A VERY WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 13^th / MARCH 2016.

A nice lie in was called for this morning as we are having a relaxing day taking things easy, after our normal breakfast of fresh fruit, toast & tea we freshened up and changed, I shot upstairs for a quick shave and shower, next week we are aiming to get Brenda upstairs and back into the routine, watch this space.

We have yet another glorious day down on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’- the sun was out first thing and the sky is now bright blue, there is no breeze and it looks like its going to continue into next week, the mountains across the valley and further on towards the ‘ Sierra Navada’ have a beautiful  ‘ Hue ‘ and the Mediterranean is calm and glistening  in the lunchtime sunshine here in sunny Manilva.

As I was starting to type the Blog Tim & Thea came online on the Skype video so we had a good catch up with all their news, they have nice weather at the moment over in North Wales, for a change, yesterday they where over in Manchester at a exhibition/show for ‘ A Place in the Sun’ as Thea is due to retire very shortly and they are then off on their travels in the motor-home across France and then down the coast towards us! Watch this space.

I’m up to date with the washing as this morning I’ve just put a ‘ Colored wash on the go, its so good drying weather! I’m also ‘ Mis en Place’ in the kitchen as I have all my ingredients ready for this evenings supper “ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto “ – using Broad Beans ( shelled by Brenda!) Runner Beans & whole French Beans, finely diced Onions, crushed Garlic, a slug of Brenda’s best White Wine,  a strong Fish stock, the finest Spanish ‘Risotto’ Rice from Valencia, a local ‘Rotisserie’ Smoked Chicken, grated Parmesan, a dash of Double Cream and my secret ingredients! See below;

At lunchtime I shot along to ' Bar Castillo' for a ' Take-Out-Tapas' lunch,I was made to have a quick drink with some friends before coming back to the house, see below Brenda's assorted ' Tapas' - ' Stuffed Mussels, Prawn Parcels in Filo Pastry & Skewer and my ' Paella ' 

After watching the Horse Racing from Sandown Park we then settled down to watch the England v Wales game, it was rather gripping near the end as Wales came back at England and played like they should have done in the first half, then it was time for the Everton v Chelsea   ‘FA Cup’ match which Everton won near the end of the game when ‘Lukaku’ scored the two goals, the first was just out of this world as he dribbled and fought his way past the Chelsea defenders! The two ‘ Brians’ here in sunny Manilva will be very happy, enjoy!

And two pictures taken this morning from ' Everton Brow '

See below two pictures of the “ Ferry Across the Mersey “ showing  Liverpool at its finest.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 12^th / MARCH 2016.

We had a nice long lie in this morning as the village was very quiet and we had no dogs to look after; ‘ Chispa’ calls in all the time as she is out playing. I then made Brenda a ‘Cheese & Smoked Bacon Butty’ while I had ‘Campo’ Fried Eggs with crisp Smoked Bacon, lots of toast and mugs of steaming tea. After freshening ourselves up I got the dust pan & brush to work before mopping all the floors from the bathroom, office, bedroom, stairs, lounge and the two kitchens with the help of Brenda in her wheel chair around the lounge!

We then watched ‘ Saturday Morning Kitchen’ with the Welsh chef Bryn WillIams, who I remember starting as a Commis Chef in a restaurant in Denbigh, he runs an award winning restaurant in London ‘ Odettes’ and last year opened a Bistro/ Restaurant on the sea front in Colwyn Bay ‘ Porth Eirias’! See the picture below taken from the restaurant at the end of February!

I then popped down to our local shop at the bottom of our street for some essentials, this evening we are having ‘ Grilled Fillet Steaks’ cooked on a very hot griddle plate ‘ Med-Rare’ & garnished with Asparagus Spears, sautéed Baby Mushrooms, seared Plum Tomato and French Fried Onion rings! On the side whole/fine Green Beans and some ‘ Frits’ –  See below. 

Tomorrow night its my special ‘ Smoked Chicken & Three Bean Risotto’ – Brenda has just shelled the local Broad Beans!

On the sports front we will be watching the Horse Racing from Sandown Park before catching the ‘ Six Nations Rugby Union Championships’ from Twickenham as England ‘welcome’ Wales, meanwhile over in England at Goodison Park Everton welcome Chelsea in the ‘FA Cup’ sixth round and Manchester City have a long journey down to Norwich, over here in ‘ La Liga’ Barcelona welcome Gatafe and tomorrow Real Madrid fly to Las Palmas!

England beat Wales 25 - 21 after a spirited come back by Wales in the last ten minutes when the scored two quick tries!

Mano & Anna called in later in the afternoon with a nice bottle of Cava for Brenda, we had a good catch up with all the local news and gossip.

After supper last night we found back on Spanish TV a ‘ Bruce Willis’ film to watch “ Live Free or Die hard “ from 2007 – the fourth in the series, with Justin Long & Timothy Olyphant, does he survive – watch it to see!!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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

FRIDAY 11 th / MARCH 2016.

I was up early again this morning to see ‘ Reina’ back with us for the last day this week, she’s back for five days next week, we then had a quick breakfast before I shot out for the weekly shopping down in Sabinillas,as I drove down through the vine fields the sun was out above the Mediterranean which was calm and sparkling, the far mountains are still snow capped, the workers in the fields are trimming the old black ground vines, spraying them and burning all the old branches, the smell is marvellous, the sky is bright blue and there is no breeze today, another perfect day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ in sunny Manilva!

I called into our bank for some cash and then posted the ‘Easter Cards’ for the three sisters at the ‘English Bookshop’ – I also collected the local newspapers before going along to ‘ Mercadona’ for our main shop, on the way back I went along the promenade to the far end for some fresh flowers before shooting back up the hills to the house, I unpacked and put the car away in the underground car park after checking the oil & water, on the way back I called into the Chemists in ‘Calle Mar’ for my tablets, Brenda has done the flowers and then she volunteered to clean the gas hob in the back kitchen, she is star! Meanwhile I went up to the roof patio and sorted out all the drying ready for ironing later.

I then made the ‘ Tartar Sauce’ as for our supper this evening we are having ‘ Goujons of Hake Fillet’ using local breadcrumbs, ‘Mushy Peas’ and diced ‘ Frits’ with lots of Lemon wedges on the side; see below.

Tomorrow evening for our supper I bought two very nice ‘Fillet Steaks’ for a change which we are going to have just plain grilled ‘ Med-Rare’ and garnished with sautéed Baby Mushrooms & ‘ French Fried’ Onions along with some ‘ Frits’ – on Sunday I’ve decided to make my special ‘ Smoked Chicken’ & three Green Bean Risotto’ Watch this space.

Last night after supper we found over on ‘BBC 2’ a new series of documentaries “ The Secret History of my Family “  which was fascinating as the story unfolded about three pickpocketing sisters raised in Shoreditch back in the 1830s, in the heart of London’s criminal underworld, two of them were banished/deported to England’s ‘ thief colony’ on the island of Tasmania off the coast of Australia; the surprise was that among the girls descendents are two Supreme Courts Judges and a Government ‘Premier’ of the island, while back in England the descendents of the sister left behind are a bin man and a window cleaner! 

The incredible true story that followed about the ‘ Gadbury’  girls was told with great pride by all their descendents now living in Tasmania and Australia, including the Great, Great, Great Grandchildren and various family members, catch it as its one not to miss!

The picture below shows the Grade 1 listed 18^th century  ‘Town Hall’ in Liverpool which stands on the junction of Dale Street, Castle Street & Water Street taken yesterday afternoon;

PS; Liverpool beat Manchester Utd last night in the first leg of the ‘ UEFA Europe Cup’ game 2-0!!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA.

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 10 th 7 MARCH 2016.

I was up early this morning to welcome back little ‘Princess Reina’ for the day, we then all had a nice lie in before our breakfast, it was then time to get Brenda’s hair shampooed in the downstairs bathroom next to the main kitchen, I then shot upstairs to our main bathroom for a quick shave & shower, so we are now both feeling like a new man and women!

We have yet another glorious day here in sunny Manilva, the sky is bright blue and the sun was out early, there is just a little breeze and by lunchtime its due to reach 20 degs, over the weekend its more of the same and hopefully next week will keep dry & sunny! See below Sabinillas promenade this morning.

At the moment as I’m typing the Blog I’m listening to ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2’ on the second screen, its the ‘Classic 60s Show’ with some terrific tracks ie; “ Dave Berry and the Cruisers “ singing ‘ My Baby Left Me’!! - ' LOUD'!!

This evening for our supper we are having Grilled ‘ Chicken Wings’ a Baked Potato, with a Advocado & Tomato salad, tomorrow nights its going to be ‘ Goujons of Hake Fillet’ and then on Saturday ‘ Steak’ - Sundays feast is yet to be decided!

After supper this evening we will channel hop and find something to watch either here on Spanish TV or via the Internet on English TV.

See below a picture taken last night from across the River Mersey in Birkenhead showing the ‘ Anglican Cathedral’ behind the ‘ Echo Arena’

PS; The picture below taken yesterday at ‘Douglas Station’ over on the Isle of Man, it shows ‘ Fenella’ - ‘puffing’ - on her way to Castletown/Port Erin on the 15-3 miles long narrow gauge railway, I just like the colours as well as of course steam trains!!

And later;

PS; Don't forget to ' click' on the pictures to enlarge!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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