THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY IN SUNNY MANILVA;

SATURDAY 5^th/ MARCH 2016.

I was woken by ‘ Charlie’ coming up to the bedroom and tapping me on the shoulder before jumping on the bed to tell me it was time for his first walk of the day; as we came back the gas bottle delivery man was in our street so I exchanged ours, the price that is controlled by the government has dropped again! After sorting Brenda out I made breakfast, Brenda requested Cheese on Toast and I treated my self to ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs and crispy Smoked Bacon with lots of buttered toast – all washed down with a mugs of steaming tea!

I then shot along ‘Calle Mar’ to the Chemists for Brenda’s tablets, its another fine day here in sunny Manilva with a clear blue sky and the sun out early, by lunchtime its due to reach 21/22 degs and then tomorrow its more of the same, sadly on Monday its now going to be wet & windy as a cold front slipped under the radar forecasts!

This afternoon we will watch the ‘ Horse Racing’ from Doncaster and Newbury, over in England in the ‘ Premiere League’ Everton are at home to West Ham, ‘ Charlie’s’ dad Brian is going to the match, down the road Manchester City welcome Aston Villa, on Sunday Liverpool are at Crystal Palace;  over here in ‘ La Liga’ Real Madrid welcome Celta de Vigo and tomorrow Barcelona travel To Eibir. There is also more exciting racing from the ‘ Track Cycling World Championship’s’ in London at the Velodrome.

For our supper this evening its going to be our usual ‘Saturday Night Steak Night’ – ‘ Entrecote Steak ‘ cooked on the hot griddle plate ‘Med-Rare’- the left to rest and cut into slices ‘ French Style’ – on the side Whole Green Beans, a grilled Baby Mushroom and some ‘ Pommes Pont Neuf’ - ‘ Door- Step Chips'! Dijon Grain Mustard on the side. See below.

Something with Lamb ( Lancashire Hot Pot ? )  for tomorrow night is on the agenda , watch this space.

After supper we will channel hop and find a film to watch as we settle down for the evening, ‘ Charlie’ goes out for last walk late in the evening.


This picture was taken by Brenda's niece, Deb Williams-Golding, over in Australia in the Melbourne area !

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY SUNNY MANILVA;

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 4 th / MARCH 2016.

I was up early this morning as ‘Reina’ was due back with us for the day, I then took ‘ Charlie’ out for his walk, when I returned we had a quick breakfast and I sorted Brenda out for the day, she was left in charge of the dogs as I shot out for the weekly shopping down in Sabinillas, I picked up some fresh flowers from our local market down by the sports ground before shooting down through the vine fields, I called at the bank first and then popped into the ‘ English Bookshop for the local newspapers and some ‘ Easter Cards’ – watch out it could be you?!

The main shop was in ‘ Mercadona’ before I went along the coast road to the offices of ‘ Helicoipteros Sanitarios’ to get some details to re-sign up with them, I then called in to see Andrew at ‘Castle Radio FM 89.2’at the studios in ‘Castillo de la Duquesa’ – the good news is that my live programme/show is going on air in the not too distant future, the ‘Castle Media Group’ is planning to move the transmitters and the studio to a new site up in Manilva! ( All will be revealed soon!)  This will give the station better coverage and also make it easier for the presenters to produce their shows etc! Watch this space for more exciting news!!

I then carried on to the ‘English Butchers’ in Puerto Duquesa to get some more goodies, lastly it was ‘ Super Sol’ for some English essentials. The ‘ Red Ferrari- Fiesta’ just about  made it back up the hill to the house where ‘ Chispa’ was waiting to welcome me back as well. The sun was out again early this morning and the sky is bright blue, the breeze has dropped the forecast is for it to reach 23 degs by lunchtime, over the weekend its more of the same but just a little cooler and next week is starting to look settled. After unpacking and sorting out the menus for the weekend we had a nice cup of strong tea with a biscuit.

Later this afternoon Mano & Anna called in for a chat and catch up, they also shot up to the roof patio and brought in the ' Black' wash for me!

For our supper this evening we are having my famous “ Seafood Risotto “ made with the Spanish ‘Arroz Redondo’ – ‘Brillante Sabroz’ – Risotto Rice with finely diced Onion & some secret ingredients, a good slug of a fine White Wine, a strong & rich Fish Stock, Cod, Hake, Salmon, Gambas & Mussels, a handful of Garden Peas and seasoned to taste before adding the Parmesan Cheese and a drop of Cream!  See below.

Last night after supper we watched on BBC 2 the “ Track Cycling World Championships “ from the ‘Lee Vally Velo Park’ in London; the ‘Women’s Scratch Race’ over 40 laps ( 10 kms ) was won by Laura Trott, for ‘GB’s first gold of the event,  in the most exciting sprint finish, the local crowd went wild, in the ‘Men’s Pursuit’ Australia  dramatically beat Britain’s pursuit team with Sir Bradley Wiggins back on the track!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 3rd/ MARCH 2016.

NEWSFLASH ; UPDATE ON BRENDA !

Well we had another ‘ Adventure’ yesterday afternoon, the ‘SSG – Social Services’ ambulance arrived on time at 3-30 pm and after collecting two other patients in the village we shot along the coast road at high speed in the outside lane and arrived at the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ Hospital early! I then shot Brenda up to the first floor, large, ‘X-Ray Department and she was seen one hour ahead of our appointment, we then came back down to the ground floor to the ‘Trauma’ Department which is next to the main ‘Out Patients’ entrance.

Once again the Consultant saw us one hour ahead of our time slot, after viewing the X-Ray he decided to have the plaster cast taken off to have a better look and feel, after checking both feet he said that they were both a lot better, the broken foot had healed very well and so only needed a bandage on for the next two weeks, the left foot was also flexible, Brenda has not to walk for another two weeks and use the crutches when needed, she is staying downstairs over the weekend and practising using the crutches! Watch this space.

While all this was happening the ‘SSG’ medic called to see how we were going on, he then arranged for the ‘Staff Nurse’ to call them when we were ready, we ‘parked up’ in the reception and waited, our ambulance arrived a little late and had to go back to headquarters around the corner as the patients that it had dropped off had been sick, so it needed cleaning and sterilising!! We eventually set off with two walking wounded and one other person on a stretches with Brenda strapped in her wheel chair.

The first drop off was in the top of Marbella next to the ‘ Plaza De Torres’ – we then turned left off the coast road into ‘ Nuevo Andalusia’ which we have never seen before, its a small town with lots of restaurants and two large flood light sports grounds, we came back onto the coast by San Pedro and the next drop off was in the old part of the Esteopna, it was then time to head back up to sunny Manilva! We then ‘hit’ a problem as ‘ Calle Mar’ was closed for the  ‘Council Bin Wagon’ collecting the rubbish from the underground storage bins! It happens every evening for about 15/20 minutes! The ‘ SSG’ medic decided to find his way to our house through the side streets with me shouting ‘ left or right’ – we ended up in the next street so he pushed Brenda in the wheel chair up our street to our house – it was by then 9-30 pm!!

We had a light supper of a ‘Cheese Omelette’ as requested for Brenda and ‘Heinz’ Baked Beans on toast for me, Mano had called in and taken ‘ Charlie’ for a long walk while we were out. Later we had a ‘Skype’ video call from Jack & Lyn over in Melbourne, that we had arranged, so we had a good catch up and chat, Brenda has sent text messages to her two sisters over in the UK while we were coming back from the hospital.

After a good night sleep I welcomed ‘ Reina’ back for the day, I then took ‘Charlie’ out, after breakfast I was on kitchen duties for tonight’s supper “ Braised ‘Minute’ Entrecote Steak in a Red Wine Onion Gravy “ with Cabbage with Alselgas, crushed Carrots & Turnips and ‘ Malcolm’s’ not ‘ Brenda’s’ famous Mashed Potato – which passed the ‘ taste test’!!  The rest of the day we are taking things easy after yesterdays ‘ Adventure’ out and about on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – it reached 23 degs in the afternoon over in Marbella and today we have more of the same weather but with a little breeze so its only reaching 22 degs today!

Thoughts for the Day; see above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 2^nd/ MARCH 2016.

We all had a little lie in this morning as ‘Reina’ is not here today, I took ‘ Charlie’ for his first walk of the day, I was out a little while as I was stopped by our neighbours, locals and friends to be asked about Brenda, I spoke to Barbara & Mary and gave them the full update, when I came back to the house we had our breakfast, 

I then went up stairs to the roof patio and brought in the duvet and then put out yesterdays ‘black’ wash to dry

The sun was out early and the sky is a brilliant blue, there is just a little breeze, good for drying! – the forecast up to Friday is staying the same with more sunshine to come, its going to reach 22 degs today and its not as cold at night 11/12 degs – so we are back to normal.

We then got ourselves freshened up, I shot up stairs and had a quick shave and shower and then it was Brenda turn in the downstairs small bathroom  ( toilet & sink!) – she’s managed a small wash and brush up, gave her foot a bath in a bowl and then got dressed in her clean tracksuit as the trouser leg was cut to get over her plaster cast! After lunch the ambulance is due to take us across to the hospital past Marbella ( and bring us back!!) with Brenda in her wheel chair. Watch this space.

I’ve asked Mano to call in, after we have gone, to take ‘ Charlie’ out for a walk and see to him as we won’t be back until after 9-00 pm – hopefully! This evenings supper is going to be ‘ Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast with some ‘ Heinz’ Baked Beans! Tomorrow evening we are having ‘ Minute Entrecote Steak’ finished in the oven in a Red Wine Onion Gravy with Cabbage & Carrots.

Last night after supper we watched the next exciting episode of the BBC 1 drama “ Happy Valley “ – the acting is superb and the cast of Sarah Lancashire, another award winning performance, Siobhan Finneran, a great support actress, George Costigan,  James Norton, going more mad & weird in each episode, Julie Hesmondhaigh, and the ‘Petrifying’ Francis Drummond! All memorable, the next three episodes are building up to a terrific climax.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY, " ST DAVIDS DAY - DEWI SANT "

TUESDAY 1^st/ MARCH 2016.  “ ST.DAVIDS DAY – DYDD GWYL DEWI SANT “

‘Riena’ arrived first thing this morning for the day, she gets on with ‘Charlie’and they play around the house, when she’s had enough she retires to her duvet, I then took ‘ Charlie’ out for his first walk of the day, I was stopped by many of our neighbours asking after Brenda and also Barbara came along so she popped down to stay with her while I was out.

Its the most spectacular day with a clear blue sky and the sun out early, its warm and by lunchtime its due to reach the heady heights of 22 degs! The views across to the snow capped mountains is rather special and the Mediterranean is sparkling, we have more to come over the next few days.

We had our usual breakfast of tea, toast & fresh fruit, I then went up to the roof patio to put the large duvet out to dry, I then started a ‘ Black’ wash to go out later, the household chores are up to date, the ‘ Day Nurse – Me!’ -  as well as looking after Brenda, tablets etc, also keeps the tea coming along, her Black Grapes & diced Celery are ready and for lunch today we are having Chicken & Leek Soup, this evening its ‘Minute Entrecote Steak’ marinated in Garlic with Broccoli Florets and some ‘ Pommes Soufflees’ Potatoes – ¼ inch sliced potato cooked in warm vegetable oil first and then left to cool on kitchen paper before going back into very hot vegetable oil to fry and puff up into a ball! Honest it works!! 

The ‘Night Nurse’ – Me!’ -  again settles her down for the night and is on call by the mobile phones for the bathroom runs when needed which are handled by the ‘ Day Nurse’ as well.

We have just had the call from the ‘Ambulance Service’ to arrange to collect Brenda tomorrow to go over to the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ Hospital past Marbella in the afternoon for her two appointments  for an X-Ray and then see the ‘Trauma’ Consultant, fingers crossed that this time it all works out, she’s going in the wheel chair and they are bringing us back – watch this space!

Another ‘Pension’ is due in our Spanish Bank Account later this morning, the ‘Euro’ is still very low and nothing is going to change for now; we are going to arrange to re-join the private medical service “ Helicopteros Sanitarios “ so as in the future we will receive a proper emergency service, as in the past, when you call them its handled in English and when the ambulance arrives its has a Doctor, a Senior Nurse & a Medic to look after you, they then take you into the Spanish Medical system that we are part of and can’t change! Watch this space.

PS; Brenda is back on duty 'Proof Reading' the Blog, she reads it on  my Mobile Phone!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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