THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE 'BANK HOLIDAY ' WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 26^th / FEBRUARY 2016.

After ‘Reina’ arrived for the last time this week we had our normal breakfast then after getting Brenda settled I shot out on my travels down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, I called into the bank for some cash and then stopped at the ‘English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers, next it was a small shop in Mercadona before calling into the ‘Wholesale’ Fruit & Vegetables Market, finally I called into ‘Super Sol’ for some English essentials.

At the moment the threatened rain has not hit us, its very crisp & sunny with a little breeze but still a fine day, the short drive back up through the vine fields was very pleasant, they are burning off last years branches as the prune right back the old ground vines, its still forecast for wet, cold and windy over the weekend, then on the ‘Bank Holiday Monday’ its going to be fine and sunny.

Its soup at lunchtime then for this evenings supper we are having ‘Grilled Fillets of Hake’ dusted in flour and finished with ‘Lemon Butter’- Broccoli Florets and some very nice Baby New Potatoes that I bought earlier, tomorrow its going to be ‘Entrecote Steak’ cut ‘French Style’ with fine Green Beans and ‘Frits’ – on Sunday we are having ‘Scouse’ as its ‘ Global Scouse Day’!!

We are of course having a very easy and relaxing weekend with no singing or dancing as the rest of the village goes mad on Sunday for the “ Dia de Andalucia “ Tomorrow we will watch various sports and then ‘Channel Hop’ for a good film, the same on Sunday but no doubt we will listen to all the singing, dancing and drinking along ‘Calle Mar’ - the two stages, that the Council workmen have just finished, will have bands after the formal ceremony at lunchtime, they have even washed down the street?! If it does rain we suppose that they will transfer down to the ‘Pabellon’


See below the famous " The Flying Scotsman " as it leaves London on its way to York yesterday on its inaugural journey after a multi million pound refit, the 'A3 Pacific 4-6-2' was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and back in 1934 it broke the 100 mph barrier for the first time!

                                                                    " Full Steam Ahead "

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A BEAUTIFUL CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY:

THURSDAY 25^th / FEBRUARY 2016.

We both had a good nights sleep after all the excitement of the last few days, Brenda has settled into a routine down on the large settee which I have made up as the bed, meanwhile I’m upstairs all on my own in our large bed with nobody to keep me warm! I was up at 9-00 am to see ‘Reina’ back for the day, she shoots into her duvet and stays there for most of the day, ‘Chispa’ has been in later this morning and has been playing around the house with her girlfriend.

After breakfast I had a nice shave & shower, that was needed, we are now thinking how to give Brenda a ‘Bed Bath’ – I can’t wait! I then shot out down to the butchers for this evenings supper ‘ Escalope of Chicken Breast’ which we are having with some crushed Carrots & Turnips and whole Baby Green Beans, the girl likes her vegetables, she also has a small bowl of small diced Celery to nibble during the day as well as Black Grapes, her favourites,  I then called into our local shop at the bottom of our street for some essential fresh vegetables and fruit, it was then time to check and clean out the fridge before we made up the shopping list for tomorrow morning.

Yesterday afternoon the new Passports were dropped off by a courier just two weeks to the day since we did the documents down at the English Bookshop, now that service, thanks to Steve!

Early this evening our friend Andy called in to see Brenda,then Mano & Anna arrived at the same time so we had a house full, after they left we have had some of our neighbours calling in as they passed.

This morning here in sunny Manilva we have the most perfect day, the sun is out and the sky is Blue, there is no breeze and by lunchtime it will reach 19 degs, over the last couple of days its been up to 20/21 degs!

Now for the bad news, tomorrow an ‘Artic’ Front is coming our way with rain & wind, over the weekend its going to get even more wet and windy as well as a lot colder, this means that I’m going to get drowned as ‘ Charlie’ is arriving for his weeks holiday on Saturday and he goes out 4 times a day – well he is a ‘Water Dog’- and he loves getting wet!!

This weekend here in Spain its a Bank Holiday down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ as its the “ Dia de Andalucia “ on Sunday and a local Bank Holiday on Monday. All of Andalusia celebrates the founding of the  autonomous Region back in 1980, the Council are erecting the stage at the top of Calle Mar ready for the celebrations, the local Brass Band procession, with dancing and singing as well as lots of food & drinking takes place from noon until midnight, this year we will not be out & about as you will have guessed, if its raining, as forecast, they  will move all the celebrations down the large ‘Pabellon’ by the sports ground. Its also ‘Semana Blanca’ week when the schools are closed.

PS, Its also a very important day in Liverpool on Sunday !!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY CRISP & DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY:

TUESDAY 23^rd/WEDNESDAY 24th / FEBRUARY 2016.

NEWSFLASH; BRENDA AT THE HOSPITAL AGAIN !

Late on Monday evening we had another problem, Brenda could not put her one good foot, the left, down, she was in extreme pain, earlier ‘Daniela’ had dropped off a Wheel Chair, on hire, from the Charity Shop in Sabinillas where she is the Secretary of the ‘St.George’s Charity’ It was impossible to get her up from the bed and into the chair, she was screaming so I had to call an ambulance from the Hospital over past Marbella.

It arrived at 12-20 am with only one ‘Medic’- I had told them that she was upstairs and could not move, so he had to call the ‘Policia Local’ and two came along and helped carry Brenda out down the stairs to the ambulance waiting outside in the street! We arrived at the ‘Costa Del Sol’ Hospital at 1-30 am and they took Brenda way into the Infirmary – ‘7 HOUR’  later she had still not been seen by a Doctor! 

They would not let any family members into the Infirmary so the first I saw her was at 8-30 am when the ‘Trauma Consultant’ came along, he acted very quickly, apologized and put Brenda in a private room, she was then X-Rayed immediately and he confirmed that it was not broken it was a bad strain with some muscle damage, no plaster or bandages needed and she was put on Saline & Pain Drips! So by 9-30 am she looked a lot better and the ambulance was called for to bring us back home to sunny Manilva – this is where the problems started all over again, they sent one ‘Medic’ not two, as requested by the ‘Risk Assessment’ – twice this happened and our Consultant was very upset and apologized again for the ‘Brakedown’ in the system! He sent along lunch for us from the Hospital Kitchens, Cream Soup & Bread, Seared Pork Escalope with small/diced/fried Potatoes, with Yoghurt & Water – 7/10 !!

Once again at 4-40 pm another ambulance arrived still with only one ‘Medic’ not the two as promised, by then I was rather exasperated and said that we had enough and we were going home no matter what after ‘7 HOURS’ waiting!! We arrived home by 6.30 pm and I helped carry her with the ‘Medic’ on the wheeled stretcher into our lounge, he then lifted her in the waiting wheel chair – RESULT!! I then made us a strong cup of English Tea!

I then made up a bed, under the directions of Brenda, on the large settee and she then got under the covers and settled down, we then did a practise bathroom run to the toilet, with a little difficulty, practise makes perfect! Lumy & her Sister from Barcelona,who has just retired ( Teacher ) called in to see her and stayed for a nice chat, Lumy helped me make up the bed in our bedroom with fresh sheets, which I then collapsed into later, we then watched the third episode of “ Happy Valley “ after having a light supper of a ‘Minute Steak’. See below Brenda settled into the wheel chair!!

This morning after breakfast I shot out along to the ‘Tebac’ to top up both of our ‘Pay as You Go’ Mobile Phones and on the way back my tablets from the Chemists, I spotted some fresh ‘Cream Cakes’ in ‘Bar Ocana’ also, everywhere I go, of course, the local stop me to ask how is Brenda so they get the full up to date tale and have started calling in to see her again! We are having soup for lunch and then this evening its going to be warm “ Melton Mowbray “ Pork Pies ( Iceland ! )

Tim has just called on the Skype video from Old Colwyn in North Wales and we have spoken to the two sisters Norah & Jenny, over in England on the landline. Mano & Anna called in later in the afternoon for a catch up on our ' Adventure'

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A CLEAR & CRISP SUNNY MANILVA ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY 22^nd/ FEBRUARY 2016.

I was up early this morning to welcome ‘Reina’ back for the first time this week, she’s here everyday up to Friday, she shot upstairs and into her duvet across the foot of the bed were she keeps Brenda company, on Saturday ‘ Charlie’ is due with us for his weeks holiday.

The sun is just braking through and the sky is clearing, the wind has dropped and by lunchtime it will reach 18/19 degs, over the next few days its staying the same and even getting a little warmer – 20 degs! On Thursday there is the possibility of some of the wet stuff.

Our next round of Pensions started arriving in our Spanish Bank Account this morning just as the’Euro’ was dropping to its lowest point in over three years, the ‘Pound’ has also reacted to the ‘Euro Exit’ rebels including Mr. Ian Duncan Smith, the Pensions Minister, this means that over the next two weeks we will be over 100 Euros down!!

After getting Brenda settled I took her breakfast, this morning it was just Toast ( Brown) with fresh fruit ( Manderine ) and a mug of steaming tea; it was then time to get the ‘White’ wash on the go, I will hang it out today, later up on the roof patio! I then shot down to our local shop at the bottom of our street for some more Green Beans, Bananas, Black Grapes, Brenda favourite, and some Jelly sweets.

At lunchtime Man & Anna called in to see Brenda, they are bringing back a tray with legs for her meals! 

PS; The Hospital called to arrange the appointment for a X-Ray and then to see the 'Trauma Consultant' - its a week on Wednesday at 6-00 pm - the problem now is how to get her into the hospital - we need a wheel chair ASAP !!

For lunch today we are having my ‘ Minestrone Soup’ with fresh Bread and then this evening its ‘Cold Roast Chicken’ with the Whole Baby Green Beans and just a few slices of ‘Souffle’ fried Potatoes for a change. Tomorrow its a small ‘ Minute Steak’ smeared with Dijon Mustard with some Saute Onions.

Last night after supper I watched the first episode of “ The Night Manager “ on BBC 1 – its based on the John le Carre novel of the same name from 1993, which I read at that time, its a ‘Cold War’ Spy Drama with the main character ‘ The Night Manager’ is a manger in Five Star Hotels around the World, he’s played by Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie is the ‘Baddie’ Olivia Colman is the MI5 agent & Elizabeth Debrick is the ‘love interest’ Watch it!

Sunrise over North Wales this morning;

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A OVERCAST SUNNY MANILVA;

A OVERCAST & DRY SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY;

SUNDAY 21^ST / FEBRUARY 2016.

We had a nice long lie in this morning as the village is very quiet, no deliveries and no school children to disturb the peace. I then got breakfast ready for Brenda, this morning she had requested some fresh local Orange Juice with Toast, fresh fruit and Tea, she has her Black Grapes by her side with her other favourite Manderines, later I’m going to change the bed sheets, last night Jan dropped the washing ( Dark) off, all nicely dry & folded – that’s service! Next I’ve got the ‘White’ washing to catch up on, so I’m told!At the moment its overcast and dry with no breeze, we will see later how the day comes along before putting the washing machine on as I need drying time up on the roof!

At lunchtime the sun broke through but a stiff breeze also came along as you can see in the picture below of the beach down in Sabinillas.

For our supper this evening I’m going along later to the ‘Rotisserie’ in Calle Mar for ‘Roast Chicken’ Brenda is having some sliced Breast of Chicken with some whole Baby Green Beans, again. as she enjoyed them last night! For her lunch today its a small piece of cold ‘Salmon Mayonnaise’ with a little Salad on the side. We are also having a planning meeting to sort the menu’s out for the week ahead so as I can plan my local shopping, watch this space.

Next week ‘Reina’ is back with us, each day, from Monday to Friday before ‘Charlie’ arrives on Saturday for his weeks holiday, of course ‘ Chispa’ comes in and out every day to see her friends and us! Yesterday she came with her ‘Mum’ – Isobel – who is very old and does not usually ‘do’ stairs, she insisted on going up to see Brenda and stayed for a good chat, I then saw her down our very steep and deep stairs!

The responce to my ‘Facebook’ post has been over whelming to say the least, all the family in Australia, friends and old staff, neighbours and local in the village, including some we don’t even know! At lunchtime Sally Ann called in for a chat and offered any help,she's going to look for a small TV! Many thanks to all for the ‘get well soon’ messages which are a great ‘pick me up’ to Brenda – thanks. See below, for Brenda, if only!

Yesterday I managed to watch the Horse Racing on ‘Channel 4’ with 7 races from the 3 courses, all very exciting to the lead up to the Cheltenham Festival at the start of March; Everton won 0-2 in the ‘FA Cup’ game and over here Barcelona won 1-2 and no lead the ‘La Liga’ by six points! Real Madrid play later here at Malaga and then later this afternoon I will watch the ‘FA Cup’ match Chelsea welcome Manchester City. Chelsea won 5-1 and Real Madrid drew 1-1 when Ronaldo missed a penalty, so Barcelona ar now nine pints clear at the top!!

Last night after supper and getting Brenda settled I watched the late film “ Last Knights “ from 2015 – its a drama based on the legend of the forty-seven ‘Ronin’ – ‘Warriors’ with Morgan Freeman in it briefly at the start and Clive Own as the leader of the warriors.

PS; Sadly there was no ‘Carnival Parade’ along Calle Mar yesterday evening, the new Council and the Councillor responsible have stopped over fifty year of the tradition! Later this afternoon our local Councillor Mario and his wife Anna, our close neighbours, called in to see Brenda, he's no longer in power and said that its very sad that the new Council are changing things, also since they came into to power they have been very none-active and have not started any of their promised projects!! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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