SATURDAY/SUNDAY/MONDAY/TUESDAY 18TH/19TH 20TH/21ST DECEMBER 2010.
We had a little lie in on Saturday morning before we got ourselves sorted for the weekend; the weather forecast was rain and rain it did, the rain in Spain when it starts is torrential and non stop for long periods and there has been more severe floods in Andalucia but down here on the Costa del Sol we have missed the worst, so far! So we were stuck in for the day and could not go for our walk with Cheta,we have bought her a new lead for Xmas.Brenda went into house cleaning mode and I disappeared up to the office to check the world out ! In the evening we had Steak and Chips for dinner and then settled down to watch a film on TV.
On Sunday morning as the rain went off we got ready the Sunday roast; Mano, Anna and Lilli (Brian is working) are joining us for dinner, as we were working we heard music coming from up in the village, it was the Xmas Band of singers and musicians parading around the streets. As it was rather cold and windy they did not hang about so the pictures below only just caught them ! They sing old Xmas songs to the sound of Bells,Whistles,Triangles,Tambourines,Ribbed bottles scratched with a large nail and finally the thump of the Samumba Drums which are played with a long stick soaked in water and pushed up and down through the centre skin ! I kid you not !! Meanwhile Brenda went mad on the vegetables,Cauiflower and Broccoli Mornay,Cabbage with Alcegas,Carrot and Baby Turnip puree, Leeks in white sauce, Green Beans and Garden Peas ! I did Herb Roast Potatoes and a large dish of the now famous Boulangere Potatoes to go with the Roast Lamb which was one again delicious and succulent.Lilli took home a large plate for Brian’s supper after he finished work.
As we got up on Monday morning the sun came out so we were able to take Cheta for a long walk around the village on her new lead. When we got back Mano and Anna called in to catch up with all their news; Anna is flying over to Tenerife on New Years Day for a week to see Sally Ann and the grandchildren so she has asked us to look after Dereck as Mano has to work and he will see to the other dog and two cats; Dereck is no problem as you don’t realize he is there most of the time! We are also thinking of going out to dinner on new Years Eve with Lilli to the restaurant La Casona where we had the menu Del Dia the other day; the menu is very good and not expensive and includes drinks on arrival, wine with meal and Cava, Brian is working as is Mano so we will meet up with them and Anna along with Carlos and Anna Mari later at the Hotel to see in the New Year in proper style with Champagne ! Watch this space for the pictures !!
Today, Tuesday we are having an at home day as it is raining hard; the forecast for the Xmax weekend is sun and more Sun. We have just come off the Skype Video as Jack and Lyn called us from Melbourne, they are away for Christmas at Lyn’s daughter Deb who does not have Skype so it was their Xmas call; all the best to all the family over in Australia,Health,Wealth and Happiness and a prosperous new Year. We have also just come off the Skype Video to Kuala Lumpur after speaking to Jeff and Annette - it's summer all the time over there -33degs and rising! Yesterday was the Once Lottery day and on Wednesday it is the El Gordo (The Big One) which is the biggest lottery in the world; Mano and I have the same number lottery ticket, they cost 21 euros each, so watch this space, it could get exciting! I wish !! Tonight we are having Pork Cutlets with Lyonnaise potatoes and tomorrow it is going to be a curry day.
PS; On Monday lunchtime we had a call from Chris over in London with some very sad news, Joan died on Thursday evening peacefully, our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to him and all her family at this time, she was a grand old lady and we became very fond or her during our time over in Tarifa.
Thought for the Day;
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.
.
Showing posts with label Life Goes On.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Goes On.. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
CASA OLIMPIA UPDATE.
TUESDAY 26th. January 2010.
We are still here in Tarifa, the saga continues! Just to say that nothing has changed in the last month since we last blogged on January 4th! Chris over in London is still madly chasing around the world, New York and Hong Kong being the latest, he was also not very well over the Xmas and New Year period which did not help. Joan has been OK but we had get the doctor in to check her over after she nearly had a very nasty fall, just by luck I walked into her flat and managed to do a flying leap and catch her! Shock then set in, Joan, not me and she was not well for a few days but the doctor gave her a good check up and said that for her age she is in remarkable good health. Boo and Millie are both fine and the two cats are in most over the time on the lower ground floor; the weather is still not good with severe rain storms hitting all the coast from here to Malaga with floods and landslides, the new motorway to Cordoba which has just opened since Xmas was closed after the hillsides above Malaga came down! This is now the worst weather on the Costa del Sol in over sixty years, but we can’t complain as the temperature is still in double figures and we have been able to sit out on the balcony on some days! Small transfers have been coming in and I have been back and forwards to Estepona and Manilva all the time to go to the bank, shops and check out the house as well as to get the Smart car repaired after some damage to the lighting and door locks after getting caught in the storms whilst I was out on the motorway, the house in Manilva is fine, the only problem was that the front door outside sun blind was blown away in one of the storms but one of our neighbors has fixed it back up and secured it in the last week. Meanwhile back at the villa the full menu repertoire has been in full use; Roast Beef, Pork and Chicken on Sunday, Curry, Stews, Pies including our famous Fish pie last Friday, Chicken breast, Pork escalopes, Lamb cutlets, Sausages, Liver and Onions, during the week and all served with Brenda’s selection of vegetables, too many to mention as well as the full range of Potatoes dishes and a very nice Ratatouille last week!
The problem with the internet took a little longer to get fixed as Mano and Anna have been over to Tenerife to see Sally Ann and their grandchildren, and as we needed Mano to come over to the villa as the only way to get it fixed was to have a Spanish speaker on the phone in front of the system to speak to the Telefonica people, they then diagnosed that we had a problem with the router and came out to install a new one within a couple of hours ! So we are back online and will catch up with all the e-mails and Facebook messages over the next few days.
We are still here in Tarifa, the saga continues! Just to say that nothing has changed in the last month since we last blogged on January 4th! Chris over in London is still madly chasing around the world, New York and Hong Kong being the latest, he was also not very well over the Xmas and New Year period which did not help. Joan has been OK but we had get the doctor in to check her over after she nearly had a very nasty fall, just by luck I walked into her flat and managed to do a flying leap and catch her! Shock then set in, Joan, not me and she was not well for a few days but the doctor gave her a good check up and said that for her age she is in remarkable good health. Boo and Millie are both fine and the two cats are in most over the time on the lower ground floor; the weather is still not good with severe rain storms hitting all the coast from here to Malaga with floods and landslides, the new motorway to Cordoba which has just opened since Xmas was closed after the hillsides above Malaga came down! This is now the worst weather on the Costa del Sol in over sixty years, but we can’t complain as the temperature is still in double figures and we have been able to sit out on the balcony on some days! Small transfers have been coming in and I have been back and forwards to Estepona and Manilva all the time to go to the bank, shops and check out the house as well as to get the Smart car repaired after some damage to the lighting and door locks after getting caught in the storms whilst I was out on the motorway, the house in Manilva is fine, the only problem was that the front door outside sun blind was blown away in one of the storms but one of our neighbors has fixed it back up and secured it in the last week. Meanwhile back at the villa the full menu repertoire has been in full use; Roast Beef, Pork and Chicken on Sunday, Curry, Stews, Pies including our famous Fish pie last Friday, Chicken breast, Pork escalopes, Lamb cutlets, Sausages, Liver and Onions, during the week and all served with Brenda’s selection of vegetables, too many to mention as well as the full range of Potatoes dishes and a very nice Ratatouille last week!
The problem with the internet took a little longer to get fixed as Mano and Anna have been over to Tenerife to see Sally Ann and their grandchildren, and as we needed Mano to come over to the villa as the only way to get it fixed was to have a Spanish speaker on the phone in front of the system to speak to the Telefonica people, they then diagnosed that we had a problem with the router and came out to install a new one within a couple of hours ! So we are back online and will catch up with all the e-mails and Facebook messages over the next few days.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 26th/27th/28th October 2009.
On Monday morning I went on my now regular run over to Estepona and Manilva to catch up with life in the outside world! At the English butchers they had got in some gravy browning that I had been chasing for a few months, at home there was a letter from the Pensions people updating my details and telling us about the changes in the system in the future, not that it matters to us as we have both been working for over 45 years and Brenda already receives hers and mine is due in 12 months time ! In the evening we had cold Chicken for supper with the leftover vegetables. When I was in Manilva I took a quick picture of the new wine centre which is shooting up and looks to be on course to open in the middle of 2010,as you can see below.
The weather has settled down again and it is now warm and sunny all the time, the only problem we have had is that the electricity went off during the night for about five hours and when it came back on in the morning it was not at full power so I’ve had all sorts of problems with the phone and IT connections,the TV system,fridge and various lights in the villa! During Tuesday I then made a Beef stew for dinner which we had with Cabbage and Baby Beetroot.The gardeners came over and carried on with the outside hedge trimming during the day until the large commercial cutter blew up!
Wednesday was a cleaning and chores day and Joan was expecting the Physiotherapist in the afternoon but she called in the morning to say that she was not very well and would get back to us later in the week.We have had a very brief call from Chris to say that he will call us on Thursday to catch up with all his news and ours at the same time ! For supper we are having Sausages with crispy smoked Bacon and fried onions served on top of Brenda’s famous mash, I picked them up from the butchers on Monday.
On Monday morning I went on my now regular run over to Estepona and Manilva to catch up with life in the outside world! At the English butchers they had got in some gravy browning that I had been chasing for a few months, at home there was a letter from the Pensions people updating my details and telling us about the changes in the system in the future, not that it matters to us as we have both been working for over 45 years and Brenda already receives hers and mine is due in 12 months time ! In the evening we had cold Chicken for supper with the leftover vegetables. When I was in Manilva I took a quick picture of the new wine centre which is shooting up and looks to be on course to open in the middle of 2010,as you can see below.
The weather has settled down again and it is now warm and sunny all the time, the only problem we have had is that the electricity went off during the night for about five hours and when it came back on in the morning it was not at full power so I’ve had all sorts of problems with the phone and IT connections,the TV system,fridge and various lights in the villa! During Tuesday I then made a Beef stew for dinner which we had with Cabbage and Baby Beetroot.The gardeners came over and carried on with the outside hedge trimming during the day until the large commercial cutter blew up!
Wednesday was a cleaning and chores day and Joan was expecting the Physiotherapist in the afternoon but she called in the morning to say that she was not very well and would get back to us later in the week.We have had a very brief call from Chris to say that he will call us on Thursday to catch up with all his news and ours at the same time ! For supper we are having Sausages with crispy smoked Bacon and fried onions served on top of Brenda’s famous mash, I picked them up from the butchers on Monday.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
MANILVA.
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday 26th/27th/28th April.
Sunday 26th.
After getting up late we decided to have a lazy day,so no washing,cleaning,moving, dusting,repairing etc.for Brenda! We walked up to Bar Rojas for a lunchtime drink and some Tapas with fresh frits and watched the start of the Grand Prix on the large screen TV and also later the highlights of the Motor GP from Japan in which two of the Spanish riders won,meanwhile in the Grand Prix Alonso was not going well and the Spanish locals were not happy as there is no love lost between him and Hamilton and English drivers in general so we came home and watched the end of the race! In the evening we had Pork Cutlets for supper with Lyonaise Potatoes and fresh Green Beans before we watched a film.
Monday 27th.
We got up early as I had to be at the hospital in Estepona for a X- Ray at 8-59am! The local hospital is very busy and just one lady was controlling the system very efficiently,I went in at 8-58 and came out with my X-Ray at 9-05 am !! We then called into the Dentist’s with out an appointment as Brenda was still not right with her teeth from last week and she was taken in straight away and seen to and arranged to go back at 7-00pm to finish the work off!! We then called into the discount cosmetic shop to pick up some essentials and finally called into the bank to pick up my new card which had arrived after just five days! On the way back to Manilva we had a call from the family lawyer,who we had called earlier in the morning,to say that she could see us in two minutes so we went to her office in Sabinillas and have arranged to have two new washbasins and taps fitted in our bathroom as the old ones are cracked and not working,Mano and Juan called in and have sent a very good quote to her today! All this shows Spanish efficiency, especially on the medical side at its best and is defiantly not the “ Manana” of old Spain! We have not had a call from Chris in Tarifa,so far, so our next job is next weekend for Clive and Carolyn for five/six days from the 9th May.
Tuesday 28th.
This morning I had an appointment at the local surgery to take my blood pressure, which was a little high but I still have two more to go, one on Thursday and one next week as well as all the blood and sample tests on Monday,again at the surgery-we have a list on the side of the fridge with all the dates and times! as all the slips have exact times and details; I’am also drinking water as if its going out of fashion!! The nurse is watching me with her beady eye at all times also !! Last night we had a call from my oldest school friend, Alan to say that his mother, Ann had passed away over the weekend,” Aunty Ann” who was 101 in January had a very good and happy life and will be sadly missed by all her family; our thoughts go to Alan and Glenys and their children Mark,Miranda and Michael at this sad time. She was my moms best friend and they got up to all sorts of mischief over the years when they came to see us at our various hotels,especially in Colwyn Bay at the 70 degs! Tim our best friend remembers them with great affection and was sad to hear the news and Mano also as he used to look after them sat on the best table in the restaurant,Table 7,in the corner of the window!
Sunday 26th.
After getting up late we decided to have a lazy day,so no washing,cleaning,moving, dusting,repairing etc.for Brenda! We walked up to Bar Rojas for a lunchtime drink and some Tapas with fresh frits and watched the start of the Grand Prix on the large screen TV and also later the highlights of the Motor GP from Japan in which two of the Spanish riders won,meanwhile in the Grand Prix Alonso was not going well and the Spanish locals were not happy as there is no love lost between him and Hamilton and English drivers in general so we came home and watched the end of the race! In the evening we had Pork Cutlets for supper with Lyonaise Potatoes and fresh Green Beans before we watched a film.
Monday 27th.
We got up early as I had to be at the hospital in Estepona for a X- Ray at 8-59am! The local hospital is very busy and just one lady was controlling the system very efficiently,I went in at 8-58 and came out with my X-Ray at 9-05 am !! We then called into the Dentist’s with out an appointment as Brenda was still not right with her teeth from last week and she was taken in straight away and seen to and arranged to go back at 7-00pm to finish the work off!! We then called into the discount cosmetic shop to pick up some essentials and finally called into the bank to pick up my new card which had arrived after just five days! On the way back to Manilva we had a call from the family lawyer,who we had called earlier in the morning,to say that she could see us in two minutes so we went to her office in Sabinillas and have arranged to have two new washbasins and taps fitted in our bathroom as the old ones are cracked and not working,Mano and Juan called in and have sent a very good quote to her today! All this shows Spanish efficiency, especially on the medical side at its best and is defiantly not the “ Manana” of old Spain! We have not had a call from Chris in Tarifa,so far, so our next job is next weekend for Clive and Carolyn for five/six days from the 9th May.
Tuesday 28th.
This morning I had an appointment at the local surgery to take my blood pressure, which was a little high but I still have two more to go, one on Thursday and one next week as well as all the blood and sample tests on Monday,again at the surgery-we have a list on the side of the fridge with all the dates and times! as all the slips have exact times and details; I’am also drinking water as if its going out of fashion!! The nurse is watching me with her beady eye at all times also !! Last night we had a call from my oldest school friend, Alan to say that his mother, Ann had passed away over the weekend,” Aunty Ann” who was 101 in January had a very good and happy life and will be sadly missed by all her family; our thoughts go to Alan and Glenys and their children Mark,Miranda and Michael at this sad time. She was my moms best friend and they got up to all sorts of mischief over the years when they came to see us at our various hotels,especially in Colwyn Bay at the 70 degs! Tim our best friend remembers them with great affection and was sad to hear the news and Mano also as he used to look after them sat on the best table in the restaurant,Table 7,in the corner of the window!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
MANILVA.
Saturday 19th July.
The forecast for the weekend is very hot and sunny so we did the chores around the house first thing in the morning which left the rest of the day free.Brenda went out on the roof terrace in the shade to read and I typed up some e-mails and finished off the blog.In the evening after a light supper we walked around the corner to have a cool drink after the sun has gone down and watched the open air Teatro which tonight as well as short plays also had a magician and a childrens entertainer.
Sunday 20th.July.
We started the day with our usual full English breakfast which is our treat for the week and I watched all the sport on the TV.The grand prix was very exciting and Hamilton won in the end! then the Tour de France was on which is my favorite sport and it is getting into the mountain stages over the Pyrenees and on to the Alps at the start of next week.The motorcycling GP was on later from the USA when we came back the from street party.It’s the the very fast and unusual track at Luguna Seca in California and was very gripping and in the end the Spanish riders crashed out and Rossi won! When we went out to the village for a Tapas supper at Bar Castillo it was very busy with all the locals and their families enjoying the evening breeze,we met Carlos and Ana with Fabio who is growing up fast and as soon as he sees us he runs and shouts our names and they joined us for some very good homemade specials of the house,the owner cooks in the back of the bar in a very small kitchen and turns out the tapas all night,the most popular being the small toasted pork fillet baguettes.
Monday 21st.July.
In the morning we went down to our bank in Estepona to sign the papers to change our accounts to resident and rearrange the payments accordingly.This means that we are very nearly fully signed up into the Spanish system and are waiting for one document from England to finish off the process.In the evening we had a light supper and then went for a walk around the village to cool off and stretch the legs!
Tueday 22nd.July.
The phone this morning has not stopped with enquiries about the Winnebago and also job offers for house sitting but it was for full time and we don’t want to tie our selves down.I then rung Tim to wish him and the family a nice holiday in Crete and make the arrangement to pick him up from the airport when he comes to stay with us on his return,at the same time I also rang on the Skype phone and spoke to the motorcycle garage in Colwyn Bay to see if the bike has been sold yet,no joy but watch this space!
The forecast for the weekend is very hot and sunny so we did the chores around the house first thing in the morning which left the rest of the day free.Brenda went out on the roof terrace in the shade to read and I typed up some e-mails and finished off the blog.In the evening after a light supper we walked around the corner to have a cool drink after the sun has gone down and watched the open air Teatro which tonight as well as short plays also had a magician and a childrens entertainer.
Sunday 20th.July.
We started the day with our usual full English breakfast which is our treat for the week and I watched all the sport on the TV.The grand prix was very exciting and Hamilton won in the end! then the Tour de France was on which is my favorite sport and it is getting into the mountain stages over the Pyrenees and on to the Alps at the start of next week.The motorcycling GP was on later from the USA when we came back the from street party.It’s the the very fast and unusual track at Luguna Seca in California and was very gripping and in the end the Spanish riders crashed out and Rossi won! When we went out to the village for a Tapas supper at Bar Castillo it was very busy with all the locals and their families enjoying the evening breeze,we met Carlos and Ana with Fabio who is growing up fast and as soon as he sees us he runs and shouts our names and they joined us for some very good homemade specials of the house,the owner cooks in the back of the bar in a very small kitchen and turns out the tapas all night,the most popular being the small toasted pork fillet baguettes.
Monday 21st.July.
In the morning we went down to our bank in Estepona to sign the papers to change our accounts to resident and rearrange the payments accordingly.This means that we are very nearly fully signed up into the Spanish system and are waiting for one document from England to finish off the process.In the evening we had a light supper and then went for a walk around the village to cool off and stretch the legs!
Tueday 22nd.July.
The phone this morning has not stopped with enquiries about the Winnebago and also job offers for house sitting but it was for full time and we don’t want to tie our selves down.I then rung Tim to wish him and the family a nice holiday in Crete and make the arrangement to pick him up from the airport when he comes to stay with us on his return,at the same time I also rang on the Skype phone and spoke to the motorcycle garage in Colwyn Bay to see if the bike has been sold yet,no joy but watch this space!
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