A ' CRISP' & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY. " BOXING DAY " 2018.

WEDNESDAY 26^th / DECEMBER 2018.  “  BOXING DAY “ 

We had a little in this morning after a ‘ Helluva’ day, both the dogs slept all night, after freshening up Brenda took them out for the first walk of the day, when she returned we had our usual toast & tea, I then shot out to drop the car at the Garage, as Pedro is taking it across to the ‘ ITV-MOT’ station in Estepona for it’s ‘ free-re-take’ – fingers crossed! Watch this space.

On ‘ Christmas Day’ morning we called Norah & Jenny first, on the ‘ Skype’ landline, then later Sandra & Bill called on the ‘Skype’ video, a surprise call as they got up, later in the evening we called them back as all the family were just opening all their presents, including for all the ‘ children’ in their stocking, lots of ‘ goodies’ for their trip to Spain next October 2019! We spoke to all of them, before the party got going, sadly Sandra’s cards have still not arrived, also she was very upset as she has sent a package/envelope to Brenda, which has not arrived here yet, I’ve just called into our local ‘Sub-Post Office’ and asked the post lady to chase up/look out for it!  Watch this space.



RESULT;  While we were sat outside ' Bar Rojas' for our Boxing Day drink our local Postmistress dropped off the package !! 

Later in the afternoon we called Tim & Thea up in Mojacar, they have rented an apartment for the week while Jo and Ben are over for Christmas, Tim & Ben where out so we had a nice cat up with Thea & Jo, the folks are coming down to us this Sunday and are staying until the Wednesday, 2^nd January 2019 – when it’s Tim’s Birthday!

See all the  Moffatt’s below;

Yesterday lunchtime after we had finished preparing the ‘ Banquet’ we popped along ‘ Calle Mar’ to ‘ Bar Castillo ‘ and were able to sit outside for our first ‘Xmas Drink’ of the day! Later in the afternoon when Andy arrived we had a nice bottle of chilled ‘ Cava ‘ -  followed by more drinks/wine etc, after our ‘ Christmas Supper’ we settled down to watch some TV, the night before we caught the classic ‘Xmas Day Turkey ‘ episode of the “ The Royal Family “ and last night it was an excellent documentary on “ Tommy Cooper “

This morning, as usual, it’s started a little grey and overcast, with a slight breeze, by lunchtime it’s due to clear and sun will break through, reaching 16/17 degs+ - over the next few days we are in for more of the same, the ‘ wet-stuff’ could return on Sunday, on one of the forecasts it’s showing rain for all to the ‘ New Years ‘ week ahead, but on all the others it’s still sunny with patchy clouds, hovering in the high ‘ Teens’ – watch this space.

We have decided to give this a miss, see below!

Today, by tradition, over in the UK it’s a big sports day; in the ‘Premier League’ Everton have the short journey to Burnley, Liverpool are at home to Newcastle Utd and Manchester City travel down the M6 to play Leicester City, this afternoon we will be watching the ‘National Hunt Racing’ from Kempton Park as it’s famous “ King George VI Chase “

For our supper this evening we are going ‘ Cold Turkey ‘ for a change, as we normally have  ‘ Roast Rib of Beef’ – which we are now saving for over the ‘ New Year’s Weekend’ when the  Moffatt’s are joining us! With the ‘ Roast Turkey’ - which was very tasty, moist and delicious, we are having all the left-over Vegetables & Potatoes, the rest of the week we are taking one day at the time, watch this space.

The rest of the day and week we are taking things very easy as we prepare for the ‘ State Visit’ of the folks at the weekend, I will be out on Friday morning on my travels down to Sabinillas to stock up the larder & wine cellar! 

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A EXTREMELY STICKY & VERY HOT SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 23rd/ JULY 2015.

I was up early this morning to see 'Reina' back with us for the day; there was no need for the alarm as we were attacked on three sides, the street cleaning machine was out early, the workmen on the site arrived at 7-30 am and made as much noise as possible and finally the Council workmen are up in Calle Mar on a 'Cherry Picker' putting up the Green Sun Canopy along the street, one month earlier than normal!See below;

That's a bonus as its so hot and there are some Festivals in the village, starting with the 'Santa Ana' Festival on Sunday, that's even before the 'Vendimia Festival' at the start of September; yesterday was the hottest day so far this year when it reached 41 degs by the late afternoon and the temperature hovering on the 31 degs mark during the night,making it very uncomfortable to say the least!

After breakfast we sorted our shopping list out for first thing tomorrow morning as 'Reina' is not arriving until later; Brenda's moaning that she has got nothing to do despite the heat and I'm up in the office in my shorts typing the Blog with two fans pointed at me and the PC!

The Council workmen have just started to 'Jet Wash' down our street which I have been chasing for over the last few month'ts ever since the building work started! See below;

Next I'm asking/chasing the Local Councillor to arrange new 'Flags' on the Town Hall and the Council Chamber at the entrance to the village!! When we were out at lunchtime we bumped into Maria, our local Councillor and chased her for the new Flags and later the Mayor,Diego, came along with another Councillor so we asked him as well, watch this space!

While we were out Brenda called into the 'Ladies Fashion Shop' at the top of Calle Iglasia and came out with a Blue Summer dress, a flowered top and a pair of tight fitting Orange slacks! We then called into Bar Rojas for a cool drink and a Tapas - Marie Carmen had just made some fresh " Tortillitas de Camarones" which were just perfect! Our favourite light Tapas from 'San Luca de Barramenda'!!

On Facebook this morning a old friend in North Wales has joined us on to a page for 'Old Residents of Old Colwyn' which has an Blog on the "Hotel Seventy Degrees" with a picture of the Hotel ( see above)l and also a picture of the staff back in the late 70s - thanks Linda, she was a very loyal and hardworking member of our staff from leaving school and now runs a very sucessfull soft furnishing business in Old Colwyn,she did all the curtains in our old house! See the staff picture below.

Today's Stage 18 of the "Tour de France" starts in Gap and goes over two major 'Cols' - the D'Batard & the Du Glanden before the 18 bends of the Montvernier up to Saint-Jean-De-Mauriene over 186 kms!( See below )

                                                        The " Lacets De Montvernier"

For our supper this evening we are having cold 'York Ham' from our local shop in our street with some sliced cold  local 'Chicken Breast'  with a Mixed Salad and just a few fresh 'Frits' as a treat!

Our 'Happy Hour' will be as usual but not out on whats left of our roof terrace as its too hot!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.


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A VERY DAMP AND OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF A WET WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 29^th/ MARCH 2015  “ PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN ”

We were up in our own time this morning as there are no workmen trying to knock/drill their way into our house – it’s too wet! Overnight we have had severe rain storms and there is more to come today before Saturday and Sunday when it gets worse!! It’s also getting a little colder with the day time temperatures down to 14/15degs.

We shot up to the roof terrace to find out that there are thick grey clouds and no sun, so no eclipse! What a pity as we at this time of the year normally have the bright sun coming up over the Mediterranean, so it would be rather impressive to say the least – oh well!

See below two pictures from this morning,the first was taken in North Wales above 'Llandudno Junction' and the second was taken in Northern Spain above 'A Coruna'

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ we have ‘Scruffy’ due for a two day sleep over on Saturday, he’s being picked up on Monday morning; he will no doubt bring his executive bed and house and of course he will need his raincoat as we are going to get drowned, to say the least, on his walks!

After breakfast we sorted ourselves out and got ready to go down to Sabinillas later for our weekly shopping as we also have an appointment at the solicitors to re-sign the contract on the house – watch this space. It’s the Chef’s day off today along with the Assistant Chef as we are out tonight for a late supper after going first to the meeting of the new party “ Compromiso Manilva’ at the Flamenco restaurant ‘ Meson El Molino’ See the pictures above of a very packed launch party.

Also above are some pictures from the 'Kinnaree Thai Restaurante' with the host Lisa, we had the Thai Vegetable Springrolls,Minced Chicken in Lettuce & Steamed Prawn Dim Sum to start and for our main course it was the King Prawns with Messamen Curry sauce*** & King Prawns with Chilli and Lemongrass* See the pictures above;


The appointment went very well and we have signed the new contract  for another 11 months from today's date; all our repairs have been noted and will be sorted very shortly meanwhile we are arranging for them to change the Electric Hot Plate to a four ring Gas Burner with a Hob Extractor in the smaller working back kitchen - Watch this space!

Last night we just channel hopped and watch nothing in particular.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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