THOUGHT FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

WARM AND CLEAR IN SUNNY MANILVA FOR THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 24^th/ JANUARY 2014.

No rush this morning as we only had a light shop for the weekend so after our tea and toast we went down to Sabinillas to call at the bank and then into the supermarket; as we are out tomorrow lunchtime/afternoon at the ‘Morrocan Banquet’ and we are not roasting this Sunday so we are having an easy weekend.

Brenda picked up the papers and after unpacking I got tonight’s supper ready; “Goujons of Hake” in ‘Cruz Campo’ batter, just a chilled bottle of Cruz Campo with sifted flour whipped into a batter. I made some more Tartar sauce with finely chopped Onion, Capers & Gherkins, fresh Parsley and a squeeze of Lemon juice then mixed with the Mayonnaise. The twice-cooked ‘Frits’ cut thin by Brenda are ready, we are having Garden Peas and on the side some of my famous Tomato salsa!

Yesterday evening Andy called round as promised and did some updating on the PCs as well as helping me screw back a difficult bracket under the computer table that holds the slide-out; he then spent some time on my Mobile updating it and is going to finish the job next week as well as sorting Brenda’s Mobile out! He is also going to arrange on his day off to come with me over to La Linea to the ‘Traffic Department’ to finalize getting my Spanish driving license as what I got the other day from Sabinillas was only the medical certificate, it was a bit of of a ‘Misrepresentation’ by the private ‘Sabimedic’ office which advertised it as ‘Changing you license!’

Mano called in at the same time last night as Andy was here, he was walking his dog and apologized most seriously and profusely  about his ‘No show’ the night before; his reason was a good one and we do understand – the bottle of a fine ‘Rioja Reserva’ also helped !

After Brenda’s visit to the ‘Dermatology’ Consultant on Tuesday she is going onto a severe regime next week to treat he eye lids; no make-up or eye liner, twice a day treatment for 15 days with a special mixed cream, no facial wash just a light non- sensitive lotion and a long course of tablets to bring them under control!

The other day on Facebook our friend Josie from North Yorkshire who has an apartment in the same complex that Brian & Lilli used to live in down below us in Calle Utopia, wrote about her arrangements for her 65^th birthday next month; she is going on the ‘Eurostar’ to Paris for a couple of days then catching the latest ‘TGV’ Service to open from Paris to Barcelona where she is staying for a couple of days before going on the fast ‘TGV’ to Madrid for another short stay, at each city she has arranged the restaurants and place’s to visit. Finally she is going on another spectacular train journey from Madrid across and down to Algeciras past Ronda! We have offered to pick her up – we are particularly envious as we love, me especially train adventures!

Last night we started to watch the Spanish soap and the later caught a very exciting and gripping film “ 16 Blocks” from 2006 starring Bruce Willis,Mos Def and David Morse; it was filmed on the streets of New York ‘Live’ and follows Willis as he attempts to take a convict to a court hearing ‘16 blocks’ away within a certain time – watch it to find out what then happens!!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY LUNCHTIME;

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY FROM A CRISP SUNNY MANILVA;

CLEAR BLUE SKIES AND CRISP IN SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 23^rd/ JANUARY 2014.

This morning we were awoken by the Skype video alarm going off, it was Andy calling to say that he had been called back onto nights at the hotel so he would not be able to come along this morning as planned to have a look/checkup with our two mobile phones; he is coming this evening instead and at the same time he’s going to check both the PCs.

The weather forecast for the next few days and over the weekend into next week is looking good with clear blue skies, sunshine and getting warmer on Saturday/Sunday. It’s a quiet day at home today as we have nothing to get ready as we are having the pie again tonight with all the leftover vegetables!

Later this morning we will go for a walk around the village to stretch the old legs, our Doctor keeps telling us to get out more! Hopefully the dog will come calling later before we hit the streets of sunny Manilva!!She did as you can see in the pictures above on the most beautiful warm day in sunny Manilva.

Last night after our late supper, we waited for Mano to come so the pie did not go in the oven until later, we then watched the football; it was the ‘Copa De Rey’ quarter final/first leg game between Lavente and Barcelona, they actually played one another on Saturday in ‘La Liga’ when the score was 0-0 but this time Barcelona got their  act together and won 1-4 with a hat-trick from the young Spanish player Cristian Tello who was helped by three perfect passes from Messi on his 400^th game for the club! Tello is the target on Arsene Wenger’s list to play for ‘The Gunners’ Watch this space.

Tonight after supper we will watch the Spanish soap that we follow.

Thought for the Day; See above.

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" CALLE SAN VICENTE " ON WEDNESDAY EVENING; " PIE NIGHT "

" SNOWDONIA " NORTH WALES LAST SUNDAY MORNING;

"BODNANT GARDENS " NORTH WALES THIS MORNING;

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A CRISP AND SUNNY MANILVA;

CLEAR AND CRISP IN SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 22^nd/ JANUARY 2014.

Overnight we had some heavy rain as the forecast changed last evening but now it’s back to normal, blue sky, sun and a little breeze for the rest of the week and over the weekend with the temperatures reaching 15/16degs.After breakfast I went around to the surgery for my re-appointment with our doctor; all ok and all my reports updated and my prescriptions checked ready for next weeks appointment with my ‘Prostrate’ consultant a week today!

Brenda walked down to the surgery with dog and came back to the house with me after I came out.

When I came back from the surgery I got tonight’s supper on the go; “Chicken &Mushroom Tarragon Pie” – I first dice the Chicken and dust it in seasoned flour then brown it off in foaming Butter, I then chop all the vegetables into small dice, Onions, Celery, Leeks, Carrots and Mushrooms – sweat them all off and add my secret ingredients and a slug of Brenda’s white wine – with lots of Tarragon herbs, it’s then time to add the Chicken to the pan and top up with a rich Chicken and Vegetable stock, I then let it cook out before adding some Béchamel sauce and Cream to taste – check the consistency and then fill the pie dish ready for tonight when I cover it with Puff Pastry and bake in the oven!

Brenda has gone mad on the vegetable as Mano (He likes his ‘Greens’) is joining us after work; Cabbage with Alcelgas, mixed Baby Carrots & Garden Peas,plain Broccoli florets  and diamond-cut Green Beans! Baked potatoes and twice-cooked small square Chips will make it one ‘Helluva’ Pie!!

At 8-00pm Mano did not arrive so I rang him at 8-15pm and he said he would be 15mins - 45mins later still no sign or call so I rang him again and told him to " F----- It !! We are still waiting for a reason/excuse !!
PS; The pie was delicious as was Brenda's vegetables !

Last night after our supper which we enjoyed particularly the deep-fried crispy Onions which I did at the last minute, sliced and dipped in milk & flour before dropping then in the very hot/smoking Oil ! - We channel hopped and just watched some local programmes as the films were not very interesting.

Thought for the Day; See above.

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" THE STREETS OF SUNNY MANILVA " ON TUESDAY LUNCHTIME;

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY FROM A SUNNY MANILVA;

A FINE CRISP DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 21^st/ JANUARY 2014.

Well it’s another terrific day down here on the ‘Cost Del Sol’ The sun is out and there is just a little breeze so it’s crisp and very pleasant with the temperatures hovering around the 15/16 degs mark! – the rest of the week and over the weekend it’s more of the same!! Meanwhile over in Pori,Finland(-17 degs!) I have no good news to warm Big Bri & Lilli as Everton could only draw at West Brom last night 1-1 !! Sorry !! You will just have to rely on ‘Love’ and the ‘Sauna!’

 We have just come back from a nice walk around the village with the dog, as you can see in the above pictures the ‘Council Gardens Department’ have been very busy placing all the new White plants pots in the streets around us, they even moved one for me by the side of the house to allow a better reversing space around the corner!

This afternoon we are going over to the hospital past Marbella as Brenda has an appointment with the ‘Dermatology’ Consultant for a check up including her eye lids. I’ve checked the car this morning for oil and water and parked in tour small square behind the house for a quick getaway.

So this evening for supper we are having ‘Minute Steak a la Plancha’ that I smear in Dijon Mustard then sear on the griddle, at the same time I will sauté some sliced Onions crisp to go on the top of the steaks, finely sliced Green Beans and homemade ‘Frits’ that Brenda cut this morning  are twice-cooked crisp!

Last night after supper we settled down to find a film to watch and in the words of ‘Victor Meldrew’ ! I don’t believe it!’ – there were two good films on at the same time again! “Runaway Jury ”from 2003 – a courtroom drama with lots of twists and starring John Cusak,Gene Hackman,Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz or “ The Hunting Party ” from 2007 which I choose with Richard Gere,Terrance Howard and Jesse Eisenberg in a gripping dram based in Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia and Herzrgovina with the three journalists hunting down a war crimes criminal/overlord – the story is based on facts and still to this day the two major ones have not been caught!

Thought for the Day; See above.

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CRISP AND SUNNY MANILVA AT LUNCHTIME TODAY;

COLWYN BAY AND RHOS ON SEA NORTH WALES THIS MORNING;

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY FROM A CRISP SUNNY MANILVA;

A BEAUTIFUL CRISP DAY IN SUNNY MANILVA AT THE START OF THE WEEK;

MONDAY 20^th/ JANUARY 2014.

This morning the sun was shinning through the shutters and the forecast is for more of the same this week, it’s a little cool ‘Crisp’ but still around 15/16 degs! We can’t complain as we are still the warmest spot in Europe, the rest of Spain has heavy snow in the North and storms and tornadoes around the coast by Portugal!

After out tea & toast I shot around to the butchers for tonight’s supper – ‘Baked English style-cut Pork Chops’- with glazed/caramelized ‘Fuji’ Apple slices, Cabbage with Alcelgas, Carrots in Ginger, Garden Peas and the rest of last nights ‘Boulangere Potatoes; the menu for the rest of the week is sorted, tomorrow night we are having ‘Minute’ steak smeared with Dijon Mustard then on Wednesday I’ am making my now famous ‘Chicken & Mushroom Tarragon Pie’ as Mano is joining us for supper, Thursday is a leftover day and then on Friday it will be Hake fillets in Cruz Campo batter!

As I was out the councils ‘Parks Department’ was delivering new large Plant Pots all down Calle Inglasia – all the local residents in the street were out arguing where the pots were to be placed in typical Spanish style, all shouting at once ! Pictures later/above as I have an appointment at the surgery with my Doctor for and update etc. At the same time Brenda is coming for a walk with the dog.The Doctor was called out on a emergency so I've re-booked for Wednesday morning.

Last night on the TV it was the old story, you wait for one and two come along! Two good films on at the same time “Absolute Power ”from 1997 – a political/murder thriller produced,directed and starring Clint Eastwood with Gene Hackman,Ed Harris,Scott Glenn,Laura Linney,Judy Davies and E.G. Marshall or “ The Ghost and the Darkness” from 1996 with Val Kilmer,Michael Douglas,Tom Wilkinson,Bernard Hill( ‘Give us a Job!’) and Emily Mortimer in a great tale that takes part in Africa back in the early 1900s about the early railway builders as they struggle to build a bridge with two killer Lions on the rampage! We choose the second – don’t miss it !!

PS; In ‘La Liga’ last night Barcelona could only manage a surprise draw 1-1 at Levente so they are still top on goal difference with Atl.Madrid with Real Madrds one point behind!

Thought for the Day;See above.

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PORI FINLAND TODAY;

" SNOWDONIA " NORTH WALES THIS MORNING;

DRY AND CRISP IN SUNNY MANILVA AT LUNCHTIME ON SUNDAY;