A VERY WARM AND SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 6^th/ JULY 2017.

I was up early this morning and after a quick freshen up I shot off on my travels down to Sabinillas, on the local bus, for the weekly shopping, before I left a caught on ‘TVE 1’ the first run of the bulls at the ‘San Fermin Festival’ in Pamplona, 6 bulls & 4 oxen set off at 8-00 am and take over 2 minutes to run through the streets to the bull ring, 3 people ( all Americans!) were taken to hospital with serious injuries, from being gored and crashing to the cobbled streets.

I collected the local English newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’ before going along to ‘ Mercadona’ for our main shop, at the check-out they called a taxi for me, on the way back we stopped at ‘ Super Sol’ for the ‘English’ essentials before coming back up to ‘ chocker-block ‘ sunny Manilva, after unloading we had a quick cup of tea & toast before sorting the day ahead out.

We are in for another hot one today, the sky is bright blue and the sun was out early, by lunchtime it will be in the low 30s, over the weekend it's getting hotter and next week is going to be another scorcher, watch this space.

Brenda is catching up with the chores and after typing and posting the Blog I’m going to make my famous ‘ Fish & Seafood Pie ‘ – I first poach the fish and use the fish water to make the stock for the ‘Bechamel’ Cream sauce, I start by sweating off a ‘ Mirepoix ‘ of finely diced vegetables in butter and White Wine, Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Celery & Mushrooms, after seasoning to taste I add the cooked Hake, Cod and Salmon along with the Mussels and the Prawns & Gambas, check the consistency and place in the buttered dish ready for the ‘ Second Chef’ to top off the dish with her famous ‘ Mashed Potato’- it will go in the oven this evening and will be served with Garden Peas.


See below as it came out of the oven!

Last night we went along to ‘ Bar Castillo’ for our supper, we sat outside under the umbrellas taking in the sites, sounds & aromas of the village, with a nice cool drink in our hands, we ordered ‘Rosada Frito ‘ with ‘ Frits’ – as we were finishing our new friend Dean came along and joined us for a drink, we told him about the concert in the ‘ Casa de los Torres’ Cultural Centre, so he shot back and collected Donna, we went down to the centre and reserved 4 seats and left two tickets at the door for them to join us.

The concert started at 10-30 pm to a packed open-air arena, under a full moon sky, on a balmy night, the “ Alejandro Antiñolo Quintet “ – they were excellent, Alejandro on the Trombone, a very good Flautist, barefooted and very exaggerated, a lady singer, with a ‘ Helluva’ voice, on the Electric Piano, a laid-back Bass player and the drummer with attitude, they had a excellent sound system, they played a selection of Modern Jazz, Bossa Nova, Cole Porter and Thelonious Monk tunes & songs ( in English) along with at the end a unique improvisational set with them all taking part, the locals went wild, Alejandro also gave us a mention, in English, as I had spoken to him before the concert, at the end as I was congratulating him we talked about one of my favourites from the past, the ‘ Ramsey Lewis Trio’ and his classic track ‘ Wade in the Water ‘

See the pictures above. 

  

A very enjoyable concert with great company, Dean & Donna came back with us for a ‘ night-cap ‘ and a good old chat. Dean is a motivational Golf coach & Donna is into the ‘IT’- they have lived and worked all over the World and are on a short sabbatical down here until the end of September or longer, we have asked then to join us for supper on Sunday for my special ‘Smoked Chicken and Three green Bean Risotto ‘ Watch this space.

While I’ve been typing the Blog Jack & Lyn came online, from Melbourne, on the ‘ Skype’ video for a news catch up, it’s their winter over in Australia with minus temperatures, they are both fine but next week Jack is going into hospital for the day to have a nasty ‘ lump’ removed from the top of his arm, we have arranged to catch up with them again at the end of next week, watch this space.

Finally in yesterdays stage of the ‘ Tour De France ’ there was no change at the top, today they are going from Troyes to Nuits-Saint-Georges ‘ over 236 kms with another sprint finish, then the next two stages are in the mountains.

See the route map below;

The last time we were in Nuits-Saint-Georges’ was back in the 1980s when were taken for lunch by a famous wine shipper to a ‘Michelin’ starred restaurant in the center of the town, we had Poached ‘Troncon of Turbot ‘ in a ‘ Red Wine ‘ sauce! It was served with, youv’e gussed a ‘ chilled vintage ‘ Nuits-Saint-Georges ‘ – the first time that we had a fine French wine served as they prefer! The same dish appeared on the specials menu back at the ‘ Hotel Seventy Degrees’ in the ‘ Horizon Suite Restaurant’ – Happy days and happy memories!

PS; We have just received in the lunchtime post a post card from the ' Blue Mountain'  ski resort,in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada from Sandra & Bill, when they were out on their bikes for the day, we have been told to expect a further post card from ' Long Island ' after this weekends trip!  Many thanks and keep then coming !!

See the latest post card board below;

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A OVERCAST & VERY CLOSE SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 6^th/ JULY 2017.

We all had a little lie in this morning as ‘ Reina’ is not back with us until Monday morning, ‘Scooby’ spends all night on his rug or on the marble floor under the bed, he waits in the morning to be taken out for his first walk of the day, Brenda was on ‘ duty’ this morning, she walked around the garage complex, they are still working inside and on the entrance installing the new barriers, ‘Scooby’ is being collected later today after his summer holiday with us in ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ – he’s going to be missed, we love having him for company, he’s such a gentle dog, easy to look after and a real character. ‘Chispa’ has just called in to say goodbye!

We are taking things easy today, this evening we are going out for supper along to ‘ Bar Castillo’ and then going down to the ‘ Casa De Los Torres’ Cultural Centre for the ‘Trombone’ concert, next Thursday it’s ‘Flamenco Fusion’ and the following week ‘ Flamenco & Bulls’ – finally at the end of the month it’s the annual concert of the ‘Manilva Brass Band ‘ taking place on a stage in Calle Mar, watch this space.

This morning has started a little overcast & close, overnight it was also hot & sticky, the ‘ Lavante’ wind has dropped, when I checked the car yesterday, in the small square where it’s parked, it was covered in ‘ Sahara Sand’ – it started first time, I’m going to check the oil & water later, we don’t need the car until a week on Tuesday when Brenda had an appointment at the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ past Marbella for her six month check up/review with the ‘Kidney’ Consultant, the sun is back tomorrow and over the weekend and into next week it’s getting hotter each day into the mid 30s, watch this space.

Tomorrow morning I’m out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, I will catch the early, local bus, down and then come back in a taxi, I’m going to call on the way back into ‘Super Sol’ for the ‘English’ essentials as no flowers or wall plants  are needed.

When I return I will prepare my special ‘ Fish & Seafood Pie’ topped with Brenda’s even more famous ‘ Mashed Potato’ – it contains Hake, Cod, Salmon, Mussels, Prawns & Gambas in a very tasty White Wine Cream Sauce made with a ‘ Mirepoix ‘ of small diced vegetables( NO Cheese or Hard Boiled Eggs!) in my classic recipe!!

Yesterday we watched the excellent coverage on ‘ BBC TV 1 & 2 ‘ of the Tennis from Wimbledon as Murray, Nadel, Konta and Watson all won, meanwhile I also managed to watch the final 6 kms of the first climb in the ‘Tour De France’ up the ‘ La Planche des Belles Filles’ as ‘ Team Sky’ showed their intentions, Chris Froome took over the ‘ Yellow’ jersey from his team mate Geraint Thomas, he also made time on all his main contenders, the Italian National Champion Fabio Aru, who is in great form, won the stage with 2,3 kms to go when he jumped away, Froome was third, today’s Stage 6 is from Vesoul to Troyes over 216 kms with a sprint finish, watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A HOT & CLOSE SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 5^th/ JULY 2017.

I was up early this morning and welcomed back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, her last this week, we then went back to bed for a nice lie in as the village is very quiet at the moment, we then took ‘ Scooby’ for his first walk of the day, I stopped at the local Banks cash machine, it was not working yesterday, for some cash, on the way back we stopped at ‘ Bar Castillo’ and paid Juan for yesterdays lunch ( our credit is good!) When we returned we had our normal breakfast of fresh fruit, toast & tea before getting the day on the go.

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ ‘Reina’ is back with us for four days next week from Monday to Thursday, ‘Scooby’ is going home tomorrow morning, we will miss him as he’s great company, he’s so gentle & loving and very easy to look after, then next Thursday ‘ Chico’ is joining us for a long weekend break (6 days) ‘ Chispa’ is in & out as normal to see all her friends, she has just come up to the office as I’m typing the Blog with ‘ Scooby’ – ‘Reina’ is in her duvet, see the pictures below.

This morning has started a little cloudy & clammy, the ‘Lavante’ breeze has dropped and sun is slowly breaking through, it’s warm & close, by lunchtime it’s forecast to clear, the temperature is due to reach 25 degs+ - over the next few days and the weekend its’ steadily getting hotter, next week is going to be a ‘ hot one’ in the mid 30s, watch this space.

For our supper this evening we are keeping it simple, ‘ Cold Smoked Ham ‘ topped with ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs, Garden Peas and of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ on the side, tomorrow evening it’s the staffs night off, the Head Chef and Second Chef are going along to ‘ Bar Castillo ‘ for supper, we have ordered ‘ Rosado Frito’ ( in a light Tempura Batter) with ‘ Frits’

At the last minute this evening Brenda requested a ' Cheese Omelette ' from the ' Head Chef '

We are then going down the street, next to the bar, to the ‘ Casa Del Torres’ Cultural Centre for the ‘ Trombone Concert ‘ which starts at 10.30 pm, after the sun has gone down, Fernando, the Head of the School of Music  and leader of the Manilva Brass Band, it’s his son who is the trombonist with a quintet!

On Friday evening I’m going to prepare my famous ‘ Fish & Seafood Pie’ topped with Brenda’s even more famous ‘ Mashed Potato ‘ On Saturday it’s still ‘ Steak Night’ and then on Sunday we are having another of our ‘classics’- “ Smoked Chicken & Three Green Bean Risotto “

We are following the Tennis from Wimbledon on BBC TV 1 & 2 in the afternoon/ evening, yesterday was not a good advert for the sport, you had players turning up with injuries, starting to play and then retiring, it means that they get the entrance money, they should have to pass a medical?!

I then at the same time follow the ‘ Tour De France’ on the Spanish ‘TDP’ Sports channel; yesterday they race finished in the picturesque town of Vittel, famous for it’s water and a main sponsor of the tour, it was a sprint finish and Mark Cavendish was the favourite to win yet another stage in the tour, that is until he was elbowed out, in the finishing strait,  by the World Champion ‘ Slovak’ Peter Sagan, forcing Cavendish into the barriers, and breaking his shoulder, he’s out of the tour and Sagan was later, rightly so, disqualified from the tour, for dangerous riding!

Today’s Stage 5 leaves Vittel and ends up at the top of the ‘La Planche des Belles Filles’ after 161 kms – the first climb of the tour, watch this space. See below;

Some of the pictures on the Blog are not as good quality as normal as ‘ Facebook’ will not let me download, for the past few days, what I want?! I have to take the picture with my camera from the screen and then edit and post them, watch this space.

Finally yesterday I forgot to ‘head’ the Blog on the 4^th July for all our American friends, see below.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 4^th/ JULY 2017.

                                                                     “ NEWSFLASH “

Well, we are back online after a major technical difficulty that happened on Saturday morning as I was just going to post the Blog, my system crashed, after trying the usual fixes, I called Lee for help but he could not sort the problem out until Monday evening, I re-set the router etc but because I could not get back online Lee could not log in into my system to help, the ‘Amazon Fire TV Stick’ was also not working and would not re-set, this meant that we could not watch the English TV, so no, football, racing, tennis, cycling, films, ‘ Poldark’ etc! Back to Spanish TV over the weekend for all the news, weather, sport etc!

Saturday 1^st July 2017.

When it went offline I lost Saturdays Blog, so just a quick catch up, over in Canada Sandra & Bill, our long-lost, newly found, dear family friends were celebrating 150 th Anniversary of Canada with their family & friends, the weather over there has been rather mixed with hot sun, rain and even the threat of a tornado! They live in Southern Ontario, about 1/2 hours North of Toronto in a small town called Everett, over the weekend they were helping to move Sandra’s son, Neil, into a new ‘ Condo’

See below the view from it across to downtown Toronto and the famous ‘ CN Tower ‘

This coming weekend they are going away to ' Long Island ' New York - it's a ten hour drive across the border. Enjoy! 

Sunday 2^ND July 2017.

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven ‘ ‘ Scooby’ was joined by ‘Chico’ for a sleep over on Saturday night, he was a little different, as he arrived, as he has been clipped for the summer, he’s a ‘ Bichon Frise’ with normally lots of white hair! He’s a bit of a character, has a very good appetite, sleeps all night and gets on with all the other dogs, Chispa’ came calling to check him out, he was collected on Sunday lunchtime and is back with us for six days the weekend after next.

See the picture below of him sleeping in his bed.

On Saturday & Sunday lunchtime we went along to ‘Bar Castillo’ with the dogs, for a cool drink & Tapas, we bumped into Mano & Anna on both days.

Monday 3^rd July 2017.  Not a good day !

I  had arranged to meet Mano first thing in the morning, he was going to help me with the paperwork to reserve a spot in the underground car park as well as sort out the ‘Road Fund Tax’ on the car, overnight in work, he’s the night Manager of the ‘ Manilva Green Aparthotel’ he was not very well, so had to go to bed when he got home, I carried on down to the ‘Council Planning Office’ and collected the necessary document, the office was already packed out with over 30 locals all trying to reserve their spaces, it was pandimodium! I then went down to the Tax Office and discovered the transfer documents sent in a year ago had not been acted on, this meant that I had to pay two years tax on the car! I then came back along ‘Calle Mar’ to the local Bank to pay the bills to discover that you could only pay it on a Tuesday or Thursday ( Spanish Bureaucracy ! ) I then called into the Town Hall and the secretary of the Councils Solicitor, who we are friends with, helped me fill in the form, so it was back to ‘Plan B’ on Tuesday morning!

Tuesday 4^TH July 2017. A very good day!!

After ‘ Reina’ was dropped off I shot along to the local Bank in Calle Mar, I was the first customer, paid the two Road Fund Tax Bills and then shot back down to the Council Planning Office where I was third in the queue! Both the clerks are friends, so they looked after me, I choose a spot on the floor plan ( No 100!) and all the paperwork was processed and the confirmation document was stamped! We now have to wait for the bureaucratic process to happen, when the licence will be issued after payment of 180 Euros for the year and they issue the remote control! “ RESULT “  Watch this space.

See the floor plan below;

Menu update;

On Saturday evening we had the ‘Grilled Fillet Steaks’ with all the usual trimmings, on Sunday we had our last ‘Roast’ for a while, ‘ Roast Shoulder of New Zealand, South Island Lamb ‘ with ‘ Boulangere Potatoes and a selection of vegetables, On Monday evening we had a cold-cut of the rest of the Lamb with the leftover vegetables and potatoes. This morning after I came back from my travels we had ‘ Crispy Smoked Back Bacon ( English)  Butties’ with mugs of tea, I then made for this evenings supper a ‘ Calves Liver & Smoked Back Bacon Onion & Mushroom Casserole ‘ which we are having with mixed vegetables  and the rest of the ‘ Boulangere’ potatoes, tomorrow night it’s going to be Cold Smoked Ham with twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ – on Thursday we are out for supper at Bar Castillo, as we are then going down, later, to the ‘ Casa del Torres ‘Cultural Centre for the ‘ Trombone concert.

At lunchtime we went for a walk with the dogs and called into ' Bar Castillo' for a cool drink and a Tapas, we had the " Lamb, Herb & Saffron Potato Light Potage ' with local, fresh bread, delicious. 

Weather update;

Over the weekend the ‘ Lavente’ wind kept thing very pleasant, the sun was out and the sky was bright blue, the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ was the coolest area in Spain hovering on the 26 degs mark,  the rest of Spain is in the mid 30s – high 30s, the start of the week is starting the same, overnight a little cooler also,17 degs, we have turned the fan in the bedroom down to low, then by Friday it’s going up again in the 30s+ Watch this space.

Sports update;

The   “ The Tour de France “ started on Saturday with a crash on the final bend, in the wet, a short 14km Time Trial, in Dusseldorf, as Alejandro Valverde from Spain, abandoned, with a broken leg as he crashed into the barriers, Garaint Thomas powered to victory ,he’s in the same team as Chris Froome , he’s in the famous ‘ Yellow Jersey ‘ going into today’s Stage 4, with Mark Cavendish chasing a sprint win. Yesterday we caught up with all the highlights of the first day of Wimbledon after watching Sunday’s episode of ‘Poldark’ on the BBC I Pad.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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