A COOLER & OVERCAST, BUT STILL DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 5^th/FEBRUARY 2020.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off down to Sabinillas to the main ‘ Medical Centre’ to get in queue, at 7-30 am, to book our appointments at 8-00 am when they opened, I was No 3! I arranged our appointments for 9-50 & 10-00 am, so I then shot back up the hill to our house.

We then had our breakfast of a well earned ‘Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butty’ – smothered in ’HP’ Brown sauce – just brown toast for Brenda, with mugs of hot/strong tea.

I then quickly put together this evenings supper; a ‘ Beef & Vegetable Casserole ‘ – using slices of Entrecote of Beef, lightly dusted in seasoned flour and browned off, I sweated off the diced Onion, Shallots & Garlic, with a dash of ‘Lea & Perrins & Tabasco’ - adding the diced Carrots, Leeks, Celery, Turnips and Green Beans, before adding a small jug on a rich ‘Meat ‘ stock, as well as a rich ‘Demi-Glaze’ – adjusting the seasoning and left to cook off, finally topping up the casserole dish, ready to go in the over this evening, served with ‘Glazed  Whole Baby Carrots and Garden Peas, with the classic ‘ Rissole’ potatoes – Baby Boiled Potatoes, in their skins, tossed in foaming ‘Parsley Butter’ - until crisp & golden.

We then set off back down to Sabinillas to go for our appointments with our new Doctor, Natalia (2) – who was off sick, with flu, she hasn’t had her ‘ Gripe’ Anti-Flu jab’! We had a bit of luck as the relief Doctor was young gentleman, who spoke good English “ RESULT “ He renewed all our prescriptions after a check up/review of our history, he could be moving up to the local Surgery in the village, so we are going to watch out and transfer to him, watch this space

As I set off this morning we had in the village a heavy mist, which yesterday was a ‘ Sea Fog’ hanging over the Mediterranean all along the coast, it came up later in the evening and stayed overnight over the village, it’s caused by a particular set of weather conditions at this time of the year. At the moment Malaga Airport is closed!

See below;

To start the sky was clearing and the clouds were moving away, with a stiff breeze, as the new ‘ Atlantic’ front moved in, bringing with it a colder weather front, it’s dropped nearly 10 degs, to 14/15 degs+ - still overnight 12/13 degs, at the moment we have overhead black clouds, with the threat of the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ in the air, tomorrow when we are out on our travels to Estepona, it’s looking the same, as well as over the weekend, on Friday when we are going out for supper with Kevin & Caroline, at the moment its dry & cool, next week is starting to look more settled and dry as the sunshine returns, hovering in the mid/high ‘ Teens’ Watch this space.

We are waiting to hear from the specialist garage in Estepona, so we can shoot across with Andy, this afternoon, to get the new wind screen fixed to the car, it’s all been arranged by our Insurance!  Watch this space.

This evening we will catch the second part of a very exciting and gripping ‘Silent Witness’ - last night we watched the next episode of ‘ Cold Feet’ – with lots of very moving surprises.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A COLD, WET & WINDY SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 13^th/DECEMBER 2018.

                                                                                        See below for their husbands ! 

We had a little lie in this morning as we have no dogs with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ until next Tuesday, when both ‘ Charlie & Chico’ are due to arrive for their extended Xmas Holidays, after freshening up we had our regular breakfast of fresh fruit, toast & tea, at lunchtime we are having a small ‘ Brunch’ – ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs, Crispy Smoked Bacon & Sauteed Potatoes, as we will not be having our ‘Anniversary’ supper until later this evening in Malaga, watch this space.

Overnight the rain has arrived, as forecast, this morning it’s grey & overcast with black clouds, sadly it looks like it’s in for the rest of the day, at the moment the ‘Pensioners’ coach trip to see the ‘ Christmas Light Show’ above ‘Calle Larios’ in the centre of Malaga is still going?! Watch this space.

There is also a stiff breeze blowing so by lunchtime it’s only going to reach 14/15 degs at the most, we are going to wrap up, put the waterproofs on, get the scarf’s out and use the new umbrellas! Tomorrow it’s back to normal, partly cloudy to start and sunshine later, over the weekend it’s more of the same, going a little warmer also, next week leading up to the ‘ Christmas Weekend’ is now looking more settled, cloudy at times, with just the threat of the ‘wet-stuff’ still in the air, the breeze is dropping and it will be just reaching 20 degs at times, ‘Xmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day’ are looking ‘ crisp’ and sunny! Watch this space.

See the beach down in Sabinillas yesterday! 

On Friday morning I will be out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, as usual, only one more before all the  ‘ Christmas Festivities’ kick-off! This Sunday we are going down to the ‘ Santa Ana Church’ at mid-day to the ‘ Christmas Carol Concert’ – later we are due to call, on the ‘Skype’ video, Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, for a catch-up, before our next call on Christmas Day! All our ‘ Christmas Cards’ have started arriving, here in Spain and then all over the World – hopefully, you will all receive them before Christmas!

Meanwhile !! 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A DAMP & COOLER SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 22^nd/ NOVEMBER 2018.

Just a little lie in this morning after a not very good night’s sleep, for Brenda, I’m, as usual, dead to the World! We then freshened up before breakfast, as I was on the rota, we had my now famous ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP ‘ Brown sauce – open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong ‘ PG ‘ Tips tea, to start the day off in the right direction.

I then popped up to the Town Hall, at the top of our street, to the ‘ Cultural Department’ office, where Eva, the Cultural Leader on the Council, had saved us two tickets for this evening “ Latin Music Concert “ in the Theatre above the Wine Bodega/Museum, at 8-00 pm.

‘Chispa’ has just managed to call in to see us, in between the showers, tomorrow morning little princess ‘ Reina’ is being dropped off for the day and a sleep-over, with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’- then on Monday ‘ Scruffy ‘ is with us for the day( TBC) - watch this space.

During the night the ‘ wet-stuff’ returned and this morning has started grey, overcast & damp, it looks like it’s in for the day, only reaching 14 degs, hopefully, tomorrow it’s going to be dry, with patchy clouds, hovering on the 17 degs+ mark, as I’m out on my travels for the weekly shopping, down in Sabinillas, over the weekend its’ going to be mixed, then next week on all the forecasts is looking dry, more settled with sunshine  for most of the week, as it also goes warmer, up to 20 degs+ by next weekend, which means that we will be able to put the main wall plants (6) back out in the wall pots, as in the heavy rain it damages them, watch this space.

On the menu front today it’s now a ‘Snack ‘day, at lunchtime a tin of ‘ Big – Soup’ with crusty bread and then this evening we will have a late snack, after we return from the ‘ Latin Music Concert’ Tomorrow evening it’s still going to a ‘Fish Supper’ depending on the local market, Saturday is as usual ‘ Steak Night’ and then on Sunday, for a change we are having ‘Medallions of Pork Fillet’ – which means that on Monday it will be ‘ Pork Schnitzels’ – using the rest of the Pork Fillet!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A RATHER GREY & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 7^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We were up a little early this morning and after a quick freshen up and tea & toast I shot out on my travels, down to Sabinillas, for my morning appointment at the main ‘Medical Centre’ with our Doctor, Natalia, it was her new assistant that looked after me, after Natalia called in to introduce her to me, my blood pressure readings, that we take, were ‘very good’ – she updated all my records, and added a couple of new prescriptions to my list, my Blood Test, for the ‘Prostate Consultant’ - at the start of December, is early next Tuesday morning.

I then walked along to the ‘Council’ offices to book two seats on the trip in December, to Malaga, to see the ‘Xmas Lights’ – which we go on each year, I also picked up a copy of the new ‘ Calender of Events’  for the next six months, as I was leaving I bumped into ‘Pedro Jnr’ ( Garage) and arranged to take the car in, for him to take to across to Estepona for it’s annual ‘ ITV-MOT’ at the start of December.

On the way back up the hill I stopped at ‘Andrew Charles’ house ( Castle Radio’s FM 89.2 Studio) to drop off a document re-the old car that his daughter bought off us, his next door neighbour is Carlos, who came out to say ‘Hello’

When I returned I then made the “ Braised Steak, Onion, Mushroom & Assorted Peppers Casserole “ – using ‘Irish Sliced Beef Fillet’ – dusted in seasoned flour and browned off,  I then sweated-off, in Red Wine, the sliced Onions & Peppers (Red Green & Yellow) along with Diced Mushrooms, before adding a little stock and the ‘Pan Gravy’ from Sunday’s roast, adjusting the seasoning and left to cook-off, I then layered it in the large ‘Casserole’ dish to go in the oven this evening, along with Brenda’s famous Mashed Potato, on the side, that she made while I was out, served with my version of ‘Carrots A la Flamande’ – Baby Carrots tossed with Garden Peas & Smoked Bacon Sippets!

This morning the sun broke through earlier, before I was out, it then clouded over and at the moment it’s grey & overcast, but dry, hovering on the 18/19 degs mark, tomorrow we are expecting moderate to heavy rain, then from Friday and over the weekend, it’s going to be warm & sunny, in the low 20s, overnight 13/14 degs, next week is now looking rather damp & unsettled, going cooler as the week goes on, as yet another ‘Atlantic’ front comes in, watch this space.

It’s a ‘day at home day’ – so we are taking things easy, relaxing & doing nothing, because we can, later we settle down to watch the TV, as usual, channel hopping to find something to watch!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A STILL DRY, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 11^th/ MAY 2017.

We were both up this morning, I saw ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day and Brenda had jobs to do after our usual light breakfast, as usual ‘ Chispa’ is in & out, all the time, to see her friend and us.

Mano called in on his way home from work, just as I was eating my toast, he took me across to Estepona to go to our old bank as the ‘Car Insurance’ is still with them, they faxed off the necessary documents and then put the originals in the internal post to Madrid, we then came back to Sabinillas to our Bank as I had to change & check some details on our personal accounts.

The good news, fingers crossed, it that the car will be ready this evening from the garage in the village, Mano is taking me later after he checks that it’s ready! It will be like a new car as we have had all the other bumps & scratches re-painted at the same time.

Last night the ‘ Atlantic ‘ rain storm hit us just as we were going to bed, it didn’t last long and since then its stayed dry, this morning it’s cloudy but with only a light breeze, the sun is out and it was hot & dry over in Estepona and back here in sunny Manilva, it’s still forecasting more rain later and tomorrow, then on Saturday we are back to normal, warm & sunny, getting hotter over the weekend and all of next week, in the mid 25/26 degs, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of the ‘ Beef & Mushroom Curry’ with twice-cooked ‘ Chips ‘ & ‘ Basmati Rice’ with some finely sliced Green Beans, Friday will be ‘ Fish Night’ – Saturday ‘ Steak Night’ and then on Sunday, at the moment it’s TBC, watch this space.

This afternoon/early evening the Mayor, Mario, son Mario Jnr. is calling in to practise his ‘English Speaking’ with us, he came back on Tuesday and will be with us for next month or so before his retakes his exams, last year his nerves got the better of him, he’s a lot more confident this time, so fingers crossed that with our help he will pass this time, he wants to become a Chemist eventually.

Tomorrow morning, hopefully, I will be out & about on my travels down in Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, as Brenda has put together a ‘ Helluva’ shopping list!  The ‘ Waterproofs’ are ready; this evening we will be watching the ‘ Finals Week’ of ‘ Master Chef ‘ on BBC 1, as well as finding a good film to watch via the new “ Kodi’ film channel on the ‘ Amazon Fire TV Stick ‘

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY CRISP & DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 13th/ DECEMBER 2016.

I was up first this morning to see ‘ Reina’ back with us for the day, we then took ‘ Scruffy’ out for his walk along Calle Mar, at the same time I paid the monthly electricity bill in the local bank, when we returned we had our breakfast, a ‘ Smoked Bacon Butty ‘ for me and a open one for Brenda, Brenda is now sorting herself out as she is going down to Sabinillas on the local bus ( Pensioner rate!)  at lunchtime as she has her appointment at the hairdressers for the full works, she is also doing a little essential shopping. She is then catching a taxi back up to the village.

After lunch Rose picked ' Scruffy' up, she is now only going once a day across to the hospital as Adrian is a little better, he can sit up but is still on lots of medication, he is a bit more coherent today, he's still very ill but it sounds like he will not need an operation, ' Scruffy' is going to be with us each day for 3/4 hours as she goes to visit.

It’s dry & very crisp again today, the sky is clear and there is just a little breeze, more of the same tomorrow but then on Thursday/Friday the rain & storms are back , it’s an ‘Atlantic’ front that has come in and is only hitting the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ and other parts of the region. Watch this space.

We have just come off the ‘ Skype’ video to Jack & Lyn in Melbourne where it’s very hot & sunny, a heatwave in fact, 38 degs in the shade! Jack is not very well, he is having breathing problems and has had lots of tests before seeing the ‘ Lung Consultant’- she is arranging for him to have oxygen bottles, to help him when needed, he looks fine and is his normal jovial self, Lyn looks & sound very well, they have a big family reunion this weekend, they have booked a very large house down on the coast by ‘Phillip Island’

For our supper this evening we are having individual ‘ Steak & Ale Pies’ ( Iceland!) with Garden Peas & twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ Tomorrow it’s going to be ‘ Pan-Seared Calves Liver’ with English Smoked Back Bacon & Pork Sausages.

This afternoon & early evening we will have our ‘ Quiz’ time on the various channels, last night I got a question correct on ‘ University Challenge ’! After supper we will channel hop and will find a good film to watch.




And his helpers have now arrived !

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 2^nd/ NOVEMBER 2016.

I was up early this morning and shot out down to Sabinillas to go to our Bank when it opened, yesterday there was a problem with our Savings Account which needed sorting ASAP! At the moment the parking in Sabinillas is very difficult as the main parking square is closed for re-development by the Council, I found a spot after three times around the streets, our Manager, Antonio, called me in and he sorted the problem out, we have a new Savings Account, the Online Banking system has been updated and everything will be back to normal by next week.

Meanwhile Brenda welcomed ‘ Reina’ back at the house, she’s with us, as usual, for the day, when I returned we took ‘ Pax’ out for his first walk of the day, he’s ever so good and we are going to miss him terribly, when he goes home next week, hopefully he will be back with us, again, in the future. Yesterday evening ‘ Chispa’ joined us again for our walk, we bumped into Adrian & Rose with ‘ Scruffy’ – he’s back with us for a sleep over in a couple of weeks, he’s put a little weight on after his operation, ‘Scruffy’ not Adrian!!

This morning the ‘ Levante’ breeze had dropped overnight so it was a little warmer, the sun was out and the sky was clear as I drove down through the vine fields with the sun breaking over a sparkling Mediterranean, the rest of the week is staying the same with the possibility of some cloud around, over the weekend it’s keeping dry, for now,  some parts of Spain are due to reach 27 degs today especially around ‘Javea’ where Tim & Thea are staying in their motor home! Watch this space.

See the picture below of the Bay of Colwyn looking  across towards Rhos-on-Sea taken this morning.

The weekly menu’s have been updated as last night we had a light snack from the leftovers after our lunch out, so this evening it’s the ‘ Escalope’s of Chicken Breast’ with all the trimmings that we were going to have last night!

Last night we watched the football on ‘ Antenn 3’  as Manchester City had a outstanding ‘ Champions League’ victory over Barcelona, 3-1, Barca were finally overcome at the sixth time of asking on a scintillating night at the Etihad Stadium, the 3-1 victory was a fair reflection of the manner in which City wrestled superiority from the side that beat then 4-0 at the ‘Nou Camp’ a fortnight ago! Pep Guardiola reaction was to say ‘ We played against the best team in the world and won’!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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