy birthday,he was at home and not working but they had a burst in the kitchen earlier in the week and the repair people had arrived so he was stuck with them.We invited them for a “ Fish Supper ”as we had bought some fresh Salmon fillets in the fish market but they did not make it due to the problem.Over the weekend there is a very big festival in the village “Verbena Santa Ana” who is the patron saint of the village,they are putting the lights up along the main street and the stage is built again and the band and procession are on Saturday evening so watch out for the pictures as this time the camcorder and the digi-camera are charged!! We popped out for a drink at our favorite bar which was very busy as usual,it’s the most popular bar in the village and serves the best Tapas as well,we are going to have a evening out tomorrow night to watch the festival.