A BREEZY BUT STILL VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 29^th/ JUNE 2018.

We were both up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up, Brenda took ‘Paddy’ for his first walk of the day, he slept most of the night on the marble floor, after his cuddles before going to bed, he then had some more this morning, I went and collected the car from the underground car park and picked Brenda up at the bottom of our street, we then shot down to Sabinillas to the main ‘ Medical Centre’ as Brenda had her appointment for her blood test etc.

She’s back next Friday morning to see our Doctor, Natalia, for the results before we go across to the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ on the following Tuesday lunchtime for her appointment with the ‘ Kidney Consultant’  for her six month review/check up.

I carried on to ‘ itZabar ‘ for my toast & tea, Brenda joined me later for an orange juice before ‘ Mercadona ‘ opened, after doing our main weekly shop, Brenda picked up the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’ – before on the way back up the hill we called into ‘ Super Sol’ for the English’ essentials, after un-packing back at the house I put the car away, for another week.

This morning the sun was out first thing and the sky was bright blue as there is a light breeze blowing down from the mountains behind the village, overnight it kept things just a little cooler, it’s still very hot in the sunshine, but in the shade it’s very pleasant, by lunchtime it will be 30 degs+ - over the weekend we are in for more of the same, if a little  cooler at times, in the high 20s, next week is going to be a hot-one, to say the least, hovering into the low to mid 30s, watch this space.

See below the new ‘ BBQ Pit Boats ‘ that the Council have placed on the beach down in Sabinillas for the locals & holiday makers to use – free! ‘ ‘BBQ’s’ are not allowed on the beaches and in the country at this time of the year due to the fire risk.

Last night we had our ‘Tapas’ supper up at ‘ Bar Rojas’ – sat inside as the sun was too bright to put the large screen ‘TV’ outside, we had the TV to ourselves, as the locals were not interested in the game, as England played Belgium, they lost 1-0 , but progress to the ‘knockout stages’ next week when they play Colombia, we had a small selection of light Tapas, then Brenda had the ‘ House’ Croquettes & I had the ‘Chicken Fillets a la Plancha’ with ‘ Patatas Fritas’ and two ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs!

This evening for our supper we are keeping things very simple, ‘Pan-Seared Tail-End Fillets of Salmon’ finished in a foaming Lemon Butter Salsa, with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas with ‘ Parsley New Potatoes’ On Saturday evening we are having ‘ Grilled Fillet Steaks’ with all the trimmings and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ For Sunday we are going to pick up a ‘ Roast Chicken’ from the local ‘Rotisserie’ in Calle Mar’ to have with a Mixed Salad selection.

It’s a big sports weekend around the World, which we will be following, but tomorrow here in sunny Manilva the local ‘Manilva Cycling Club’ have arranged a street race around the village in all the narrow streets,later this evening/night, last year it passed our front-door, watch this space.

See below;

This evening we will be watching the final episode of the ‘ Swedish/Danish ‘ police crime drama, with sub-titles, “ The Bridge “  after we catch the penultimate episode on the  ‘BBC I Player’ this afternoon, we missed last week’s episode, as we were out for Brenda Birthday supper!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 29^th/ MAY 2018.

I was up first this morning to see little princess ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she shot upstairs, as usual, and joined Brenda on the bed for a little lie in before going into her duvet for the rest of the morning, we then freshened up and had a quick toast & tea before going down to Sabinillas to the main ‘ Medical Centre’ for Brenda’s appointment with our Doctor, Natalia, I shot along to ‘McGuiness’ Irish Bar ‘ for a ‘ Bacon & Egg Bap ‘ with a mug of strong tea!

Brenda then called to say that she was not there, there was a relief Doctor, so she has re-arranged her appointment for next Monday morning, watch this space.

This morning the sun has broken through, earlier than yesterday, and the sky is clearing as there is a light breeze, keeping it a little cooler in the shade, by lunchtime it will be hovering on the 21/22 degs+ mark,  over the next few days it’s staying the same, getting warmer at times, the weekend is also looking dry, settled and warmer, in the mid 20s, next week on most of the forecasts it’s now showing sunny & bright weather for all the week, in the high 20s+! I use three forecasts as well as the main ‘ TVE 1’ to make the weather Blog as accurate as possible!

See below the famous “ Laburnum Arch “ in full bloom, at ‘ Bodnant Gardens ‘ in the Conwy valley, North Wales.

Next week on Thursday is when our very old friends Jason & Donna, from the ‘Wirral Peninsula’ are flying in, we have booked then into the ‘Master Suite’ at ‘ Bar Ocana’ in Calle Mar, for the night, we are going to welcome them to sunny Manilva with a nice glass of ‘ Rose Champagne’ at ‘ Casa Sexton’ – then pop along to the ‘Sotogrande Marina’ for a light ‘ Tapas’ lunch at the famous ‘ K ‘ Bar – in the evening we have booked a window table at our favourite ‘ Celebration’ restaurant ‘ Restaurante Macues’ down in the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ On Friday morning they are moving along the coast back to ‘La Cala’ for a friends 50^th birthday celebrations.

We are looking forward to a good catch up with all their news, the last time we saw them was when they were married nearly 28 years ago! They have two daughters now living & working in Auckland, New Zealand, where Donna was born. We were great friends with his parents Bill & Stella, and have known Jason, his brother Richard & sister Rachel, for nearly 50 years, back in the old days at the famous ‘ Bridge Inn’ in Port Sunlight, on the Wirral, where of course I met and then married ‘Lady’ Brenda !! 

See below;

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks ‘ from the ‘English Butchers’ in Puerto de la Duquesa, topped with seared Pineapple Rings & ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs, with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas and of course some twice-cooked ‘ Frits ‘

On Wednesday evening Lee is now joining us for supper, as Daniela is away on business over in the ‘UK’- when it’s going to be ‘Braised Steak in a Mushroom & Onion Salsa’ with Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato’ and a selection of fresh local ‘Vegetables’ that she bought from the local ‘Market Garden’ shop at the start of ‘Calle Mar’ this morning, on our back from the Medical Centre.

The ‘ Contractors’ workmen are finishing laying the small central flag stones, down to the main junction, this morning, then all we need is all the ‘ finishing touches ‘ to be completed ‘ ASAP’  - when the new ‘ Calle Mar’ will then look spectacular! Watch this space.


See below the proposed development back in 2016, with trees & palms, seats and waste bins etc !?

This afternoon ‘Paddy’ is now calling in with some of his ‘ stuff’ as he’s due to join us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ next Monday for his two-month extended holiday, ‘Reina’ is here and will no doubt welcome him as will ‘ Chispa’ when she come crashing in to see her friends! Watch this space.

This evening after supper we will be channel hopping to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A CRISP & WARM SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 17^th/ JANUARY 2017.

We were both up early this morning and after seeing ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, she shot into her Duvet, we set off on our travels across to Estepona, after parking in the underground car park, I was my Barber’s, Manuel, first customer, I had the full works, wash & shampoo, trim & style, dry-cut shave and a face & scalp massage, meanwhile Brenda went off shopping for her cosmetic essentials.

I then met up with her a little later, she had found and bought a pair of Trainers, they fitted perfectly, were very comfortable and looked rather special, that’s because she had bought the most expensive pair in the sale,( Adidas Gazelle) - after a slight misreading of the reduction! I then found a pair of Trainers (Dunlop) - in another shop with a very good reduction!! We stopped at our favourite ‘ Cafe Bar El Caliente’ for a cafe & tostada before we set back odd to sunny Manilva.

As we travelled across to Estepona the sun was out, the sky was bright blue and there was no breeze, the Mediterranean was sparkling and calm, In Estepona, which as usual was looking at its best, all the flowers in the beds/pots/planters were in full bloom, it was mild and warm in the sunshine, a very pleasant day to be out & about on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’

See below a picture taken this morning of a ‘ Misty ‘ Colwyn Bay  – to remind the ‘ Moffatts ‘ what they are not missing?!

Tomorrow the ‘ cold snap’ is due to hit us, 3 degs during the night & 11 degs during the day, its forecast that snow will fall on the hills as well as the mountains, for the first time in many years, rain( possible) & strong winds also, on Thursday it’s due to improve and get a little warmer and then over the next few days into the weekend even better, watch this space.

For this evenings supper we are having ‘ Chicken & Chips ‘ – ‘Escalope of Chicken Breast’ with twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ & whole Green Beans; to start we have ‘Epenades ‘ – small Tuna & Chicken Pasties, which we bought this morning from a new ‘Panaderia – Bakery’ in the main street. Tomorrow night for supper I’m making a ‘Beef & Vegetable Stew’ with ‘Herb Dumplings’ – comfort food for the Gods!

This evening before supper we are going down to the surgery for our appointment with the Chiropodist, after supper we will channel hop to find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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