Pescado y Vino

Just a quick note because it's a busy day for me today. I've been up to the bank for some change, then back down to the bar to receive a beer order and tonight I've been asked to work through until 11pm which means that I can't go to Tom & Mercedes 2year anniversary 'do' at Marias Bar. Sod's Law.

Lunch on Sunday was great. Swordfish for her and Sea Bass for me + a decent bottle of wine. As it turns out Katrina is coming for a week or two arriving tomorrow. Lary goes into Hospital on the 20th (next week) so I think Katy has been summoned for some support. No doubt we'll all get together again either before or after the operation (if I can make it thro' the paparazzi throng!!). Larisa still hasn't quite got over the Flu....still had a hoarse throat to some extent causing a cough or two while talking,which I'm getting good at at last :-) We had some giggles together.

I have had a cracking last few days in the bar, breaking my record (set on my opening night) with a higher take on Saturday. Things are looking good. And I'm being trusted with those extra duties/hours I said might come my way, and that is significant because Favio is a very cautious person.

Ann is making some progress; David said yesterday that she had been out for a short walk.

I forgotten to mention that Lary is still working towards getting me a job in that shop in the Eroski Centre. While at lunch she asked if I was still interested in it and made a point of explaining that it was full-time at 7Euros an hour. My reply was positive enough to cause her to make a phone-call there and then. Time will tell.

A Nice Day

I'm up. Yes it's quite late but my social life in the bar dragged on a bit last night not that I'm complaining. Oh no! Anyway, on to more pressing things, the morning cuppa is in hand, the weather is , well, dull to say the least but no rain is forecast so I think I'll wear that outfit (the white one) and risk not packing an umbrella. I actually rewashed that shirt and trousers yesterday afternoon to make sure that they are fresh etc etc. Just got to iron them now. I HATE ironing. I'm not sure which is more exciting...the fact that I'm seeing my best friend after, what, nearly 4 weeks or so or the fact that we are going somewhere different for our date (for me at least). No breakfast. Stay hungry. Enjoy the day. There now, that's a plan!! And the sun has just appeared with a smile on its face, must've heard me moaning just now. Day's gonna be a good'un, and will be even better if the ironing does itself. Fat chance.

Crossing the Bridge

I received a message earlier tonight sayng that, if I wanted, we can meet in Arroyo de la Miel at the train station at 1340hrs. A new venue for us. I suspect that Jesus and his wife have introduced her to a restaurant in that area that has impressed her (because his apartment is nearby in Benalmadena). I'm easy, Arroyo is far less than halfway to Fuengirola and therefore much better for me to get back to get ready for work and Lary being Lary, the restaurant she wants to take me to will be worth the effort of getting there. And I'll bet that the 1340hrs time is her arrival at Arroyo, not mine, and I am expected to be there waiting. Which, of course, I will be.

Lunch is On

I'm meeting Lary at 2 o'clock tomorrow for Lunch. Don't know where yet because many places are closed now but I'll (we'll) cross that bridge when the time comes.

I had a relatively good session in the bar yesterday and left Favio with an empty one blaring music like it's going out of fashion. Why he does that I just don't know but, fingers crossed, he's stopped interfering with my volume levels when he arrives. Perhaps Swedish Ana has had a 'word' with him like she said she would last Sunday.

What a life

Coming home late in the evening from an 'exciting' shift at work and then having to cook and eat is not conducive to a good nights sleep. So here I am up, it's just 6am and I don't think that I've slept a wink tonight after eating Chicken Curry at 11pm (that I actually prepared earlier). 3 good days on the trot and another to come I hope tonight. As I thought, extra duties are coming my way due to Beryl's absence...I've been asked to do a stockcheck today which means that I'll have to go in an hour or so earlier and Favio doesn't seem too concerned about going to the bank for change - preferring the easier option of sending me scuttling round the neighbours after he takes over at 9ish (it's been a little later of late actually) begging change from them. That doesn't impress them too much and it doesn't impress me much either so later I'm going to the bank, taking some of MY money out (in suitable change) and carrying it as a float in the bar over the weekend. BTW, my social life is second to none. Trouble is they are all married or spoken for. Esa es la vida as they say.....but maybe tomorrow.....

Which reminds me...I'm going to give Lary a call later to see if she's well enough to do lunch with me tomorrow or Sunday. The job, enjoyable as it is, is really in the way there; my 9pm finish doesn't leave enough time to get over to Fuengirola for an evening out bearing in mind that the last train back is 11-30pm.

Those official looking people did not come back so we are of the opinion now that they were nothing more than common or garden Company Reps. And that theory is strengthened with the afterthought that they didn't actually ask for him by name. Official officials would know it and use it during introductions we think. So, stand down on that one for the time-being.

And you know what? It's nice to come home with more money in my wallet than I went out with. Good days means good tips which can often more than cover the cost of the daily milk and bread.

Food for Thought

There was a news item a couple of days ago regarding the current high level of food wastage, citing "Bags of Salad" as the most common throwaway. That's as maybe but it has brought to mind two instances here in my own Kitchen of waste not, want not.

A) Rummaging through the fridge recently I came across a vacuum-packed pack of Smoked Mackeral and noted that it was one month out-of-date. I was about to consign it to the rubbish bin when I thought "hold on a minute, smoking is a centuries-old method of longterm food preservation and vacuum packing is a modern technology and this pack combines both, it has still got to be good". And it was. Those two Mackeral fillets and some salad made a delicious meal, keeping me from starvation rather than trying to kill me!!

B) Just yesterday I found a box of dried Marrowfat peas at the back of the cupboard - TWO YEARS out-of-date. Drying is probably older than smoking and if it worked for Neandertal Man then it must be working for me. Two pints of Pea Soup have been rustled up and stashed in the fridge and 2 bowls on I'm not being food poisoned.

The article went on to mention that the Government Department concerned with wastage was trying to dream up initiatives to bring back the thrifty attitudes so prevalent during the war when, if every part of your ration allowance was not used you would go hungry. Well, here's my twopennyworth. Abolish use-by dates and cut down on pre-packed portions. I'm a single person and pre-packed produce is just about always too much for me to use before it goes "off" (especially here in the Mediterranean heat).

Larisa's bout of Flu is clearing up. I had a message on Sunday to say that she was a little better and was I still working. I sent back that I'd just finished work (it was 21:30) and was going home to cook and eat. Perhaps this weekend we'll see each other if she's up and about.

I had a good session in the bar yesterday, but it was overshadowed by two 'officious looking' people coming in at about 5-30pm and on finding out that I wasn't the Owner asked about when they could see him. They were told "about 9pm". I waited for awhile after I had finished but they didn't return. Problem being that Favio is breaking the terms of his Licence and they may have been Town Hall personnel out to check etc etc. Worrying.

My idea about putting up a page on the website remembering the Red Lion may have to be shelved because contributions are not forthcoming. Perhaps I'll try a request page on the site itself rather than rely on the (single) posting here on the blog.

A second month

There was a "staff meeting" tonight between me, Beryl (as interpreter) and Favio to discuss his plans for November. Normally November is the quietest month of the year businesswise and Favio, each year, seriously considers closing for the month but, historically, never has. This year the same. He is going to remain open AND with the new 5 - 9 shift remaining in situ despite his rueful comments that the shift is not covering its costs! AND, despite even that, on Monday he is going to apply to the court to get his Licencia de Apetura extended from 9pm - 2pm to 5pm - 2pm. Unluckyly for me I have never been in the business before and therefore do not understand the game he is playing! I have been paid my 1st Months salary and things are only going to get better. I think that, for a variety of reasons too numerous to discuss here, the new opening times for El Bar de Ana are here for good. On the downside though, because at the moment his opening at 5pm is illegal, he has asked me not to dress 'professionally' with waistcoat etc. just in case there is an impromptu inspection by the authorities (which can happen). I understand the dilemma; it would be hard to persuade officials that I have just jumped behind the bar as a friend while he has popped out on an errand, dressed as a Camerero. I know my dress is appreciated by my clientele and just as soon as he gets his licence sorted I expect to be allowed to dress properly for the job again. Things are looking good for the future. Beryl is on holiday for the whole of November and I expect that some of the 'bar management' functions may come my way in addition to a few extra hours late into the evening/morning.