CRISP AND DRY IN SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE "CARNAVAL" WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 21^st/ FEBRUARY 2014.

Overnight we had a little bit of rain but by the time we were out and about it had cleared up and we are back to normal; the forecast for over the weekend and into the start of next week is fine so that means that it will be dry and crisp for the ‘Carnaval’ parade tomorrow evening. Before it comes along Call Mar through the village we are going around to Josie’s apartment for a glass of Cava to start the evening in the right fashion!

So after breakfast this morning we shot down to the local market by the sports pavilion to pick up some fresh flowers; next it was down to Sabinillas for the shopping at the supermarket, then the bank and finally the papers; after unpacking I went around to the butchers and picked up our Saturday night ‘Steak a la Plancha’ – then when I got back I made some Tartar sauce for tonight’s supper, we are having, you guess,’Goujons’ of Hake fillet with Mushy peas and twice-cooked small diced square chips!

Just as I finished we heard the ‘Chi Chi Pom’ band coming up the next street; they were leading the very young children from the nursery school on their very own ‘Carnaval’ parade all dressed up in their costumes as you can see in the pictures above; we then carried on and went for a short walk down to the park where they have put some more plant pots!

Our dear friends Tim and Thea with Wes and Judith have arrived in Australia at Melbourne airport to one ‘Helluva’ fine welcome – six fire engines and making the headlines in the newspapers and TV – safe and sound and they have already see their first Kangaroos   Details to follow later.

Tonight we will catch a film to watch as its film night on all the channels so we have plenty of choice for a change.

Thought for the Day; See above.

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SUNNY AND HOT MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND

FRIDAY 18^th/ OCTOBER 2013.

This morning after our breakfast we first shot down to the surgery to make an appointment for some blood tests for me as I’ am due back at the hospital in November with the Prostrate Consultant for a six month check up; at the same time I arranged for our ‘Gripe – Anti-Flu Jabs’ next week on Thursday.

Before we left we had some bad news from Australia, Brenda’s niece, Deb, Lyn’s oldest daughter, husband Dornoch passed away over night after a short but severe illness; our thoughts go out to all the family at this very sad time, Condolences from us and Norah and Jenny over in England. You are in our hearts and we are thinking off you.

It was then time to go down to Sabinillas for the shopping; I called into the bank and then went to the fruit and vegetable market, I picked up some fresh Parsnips for our Sunday Roast and some Chestnuts to make the stuffing with; after calling at the supermarket we stopped at the English bookshop for the papers and I exchanged some ‘Patterson’s for another one that I think we have not read! 

When we got back up to the village we went down to the local market by the sports complex and bought some fresh Flowers, after unpacking I walked around to the butchers for our Saturday night steaks and spotted some fresh Calves Liver so I also had some thin slices cut for sometime next week!

Anna called in at lunchtime just after the handyman had been to fix the electric hot-plate that did not come on yesterday lunchtime; the wires had burned out underneath, so at the same time Brenda had him look at the main shower as were struggling to get hot water, he adjusted the thermostat control and it backs to normal! No hot-plate would mean no cooking – we would be in shock, what would we do!!

Anyway we are back to normal and tonight for supper we are having ‘Panga’ Fillets deep-fried in ‘Cruz Campo Batter; we enjoyed the ‘Panga’ last week in breadcrumbs and it’s a excellent fish for this sort of dish; with it we are having square chips and Mushy Peas with homemade Tartar sauce that I made earlier this morning! We can’t wait!

Back on the sports front this weekend the football is back to normal, for the moment; over in the ‘Premier League’ in England its Newcastle v Liverpool, Everton v Hull and West Ham v Manchester City and over here in ‘La Liga’ its Real Madrid v Malaga and Osasuna v Barcelona. Over in Melbourne at the ‘Phillip Island Circuit’ it’s the ‘Australian Motor GP’ – Marc Marques has just crashed in practice but he is OK!

After supper we will watch the news and weather as the forecast for tomorrow is at the moment showing some of the wet stuff ?! Where’s that come from ?

Thought for the Day; See above.

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SUNNY AND A VERY HOT MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 4^th/ OCTOBER 2013.

This morning we went down to Sabinillas to our Bank, the Vegetable & Fruit market, the supermarket and finally the newsagents for the papers and some more ‘Patterson’s’ to read; after unloading back at the house I dropped the car back down to the underground car park and we then went for our walk with dog down to the local market for some fresh flowers and a plant and on the way back called into the butchers for our Saturday night steak.

The sun was out early this morning and it’s looking like more of the same over the weekend but then in the middle of next week there is rain on the horizon! Anna called in at lunchtime for a good chat and gossip, they have still not got their electricity back on at their house so they are staying in Carlos’s house around the corner, We have asked them around for supper on Sunday, I’ am making ‘Lancashire Hot Pot’ from my special recipe with Cabbage with Alselgas and plenty of shredded Beetroot on the side!

Just before lunch Tim came on the Skype video so we had a good chat and caught up with all his news; he had seen the picture that I put on the blog yesterday and thought that it was very funny! Last night Jo had been to see ‘Jay-Z’ and tonight I notice the Jane is going to see him as well over in Manchester.

On the sport’s front this weekend I will be following the Korean Grand Prix  and of course the football; over here in La Liga’ Barcelona are at home to Real Valladolid and Real Madrid are away at Levante, while over in England Liverpool host Crystal Palace and the match of the day is Manchester City v Everton – come on the ‘Blues’ – but which one ??!! Carlos or Big Bri !!

This evening for supper we having deep-fried ‘Hake in Cruz Campo Batter’ with twice-cooked square Chips, Mushy Peas, Homemade Tartar sauce which I made this morning and some of my now famous Tomato salsa on the side! We will then catch a late film, last night we watched “ Wall Street 2 - Money Never Lies” from 2010 – it was the sequel to the original from 23 years ago and started as ‘Gordon Gekko ( Michael Douglas) was let out of prison after 8 years! With a cast of Shia LaBeouf,Carry Mulligan, Josh Brolin and Susan Sarandon and even a cameo-part from Eli Wallach !!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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SUNNY MANILVA THIS EVENING'S SUPPER