A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILV ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 15^th/ JUNE 2018.

I was up early this morning and after a very quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping. Back at the house Brenda and ‘Paddy’ had a little lie in, after a very hot night, the hottest so far this year, we had the quiet ‘stack- fan’ on by the side of the bed, ‘Paddy’ started on the bed but ended up on the marble floor! Brenda then took him for his first walk of the day around the bottom of the village before it gets too hot, he’s a very good ‘ boy’ and has settled in very well, he’s eating everything that we are giving him as well as his dog food & some biscuits, at lunchtime we will take him out with us for a nice cool drink( water!)  sat outside ‘ Bar Castillo’ in the shade.

I had a quick toast & tea in ‘ itZabar’ before ‘ Mercadona’ opened, I then called into the ‘ Chinese Bazaar’ for some ice-trays, before going to the ‘English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers and three post cards, watch out it could be you! I then went along to the far end of the promenade to the local market for our fresh flowers and some new wall plants, before on the way back up the hill, calling into ‘ Super Sol’ for the English essentials. I un-loaded back at the house and then put the car away in the garage.

This evening for our supper we are having my now famous, classic version of “ Fish Pie “ – which I’m preparing later, using Salmon, Hake & Cod Fillets with Prawns & Mussels, I sweat-off the finely chopped ‘ Macedoine’ of Vegetables, Carrots, Leeks, Celery etc, in White Wine and then make a creamy ‘Bechamel’ sauce using the poaching liquor from the fish, which is then flaked and added to the sauce along with the Prawns and Mussels, the seasoning & consistency is then adjusted before the ‘ Second/Vegetables Chef’ tops the dish with her famous ‘ Mashed Potato! I will go in the oven this evening to cook-off and will be served with Broccoli Florets & Garden Peas.  




See below;

After our very hot night, this morning there was a very gentle ‘welcome’ breeze making it just about bearable as I set off down to Sabinillas with the ‘ Mediterranean’ sparkling below the vine fields, the sun was out early and the sky is bright blue, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 28 degs+ - over the weekend we are in for more of the same, next week is going to hot & sunny hovering in the high 20s, by next weekend going up to 32 degs+ - no duvet, just a light sheet, on the bed, with all the fans on when required, watch this space.

See below the beach this morning down in Sabinillas before the holiday ‘ crowds’  hit us!

This weekend here in sunny Manilva, based down in Puerto de la Duquesa ‘ it’s the annual “ Manilva Pride Festival “ with three days of partying!

See below;

Over in Russia at the “ World Cup ‘ later today the ‘ Match of the Day ‘ is when Spain play Portugal in the first round, all the flags are out in the village, come on Spain you can do it, despite the ‘ Manager’ problems!

Later we will channel hop and find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 1^st / JULY 2016.

I saw ‘ Reina’ back with us for the last day this week, we then got ourselves ready and after breakfast we shot around to the surgery for our appointments, I had my six month check up/review and also arranged for my next round of blood tests for my yearly appointment with my ‘ ‘Prostrate Consultant’ Brenda also had her check up/ review and then some blood tests, at the same time as me, for another review back with the Doctor, watch this space.

As I was walking down to collect the car ‘ Chispa’ who had been in earlier for her breakfast followed me down to the garage and jumped into the car for the ride back to collect Brenda! She loves going in the car and stands up and looks out the windows! We dropped her off and told her to go home!

Today its even hotter, there is not a breath of air, the breeze has dropped and so by early this morning it was already hot, by lunchtime its going to be at the stage when you can’t step outside, the village goes very quiet, nobody come out until later in the evening, its the perfect weather for the vine fields, the ‘Moscatel’ Grapes are growing , as you can see in the picture below.

This evening for our supper I’m making my famous “ Seafood Risotto “ using Fillets of Hake, Cod & Salmon , Prawns & Gambas  with Mussels, Spanish Risotto Rice, Onions & Herbs, a ‘glug’ of Brenda’s ‘White Wine’ and a strong Fish & Vegetable Stock and to finish off  Parmesan Cheese.  See below;

Its a very busy weekend on the sports front; Wimbledon is catching up after all the rain, over in Austria its the  ‘ Grand Prix ‘ on Sunday, meanwhile over in France its the ‘Quarter Finals of the UEFA European Championships’ – this evening Wales play Belgium, the winners will play Portugal in the Semi-Finals, they won last night on penalties.

                                            

                                                 RESULT; WALES BEAT BELGIUM 3 -1 !!!

On Saturday the 103rd  “ Tour De France “ starts, this year there are 21 stages over 3,535 kms – the first stage is from ‘Mont-Sant-Michel’ in the Normandy Region ( see the route map below ) - in tribute to this weekend’s 100^th Anniversary Centenary Commemorations’ ( today ) of the ‘ Battle of the Somme ‘ – 141 days of horror.

When its this hot we stay at home and keep drinking lots of water, all the fans are on, we move as little as possible, Lolly Ices ( Popitos !) are on the menu, when you have to venture out we keep to the shady side of the street, our ‘Happy Hour ‘ cocktails are looked forward too!

My radio show on ‘Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WW’ is on hold for the moment, the re-launch of the station along with the new offices & studio in Puerto de la Duquesa’ is the main priority, the broadcasting system is planned to be installed shortly in my office enabling me to go on air ‘ live’ and produce my own show, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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