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

FRIDAY 4^th/ MAY 2018.

We were up early this morning and after a quick freshen-up we took both the dogs out for their first walk of the day, ‘Charlie’ slept on the rug by Brenda’s side of the bed, ‘Chico’ slept in his own bed, at the foot of the bed on my side, they have both settled in very well, they are very well behaved, they are eating everything we give them and are both great company, as well as real characters, I collected the car from the council underground car-park and Brenda carried on back to the house with the two dogs.

Yesterday evening on our main walk ‘ Chispa’ came along and joined us, not on her lead, she just follows us and the two dogs everywhere we go, she is also in & out all the time to see her friends & us!

I did our main weekly shop in ‘ Mercadona’ before collecting the local newspapers from the ‘ English Bookshop’- no flowers or wall-plants needed this morning, so on the way back up the hill I called into ‘ Super Sol’ for our English essentials, before un-loading back at the house.

The ‘ Contractors’ are working in ‘Calle Mar ‘ and should reach the top of our street, in front of the ‘Town Hall’ sometime next week, laying the various flag/paving stones etc, yesterday they laid the concrete base down the rest of the street to the main junction were the work finishes, watch this space.

As I shot down through the ever growing ‘Green Leaf’ Vine Fields, the sun was blinding over a sparkling Mediterranean, there is a slight breeze, clearing away the clouds, and at the moment any of the ‘wet stuff’ that is forecast, by lunchtime it’s due to reach 21 degs+ - overnight up to 13/15 degs, Saturday & Sunday are going to be warm & sunny, next week is now looking mainly dry, warm & sunny, with some cloudy days and still the possibility of the ‘wet stuff’ returning, unusual for the time of the year, by next weekend it will be hovering on the 25/26 degs+ mark, watch this space.

PS; The ' wet-stuff' did hit us in the early afternoon, with very loud thunder & lightening as well as a severe rain storm !

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Goujons of Hake Fillet’ – coated in local breadcrumbs and deep-fried, served with ‘Mushy Garden Peas’ and twice-cooked ‘ Chips’ – accompanied with lots of Lemon Wedges and of course my famous Homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce, diced Shallots, Capers & Gherkins, chopped Parsley & Lemon Juice, all mixed in Mayonnaise!

On Saturday evening it’s going to be ‘ Grilled Fillet Steaks’ with all the trimmings, then on Sunday Brenda has requested we have ‘ Medallions of Pork Fillet’ so as on Monday we can have ‘Pork Schnitzels’ from the rest of the Pork Fillet, with Spaghetti etc, watch this space.

Over in Melbourne, Australia, Jack has been featured on the front of the “ Packenhan Gazette” – telling the story of his life, over the past 90 years and showing him with the two letters/cards from the ‘ Premier & Prime Minister, on his birthday- a ‘ Star’ is born!

See below;

Today over in Israel, it’s the start of the famous ‘ Giro D’ Italia’- today’s first Stage is a  short ‘Time Trial’ around Jerusalem, then two stages over the weekend in Haifa, Tel Aviv & Eilat, before travelling to Sicily on Monday, for more Stages from Tuesday and then crossing to Italy for the rest of the Race! Watch this space.

This afternoon/evening we will catch up with the ‘Quiz’ Shows’ that we follow ‘ Countdown, Pointless & Eggheads ‘ then later we will channel- hop to find a film to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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

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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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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 2nd / MAY 2018.

Just a little lie in this morning as when ‘Charlie’ is ready to go out for his first walk of the day he comes and lets you know, he slept all night downstairs on the main sofa, he’s settled in very well and is eating his food, he’s such good company and a real character, ‘Chico’ is due to arrive tomorrow morning, for his extended weeks holiday, they get on very well with one another, meanwhile ‘ Chispa’ has been in & out to see her friend, Brian & Jan are going to Liverpool for the week, as it’s Brian’s Dad’s 90^th birthday celebrations!

This morning we have another beautiful day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol ‘ – the sun was out early and the sky is bright blue, as the clouds have cleared, there is very light breeze, by lunchtime, it’s due to reach 19/20 degs+ a little cooler than over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, where Sandra & Bill are ‘ basking in the hot sunshine ‘ 28 degs+ ‘ & rising! They are on holiday for the week and going up to ‘Niagara Falls’ on Friday for Bill’s birthday, watch out for the pictures!


See below the folks in Ronda ! 

Yesterday lunchtime we had a severe ‘Rain Storm’ – out of the ‘ blue’- meanwhile across in Estepona it was hail stoning!  By mid-afternoon it was back to normal, warm & sunny, over the next few days and into the weekend we are in for more clouds, sunshine and even warmer weather, but still with the threat of the ‘ wet stuff’ in the air, next week is starting to look more settled with no rain and the overall temperatures going up to 24/25 degs+ - warm & sunny, more like ‘May’ is usually, watch this space.

This evening Kevin & Caroline are joining us for supper, we just prepared everything this morning, all the ‘ Tapas’ are ready, the ‘ Vegetable Chef’ has prepared Broccoli Florets, Carrot Batons with Ginger, whole Baby French Green Beans & Garden Peas, also the local Potatoes are boiled/diced ready to be tossed in foaming ‘Parsley Butter’ this evening, with the pre- sautéed diced Onions, Red, Green & Yellow Peppers, the classic “ Pommes Breton “  

The ‘Medallions of Pork Fillet’ have been trimmed & seasoned, and the garnishes are ready, Seared Button Mushrooms & Asparagus Spears, with Baby ‘ Hasselback’ Potatoes, I will make the Creamy ‘Soft Green Pepper Sauce’ this evening as the ‘ Medallions’ are on the very hot griddle-plate, cooked to order! I have also made the ‘ Crepe’ batter – I will cook them, as required, after supper, finished with Lemon Juice & Sugar, they will be served with Vanilla Ice Cream & local Strawberries, the wines have been selected and the table will be ‘ set’ later.


At lunchtime we took ' Charlie ' for his walk and ended up back at ' Bar Rojas ' for a nice cool drink and some of the 'House' Tapas, sat inside as the it was very hot, outside in the sunshine! 

This evening we will have the ‘TV’ on and will be watching, in the background, with the sound turned-down, the Second Leg of the ‘ Champions League’ as Liverpool travel to play ‘Roma’ – leading from the first-leg 2-5- in the ‘Final’ the winners will play ‘ lucky’ Real Madrid who won last night but didn’t play well!

Last night we caught the second episode of “ The Split ‘ – about a family of female divorce lawyers- the ‘Matriarch’ mother and her three daughters, as the father returns, after running off with the young Nanny when they were children, to claim his half of the business! The three daughters lives are all in a mess, with a glossy  lifestyle and living, as they deal with various divorce’s of Multi- Millionaire’s, including footballers wives! A ‘ Cliched’ plot with good acting, one to watch.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A CLEAR, WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 1^st/MAY 2018.   “  DIA DE LABOR – LABOUR DAY “ 

I was up early this morning to welcome back little princess ‘ Reina’ for the day, as usual, she shot upstairs and joined us for a nice lie in, she then shot into her duvet outside the office/studio door, she’s only with us for today as Lee & Daniela’s shifts are all changed this weeks due to the various Bank Holidays in Gibraltar. Later this morning ‘ Charlie’ is due to arrive for another weeks holiday, on Thursday morning ‘ Chico’ is returning for an extended weeks holiday, ‘Chispa’ is in & out all the time, watch this space.

Here in Spain today is a  ‘National Bank Holiday ‘ for the celebration of ‘Labour Day’ – the village is even quieter than normal as the ‘ Contractors’ are not working up in ‘Calle Mar’- they have definitely speeded-up and are laying all the various flagstones along the street at a quicker pace! Watch this space.

See below the deserted ‘ Calle Mar’ this morning.

We had our normal light breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ toast & tea, before planning our day ahead, I’m up in the office/studio on the ‘WWW’ reading the newspapers, checking the ‘E-Mails etc, before typing/ posting today’s Blog, check our yesterday’s ‘Blog’ as I managed in the end, with the help of Daniels, who came online into my system and helped me publish the Sunday pictures, Brenda is one of her ‘ ing’ modes around the house, as we have guests tomorrow! ( People as well as Dogs!)

This morning the sun was out first thing and the sky was bright blue, as there is just a slight breeze blowing, in of the Mediterranean, by lunchtime it will be 18/19degs+ ( overnight down to 9 degs) - the rest of the week and over the weekend is improving each day, going warmer at the same time, but still with the threat of showers in the air, next week is now looking more settled and even warmer, hovering on the 22degs+ mark, nearly back to normal for the time of the year, watch this space.

See below the small cruise liner ‘ Le Soleal’ berthed at the ‘Pier Head’ in Liverpool yesterday.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Pan- Seared Escalope’s of Chicken Breast’ finished in a ‘Lime & Balsamic Vinegar’ Butter Salsa, garnished with Button Mushrooms, served with finely sliced French Green Beans and thick-cut sliced Baked Potato, sautéed in Parsley Butter.

On Wednesday evening when Kevin & Caroline are joining us, we are preparing a three-course ‘ Gourmet Banquet’ – to start we will be having a small selection of ‘Spanish/English’ Tapas, the main course is going to be ‘ Pan-Seared Medallions of Pork Fillet’ with a selection of vegetables & potatoes, for the Dessert it’s my special, made with a classic recipe, ‘ Crepes’ – cooked to order, all served with a fine selection of ‘Cava Rose, White & Red Wines’ etc.

This afternoon we are going to watch, on the ‘ BBC I-Player’ last week’s first episode of “ The Spilt “ – then later this evening the second episode, about a family of female divorce lawyers forced to face its past.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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