A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 29^th/ JANUARY 2020.

I was up early, again, this morning, for the last time this week, in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’  to welcome back little ‘ Miss Bella’ with us for the day, we then all had a little further lie in before freshening up, as I was on the breakfast rota I had a ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butty ‘ – smothered in ‘HP’ Brown sauce, open on brown for Brenda with a seared, in the bacon juices, half of a local Tomato, with mugs of very strong/hot ‘PG’ Tips Tea.

                                                                                        “ GREAT NEWS FOR A CHANGE “

Yesterday evening we had a surprise phone call from the ‘  Talleres Tony ‘ garage to say that they would be dropping off the car, in ten minutes time, it has passed it’s ‘ ITV- MOT’ test after all the repairs, of a new battery & tyres, wheel bearings & clutch etc, Tony dropped it off outside our front door, I then went for a test drive to check things out and reset all the settings, mirrors, seats & radio etc, before going down the ‘ Repsol Petrol Station’ in Sabinillas to fill up with petrol ( left empty!) There are only two outstanding problems, the screen wash reservoir is leaking and sadly there is a small crack in the windscreen ( insurance!?) I then parked it back in the underground car park below the Police Station. Watch this space.

This morning the new convenience supermarket ‘Suma’ opened it’s shutters for the first time, it’s open from 9-00 am to 9-00 pm six day a week, on Sunday 9-5 ! Its’ situated opposite the ‘Fire/Police Stations’ in ‘Calle Alvarez Leiva’ where the ‘Contractors’ have just started digging up the pavements & road, from the junction with ‘ Calle Mar’ down to the main island at the entrance to the village, as they start the work to replace all the drains/water supplies etc, before laying the new road and lighting, etc !   

See below;

The sun was out first thing this morning and the sky is cloudless & blue, as there is a very light breeze, so by lunchtime it will reach 19 degs+ - still overnight down to 11 degs, the rest of the week and over the weekend it’s staying the same, going a little warmer, back up to 21 degs at times, next week is now looking to start the same, staying warm & sunny, with just a few patchy clouds at times, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – with now the chance of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ returning towards the end of next week as a new cold, wet & windy ‘ Atlantic’ front comes in, watch this space.  

After breakfast I then made this evening supper, of my famous “ Chicken & Mushroom Curry “ – the diced breast, leg & thighs are dusted in seasoned ‘curry’ flour and browned off, with Vegetable Oil, I then make the sauce, first sweating off the diced Onions, Shallots & Garlic, with a large dash of ‘Lea & Perrins & Tabasco’ - along with six sorts of ‘Curry Powder’ and a large spoon of Tomato Frito, before adding the chopped Pineapple, ‘Fuji’ Apples and Baby Mushrooms, with lots of Lime Juice and the ‘Dessicated Coconuts’ – along with a rich ‘ Chicken & Vegetable stock and three sorts of ‘ Curry Paste’ – not forgetting the savoury Mango Chutney, finally adding the browned off Chicken to the pot and leaving it to cook-off under the eagle eye of the ‘ Second Chef ‘!

It will be served with her equally famous ‘ Basmati Rice’ and Garden Peas and sliced Bananas.  

“  A Curry To Die For ” The aromas are wafting around the house and up our street, the ‘ Manilva Curry House’ is open!!

  

Yesterday afternoon we caught up with the next episode of the award winning ‘ Cold Feet’ and later after supper the second part of the excellent and very moving episode of ‘ Silent Witness’ This evening we will be channel hopping to find a good film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A BEAUTIFUL ' CRISP' AND SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 22^nd/ DECEMBER 2019.

We were up early this morning to welcome back ‘Pucci’ for his two-week ‘ Xmas/New Year ‘ holiday, with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – ‘ Chico’ is due to arrive tomorrow morning, for his short ‘ Xmas Break’ Watch this space.

After freshening up we decided to have a little treat of a ‘ Cooked Breakfast’ – starting with freshly squeezed Orange juice, I had ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs with Crispy Smoked Bacon, with lots of toast, while Brenda  had brown toast with the Bacon and her favourite sliced Baby Mushrooms, sautéed in the Bacon juices with a knob of Butter, some of which ended up on my plate! Mugs of strong ‘PG’ Tips Tea helped to set us up for the day ahead!

This morning the sun broke through first thing and the sky is now bright blue and clear, there is still a cooling breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 18 degs+ from tomorrow, at the start of the ‘ Xmas Week’ it’s now looking dry & settled, with sunshine with a few patchy clouds, as the breeze drops, hovering in the mid/high ‘ teens’ – 17/19 degs – overnight down to 12 degs+ - about normal for the time of the year, the ‘ New Year Week’ is also looking the same, today it’s the “ Winter Solstice “ in the Northern Hemisphere, the shortest day & longest night!

Just a quick update on the football results from yesterday; Everton could only manage a 0-0 draw at home, Manchester City won 3-1 and played sublime football, over in ‘La Liga’ Barcelona won 4-1 as Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal this season!

Meanwhile over in Doha, Qatar, at the “ Club World Cup “ Liverpool won 1-0 to become ‘ World Club Champions’ for the first time, the second trophy the ‘ Reds’ have won this season ( UEFA Super Cup)

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Baked Pork Steaks’ topped with a savoury ‘Mixed Herb’ crust, accompanied with glazed ‘ Fuji’ Apple slices, served with local Cabbage with Acelgas, crushed Carrots & Turnips and Garden Peas, with the old classic  ‘ Pommes Lyonnaise ‘ – slices of boiled Potatoes and Onions, sautéed in Parsley Butter!

We are having a nice relaxing day, taking things easy, we will go for walk, later, with ‘Pucci’ who has already settled in, then settle down and as usual watch the TV, channel hopping later to find something to watch, hopefully not about ‘ Christmas Food’ as we have now seen enough of how to ‘ Stuff/Roast’ a Turkey and prepare/cook the ‘ Perfect’ Roast Potatoes!!

At lunchtime on our walk we ended up sat outside ' Bar Castillo' in the hot sunshine, taking in the sights & sounds of a very sunny Manilva, with nice cool drinks, just perfect for the 22nd December! 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY 10^th/ JUNE 2019.

I was up early this morning and after a very quick freshen up I shot off across the ‘Estepona Hospital’ for my first, of four appointments this week, at the ‘ Physiotherapy Department’ for more extensive treatment on my left hand, I found a good spot to park outside the Hospital and had my usual tostado & tea in ‘ Tikitapi’ before going across to the Hospital.

Brenda took ‘Lolo’ out for his first walk of the day around the bottom of the village, he slept as usual all night on a duvet, at the foot of the bed, he has a good appetite, he’s missing his mate ‘Scooby’ but ‘Chispa’ is back, calling in all the time to see him & us, all the time.

The sun was out first thing and the sky was cloudless and blue as I set off along the coast road past a sparkling Mediterranean, there is a very slight breeze, keeping it very pleasant, as usual over in Estepona it’s hotter than here in sunny Manilva, by lunchtime it will be 26 degs+ - overnight down to 15/16 degs, tomorrow even warmer, then sadly on Wednesday/Thursday it’s going a little cooler, with the possibility of the ‘ wet-stuff’ returning?! From Friday and over the weekend it’s going back to normal, by Sunday hovering on the 30 degs+ mark, next week is looking ‘Hot & Sunny’ – in the high 20s/ low 30s+ - overnight staying on 19/20 degs, - it’s going to be ‘Hot One’ Watch this space.

Just a quick update on all the sports results; Lewis Hamilton won the ‘ Canadian Grand Prix’ after Vettel was given a 5 second penalty for dangerous driving, after passing the line first!

Rafael Nadal won his 12^th ‘French Open Tennis’ final in four sets.

England beat Scotland 2-1 at the ‘Women’s World Cup’ Football, meanwhile the England Men’s team beat Switzerland 6-5 on penalties, with Jordan Pickford , the goalkeeper, scoring 1 and then saving 1, to take third place, at the inaugural ‘UEFA Nations League’ - the hosts, Portugal then beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Escalope’s of Chicken Breast’ – pan-seared in foaming ‘Balsamic Vinegar Butter’ with a small selection of Vegetables and the rest of the ‘Pommes Anna’ – the ‘Menus’ for the rest of the week are being agreed later.

Yesterday evening we settled down to watch the next episode of “ Gentleman Jack “ as Ann, the rich spinster, turned out to not be so prim & proper, both with Anne ( Gentleman Jack) as they finally ‘ got it together’ -  as she had also had an affair, when she was younger, with the local ‘Randy Vicar’- while he was married to her friend! The ‘ Baddie’ brothers have a even nastier old Mother, the local nasty husband was fed to his pigs, after his son slit his throat after he attacked his wife/mother! Watch this space.

This afternoon/evening we will be catching up with all the ‘Quiz Shows’ that we follow; ‘ Countdown, 15 to 1, Tipping Point, The Chase, Pointless, Eggheads and the final of this year’s Mastermind’ – then later channel hopping to find a good film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY 3^rd JUNE 2019.

We managed another nice lie in this morning, as the rest of the week I’m up & about, early, for three days treatment at the ‘Physiotherapy Department’ at the Estepona Hospital, on my left-hand, then on Friday morning I will be out on my travels, down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, as usual, after freshening up we had a light breakfast of toast & tea to start the week.

‘Lolo’ has settled in very well, he’s into the routine and has found his ‘ spots’ when we are out with him for his walks, he slept last night on ‘Reina’s duvet, all night, at the foot of our bed, he’s goes on his own bed in the lounge, but likes lots of cuddles and follows me everywhere, he’s eating all his food and drinks a lot of water, ‘Chispa’ has been in to see him, as usual she’s in & out all the time, on Wednesday afternoon ‘ Scoobie’ is due back with us for a three night sleep-over, until Saturday morning. Watch this space.

This morning the sun broke through first thing and the clouds have cleared, the sky is bright blue and there is just a very slight breeze, making it perfect for the time of the year, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 28 degs+ - tomorrow up to 30 degs+ - the rest of the week and over the coming weekend is looking very warm & settled, hovering in the high 20s, back up to 30’ degs by Friday, overnight down to 16/17 degs, the following week is on the forecasts looking warm 6 sunny, with just a few patchy clouds, watch this space.

See below the beach front down in Sabinillas this morning.

As I set off along the coast road on my way to the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ for my appointment with the ‘ Prostate Consultant’ for my review/check up, at lunchtime, the ‘Mediterranean’ was sparking and calm, as usual, it’s much hotter past Marbella, I was called in on time and came back out in a minute, all the results were fine, my main reading was just up a point, so I have another appointment in six months, at the start of December  “ RESULT “

After speaking to Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada on the ‘Skype’ video yesterday afternoon, she posted some pictures of her house and gardens, as over the weekend they has managed to do some work outside as the weather has improved, they even has some sunshine, for a change!

See below; Before & After !!

They have booked all their flights, trains, accommodation in Montreal, car-hire, over here etc, and they are all starting to get rather excited, in time for their arrival down here in sunny Manilva at the start of October, as the weather has improved Bill is doing some work of elaborate wooden decking, on various houses, see below the picture of  ‘Bill’s hard work!

Over in Liverpool over the weekend the liner the “ Norwegian Spirit “ re-visted the City and berthed at the Pier Head, see the pictures below taken from ‘ A Ferry Across the Mersey ‘! - on a rather overcast day.

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of the ‘ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto’ with a little cold Smoked Ham, the menus’ for the rest of the week will be arranged tomorrow morning after I return from Estepona Hospital.

Last night after supper we caught the next episode of “ Gentleman Jack”- the industrialist Anne Lister, with  Suranne Jones, in the title role, as she finally got her lips and hands on the lovely Ann! The story is based on the diaries of ‘Lister’ – containing over 4 million words, largely written in secret code, documenting a lifetime of lesbian relationships!

Thought s for the Day;  See above.

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