A VERY COLD AND WINDY SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY 7^th/ APRIL 2019.

We managed another nice lie in this morning, as next week it’s five more early starts, after a quick freshen up we had a quick toast & tea before getting this evenings supper on the go.

I have four more appointments across at the ‘ Estepona Hospital’ at the ‘ Physiotherapy Department’ for more treatment on my left hand, starting on Monday, I’m then going to call into my hairdresser, Manual,  on one morning, for my usual wash, cut, shave and massage and call into the ‘IT’ shop at the far end of Estepona, for some computer printing ink. On Friday morning I will be back out on my travels, down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping.

Overnight the rain returned, but this morning, so far, it’s stayed dry but very cold, with black clouds on the horizon, the forecast is for some patchy rain later, the temperature is down to 16 degs, overnight at 8 degs, tomorrow at the start of the week it’s looking the same, with light rain showers, then from Tuesday onwards the forecast has now completely changed, the breeze is dropping and it’s going to be back to dry & sunny, partly cloudy but going back up to 22/23 degs by next weekend, just in time for the start of the ‘ Semana Santa’ religious celebrations, ‘ Fingers Crossed’ that is stays dry for the following week! Watch this space.

Just a quick update on the sports results; Manchester City won 1-0 so are in the final of the ‘ FA Cup’ Real Madrid had a lucky win over lowly Eiber 2-1 & Barcelona won 2-0 and are 11 points clear at the top of ‘La Liga’!

At Aintree at the ‘ Grand National’ the diminutive ‘ Tiger Roll’ has his own place in sporting folklore after emulating ‘Rummy’ with his second, back to back, triumph in the world’s most famous race.

After breakfast we then got the ‘ Sunday Roast ‘ on the go;  “ Roast Leg of ‘ Halal’ Lamb “ – studded with Garlic Cloves & Rosemary, seasoned with Sea Salt and roasted in a hot oven on a bed of ‘ Trivets’ I then made the large dish of the classic ‘ Boulangere’ Potatoes, layers of sliced potatoes & onions, topped with a rich ‘Meat & Vegetable’ stock, ready to go in the oven this evening, as the ‘ Lamb’ came out of the oven I then made my famous ‘ Finger Licking’ Pan Gravy! Meanwhile the ‘ Vegetable Chef’ was preparing Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets in a three Cheese sauce, Crushed Carrots & Turnips, Creamed Leeks, Whole Green Beans & Garden Peas ( for me!) Not forgetting the ‘ Mint Sauce’!!

See below pictures of the “ Roast Leg of ‘Halal’ Lamb “ before and after coming out of the oven.

While I have been typing/posting today’s ‘Blog’ I have been listening to the ‘Pete Black Retro Roadshow ‘  on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 FM & Online on the WWW’ – The ‘ Movie Quiz’ came on, I got it straight away, it was ‘Liam Neeson ‘ in ‘Taken’ from 2018 – so ‘ Lady’ Brenda has gone into the months draw! Watch this space.

This afternoon we will be watching the ‘ Boat Race’ between Oxford & Cambridge, then after supper we will settle down to watch the second episode of the very exciting & gripping ‘ Line Of Duty’

NB; We are calling Sandra & Bill this evening ( 6-00 pm here ) on the ' Skype' video for a catch-up with all their news.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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" ROAST LEG OF MARINATED LOCAL LAMB" SUNNY MANILVA THIS EVENING'

A CRISP AND WARM DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 2^nd/ EBRUARY 2014.

We awoke to another beautiful day down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’ with a clear blue sky and the sun out, it’s crisp but no wind; after our fresh Orange juice ( In season at the moment!) and tea & toast we got our Sunday roast on the go ready to welcome Claus and Doreen this evening.

‘Roast Lemon Chicken’ with savory Herb stuffing, Broccoli & Cauliflower florets in a four- cheese cream sauce,Carrott Batons with Ginger, Brussels Sprouts with Smoked Bacon Lardons,Garden Peas, Baby New Potatoes and of course my famous Roast Potatoes in Goose Fat! I’ve just made my famous finger–licking gravy!!

I roast the Chicken after seasoning it with lots of Lemon juice on a bed of ‘Trivets’ – all the ends of all the vegetables, chopped with smashed Garlic,Onions,Mushroom stalks etc. My secret ingredients are added and then some Vegetable Oil to baste the Chicken with as it cooks; later after straining the trivets out I make the gravy in the roasting tray with a good Chicken & Vegetable stock and check the consistency and colour as well as the taste before straining it and leaving to cook out! The roast potatoes are par-boiled and shaken rigorously before adding them to the hot Goose Fat!

To start we are having a local Chorizo thinly sliced, Iberian Ham, sliced Semi- Curado Cheese and my special English Pork sausages which I cut into pieces after cooking and toss them in a good measure of Worchester sauce – ‘A La Savoy’ For our dessert I’ve made a Pancake Batter to make the ‘Crepes’ to order with lots of Lemon Juice and Vanilla Ice cream!

We are going to have a nice glass of ‘Cava Royal’ to start and with the meal we are having a white ‘Marques De Caceres Rioja’ 2012 and then a fine ‘Torres Sangre De Toro’ 2012. Possible the ‘House’ cocktail (Caipirinha’s) to finish!! More details later with pictures as well as the football scores.

After getting things ready and freshening up we went for a short walk with the dog and ended up sat outside 'Bar Rojas' in the hot afternoon sunshine; cool drinks and Paella followed! Brenda has now shot up to the roof terrace for the first time,but not the last this year!

Last nights film was a classic true story about the Mustang horse 'Hildalgo' who back in 1891 won a 3,000 mile race across the 'Nejo' desert against 'Bedduin Arabian' horses ridden by the American long distance rider 'Frank Hopkins' played by Viggo Mortenson - Omar Sharif plays of course a Arab Prince with the female interest played by Zuleikha Robinson - to this day the ancestors of the Mustang still run wild and free on the plains of America! 

Thought for the Day;See above.

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MANILVA ON SUNDAY

SUNDAY 19^th/ MAY 2013.

We awoke to the sun crashing in through the shutters on Sunday morning; the forecast is OK but it is not as warm as usual for this time of the year – so far!

After our tea and toast we got our Sunday Roast dinner on the go; Leg of Lamb (Spanish) studded with Garlic and Rosemay, with from the vegetable department Cauliflower and Broccoli florets in our three Cheese sauce, Carrots and Garden Peas and Baby Leeks in a cream sauce along with a large dish of Boulangere Potatoes and baby Roast Potatoes as you can see in the picture above with also the Lamb after carving! Finger licking pan –gravy and fresh Mint sauce helped to make another memorable meal, just for the two of us as,on Monday it is cold Lamb and leftover vegetable time!

It was then time after freshening up for our ‘Sporty’ afternoon; Brenda settled in front of the TV downstairs to watch on TVE1 the tennis from Rome, the ‘Italian Open’ - first it was the Serena Williams v Victoria Azarenka match which Serena won as she powered past her opponent; then it was the Men’s final in which Nadel hammered Federer to win his seventh Italian Open title. Earlier over lunch it was the French Grand Prix- Motor GP from Le Mans – Scott Redding became the first British rider to win a Moto2 race and also he is top of championship, then Pedrosa won in a wet race with another English man Cal Crutchlow second as he overcame a broken leg that he sustained in pre-race practice!

Upstairs in the office I tried to follow the ‘Giro d’Italai stage 15 which was shortened due to the risk of avalanche’s on the ‘Col du Galibier’ - the motor cycles and team cars were not allowed to use their horns! So the race was won by Giovanni Visconti and there was no change in the top three – the picture just about came in as you can see above and the coverage was from a ‘Dutch’ TV channel – talk about ‘Double Dutch’ – you can’t make out anything they say except for the riders names! Meanwhile over in England it was the final day of the ‘Premier League’ with some crazy results, Everton lost, City lost, Liverpool won and Arsenal grabbed the last spot in next years Champions League and finally in Sir Alex’s final game in charge the score was West Brom 5 Manchester Utd. 5 !  Oh yes a nearly forgot – England won the first Test at Lord’s when they bowled out New Zealand for 68!

After our dinner we settled down to watch a film; this time it was one with no killing, snakes, car chases,fighting,shooting,murder,rape,fire or tornadoes ! “ Mama Mia ” from 2008 with Meryl Streep,Julie Waters, Christine Baranski,Amanda Seyfried,Pierce Brosnan,Colin Firth and Stellen Skarscard? – it proves that actor’s can’t sing – Pierce Brosnan sounded like a ‘Water Buffalo’ !!

Thoughts for the Day;

Silence is a source of great strength.  Silence is more eloquent than words. Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.

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