A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 8^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We had a nice lie in this morning before freshening up, Brenda had a quick shower, I’m having mine later, as I was on the breakfast rota, so we had ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce- open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong tea.

I then popped along to the local Bank in ‘Calle Mar’ to pay the monthly electricity bill and get some cash from the machine, I then stopped at the ‘Chemists’ for the new prescriptions.

This morning the sun broke through earlier and the sky is bright blue, with no sign of any clouds, at the moment, there is no breeze so we have a beautiful day here in sunny Manilva, it was forecast for light to  moderate rain, which there is no sign of, for now! By lunchtime it’s due to reach 18/19 degs, tomorrow it’s going to be cloudy but dry, getting a little warmer over the weekend, next week is looking a little unsettled and cooler, at times, with patchy clouds and some more of the ‘wet-stuff’ possible, hovering on the 18/19 degs mark, just about normal for the time of the year, watch this space.

See below a picture of the latest update on the work on the new ‘ Estepona Hospital’

Tomorrow morning after little princess ‘ Reina’ is dropped off I’m off on my travels, down to Sabinillas, for the weekly shopping, ‘ItZabar’ is open after his weeks holiday, I will call into ‘ Mercadona’ and the ‘English Bookshop’ as well as the ‘ English Butchers’- down in ‘ Puerto de la Duquesa Marina’ before picking up some fresh flowers and wall plants from the local market at the far end of the promenade.

For our supper this evening we are having the rest of the ‘Braised Steak, Onion, Mushroom & Assorted Pepper Casserole’ with the ‘ Mashed’ Potato and Vegetables, on Friday it will be a ‘Fish Supper’ and on Saturday our regular ‘ Steak Night’ – then on Sunday I’m making my version of the old classic “ Lancashire Hotpot “

Last night after supper we watched the next two-part episodes of “ Dark Heart “ as the Detective, with family problems, and his team investigated the mysterious death of a young nurse on the London Underground, and then later a similar death of her lover, a ‘Consultant’ at the Hospital, the second part is this evening.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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A RATHER GREY & OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 7^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We were up a little early this morning and after a quick freshen up and tea & toast I shot out on my travels, down to Sabinillas, for my morning appointment at the main ‘Medical Centre’ with our Doctor, Natalia, it was her new assistant that looked after me, after Natalia called in to introduce her to me, my blood pressure readings, that we take, were ‘very good’ – she updated all my records, and added a couple of new prescriptions to my list, my Blood Test, for the ‘Prostate Consultant’ - at the start of December, is early next Tuesday morning.

I then walked along to the ‘Council’ offices to book two seats on the trip in December, to Malaga, to see the ‘Xmas Lights’ – which we go on each year, I also picked up a copy of the new ‘ Calender of Events’  for the next six months, as I was leaving I bumped into ‘Pedro Jnr’ ( Garage) and arranged to take the car in, for him to take to across to Estepona for it’s annual ‘ ITV-MOT’ at the start of December.

On the way back up the hill I stopped at ‘Andrew Charles’ house ( Castle Radio’s FM 89.2 Studio) to drop off a document re-the old car that his daughter bought off us, his next door neighbour is Carlos, who came out to say ‘Hello’

When I returned I then made the “ Braised Steak, Onion, Mushroom & Assorted Peppers Casserole “ – using ‘Irish Sliced Beef Fillet’ – dusted in seasoned flour and browned off,  I then sweated-off, in Red Wine, the sliced Onions & Peppers (Red Green & Yellow) along with Diced Mushrooms, before adding a little stock and the ‘Pan Gravy’ from Sunday’s roast, adjusting the seasoning and left to cook-off, I then layered it in the large ‘Casserole’ dish to go in the oven this evening, along with Brenda’s famous Mashed Potato, on the side, that she made while I was out, served with my version of ‘Carrots A la Flamande’ – Baby Carrots tossed with Garden Peas & Smoked Bacon Sippets!

This morning the sun broke through earlier, before I was out, it then clouded over and at the moment it’s grey & overcast, but dry, hovering on the 18/19 degs mark, tomorrow we are expecting moderate to heavy rain, then from Friday and over the weekend, it’s going to be warm & sunny, in the low 20s, overnight 13/14 degs, next week is now looking rather damp & unsettled, going cooler as the week goes on, as yet another ‘Atlantic’ front comes in, watch this space.

It’s a ‘day at home day’ – so we are taking things easy, relaxing & doing nothing, because we can, later we settle down to watch the TV, as usual, channel hopping to 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 CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY.

TUESDAY 6^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We had a nice long lie in this morning before getting up and after a quick freshen up we had our regular light breakfast of toast & tea, as usual, the village is very quiet at this time of the day, we have the shutters down, blocking the light out as well as the sounds in the street below us!

The sun is breaking through, at the moment, the clouds are clearing and by lunchtime it’s due to reach 18 degs+ - sunny but still ‘ crisp’ – you need a jumper on, overnight it’s dropping to 11 degs+ - about normal for the time of the year, the Oil Heaters are still not needed, for now, tomorrow will be the same and then on Thursday we are in for some of the ‘ wet-stuff’ – over the weekend it’s getting a little warmer, hovering in the low 20s, next week is looking similar, with patchy clouds, sunshine and more of the ‘wet-stuff’ – getting heavy towards the weekend, as well as a little cooler, watch this space.

See below pictures of the ‘ Firework Display’ in EirIas Park, Colwyn Bay, North Wales, last night, the last time we managed to go to the same display was with Tim & Thea and the kids many years ago ( at least 20)  ‘Happy Memories ‘

For our supper this evening we are having ‘ Chicken Schnitzels’ – using Fillets of Chicken and local breadcrumbs from the Bakery, shallow-fried, until crisp & golden brown, in Vegetable Oil, then finished-off ‘ Holstein’ style, topped with a ‘ Campo’ Fried Egg, Capers & Anchovie Fillets, with lots of Lemon Wedges, accompanied with finely sliced  ‘French’ Green Beans and for a change, not Spaghetti Milanese, but twice-cooked ‘Frits’! – “ Posh Chicken & Chips “ !!

On Wednesday, for our supper I’m making a special ‘ Braised Steak, Onion, Mushroom & Assorted Peppers Casserole’ – using ‘ Irish Sliced Beef Fillet’ from ‘ Mercadona’ – served with a version of the classic recipe of ‘ Carrots A la Flamande’ – Baby Carrots tossed with Garden Peas and Smoked Bacon Sippets’ – and ‘Brenda’s famous ‘ Mashed Potato’

Thursday is going to be a find something in the fridge day, Friday is ‘ Fish Night and Saturday ‘ Steak Night’ – then on Sunday it will be time for my famous version of the classic “ Lancashire Hotpot “ Watch this space.

We have settled back into our routine of watching various Quiz Shows, yesterday afternoon ‘ Fifteen to One’ started again, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, who also is excellent on ‘ QI’ as the replacement for Stephen Fry.  We then after supper channel-hopped to find something to watch.

Watch out it could be mine!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A CLOUDY SUNNY MANILVA;

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A CLOUDY START TO MONDAY HERE IN SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START TO THE WEEK.

MONDAY 5^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We had a little lie in this morning, after freshening up and showering later, Brenda is shampooing her hair, I was on duty for breakfast so we had ‘Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong, sweet tea, to set us up for the week ahead!

As we were getting ready this morning we were listening to the ‘ Breakfast Show’ with Andrew Charles, on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – the first ‘Music Quiz’ of the week came on, after he had played the regular spot, on every morning, five days a week, of ‘ Sir Malcolm Sexton’s Horizontal Dancing’ track, which he selects from my old ‘Live’ programme! I got the 7 second quiz, straight away, it was ‘ Wilson Picket’ with the classic ‘ Mustang Sally’ from 1966!

This evening we are going down to the main ‘Medical Centre’ in Sabinillas for our Anti-Flu injections (Gripe!) – on Wednesday morning I have my appointment with our Doctor, Natalia, for a check-up/review, before my six month review with the ‘Prostate Consultant ‘ in December at the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital, over in Marbella.

In ‘ Doggy World Heaven’ this week little princess ‘ Reina’ is back with us on Friday morning for the day, it will be nice to see her, ‘ Scruffy’ is due back with us later in the month, everyday ‘ Chispa’ is in & out to see us, she is missing all her friends! Watch this space.

Overnight as the wind got up we had light showers, this morning has started a little grey & overcast, with still the threat of the ‘ wet-stuff’ in the air, it’s also gone cooler, as forecast, down to 17/18 degs, overnight 10/11 degs, the rest of the week is now looking unsettled, with patchy clouds, and the sun breaking through occasionally, hovering in the 20s, next week we are in for more of the same, watch this space.

Over the weekend, in Liverpool, down on the River Mersey, they had a “ A River of Light’ – a very large fireworks display, set to music, based on large barges in the middle of the river! We watched it ‘ Live’ on a news-page, it was very impressive, see below a small selection of pictures, taken from the Salt House Dock!

This evening we are having ‘ Cold Roast Lemon Chicken’ with the ‘Mixed Herb & Chestnut Stuffing’ – with a selection of Vegetables & Potatoes, the weeks Menu’s are still to be agreed, watch this space.

Just a very quick update on the football results; Manchester City won 6-1 and are two points clear at the top of the ‘Premier League’ - over Liverpool!

Last night after supper, we settled down to watch the second episode of “ The Little Drummer Girl “ – it’s all starting to come back to me, I read the ‘John le Carre’ book back in the 80s,  the adaption is very impressive, the production team’ attention to detail is memorising, you have to concentrate, all the time, as the plot unfolds, watch it to find out what it’s all about!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

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