A STILL VERY SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND:

FRIDAY 16 th OCTOBER 2015.

We were up early this morning and after grabbing a quick breakfast we shot down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping; I called into the bank for some cash and we stopped at the wholesale fruit & Vegetable shop before calling into the English Bookshop for the local newspapers, at the same time we spoke to Steve about re-newing our passports before February 2016.

He arranges it all for you including filling in the forms and then sending off the documents by registered post, we are sorting things out over the next few weeks ( Photograph) etc.

We then did our main shop in Mercadona before going along to the local market at the end of the promenade for some fresh flowers and plants,next we called into Super Sol for some English essentials before shooting back up the hill to sunny Manilva.

The sky is blue and the sun is out and by lunchtime it was hot, 26 degs and during the night its still 17 degs,sadly over the weekend we are going to be hit with some of the wet stuff from the Atlantic Hurricane.

Yesterday evening Lee & Daniela spent some time with me on the new computer system, Daniela gave me a quick “ Master Class “ on the “Word” and is sending me a crib sheet with all the details ,meanwhile Lee personalised the new system and at the same time gave the once over to the Dell PC connected to the TV – thanks to both of you!

After unpacking I went along to our butchers for some Braising Steak for tomorrow nights supper; I then made the “ Duglere” sauce for this evenings supper, its the classic White Wine Cream sauce made with Concasse Tomatoes & Onions,I poach the Cushions of Hake Fillet and then coat them, we are having Saffron New Potatoes & Garden Peas. See below !

After supper I am going to select a film to watch using the “ Putlocker” video system for the first time!

Fingers crossed that you are reading this as I have typed it on the new Word programme!!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A STILL OVERCAST BUT WARM AND SUNNY MANILA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 2^nd/ OCTOBER 2014.

I was up before dawn, again, this morning as little princess ‘Reina’ was being dropped off first thing, I then had a quick shower and grabbed a light breakfast before shooting over to Estepona to go to our bank as I had some forms to sign and also check out the new debit cards that had come in the post. It turns out that they are self- activating when you use them for the first time i.e. tomorrow for the shopping!

On the way back I called into to see Mano at the ‘Manilva Green Apart hotel’ as he’s working a lot of hours, then he sleeps, so can’t find the time to call in and see us, Mano is also an agent for our bank and arranges things for us when necessary; as we were sat having a cup of English tea a couple came in who had checked in last night because they knew about the hotel from the Blog, which they have been following from the start!

It turns out that they have family down here that have a local business so they enjoy following the Blog, it keeps them in touch with the life down here, nice to talk to them and keep ‘Following!’

The weather today is still overcast but no doubt the sun will brake through later, the forecast for the rest of the week and over the weekend is more of the same but getting sunnier and the temperatures are still on the 26/28 degs. mark!

‘Scruffy’ is back with us tomorrow afternoon and then sometime next week,’Reina’is booked in for her normal Tuesday & Thursday – ‘Doggy World Heaven’ is back to normal except there is no ‘Chispa’ at the moment as she’s on ‘Lock Down!’ for a couple of weeks.

So for this evening supper I’m freshening up the Hot Pot and adding some Spanish Lamb Cutlets (not chops!) and a topping of freshly sliced Potatoes. NB; lots of ‘ Likes’ on Facebook for the pictures of the “ Lancashire Hot Pot ” including two Chefs, David,Janes husband and celebrity Master Chef, from the ‘New Moon Pub Company’ and Matt our Head Chef from the ‘Riverside’ in Branston! Also lots ok ‘Likes’ from our Spanish friends and neighbours!! See below - 'Part Two'

NB; It tasted even better this evening as the two English Lamb Steaks were also in the pot !!

We are taking things easy today and getting back into our regular routine after all the excitement last week; next week we are planning to go across to Estepona on Monday morning so as I can go to my Barbers, Brenda is going to find some batteries for the Alarm Clock and call into the Kitchen Hardware shop for a set of new colored Chopping boards and a Black Pepper Grinder.

We will then go up to the ‘Poligamo – Industrial Estate’ to call into the ‘Car Hypermarket’ for some coolant and then the very large ‘Bedding Centre’ to find a new rug for the chill-out room. On Wednesday we are at the hospital over in Marbella in the morning for my six month ‘Prostrate check up, fingers crossed! On the way back we are going to call into ‘La Canada’ for some more essential shopping (Brenda this time!)

Tonight we will channel hop after the news, sport and weather details.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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SUNNY MANILVA ON " GOOD FRIDAY "

“GOOD FRIDAY” 18th/ APRIL 2014.

We are sorting ourselves out after breakfast as we both are feeling a little under the weather with nasty coughs which we can’t seem to shake off; so we are going to freshen our self’s up and get ready to go out with Doreen & Claus at lunchtime down to our local bar, two door’s down our street ‘Bodegon Andaluz’ - we had a good catch up with the folks and a rather nice 'Tapas' lunch drinking 'Manilva'wine .

We are meeting Claus & Doreen on Tuesday morning to go across to Estepona; Claus and I are going to my Barber,Manuel and the girls are going off shopping then we going down to the Estepona fishing port for lunch at a rather special 'Fish'only restaurant that Claus & Doreen love and that we have not been to for a long while!

‘Scruffy’ is being dropped off at lunchtime so he will be coming along with us; the weather forecast for today and tomorrow is fine but sadly to say on Sunday the cold /wet front off the Atlantic is due to hit us, so this means that the last procession of the ‘Semana Santa’ week won’t be able to take place, at the moment! It’s also going to be wet and cold on Monday before it starts to get back to normal.

We would like to wish all our family and friends a very ‘Happy and Peaceful Easter’ – thanks for the cards including a singing ‘Jacquie Lawson’ from Gillian over in Torquay – a nice surprise!

Last night I called the ‘Oriel Musty Art Gallery’ over in Llandudno to pass on our best wishes to Bedwyr Williams for the opening of his latest exhibition about the ‘Hotel Seventy Degrees’- the person I spoke too said it was very good and rather exciting, he said that Bedwyr was surrounded by his adoring fans and public at the time!!

So tonight’s culinary delight under the new regime is ‘Fillets of Hake a la Meuneire’ – they are dusted with flour and then quickly pan-fried in foaming Lemon Butter with chopped Parsley sprinkled over them, a few Saffron New Potatoes, the first of the week and Garden peas!

We have just had a nice long chat with Tim,Thea & Ben over in sunny 'Old Colwyn' on the Skype video - they are going so the exhibition at the art gallery in Llandudno over the weekend !

Thoughts for the Day’ See above.

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NEWSFLASH FROM ENGLAND;

FRIDAY 24 TH AUGUST 2012.


" THE NEW MOON PUB COMPANY " HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED THE NAME OF THEIR THIRD SITE ;

' THE HANGING GATE ' AT GORSTAGE NEAR WEAVERHAM !!!




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