SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 15^th/ OCTOBER 2014.

So no lie in this morning as its ‘Curry Day’ here in sunny Manilva; we had our usual breakfast and then I got myself sorted to make tonight’s supper “ Chicken Curry with Basmati Rice ” The smells are already wafting up the street and as the locals pass they pause and take it in!

I’ve used diced Breast, Leg & Thigh as usual, they are dusted in seasoned flour and browned off, the sauce is made with diced Onions & Fuji Apple, Pineapple chunks and baby Button Mushrooms, Lime & Mango juice with a dash of Lea & Perrins and Tabasco sauce, three curry Powders and four curry pastes, Mango Chutney and Desiccated Coconut and a good strong Chicken & Vegetable stock. Brenda is in charge as it ‘cooks off’ and thickens up! With it we are having on the side Garden Peas and Banana and Mango slices along with Brenda’s famous ‘Basmati Rice’ See below.

Later this morning ‘Scruffy’ was picked up; he’s back for a three night sleep-over on Friday, which reminds us that he’s with us over Xmas this year! ‘Reina’ is back tomorrow and then next week we are sorting the days out as we have a hospital appointment over in Marbella for some eye checks for Brenda on Tuesday late afternoon, also its nearly time for our friend & Daniela’s, Barbara to have her baby which means that we are going to see more of ‘Reina’ as she looks after her on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays! Watch this space.

Today it’s a little overcast but the sun is nearly breaking through at the moment, over the next couple of days and the weekend it staying warm and sunny with the temperatures at around 25/26degs, the wet stuff is just missing us, the very large front in the Atlantic caused by three hurricanes/cyclones behind it is missing Spain and heading towards the UK – sorry! Batten down the hatches ‘up north’ in Skelton!!

No films to mention so far this week, we have just been channel hopping after the main news.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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WARM AND STILL BREEZY SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 15^th/ MAY 2014.

As forecast today has started a little cooler but still sunny down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’ – it’s more of the same for the next two days before it picks up again on Sunday; which is good new as we have arranged to go out for lunch with Claus & Doreen to ‘Victor’s Restaurant’( Brenda’s Dentist!) which is now situated in the ‘Manilva Green Aparthotel’ Doreen rang yesterday to thank us for ‘Sunday Lunch’ and also to let Brenda know that she had picked Brenda’s watch up for her from the jewelers in Estapona – she offered on Sunday as they were going shopping there one day this week, it’s ‘Feria – Fair’ week in Estepona so the shops only open in the morning or not at all! Thanks – we are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Last night after supper we watched the final of the ‘UEFA Europa League Cup’ at the ‘Juventus’ stadium in Turin; Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties after extra time 4-2 when ‘Beto’ the goalkeeper saved two! They have now won this cup for the third time in nine years, Benfica have lost in their seven previous European finals!! At the same time on ‘TDP’ we also watched an exciting tennis match over in Rome as Nadal won, Brenda watches the tennis all the time – all I hear when I’ am up in the office is her moaning,shouting,grunting and ‘Cooing!’

This morning we have found ourselves in a ‘Gas Bottle War!’ – over the past two week a new lorry has been coming down our street blowing his siren! Our regular ‘Repsol’ driver with the Orange bottles is also still calling twice a week – the new man is ‘Cepsa’ with very posh Silver bottles, three time a week – they are the same price( Government Controlled!) and also the same fitting – we are making enquires about what to do!!

As we were out for our walk with the dog we bumped into two people walking their two 'Highland Terriers' - 'Daisy and Noah' - we started chatting to them,they are English and have just moved up to Manilva and are living down in the valley by the 'Roman Oasis; we then stopped at Bar Rojas for a chat and a cool drink - 'Mark,who is a professional singer and knows some people that we know and Kelly who is a dancer,nice to meet them and we no doubt will see them again walking the dogs!

Just on ‘Facebook’ Lyn has posted an update on their travels around Australia; they have reached Eden going up the East coast and are moving on to Ulladulla near Canberra and then passing Wollongong up to Sydney – we are following them on our very large wall –map up in the office! Thanks for the update, safe traveling and watch out for the ‘Kangaroos!’

The very late movie last night was the ‘Cult’ film about the underground world of high-stakes ‘Texas hold-em’ poker in New York; “ Rounders ” from 1998 stars Matt Damon and Ed Norton with John Malkovich as a weird Russian gambler,Femke Janssen, and Martin Landau – the title come from the term ‘Rounder’ – a person traveling from game to game, city to city seeking and  playing in high stakes cash games! Watch it to find out what happens!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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A DAMP BUT STILL SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 2nd/ APRIL 2014.

We were up before dawn this morning and after a quick tea & toast we shot across to the hospital past Marbella in the pouring and heavy rain on the most dangerous stretch of road in Spain – the infamous N340 – we arrived safely and went straight in on time for my appointment my wonderful Prostrate consultant ‘Senor Daniel Garcia Florez’

He welcomed us with a big smile and the words “Congratulation, you are all clear, see you again in six months for a check up!” He also said that he likes giving ‘Good News’!! We were back out in record time and shot back across to Manilva a little quicker, not too fast as it was still raining cats & dogs! This time we picked up a nice bottle of Cava to have tonight as a little celebration drink, last time we went to the ‘Don Carlos Hotel *****’for a Champagne breakfast – how times and fortunes change! ( The Euro !)

After arriving back at the house in a damp ‘Sunny’Manilva I set too and got tonight’s ‘Chicken Curry’ on the go; Gillian is joining us for supper, we are having some light Tapas to start, our local Chorizo,Semi-Curado Cheese and some Iberia Ham – we have treated ourselves to a treat for our dessert, we picked up some freshly made Strawberry Tarts from the bakery; ‘Kir Royal’ to start and a nice little Rioja with the curry.

Meanwhile our friend Josie and her husband Den have left Paris on the new ‘TGV’ to Barcelona, they were delayed for an hour but are now taking in the sights,sound,food and drink of the city! They are then going on the fastest ‘TGV’ in Spain from Barcelona to Madrid,if you arrive late you get a refund!

Thought for the Day; see above.

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