The start of this week dragged by as I waited for my holiday towards the end of the week. By the end of the week when I set off for my Mediterranean cruise I was getting really excited.

Week 43 of 2022.

Monday, 24th October.

I woke around 3:30 am but was able to get back to sleep & didn't reawake until about 8:30 am. I got a coffee & worked on my website for a while before having a shave & then going to the office for my last day of work before my holiday.

On my way to the office, I stop off to buy a pot plant to give to Sofia at my insurance agents. She has been very helpful the last few weeks & I just wanted to say thank you to her for all her help. After buying a nice flowering plant for Sofia, I continue to the ASSSA office to give it to her. She seems to be pleased with the gift, it was only a small token of my appreciation but I feel that sometimes just saying thank you is not enough.

I then continue on to the office where Martin & I are joined at various times by Dave, Viv, Kate & Aria. Both Martin & I worked very hard today, as it is my last day at work for a while we have to fit in a few extra jobs. When work finishes, I head off to Roccos for a beer. I sit outside talking to a couple of people I met the previous week before I move to Harry's bar for a pint. I am sitting outside with my friend John when we are joined by Martin, he just wanted to check that I had sent the last fax out correctly. After Martin had been assured the last fax had been sent, he made time for a swift pint before we both headed off in different directions to our homes.

Tuesday, 25th October.

I woke around 6:30 this morning & after trying & failing to get back to sleep, I got up, got a coffee & sat down at my computer. I always put Radio 2 on as soon as I sit down at my computer & this morning's tunes were lively enough for me to be tapping my feet as I sat & had a foot massage.

Mid-morning I went to the bank to collect my holiday insurance documents. Lola in the bank printed off my documents in English & Spanish for me & checked that I could use my bank cards while I was away.

The rest of the day was spent trying not to get over-excited about my holiday. The closer it gets the more I worry that I may have forgotten something I need.

Wednesday, 26th October.

I got up at around 7 am today. I got myself a coffee & tried to check in online for my holiday but the website doesn't appear to be working. I contact the company I booked the holiday through & wait for a reply. Nervous energy is a very stressful thing, I am used to doing everything myself for my holidays, and waiting for other people all the time is not nice.

At 11 am I go to see my friend Mike at a cafe near where he lives, it is good to see him again & we have a coffee together before heading home. When I get home the holiday company I have booked with, has sent me a message to say that they have already checked me in & had my tickets to collect on the coach on Friday morning.

The evening is spent watching Tottenham Hotspurs narrowly avoid a win in the Champions League before going to bed.

Thursday, 27th October. 

I woke around 7 am & get myself a coffee. I check my email on my computer before stripping the linen off of my bed & putting it in the washing machine. I then walk to the Euronics store in Los Alcázares to return the glasses straps I ordered from Amazon. They were made of plastic & horrible.

I make the return to Amazon & then walk to the pharmacy to get some extra tablets, I like to have more than I need when I go away in case of emergencies. On the walk back to my apartment I walk past an optician & pop in to see if they sell straps for glasses. They aren't open as I try the door but the man inside opened the door to let me in. I bought two straps for my glasses which he put on for me to test the length before I bought them. They were very good, a lot better & cheaper than the ones I got on Amazon. I walk back past the Dicast store in Los Alcázares to buy some Fairy Liquid as I realised I had run out this morning when I went to wash my dishes.

For breakfast, I walk to the   San Juan bar where I have a coffee, tostada with tomato, & orange juice. After breakfast, I walk home to put the bed linen in the tumble dryer & my second lot of washing in the machine. When I get back from my holiday I will have clean clothes & bid linen to return to.

This afternoon I finish doing my washing, pack my case, tidy my kitchen up & wait for my friend Bob to come round to give me a holiday haircut. After I have had my haircut I watch television in the hope that I begin to get tired & can go to bed. As always the day before a holiday I can not sleep & do not get to sleep until around 3 am despite being in bed by 10:30 pm.

Friday, 28th October.

I am awake by 4:30 am after about 1½ hours of sleep, I get a coffee, take a shower & then potter around until my friend Bernard is due to pick me up at 5:45 am. I walk to the main road & wait for Bernard there, after picking me up he drives me to The Arches & drops me off to be picked up by my coach to Valencia.

I do not have to wait long as the coach is 10 minutes early & I am soon sitting on the coach. I am the first to be picked up & I sit right at the back in the centre to give myself room to stretch my legs out. The coach picks up another 24 people on the way to Valencia where we are all dropped off at the cruise port terminal to begin our cruise around the Mediterranean.

Saturday, 29th October.

I woke up this morning in my cabin on the bow of the Costa Toscana, as we approach the port of   Marseille in France, on day two of my cruise.

Sunday, 30th October.

I woke up today already docked in the port of   Savona in Italy, on day three of my cruise.