A DRY, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 9^th/ APRIL 2019.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off across to the ‘ Estepona Hospital’ for my next appointment at the  main ‘ Physiotherapy Department’ for more treatment on my left-hand, I have two more visits this week, then three next week, then on the following Monday 22^nd I’m back at the Hospital for a review/check up with the ‘ Consultant Physiotherapist’  I was lucky and found a spot to park on the main road, so I had my usual tostado & tea in ‘ Tikitapi’ before crossing over to the  Hospital.

Back at the house Brenda took ‘ Scruffy out for his first walk of the day, he slept all night in his bed and on the marble floor under the our bed, he’s such a ‘ Happy Chappy’ and very easy to look after, he’s due to be collected at lunchtime, ‘Chispa’ is in & out as usual.

As I set off along the coast road the sun was blinding above a sparkling Mediterranean, the light breeze meant the clouds were clearing and the blue sky was appearing, the ‘ threat’ of the ‘ wet-stuff’ is still in the air today, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 18 degs+ - then for the rest of the week and over the weekend we are in for a warm, dry and sunny spell, hovering in the low 20s, next week for the ‘ Semana Santa’ celebrations it’s starting dry but then on most of the forecasts, sadly, it’s showing  the rain returning on the main parade days, with patchy clouds and dropping down to 16/17 degs at times!  Watch this space.( Finger Crossed, I can still only manage my right hand!)

See below pictures of the ‘ Blue’ sky appearing above the beach and a new view of sunny Manilva.

NB; The refurbishment work on the ‘ Iglesia Santa Ana’ church has been completed and all the scaffolding is down, just in time for the ‘ Holy Week ‘ celebrations, see the picture below, I will take some more pictures of the next couple of days showing the all the results!

Before;

And after;

See below including the new ' Stained-Glass ' window! 

On Sunday we had a nice long chat & catch up with all Sandra & Bill’s news over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, they had just come in from cutting the grass, Bill was in his ‘ Toy’ Tractor and Sandra was on ‘ scraping ‘ duties, it was warm by their standards, 13 degs with no snow! They had a nice weekend away in the ‘ Niagara Falls’ region, with good food & wine, for their supper on Sunday they were having a ‘ Spit-Roasted Duck’ with ‘ Duck-Fat Roast Potatoes and ‘ Winter Greens’ – Sandra has loved ‘ Duck’ since she was a small child!

See below the ‘ Spit-Roasted Duck’!

On the football front this week it’s the first-leg games of the ‘ Quarter Finals of the ‘ UEFA Champions League’ as Liverpool welcome FC Porto and Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City to their new spectacular stadium this evening.

This evening we are having one of our favourite suppers, ‘ Escalope’s of Chicken Breast’ – coated in local breadcrumbs from the Bakery, shallow-fried in Vegetable Oil until crisp and golden, finished ‘ Holstein’ style topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg, Anchovy Fillets & Capers, with lots of Lemon Wedges, served with finely sliced ‘French’ Green Beans & twice-cooked ‘ Frits’

Last night after supper we settled down to watch the TV, as usual ‘ BBC & ITV’ started new serials at the same time, so we caught ‘ The Widow’ on ‘ITV’ and will the catch up with ‘The Victim’ on the ‘BBC I Player’ this afternoon, watch this space. ‘The Widow’ is back on this evening and ‘ The Victim’ is back for the second of four episodes this week!  All the ‘ Quiz Shows’ that we follow are nearing the finals, Watch this space.

Thought for the Day; See above.

A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 3^rd/ APRIL 2019.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off across to the ‘ Estepona Hospital’ for my next appointment with Encarni, the ‘Head Physio’ at the ‘ Physiotherapy Department’ for more treatment on my left hand, I found a parking spot in a cul-de-sac, by the side of the road, and walked along to the Hospital past the main Junior School, where I had then had my usual tostado & tea in ‘ Tikitapi’ - before crossing to the Hospital. I’m back tomorrow and then four days next week, then I have a second  appointment with the Consultant for a review/check up, on the following Monday morning.

‘Scruffy’ has just been collected as I arrived back home, he slept all night in his executive bed and Brenda took him out for his first walk of the day, he’s back tomorrow evening for another sleep-over and then again on Monday. He’s a joy to have with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’

As I set off the sun was coming up above the Mediterranean, the sky was clear and blue and there was just a slight breeze, as usual Estepona is always hotter than sunny Manilva, by the time I returned it was very warm & sunny, reaching a little later 23 degs+ - tomorrow is also looking good, then on Friday and over the weekend it’s going colder, as the wind gets up, the ‘ Wet-Stuff’ is also due to return, hovering in the low to mid ‘ teens’- then from next Tuesday onwards the sun is due to return, with a few patchy clouds, going warmer and by next Friday back to 23 degs+ Watch this space.

See below the ‘ Puerto De La Duquesa Marina ‘ this morning.

Yesterday in the post we received ‘ Easter Cards’ from the UK ( Jenny) & Canada ( Sandra) - ours have started arriving also! Sandra has been spotted checking out a vineyard in the region of Niagara, as the folks were away for a short break, staying at the ‘Harbour House Hotel’ and having dinner at ‘ Zees Grill’

See the picture below;

For our supper this evening we are having a ‘ Casserole of Braised Steak ‘ in a rich Red Wine, Mushroom, Onion & Shallot Salsa – the sliced ‘Entrecote of Beef’ is dusted in seasoned flour, before browning off, I make the sauce and it all goes in the casserole dish to go in the oven this evening, we are having Glazed Carrot Batons & Whole ‘ French’ Green Beans with Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato’!

This afternoon and later in the evening we will be channel hopping to find something to watch as at the moment there are no good series on.

Thoughts for the Day;   See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 13^th/ MARCH 2019.

I was up early this morning, but not as early as usual, after freshening up I was listening to the ‘ Andrew Charles Breakfast Show’ on “ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW” as the ‘Music Quiz’ came back on, it’s a 7 second backwards track, this morning he gave the first clues, sadly I know the tune but can’t get the ‘ Band ‘ & ‘Title’ – I’m rather frustrated to say the least, watch this space!

I then shot across to the Hospital in Estepona for my next appointment at the ‘ Physiotherapy Department ‘ for more treatment on my left-hand, I was very lucky and found a parking spot right in front of the Hospital and ‘ Tiketapi’ – so I had a quick fresh Orange Juice ( on the house)- as I’m a regular customer, with tea & tostado, before going across for my appointment.

Brenda took ‘ Chico’ out for his first walk of the day, he as usual slept all night on his rug at the foot of the bed, yesterday evening because he was tired he went upstairs to bed early, in his favourite spot under the bed, we had to coax him out for last walk of the day! He’s with us until Sunday, on Friday ‘ Scoobie’ is back with us for a two-night sleep-over, no doubt in the meantime ‘ Chispa’ will be in & out to see all her friends and us!

Down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ this morning the sun was out early above the Mediterranean and the clouds have been blown away by the new ‘Poinente’ breeze coming down from the mountains behind the  village, for a change, by lunchtime it’s forecast to reach 22 degs+ - tomorrow is going to be a little cooler but it’s now staying dry, warm & sunny over the ‘ Carnival ‘ weekend, hovering in the low 20s, sadly next week is at the moment forecast to be very wet with light to heavy rain, from next Tuesday onwards, dropping down to 15/16 degs, overnight 8/9 degs, as a new cold & wet ‘ Atlantic’ front hits us, watch this space.

See below this morning sunrise over the beach down in ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa’

For our supper this evening we are having our favourite ‘ Pan-Seared Chicken Wings’ with Baked Potatoes, on Thursday evening it’s going to be ‘ Omelettes of Choice’ – no doubt ‘ Cheese’ for Brenda and a savoury filling for me, for Friday it will be a ‘ Fish n ‘ Chip ‘ supper with Mushy Peas and then on Saturday our ‘ Steak Night’ – for Sunday I’m hopefully making for a change a traditional “ Irish Stew “ – I’m calling into the ‘ English Butchers ‘ on Friday morning to see if he’s got some ‘ Neck of Lamb’?!  Watch this space

This afternoon we will be glued to the screen again as we will be watching the pinnacle of the ‘ National Hunt Racing ‘ season from the “ Cheltenham Festival “ on the second days racing.

Last night after supper we caught the next exciting and very gripping episode of “ Shetland “ as Detective Perez lost a lot of sleep trying to find the missing girl, her friend that was kidnapped with her by the ‘ People Traffickers’ sadly died and was dumped outside in the back yard, the missing girl’s mother nearly killed a witness by driving off a cliff, the ‘ Fire-Bomber’ lady villain cracked under interrogation by ‘Perez’ – at his best, as his team started to put all the clues together, while his private life was made more difficult as his best friend let him know that he knew about his feeling towards his wife, they are getting very close all the time, then right at the end his best mate got drunk and awoke on the beach, where there were four bodies floating in the sea!!  Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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YET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL TUESDAY HERE IN SUNNY MANILVA.

TUESDAY 13^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

I was up very early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot down to Sabinillas for my Blood test appointment, at the main ‘ Medical Centre’ – the sun was already up above the sparkling Mediterranean on another beautiful morning down here on the ‘Costa Del Sol’

As I came back to the house our friend Andy, who is now the ‘Night Manager’ at the Manilva Green Aparthotel, called in on his way home, we had a good catch up & gossip, he stayed and joined us for my special ‘Toasted Sausage Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce, as usual, open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong tea.

He’s going to join us for ‘Christmas Lunch’ – on Xmas Day - as he’s off for a couple of days, then at the start of January I’m dropping him off at the Airport in Malaga, in his car, as he’s off for a month’s holiday in Thailand! I then popped down to our local Butchers in ‘Calle Inglasie’ for tomorrows diced Beef, for the Stew/Scouse, as well as some ‘Chicken Wings’ for another day, Brenda called into the Chemists for her prescription tablets at the same time.

Over the weekend we tried to make contact with Sandra & Bill over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, on the ‘ Skype’ video, for a pre-arranged call, sadly we had bad connections, in both directions, so we gave up and will try again this Sunday, same time, same place!

PS; The road out of Everett this morning! 

As I said above we have yet another beautiful day here in sunny Manilva, the sun broke through earlier and the sky is bright blue, with not a cloud in sight, there is just a very light breeze, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 19 degs+ - over the next couple of days we are in for more of the same, then on Friday and over the weekend we are in for the ‘ wet-stuff’ returning, going a little cooler as the new front, coming in from across the Atlantic, takes over, next week is looking the same, wet & windy, a lot cooler, hovering below 17 degs, with patchy clouds, watch this space.

I have just ‘ blitzed’ the left-over Hotpot, and made a very tasty and heart warming ‘Vegetable Soup’ which we will have with crusty bread for lunch, this evening for our supper we are having ‘ Chicken & Chips ‘ – pan-seared Escalope’s of Chicken Breast, finished in a Lemon & Balsamic Vinegar Butter Salsa, with finely sliced ‘ French’ Green Beans and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’!

Tomorrow morning I’m making a large pan of  “ Lobscouse – Scouse “ to my own version of the old classic family recipe, of my mother, using the Diced Beef, from the Butchers, the original calls for ‘ Neck of Lamb’!

While I have been typing/posting today’s Blog, Brenda popped down to the local shop, on the way back she noticed some people in the ‘ Pizzeria’ – two doors down, that closed earlier in the year, they are re-opening, by the end of the month, and are currently refurbishing the premises, we wish Damian & Victoria all the very best in their new venture.

This afternoon and later this evening we will be watching all the ‘Quiz Shows’ that we follow, ‘ Countdown, Fifteen to One, Touching Point, The Chase, Pointless, Eggheads, Only Connect & University Challenge ‘ before channel hopping to find something to watch.

See above a small selection of pictures of the Civic Buildings in Liverpool, over the weekend, all flood lit, for the ‘ Remembrance ‘ Sunday!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 3rd/ MAY 2018.

We were up early this morning, after a very nice supper last night with Kevin & Caroline, thanks for listening to all the tails of our past life experience’s! ‘ Charlie’ slept for most of the night down on the sofa in the lounge, then this morning came upstairs and slept on the rug by the side of our bed, after a very quick freshen-up we took him out for his first walk of the day, at the same time we met ‘ Chico’ with his Grandad, down in the ‘ Plaza de la Vendimia’ – where he was being dropped-off for his extended weeks holiday, with us here in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’

This morning the sun broke through first thing and the sky was bright blue, with just a very slight breeze, by the time we ‘ hit’ the streets, of downtown sunny Manilva! It was hot in the sunshine, by lunchtime it will be 23 degs+ - tomorrow morning, when I’m out on my travels, down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, sadly there is some of the ‘wet stuff’ forecast! Then over the weekend it’s back to normal for the time of the year, warm & sunny, with a few clouds, next week is now looking dry, warm & sunny, getting better and hotter as the week goes on, with the overall temperatures hovering on the 25/26 degs+ mark, watch this space.

See below night & day pictures of the ‘Puerto de la Duquesa’ marina, and this morning’s sunrise as the local fishing boat sets off!

When we returned I treated us to ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP ‘Brown sauce, with mugs of steaming tea, as Brenda sorted the kitchen/washing-up out after last night’s ‘ Gourmet Banquet’ – she normally does the dishes before going to bed- but left them this time.

We had a lovely evening with folks, and enjoyed their company, they are going back to Brighton at the weekend and won’t be back until later in the year as they are going to Berlin, in August, to see one of their sons, who is a ‘International UK’ Athletic runner ( 1500 mtrs) and is completing in the ‘European Championships’ – he completed earlier in the year at the ‘ Commonwealth Games ‘ on the Gold Coast in Australia, they are also going to Chicago, in the USA, to see their other son who lives & works there. ‘ Safe Travels’ and we look forward to meeting up with you both later in the year.

For our supper this evening we are ‘raiding’ the fridge and using up the left-over’s from last night’s supper, on Friday it’s going to be a ‘Posh Fish’n Chips ‘ supper, Saturday will be ‘ Steak Night’ and then on Sunday its’ TBC’ Watch this space.

Yesterday evening during supper we were also watching, in the background, the TV, as Liverpool played Roma, for a place in the Final of the ‘Champions League’ at the end of the month in Kiev, Russia, in a very exciting game they lost 4-2 but advanced 7-6 on aggregate, to the final against Real Madrid!

After supper this evening we will channel hop and find something to watch.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.  

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