A ' CRISP' WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 31^st/ JANUARY 2020.

We were both up very early this morning as Brenda decided to join me on my travels, after a quick freshen up we shot off, down to Sabinillas before the sunrise, over the Mediterranean, our first port of call was into the main ‘ Medical Centre’ to book our appointments, with our ‘Doctor’ next week, sadly they have changed the procedure, you can now only book on the morning of the day that you require! Watch this space.

We then went along to the ‘ Nautilus Cafeteria Gastro Bar ‘ for our morning cafe & tostado, before ‘ Mercadona’ opened, as sadly Kevin, from ‘ItZabar’ has closed and retired! Brenda popped along to the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers and a birthday card, then came back to do the fruit & vegetable shopping, while I was doing the rest of our weekly shopping. It was then time to go down to the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ to the ‘English Butchers’ to stock up with their Homemade Pork Sausages, Gammon Steaks and a boned & rolled joint  of  ‘ Leg of Pork’ for our Sunday Roast!  

Finally we came back along to the far-end of the promenade in Sabinillas to the local market for our fresh flowers & wall plants. We came back up the hill around the three hairpin bends into the village to unload back at the house, I then put the car away in the underground car park beneath the Police Station.

Next week in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ we had little ‘Miss Bella’ with us on Monday & Tuesday, in the middle of February ‘ Chico’ is back with us for a month’s holiday!

On Monday/Tuesday I’m going to pop across the Estepona, to hand in the documents to the family ‘ Lawyers’ for the annual contact negotiations for the house. We will book our appointments next Wednesday morning,  to see our Doctor, Brenda was going to her Hairdresser, Annie, on Thursday but she is away for the week, we are going out on Friday evening with our friends from Brighton, Kevin & Caroline, as they are over for a few days, at their apartment on Sabinillas, as they are having bathroom make-over, it also happens to be Kevin ‘Birthday’ on Friday, so I’m going to book a table at ‘ La Finca Thai Fusion’ – after they re-open tomorrow, as it’s their ‘ Music Night’!

The sky was red this morning before the sun broke through and the clouds cleared away, as there was a light breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 20 degs+ - over night down to 11/12 degs, going a little warmer tomorrow, staying the same on Sunday, warm & sunny with a few patchy clouds, next week is now looking dry & settled, with sunshine, hovering in the high ‘ teens’ – up to 22 degs+ sometimes, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are having for a change, an old classic, from back in the restaurant scene in Liverpool in the mid 60s, as the ‘Italian Trattorias’ opened, ie; ‘La Bussola’ in Bold Street, where I was ‘Assistant Manger’ in the evenings!  My recipe of “ Scampi Provencale “ is made with finally diced Onion, Shallots & lots of Garlic, sweated off with a dash of ‘Lea & Perrins and Tabasco’ along with a good glug of ‘White Wine’ before adding a spoon of Tomato Frito and the Plum Tomato ‘Concasse’ ( skinned, peeled, seeded & chopped!) The ‘ Scampi’ are added after the sauce has cooked-off, when they are then lightly cooked, it’s served on a bed of Brenda’s famous ‘ Basmati Rice’ with finely sliced ‘French’ Green Beans on the side.

See below;

After supper this evening we will settled down to catch up with all the news, especially about the ‘ Coronavirus’ outbreak as they are taking the ‘British’ evacuees, after landing, 180 miles up to the ‘ Arrow Park Hospital’ on the Wirral, just around the corner from Jenny! When Brenda was very young ( 5 yrs ) she was taken there into isolation with ‘Mastoiditis’ and caught ‘Scarlet Fever’!)  - meanwhile down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ the authorities at Malaga Airport have let in a party of 40+ footballers from’ Wuhan Football Club ‘ ( the centre of the outbreak) to come down to a hotel in Sotogrande, for ‘ warm winter training’! “ UNBELIEVABLE “

We will then follow the programmes as the ‘ Brexit’ countdown hits midnight on the 21^st January 2020 !! We will have to wait until 31^st December 2020, to find out what happens to us down here in sunny Manilva  ( Health Care & Pensions!) etc, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A STILL GREY & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA AT LUNCHTIME ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 4^th/ MAY 2019.    “ BANK HOLIDAY UK “

We all had a nice, long, lie in this morning after a busy week of early starts, ‘Chico’ slept all night on his bed, he then waits, very patiently, while we get ourselves ready, Brenda took him out for his first walk of the day, around the bottom of the village, and I popped along to the local Bank in ‘Calle Mar’ - for some cash from the machine, when we all returned ‘ Chispa’  came running up the street and joined us for breakfast, of ‘ Brenda’s famous ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, Scrambled for Brenda, and the dogs, on brown, with mugs of strong Tea.

Brenda then went across to the local shop at the bottom of our street, which she does every day, for some essentials, including local Tomatoes for the ‘ Pizzaiola’ sauce later. She is then washing/shampooing her hair, meanwhile I have retired upstairs to the office/studio to go on the ‘WWW’ then type/post today’s Blog.

This morning has started a little grey, damp and overcast, not as forecast, at the moment the sun is attempting to break through, there is a very slight breeze so the clouds are clearing slowly, by lunchtime it was forecast to rise to 24 degs+ - to be bright & sunny, with patchy clouds, tomorrow is going to be a little warmer, next week is looking dry, warm & settled, hovering in the mid to high 20s, going up to 29 degs+ at times! The flowing week is looking the same, watch this space.

See below a picture taken this morning of the Mediterranean outside ‘ ‘Castillo de la Duquesa’ – and a spectacular view of the village taken from the mountains behind, on the way to Casares.

On the sports front this weekend; over in the ‘ Premiere League ‘ Everton beat Burnley 2-0 last night, Liverpool travel across to play Newcastle Utd later ( must win!) and on Monday Manchester City are at home to Leicester City, in the ‘ La Liga’ Real Madrid are at home to Villarreal and Barcelona ( the Champions!) travel to Celta Vigo.

The Horse Racing today is on the flat at Newmarket, as the first of the ‘ Classic’s’ take place, we will also be watching the “ Tour of Yorkshire “ as all the teams ‘warm up’ for the three great classic ‘Grand Tours – starting with the ‘ Giro d’Italia’ later this month.

This evening for our supper we are having the old Italian classic, as served at the ‘ La Bussola  Restaurante ‘ in Bold Street, downstairs, in the centre of Liverpool, back in the 60s, where I worked, in the evenings, as an Assistant Restaurant Manager –  “ Entrecote Pizzaiola “ – trimmed ‘Sirloin Steaks’ finished in a rich ‘Pizzaola’ salsa, made with a ‘ Concasse’ of Tomatoes, par-boiled, dropped in ice cold water, skinned and de-pipped and then diced small, with minced Garlic, Olive Oil, a small diced Shallot, a dash of White Wine, a splash of Balsamic Vinegar, diced Capers & Anchovy, with a strong Tomato sauce & spoon of Frito and lots of the ‘Oregano’ - seasoned to taste with a little salt & ground Black pepper, then left of cook-off. Served with Whole Green Beans and ‘once’ cooked ‘  Pommes Allumettes – Matchsticks ’ Frits!  “ Happy Memories, Happy Times “



See below;

After supper we will settle down to watch the final two, back to back, episodes of the Danish’ crime/drug drama “ Follow the Money “






                                                                                                 OVER IN THE UK ! 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY ' CRISP ' & NOW SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 31^st / MARCH 2018.

We had a little lie in this morning and then after a quick freshen up we took ‘Bo’ out for his first walk of the day, down to the fields below the village, he sleeps all night in his bed down in the lounge and then comes and lets us know when he’s ready to go out! He’s settled in very well and is eating all his meals of ‘ Poached Chicken, Rice & Biscuits’ that come ‘ ready-prepared ‘ with him! He’s due to be collected at lunchtime on ‘ Easter Sunday’

When we returned we had for our breakfast, the rest of the ‘ Hot Cross Buns’ toasted, with mugs of steaming tea, before getting the day on the go, Brenda is ‘pottering’ and as usual I’m up in the office/studio on the ‘WWW’ before typing/ posting today’s Blog.

I have just posted below all the pictures from yesterday evenings two ‘Seman Santa’ processions through and round the village, as you can see below, when we were out at lunchtime with ‘ Bo’ when we bumped into Mario, the Mayor, on his way back from the Church, with his wife and younger son, he told us that the two processions had been reinstated as the weather had changed, the rain had been blown away and the sky was clearing, the sun broke through later, but there was still a stiff breeze, so we wrapped up and went and followed them, they took their usual route, until they came to the top of ‘ Calle Mar’ where they then turned right down the narrow ‘ Calla Duquesa’ and came out by the ‘ Pensioners Club ‘ into ‘ Calle Iglesia’- then back down to the ‘Perruquia de Santa Ana Church’ 

All the village follows the processions, the Ladies in their Black ‘Mantillas’ include the Mayors wife, friends and family members that we know, Valentina, a old friend and ‘ Marta’ the oldest daughter of our neighbours, who we watched grow up, she also plays the clarinet in the village Brass Band, as does her cousin, Mario’s youngest son, his oldest son Mario Jnr, is carrying one of the ‘ Tronos’ along with many other locals that we know, the second Tronos’ is controlled by our neighbour, who is in charge of the Brotherhood, finally all the local ‘Councillors’ that we have known for many years along with the ‘ Chief of Police’

This morning it’s as forecast, dry & sunny, the clouds are clearing and the blue sky is coming out, there is still a stiff breeze, but at least it’s dry, reaching by this afternoon 18 degs+ - tomorrow on ‘ Easter Sunday’ it’s staying dry but cloudy, meaning that the two final parades of the ‘ Semana Santa’ celebration will take place, next week is now looking a little bit more settled, with patchy rain and longer periods of sunshine, hovering on the 18/19 degs+ mark! Watch this space.

So for this evenings supper we are having an old favourite of my version of the classic ‘ Tournedos Rossini’ – the ‘Fillet Steaks’ are wrapped in Smoked Bacon, then seared on a very hot griddle-plate, then baked in a hot oven ‘Med-Rare’ – Pink, no blood!- then left to rest, they are served on a toasted ‘ Croute’ and topped with a quenelles of ‘Iberican Pate’ and surrounded with a pool of a rich ‘ Red Wine Glaze, garnished with Seared Asparagus Spears & Button Mushrooms, Whole Baby French Green Beans and the classic, twice-cooked ‘ Stringfellows’ Frits served in Baskets!

On the sports front this weekend; Over in the ‘ Premier League  today Liverpool travel down the ‘M1’ to play Crystal Palace and Everton welcome Manchester City, here in ‘La Liga’ Barcelona are down here to play Sevilla and Real Madrid travel across to Las Palmas, this afternoon the ‘ National Hunt Jump Racing ‘ is from Kempton Park & Musselburgh.

This evening after supper we will settle down to watch, hopefully, the next two-part, back to back, episodes of the Danish crime drama ( with sub-titles)  ‘ Below the Surface’ – which last week was cancelled?!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A STORMY AND VERY WET SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 10^th/ MARCH 2018.

We had a well earned lie in this morning, ‘ Scruffy’ stayed for the night and slept in his executive bed all night, this morning he, as usual, joined us on the bed, for a little cuddle, he’s being collected this evening after Rose comes back from the Hospital, I have made her a individual ‘ Fish Pie’ for her supper this evening!

Adrian had his new hip-operation/check yesterday and will be in for another 4/5 days, ‘ Scruffy’ will be back with us tomorrow and then on Monday, when ‘ Chico’ is returning for another two-week holiday with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’- as well of course, little princess ‘Reina’ for her normal 4 days,  after freshening up we took ‘ Scruffy’ for his first walk of the day, Brenda popped into the local ‘Fruit & Vegetable’ shop, owned by the ex-Mayor, and found some fresh Peas in the pod and Baby Turnips, when we returned we had our normal, light, breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ fresh fruit, toast & tea.

This morning has started grey & overcast with the threat of rain in the air, later, as there are black clouds on the horizon, there is a slight breeze blowing also, it’s still very mild with the overall temperatures hovering on the 17/18 degs+ mark for now, tomorrow is the same and then next week it’s now looks like we are in for another unsettled few days, with the sun trying to break through later in the week, watch this space.

PS, A severe rain storm has now hit us as I’ve been typing/posting the today’s Blog!!

A busy weekend ahead of sport; over in the ‘Premier League’ the early kick-off is Manchester Utd at home to Liverpool, who have the short journey up the East Lancashire Road, Everton had the long journey down to play Brighton, on Monday Stoke welcome Manchester City, a short trip down the M6 for City! Over here in ‘ La Liga’ Barcelona are down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ to play our local team Malaga, meanwhile Real Madrid travel to the ‘ Basque’ region to play Eibar.

In the ‘ Six Nations Rugby Union’ Ireland welcome Scotland over in Dublin, France meanwhile welcome England to Paris, tomorrow Wales are at home to Italy, the ‘ National Hunt Racing’ this afternoon is from Sandown Park, next week it’s the ‘ Cheltenham Festival’ from Tuesday to Friday, with the excellent coverage on ‘ITV’ of the greatest race meeting in the World!

This evening for our supper we are having a large ‘Entrecote Steak’ grilled on the bone, on a very hot griddle-plate ‘Med-Rare’- then left to rest, before carving it into slices ‘French’ style, garnished with seared Asparagus Spear & Button Mushrooms, with a sauceboat of the classic ‘ Bearnaise’ sauce, served with Whole Baby Green Beans and the old-classic ‘ Pommes Pont Neuf’ - the twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ – the ‘ Grandaddy’ of French Fries – that used to be served at the now closed ‘ Chez Clovis’- next to Paris’s “ Pont Neuf “ ( New Bridge) – in fact the oldest one!

Tomorrow on Sunday, for ‘ Mother’s Day ‘ we are having a ‘ Roast Top Side of Beef ’( Boned & Rolled ) with all the trimmings.

This evening after supper we will channel hop and find something to watch, there is a new ‘Danish’ thriller is starting on ‘BBC Four’ – watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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