A VERY CLOSE & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 3^rd/ JULY 2019.

I’ve had another very bad night, I’m really struggling with my left arm, virus infection, it’s very painful and I can’t put is down on the sheets, it has gone a lot worse over the past few days, it looks like I have got ‘ Shingles’ - my nerve-ends are on fire, I can’t sleep and I’m feeling very under the weather, my right-leg infection is clearing slowly, all the, seven day antibiotics/creams finish today, I have never been so ‘off colour’ and run down, in my life, the heat is not helping, as its now very hot & clammy during the night.

Hopefully the ‘ Dermatology Department ‘ at the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ will give me some relief, with both of the problems, as the afternoon I’ve an emergency appointment, at the same time my arthritis in my left-hand is acting up!  ‘ Finger Crossed ‘ with my right hand  “ HELP “ Watch this space.

I managed to get the ‘Music Quiz’ correct this morning, on the “ Andrew Charles Breakfast Show “ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – it was a five second burst, from the start of ‘ Moondance’ with Van Morrison!

The stiff breeze has dropped and it’s now cloudy, with the sun just breaking though, by lunchtime it will reach 27 degs+ - over the next couple days it’s going hotter, up to 32 degs by Saturday, next week, the whole region is on ‘Red Alert’ – going even warmer, overnight only dropping to 20 degs+ it’s going to be a Hot-One’ Watch this space.

Yesterday over in Liverpool, at the Pier Head, an unusual ship was berthed, the “ Vos Start ‘ – an offshore support vessel, built in Japan, it offers personnel-transfer solutions to the large wind farms, out on the Irish Sea.

See below;

For our supper this evening we are having something simple, again , tomorrow evening we are going along to ‘Bar Castillo’ for a light ‘ Tapas’ supper, in the afternoon ‘Scruffy’ is back with us for few hours. The menu’s for the weekend are still one day at the time, watch this space.

“ RELAX, TAKE IT EASY,THING POSITIVE “ – are today’s ‘ BUZZ’ words!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

A VERY WARM & HUMID SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 18^th/ SEPTEMBER 2018.

We had a nice lie in this morning, little prince ‘ Percy’ slept all night on the bed, he snuggles up as the night goes on, after freshening up we took him out for his first walk of the day down to the ‘Mirador’- keeping to the shady side of the street, when we returned, as the ‘Head Chef’ was on the breakfast rota, we had ‘Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP ‘ Brown sauce – open on brown, as usual, for Brenda, with mugs of ‘ PG ‘ Tips tea.

Before we went out, as we were getting ready we were listening to ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’  as usual, we both guessed the mystery 1 second track straight away, it was ‘ Cyndi Lauper’ – “ Girls Just Want to Have Fun “

After breakfast we had our ‘ Menu’ planning meeting; as it’s still ‘ Hot’ in the kitchen, we have agreed with the ‘Head Chef’ to still keep things simple, for now, this evening we are having ‘Homemade Burgers’ from our Butcher in ‘Calle Iglesia’ – ‘  Big Cheese’ for Brenda, using Gouda Slices, and a ‘ Big Egg ‘ for me, they are all made with crispy Coz Lettuce, sliced Tomatoes, Gherkins, crispy Smoked Bacon  & sautéed Onions, - mine topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg! – served with ‘ Basket’s of twice-cooked, hand-cut by Brenda, “ Stringfellows “ !! Not forgetting the ‘Heinz’ Tomato Ketchup.


See below, not a very good picture, taken with my Mobile !

Tomorrow evening it’s going to be ‘ Marinated Spanish Lamb Cutlets ‘ with a small selection of seasonal, local, vegetables, then on Thursday we have given the ‘ Head Chef & Staff’ the night off, we will go along to ‘ Bar Castillo’ for a Tapas supper, as they have returned from their holidays, Friday will be ‘ Fish Night’ & Saturday ‘ Steak Night’ – as usual Sunday is TBC, as on Monday we are going out for supper, on my birthday, to hopefully, the ‘ Kinnaree Thai Restaurante ‘ down in the Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ Watch this space. 

The sun has broken through early this morning and the sky was bright blue, as we set off, there was no breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 30 degs+ - the rest of the week and over the weekend is looking the same, warm & sunny, with patchy clouds at times, hovering on the 30 degs mark, over night down to 21/22 degs, normal for the time of the year, next week is looking settled, warm & sunny, a little cooler as the week goes on as there is a light breeze, watch this space.

See below the beach this morning, back to normal!

This evening it’s the start of the ‘ UEFA Champions League ‘ football as Liverpool welcome ‘PSG’ - Barcelona are at home to PSV Eindhoven & Tottenham travel to Inter Milan.

Yesterday evening after supper we watched the second episode of “ Black Earth Rising “ – we missed the first episode last week as the ‘IPT system was offline,  we are going catch it on the ‘I Player’ - the main protagonist is a Tutsi refugee who escaped the Rwanda genocide and was raised by upper class white parents in London, Kate ( Michaela Coel) – now an international Human Rights Lawyer, John Goodman ( Roseanne ) is a American barrister defending a Rwandan liberator turned mercenary, it all goes ‘ Pear-Shaped’ as an killer, disguised as a ‘Police Motorcyclist’ shoots 6/7 people, I lost count, one of them the mother of Kate, played by Harriet Walter, who is also a lawyer, the plot thickens, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.  

...

A VERY, VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 7^th/ AUGUST 2018. 

We all had a little lie in this morning, ‘ Maisie’ has settled in very well, she spent the night on a blanket on the marble floor by the side of the bed, when we came in from our last walk of the day, last night, she headed upstairs to bed, we followed! We sit on one of the new seats along ‘ Calle Mar’ and take in the night air, as we chat to passing friends, this morning we took her down the shady side of the street to the ‘ Mirador’ for her first walk of the day, she is already into her regular ‘spots’ – we then had our normal light breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ fresh fruit, toast & tea, ‘Maisie’ has started on her biscuit meal.

See ‘ Maisie’ below on her bed and outside the office/studio!

PS; Little princess 'Riena' is back with us on Friday, just for the one day this week.

As we returned from our walk the ‘ Skype’ video, calling sound, went off, it was Jack & Lyn over in a windy & cool Melbourne, Australia, they are both in ‘fine spirits’ despite all the ongoing, old age, aches & pains, Jack had just had another great granddaughter arrive, with another on the way, they are taking things very easy, Lyn had had letters from Norah & Jenny and was just getting around to replying to them!

  

As we were getting ready to go out we were listening to ‘ Castle Radio FM- 89.2 & online on the WWW’ and the ‘Andrew Charles Breakfast Show’ – Brenda guessed the mystery music clip ( 2 seconds backwards!) – it was “ Wooden Heart & by Elvis Presley – which was ‘ Correct’!

In the ‘E-Mails’ this morning there was one from our friends, Kevin & Caroline, from Brighton, who have a very nice apartment in Sabinillas, they were letting us know that a post card would be arriving from them in Berlin, as their youngest son ‘ Charlie’ who’s in the GB Team, is completing in the 1500 metres event at the  “ European Athletics “  at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin! Thanks in advance and come on Charlie!!

Overnight it was the hottest night so far, this year, very close & clammy, even with all the fans on full-blast, 25 degs+! Today we are in for another ‘ hot-one’ as the sun was out early and they sky is clear and  as there is just a very slight breeze, by lunchtime it will be up to 35 degs+ with still record temperatures forecast inland( 48 degs?!) – over the next few days and into the weekend it’s more of the same, next week is also looking very warm & sunny, watch this space.

See the beach down in ‘ Castillo de la Duquesa’ this morning before the holiday hordes arrive and after!!

!!

At lunchtime I’m making a large bowl of my famous ‘ Ensaladilla Rusa – Russian Salad ‘ the ‘ Second Chef’ has prepared all the ingredients; Boiled Potatoes( diced small) Boiled ‘ Campo’ Eggs( chopped) Baby Carrots( cut up) Garden Peas, Tinned Tuna in Olive Oil ( broken-up) & Red Pimentos( small diced) & Parsley  – after doing all the chopping I then mix all the ingredients with ‘Hellman’s’ Mayonnaise and adjust the seasoning to taste.

On our lunchtime walk along the shady side of the street we ended up back at 'Bar Castillo' for a nice cool drink,  'Chispa' joined us, not on a lead, with 'Maisie' - they have made friends already. I just call her in either Spanish or English, as she's bi-lingual! 

We have ordered for our Thursday evening supper ' Rosada Frito ' - Deep-Fried Chunks of ' Dogfish ' in a crispy 'Tempura' style Batter with Patatas Fritas! - ' Dogfish' is a pink coloured fish- 'Pink Bream ' - with flaky white ' Cod-like' flesh! A true ' Andalucian' dish!! 


See below;

This evening we have our appointments down at the local surgery with the ‘ Council’ Chiropodist, Carmen, on the way back are going to call into ‘ Bar Castillo’ for a cool drink, and perhaps a ‘Tapas’ – as back at the house we have the ‘Russian Salad’ with cold Smoked Ham waiting!

We are of course taking ‘Maisie’ with us, for her evening walk, she is a very gentle ‘ Lady’ and loved being out & about with us, she didn’t want to come back this morning!

We will be watching all the ‘European Championship’ events taking place in Glasgow & Berlin, the Track Cycling has been very exciting and the Athletics starts today.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....

A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 5^th/ JULY 2018.

I was up early this morning to welcome back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, she shot upstairs onto her duvet, as usual, we then all had a little lie in before getting the day on the go, ‘Paddy’ had nice long sleep, on the marble floor, before joining us this morning on the bed, after a quick freshen up we took him out for his first walk of the day, keeping to the shady side of the street, the breeze has dropped overnight and this morning it’s warm & sunny with clear skies, when we retuned we had our light breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ fresh fruit, toast & tea, we then got the shopping list ready for tomorrow morning, when we are both out on our travels down to Sabinillas.

‘ Chispa’ is, as usual, in & out all the time to see her new friend, and us, she comes for a walk with us when she can, ‘Reina’ dosen’t do walks! We have just had a call from one of our regulars, here at ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ -  ‘ Chico’ is coming back next week, for another weeks holiday, he’s no problem and gets on with other dogs.’ Paddy’ is loving all the attention he gets, yesterday he was on Brian and his Dads knees,( see below) - when we go out all the locals and friends make a big fuss of him, he’s a “ STAR”!

Yesterday afternoon we had a little excitement as we had a nice surprise, on ‘ Facebook’ a message appeared from ‘ Big Brian’ – he had just arrived at Malaga Airport, from Liverpool, with his Dad, for a 8 day-stay, celebrating his Dad’s 70^th birthday! He had a problem with the bus transfers and was asking for help from any of his friend’s.

I ended up picking them up from the Bus Station over in Estepona, they are staying at ‘ Hostel Ocaña ‘ in Calle Mar, so on the way home they called into see Brenda, back at our house, we had a nice catch up with Brian and a good reminisce with his Dad, a true’ Scouser’! A few ‘ Beers’ followed!! After supper we joined Brian up at ‘ Bar Rojas’ for a night-cap, by then ‘ Big Brian’ was in fine form, with his mate and our friend Andy! We only have another 7 days to go, watch this space.

See below Brain's Dad, " The Duke of Runcorn " this lunchtime down in Sabinillas on the beach front.

The sun was out first thing and the sky has cleared and is bright blue, overnight the breeze has dropped so this morning it’s very hot & sunny, a little cooler in the shade, by this afternoon it will be 31 degs+ - overnight 19 degs, over the weekend it’s going just a little cooler, then next week we are in for a “ Heatwave “ coming in from Africa, on top of our normal hot weather, at this time of the year, the forecast is that it’s going to be in the high 30s, on one over 40 degs+  - inland up to 45 degs!  Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are going along, later, to ‘Bar Castillo’ for our ‘ Tapas’ supper, sat in the slightly cooler evening air, the ‘Head Chef & his very hard-working Staff’ have been given the day & night off, as at this time of the year it gets a rather hot in the kitchens, despite the fans and extraction canopy being on full-blast!

This afternoon we will be watching the ‘ Tennis’ from Wimbledon, the ‘World Cup Football’ from Russia returns on Friday/Saturday for the ‘ Quarter Finals’

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

....

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 20^th / SEPTEMBER 2016.

We were up together this morning and after freshening up we had a quick breakfast before we shot out on our travels; our first port of call was down at the surgery for Brenda’s appointment with our Doctor for her half-yearly check up/review, it was all good news, no new problems and some of the results a little better, especially the ‘Kidney’ figs, she has an appointment next Monday lunchtime at the  ‘Costa Del Sol Hospital’ just past Marbella with the ‘Kidney Consultant’ Watch this space.

We then went down to Sabinillas to the ‘ Ferreteria’s’ for various light bulbs etc – with not much luck- he is waiting for his new stock to arrive after the busy holiday period, we tried the other ‘ Ferreteria’s’ on the other side of the road, it was closed for holidays!  As they say down here ‘ Hasta Manana’! I also popped around to the Solicitors office and had to leave the documents for her attention as she had been called out, I have the feeling that it’s not our day?!

Next we went along the coast road towards Estepona to check out the apartment’s where Michelle and her family are going to stay over Xmas, they are just a couple of minutes from Sabinillas right on the beach, the block where they are staying is pristine, with all the facilities on site including the two swimming pools, the only problem is that there is no office/reception?! I have rung Michelle and she is going to check with the agents, they are arriving in the dark on ‘Xmas Eve’ so we need to know what the arrangements are! Watch this space.

The sun was out early this morning and the sky is bright blue, the breeze has dropped and it was getting hotter as the morning went on, 30 degs+! The ‘Mediterranean’ was a sparkling blue, it’s another glorious day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’- tomorrow it’s going to be even warmer and the weekend is also looking good for my birthday celebrations!

I’ve just booked a table at ‘ Kokomo ‘ in two weeks time for their excellent ‘Sunday Roast Lunch’ when we are going with Lee & Daniela to celebrate Lee & my birthdays, this evening I’m hopefully going to book a table for this Saturday at ‘Restaurante Macues’ down in Puerto Duquesa, if they are open and not on holiday! Watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are going to have ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks’ topped with ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs, Garden Peas & of course twice-cooked ‘Frits’ on the side! Not forgetting the ‘HP Sauce!! Tomorrow I’m going to make a ‘ Calves Liver Casserole’ in a Red Wine/Onion Gravy with ‘English’ Pork Sausages & Smoked Back Bacon, no doubt we will have some of Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato’- on Thursday it will be Grilled Chicken Wings with a Mixed Salad.

So yesterday afternoon Mano & Anna called in for a good catch up and gossip, Anna has not been out of the house for the past few months as she doesn’t like the hot weather! We then watched various Quiz shows before after supper catching the next episode of ‘ Cold Feet’- they are keeping up the standards with another cracking story line and fine acting.

PS; Don't forget to keep the post cards coming, we look forward to receiving them and of course we send you one back, on the ' BBC Breakfast ' programme this morning they were talking about how its a dying custom - go on you know it makes sense, keep tradition alive! See below an old one from the ' Moffatt's'!! 

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

..

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK;

MONDAY 1^st / AUGUST 2016.

We managed a nice lie in this morning as ‘ Reina’ had a sleep over with us, she’s stayed up to watch the TV last night so slept all night on her duvet and then came on the bed this morning, she’s here with us tonight as well and then as usual everyday up to Friday Brenda shot down to our local Post Office to post a Birthday Card, watch out its could be you?! ( Colwyn Bay?)  See the picture below of the ' Great Orme' above Llandudno this morning.

After our regular breakfast of fresh fruit, toast & tea we sorted our week ahead out; on Wednesday morning Brenda is going down to Sabinillas on the bus as she has an appointment at the hairdressers for the ‘ full works’ – next week its my turn for my visit to the ‘Barbers’ over in Estepona, at the same time we will call into the ‘Jewellers’ to see how our Carriage Clock second-repair is coming along, no doubt with a little window shopping at the same time! This Friday I will be out down in Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, trying to beat the ‘ Hordes’ before it gets busy, no other happenings in the village ,so far, so its back to normal for now.

This morning its already very hot & sunny with no breeze, we are in for the hottest week, so far this year, well it’s the 1^st August today! At night its also staying very warm & ‘ sticky’ making it rather uncomfortable to say the least, the longer range forecast is still saying that its going to be the hottest on record, watch this space.

Tonight for our supper we are having ‘ Grilled Chicken Wings’ with a Mixed Salad and a Baked Potato, the rest of the week is yet to be decided, we are taking things as they come, keeping it a simple as possible.

Yesterday afternoon was a ‘ sports day ‘ – we watched a little of the  ‘Ladies Open Golf’ from Woburn but it was not very exciting as the leader was four shots ahead all the time, over in the ‘ German Grand Prix’ at Hockenheim Lewis Hamilton made another excellent start, off the grid, and led from start to finish to go ahead in the Drivers Championship, then we tried to watch over on BBC TV the coverage of the ‘Ride London’ Cycle Race around London with Chris Froome and the ‘ Sky Team’ taking part before shooting off the Rio De Janeiro  later today for the ‘ Olympic Road Race’ next Sunday, sadly the BBC coverage went ‘off air’ in the final 10 kms, so the exciting part of the race into the ‘Mall’ in London was not on air, at the finish the camera’s were in the wrong position and missed the sprint finish, as they did not cover the left hand-side of the road! Un-believable !!

After supper we settled down to watch ‘ the James Bond movie ‘ “ Skyfall’ on ITV, its rather ‘dark’ and not a typical, all action, as usual, with a surprise ending.

A little update on the new studio down in ‘ Puerto Duquesa’ of the  ‘Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – its due to come ‘online’ in the next two weeks, the new programmes and day time presenters ( training at the moment ) are currently in the studio, see the picture below, hopefully I’m still going to be broadcasting ‘ on air’ live from my studio here in the heart of sunny Manilva, I’m just waiting for Andrew to come and install all the producing/broadcasting systems onto my system, watch this space!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

..