A VERY HOT AND ' AIRLESS' SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 20^th/ JULY 2019.

We were up sharpish this morning as we had a surprise guest in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – he arrived just after we had freshened up, he’s called ‘ Nacho’ and is a brown Portuguese/Spanish Waterdog pup!

See below;

Yesterday afternoon our friend, Michala, son ‘Seth’ called in and asked, very politely, if we could look after their new dog, for the day, as they need to go out, he told us all about him and his ways and habits, he’s a little beauty and we have fallen in love with him, he reminds us of our ‘ Sam’ when he was a little pup, six months later a very large ‘ Old English Sheepdog’! ‘ Chispa’ has just called in and checked him out - he passed!

After breakfast, our Saturday morning special of Brenda’s famous ‘Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, Scrambled on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong/sweet ‘PG Tips’ Tea we got today on the go, Brenda is pottering and I’m up in the office/studio on the ‘ WWW’ and then typing/posting today’s Blog.

Overnight it was another ‘ Hot-One’ – this morning has started very close & humid, there is just a very light breeze, so the sky is slow clearing and the sun it still trying to break through, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 29 degs+ - tomorrow a little cooler, as the breeze picks up, next week is starting the same before it goes hotter by next Friday, hovering in the low 30s, overnight down to only 20/21 degs, the following week we are in for more of the same, watch this space.

On the sports front this weekend; from Liverpool we have the ‘Netball World Cup’ from the ‘Liverpool Arena’ as England ( the Roses) play New Zealand ( the Silver Ferns) in the Semi-Final, the 148^th  ‘Open Golf Championship’ is from ‘Royal Portrush Golf Club’ in Northern Ireland, the Horse Racing is from Haydock Park and the ‘Stage 14’ of the “ Tour de France” goes from Tarbes to the top of the famous Tourmalet,  over 118 kms,  with the climb of over 19 kms, to the finish, the hardest kilometres come at the final, before the line!

See the route map below;

This evening down in Sabinillas it’s the “ La Luna Llena Festival “  with music, singing, dancing, eating and drinking! – with an all ‘White’ dress code.

Meanwhile in ‘ Castillo de la Duquesa’ in the castle grounds there is  “ Medieval Festival “ with stalls, attractions and artists, starting on Tuesday! 

For our supper we are keeping it a simple as possible;  ‘Grilled Fillet Steaks’ garnished with seared Button Mushrooms, cooked on a very hot griddle-plate ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest, served with finely sliced ‘French’ Green Beans, and of course some triple-cooked ‘ Frits’ – not forgetting the ‘Dijon Mustard’

We will after supper settle down to watch the next exciting episode of “ Killing Eve “ – how many ‘Kills’ this week?!

Thoughts for the Day;   See above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 11th/ JUNE 2019.

I was up early, again, this morning, and after a quick freshen up I shot off across to the ‘ Estepona Hospital’ for my next appointment at the ‘Physiotherapy Department’ with Encarni, the ‘Head Physio’ for more extensive treatment on my left hand.

Back at the house Brenda took ‘ Lolo’ out for his first walk of the day around the bottom of the village, he slept all night on ‘Reina’ s duvet, which we will now have to wash, as she’s joining us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – on Friday afternoon for a sleep-over and late pick up on Saturday night, as Daniela is performing as ‘ Madonna ‘ at this year’s “ Manilva Pride “ celebrations down in ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ from Friday to Sunday!

See below;

As I set off along the coast road the sun was already up and the sky was cloudless & bright blue, the is a light breeze, keeping it cool in the shade, but warm and sunny, by lunchtime it will reach 27 degs+ - over the next few days it’s going a little cooler with the threat of the ‘ wet-stuff’ still in the air, then over the weekend it’s going to be ‘ Hot’- on Sunday 30’ degs+ -next week will be the hottest week, so far this year, reaching 32 degs’ by Tuesday, hovering in the high 20s/low 30s – all week, overnight only dropping to 18/19 degs, watch his space.

Over in Liverpool last weekend it was busy with two cruise liners berthed at the Pier Head, on Sunday the “ Seven Seas Explorer “ and on Monday the “ Crown Princess “ – see below.

We have now agreed the ‘Menu’s’ for this week, keeping as simple as possible, this evening it’s going to be ‘ Sliced Cold Smoked Ham’ topped with ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs and served with triple-cooked ‘ Frits’ – with Buttered Bread, for ‘ Chip Butties’ ! Not forgetting the ‘ Heinz Tomato Ketchup?!! On Wednesday it’s going to a quick version of ‘Toad in the Hole’ – Grilled English Pork Sausages with individual Yorkshire Puddings, filled with a rich Onion & Shallot Gravy, with Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato ’on the side.  

On Thursday the ‘ Staff’ have been given the night off, so the ‘Head Chef’ is taking out the ‘ Second Chef’ for supper, along to ‘Bar Castillo’ Friday it’s going to be a ‘Fish n’ Chip’ supper and on Saturday our usual ‘ Steak Night’ – Sunday is still TBC, as we will not be ‘ Roasting’ as its going to ‘ Roasting’ outside!! Watch this space.

We are into our ‘Keep Cool’ mode, all the fans are on, the windows are open, for the fresh air, very not ‘Spanish’ – as all our neighbours keep their shutters down all the time, we have ours open for the light and air, only closing the bedroom shutter during the night, we are relaxing, in minimum light clothing, drinking lots of water and cold drinks, keeping to the shady side of the street, when we are out walking the dog -  ‘ Positive Thinking ‘ at all times!

This afternoon/evening we will be channel hopping, catching all the programmes that we follow and later finding a good film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILAV ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 8^th/ JULY 2018.

We had a nice lie in this morning after another hot night, ‘Prince Paddy’ slept on his rug on the floor, then this morning, as usual he joined us on the bed, after freshening up we went out for our first walk of the day, keeping to the shady side of the street, down past the ‘ Fire Station ‘ to the ‘Mirador’ – we then come back up the slope, slowly, back to the house, where we had our light breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ fresh fruit, toast & tea.

This evening one of our regular guests in ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ is being dropped off for another week’s holiday – ‘ Chico ‘ he's a lovely ‘ Bichon Frise’ who is a little character and gets on with all our other dogs, they will be great friends and it will be company for ‘Paddy’ – next week little ‘Princess Reina’ is also with us for a couple of days, she just spends all the time on her duvet and gets on with all the regular dogs.

The sun broke through earlier and the sky is clear & blue, by lunchtime it will be very hot & sunny, in the high 20s, next week starts the same before the ‘Sahara Heat Wave’ hits us! The forecast is that by the middle of the week it will be in the low 40s, if not higher, watch this space.

On the sports front today; there is no ‘Tennis’ from Wimbledon, as it’s a rest day, over in Russia at the ‘ World Cup Football’ the ‘Semi-Finals’ are next Tuesday/Wednesday, this afternoon we will be channel hopping between the ‘British Grand Prix’ at Silverstone and the second stages of the ‘Tour De France’ from ‘ Mouilleron-Saint-German to La Roche –Sur-Yon’ over 182 kms, another flat stage with a sprint finish.

See below;

We know the finishing town as when we broke down in the ‘ Winnebago’ on our travels down here, over 12 years ago,  we stopped for repairs in the next Town, Lucon, and used to go on our scooter, a Silver ‘Peugeot 100 cc ‘ - for a spot of lunch!  We still have our matching crash helmets, we loved being out & about and went out to the local Towns all the time!  “ Happy Memories “

See below;

Next week we have two appointments, on Tuesday we are going across to the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ at lunchtime for Brenda’s appointment with the ‘ Kidney Consultant’ and on Thursday afternoon I’m going across to the local Hospital in Estepona to see the ‘ Trauma Consultant ‘ for the second time about my dodgy left hand! As usual on Friday I will be out on my travels down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping.

For our supper this evening we are keeping things very simple, the ‘Head Chef’ is ‘ Poaching’ Chicken Breasts in a light poaching liquid, then leaving them to go cold, before ‘ Escalope’ slicing them, the very able ‘ Second Chef ‘ is preparing her selection of various salads as well as some ‘Parsley New Potatoes’ - a light meal, perfect for the time of the year.

This evening we will settle down to watch the next episode of “ Poldark “

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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