A VERY HOT AND SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 21^st/ JUNE 2014.

After a good night sleep we had our usual breakfast and the got things on the go in the kitchen; the assistant/vegetable chef got the ingredients on the go for the next large bowl of my now very famous “ Ensalillida Rusa”and also cut the ‘Frits’ for tonight’s ‘Steak Supper’ The ‘Russian Salad’ is made and the twice-cooked frits have been blanched.

Tonight we are having the ‘Entrecote Steaks’ cooked on the griddle ‘med-rare’ with sautéed Mushrooms and griddled Onion rings, Finely sliced Green Beans and the twice-cooked frits – Brenda’s with fried Garlic Buds and mine topped withy a fried ‘Campo’ Egg – a little Béarnaise sauce on the side!

Brenda has shot up to wash her hair and shower and we are then getting ready to go out down to the ‘Plaza De La Vendimia’ to see the ‘Classic Car Rally’ at lunchtime; see the pictures later.

Well we only just made it as the rally was on time as it came along 'Calle Mar' - twice as many cars this year, the lady in Red is Antonia the Mayor who also took my picture in the first set of pictures, she was being filmed by 'Manilva TV' - then the rally parked up on the 'Plaza de la Vendimia' as you can see in the second set of pictures above; Brenda is pictured in front of her favourite ' Mercedes - her perfect birthday present - she wishes!! 

Talking of birthday presents I lost Brenda for a while but found her just as Mano & Anna came along past the park - she was in the fashion shop and ended up with two tops and a summer skirt, I had to go back to the bank for some more cash and I ended up buying a half-spit roasted Chicken for use over the weekend! We then came back to the house with Mano & Anna for a cool stiff drink!!

On the sports front there is Rugby Union,Tennis,World Cup Football and the Grand Prix of Austria?! from the new privately owned ‘Red Bull Ring!’ All the details later.

Tomorrow we have a religious ceremony that we had forgotten about taking place in the morning – it’s “ Corpus Christi ”when as well as the processions they decorate ‘Calle Mar’ and Calle Inglasia’ with flower patterns, statues and displays ! Then it all takes off down at the ‘Santa Ana Church’

It will then be time for our ‘Champagne( Cava!) cocktail reception in the lounge of the ‘Sexton’s small ‘Palace’ in sunny Manilva to celebrate Brenda’s 21^st?! birthday in the style that she has become accustomed too! A selection of Smoked Salmon and Prawn Canapés will also be served before the party departs in the ‘Red Limousine’ to ‘Venta Garcia’ for the celebration lunch! Reports and local if not national/international ‘ Paparazzi’ pictures will no doubt follow!!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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CRISP AND DRY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 2^nd/ JANUARY 2014.

We were all up bright and early this morning as I had my appointment at the surgery with the nurse for my tests so Brenda came along with Charlie for his first walk of the day; when we go back and after our tea and toast we first rang Tim to wish him a ‘Happy Birthday’ and at the same time a ‘Happy New Year!’ Then we called our old bank over in Colwyn Bay to arrange our regular monthly transfer.

It was then time to go down to the underground car park and take the car around to our local garage to have it checked out, fingers crossed! On the way back we stopped outside the Council Chamber and wished the Mayor and all our local councilor’s ‘Feliz Ano Nuevo’ as they were just going into the monthly council meeting.

We have also ordered from our local supermarket in Calle Mar a “ Roscon de Reyes ” – ‘Kings Cake’ for the ‘Three Kings’ celebration next Monday; it’s an oval twisted Cinnamon cake filled with cream and contains a bean/candy and a small figurine of the Baby Jesus which bring you good luck. It’s decorated with candied fruits; the main ‘Three Kings’ parade is on Sunday evening – I will try and find some pictures from the local web-sites as the new camera will have to wait until we get the car fixed, the Hypermarket is over in Algeciras so we need it to go shopping either there or into Gibraltar ! Sorry no local picture for now!!

This evening we are having pan-seared Calves Liver in foaming Lemon Butter which I picked up this morning from our butchers, with crispy Smoked Bacon,glazed Pineapple slices( Try-it!) and the rest of last nights ‘Boulangere’ potatoes – I thanked him for the marinated Lamb that we really enjoyed last night!

We will after supper catch up with all the news and the weather forecasts before finding a film to watch.

Thought for the Day; See above.

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