Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain.
Summary: A week of grey skies, long walks, bar‑hopping, neighbourly chaos, and, most importantly, collecting and riding my brand‑new electric bike for the first time.
Friday, April 23rd.
A long sleep, dominoes at La Playa, and a neighbour who lost everything.
After waking at 05:30 yesterday and not going to bed until the early hours, I caught up on sleep and didn’t wake until after 10:30. In the afternoon, I took the Sharky Mobile to the new Mercadona for some shopping. I’d barely finished eating at home when Russ knocked on the door to drag me out for a pint.
We walked to La Playa bar, where I played dominoes with Shellie and Ady. It was a great afternoon of talking rubbish and laughing. I also received a WhatsApp message telling me my new electric bike was ready for collection. I replied that I’d pick it up next week, hopefully Monday, when the weather improves.
In the evening, I watched Arsenal lose 0–1 to Everton thanks to a dreadful own goal by Bernd Leno. VAR ruined the game again with another ridiculous offside decision, denying Arsenal a penalty.
Meanwhile, Russ somehow lost his apartment keys, money and everything else he had on him. I paid his bar bill and let him sleep on my sofa.
Saturday, April 24th.
A messy kitchen, a forgetful neighbour, and a day indoors with ‘Keeping Faith’.
The sky was overcast again, threatening rain. I woke to find Russ gone, my kitchen a mess and all the lights on. I was not impressed and sent him a message telling him so. After cleaning up and steam‑mopping the floors, I stayed warm indoors and watched the second series of Keeping Faith.
Russ later came round with the money he owed me, but he couldn’t remember leaving the pub, being in my apartment, or making the mess. He woke up in his own apartment, thinking he hadn’t spent much money and wondered how he got home.
Lesson learned: don’t let drunk neighbours sleep on the sofa, make them sleep on the beach.
Sunday, April 25th.
Another grey day and a quiet one indoors.
Another overcast day, I can’t remember a time in nearly six years here when the weather stayed so grey for so long. I spent the day indoors reading, watching sports and binge‑watching TV series. I planned to walk to collect my new bike tomorrow, weather permitting, so I rested my legs.
Monday, April 26th.
Collecting the new e‑bike, a nervous first ride, and sunshine at last.
The morning was grey, but the forecast showed only a slim chance of rain. At 10:30, I set out for the bike shop in Los Narejos, a 35‑minute walk that left me out of breath. Outside the shop, I bumped into Norma and chatted for a few minutes, giving me time to recover before going in.
The owner had my bike, lock and helmet ready. He showed me how to turn it on, use the electric assistance and remove the battery. I took it outside for my first ride in more than a dozen years. I was strangely nervous, but I managed a loop around the block without crashing.
I rode to the coffee shop to meet Mike, pleased to arrive upright. I chatted with Mike, Theresa and Steve while keeping an eye on the sky, which had turned black. After a light sprinkle, the sky cleared, and I cycled to La Zona bar for breakfast, only to find they weren’t doing cooked breakfasts today. I had a coffee, cycled home, then went for a pint at the beach bar.
I sat with Andrew until Russ and John arrived. The afternoon sun was intense, amazing how the day went from grey to black to blazing sunshine. Hopefully, this is the start of summer and the beginning of my new get‑fit campaign with the bike and sea swimming.
Tuesday, April 27th.
A 14.5 km bike ride, a TV box, a Dutch BBQ, and a Northern European summit.
I woke at 05:00 and couldn’t fall back asleep. I worked on my website, updated my diary, had a pot of tea and waited for daylight.
As soon as it was light, I set off on my bike. I cycled towards San Javier, past the Sunday market site, back along the main road, through Los Alcázares, past the military base and home again. My backside was sore, and my legs felt like jelly, but I felt good after completing 14.5 km in just under 50 minutes.
When the beach bar opened, I went down for coffee and a tostada. Jacqueline arrived to drop off a TV box she no longer uses and stayed for tea and a chat. As she left, Russ and John arrived.
Later, Frouk and Reindeer invited me to a BBQ to celebrate Koningsdag (King’s Day in Holland). I went at 14:00 on the Sharky Mobile and spent a few hours eating, talking and laughing in the sun. I met Saskia and John from Holland and Chris from Belgium. Combined with my earlier conversation with my Norwegian friend John, it felt like a Northern European summit.
On the way home, the wind was strong, and the only people on the beach were fishermen battling the gusts.
Wednesday, April 28th.
A frustrating trip to Cartagena and a surprising encounter.
I had an appointment at the Cartagena office, where they handle car registrations. Olivia picked me up to translate. We hoped to get my name removed from the registration of a car I sold 14 years ago.
The office refused to remove my name without proof of sale. Olivia tried her best, but the archaic Spanish system wouldn’t budge. On the way home, we stopped at my old house to see if the wife of the man I sold the car to was there. Amazingly, his wife, now living there again after returning from the UK, remembered me and said she would look for paperwork from the car or the business he owned.
It’s incredible: the police can’t trace the car, Traffico can’t trace the vehicle, the buyer is dead, and yet the council can still charge me tax for it 14 years later.
Thursday, April 29th.
Another bike ride, a blocked ramp, and a fiery rant about inconsiderate parking.
This morning I went for another bike ride, sticking to main roads to avoid punctures. I managed about 13 km in 40 minutes before my backside protested. Afterwards, I sat at the chiringuito reading my Kindle and drinking water.
While there, Jo called; she and Olivia had found a way to remove the car from my name online. It seemed the man in Cartagena didn’t want to help.
I had a poached egg on toast, then took the Sharky Mobile to Mercadona. On the way, I stopped at Gerry’s house, and he oiled some squeaky joints on the scooter, not me.
At Mercadona, someone had parked their car across the top of the disability ramp, forcing me to reverse all the way down and enter through the car access. Why some people think blocking access “for a few minutes” is acceptable, I’ll never understand. If you park on pavements, block ramps, stop in bus lanes, park on roundabouts, block entrances, or use disability bays when you don’t need them, you’re an inconsiderate person, and I have no time for you.
For lunch I had curried salmon with rice, tasty, cheap and healthy.
In the evening, I watched Arsenal play Villarreal. Arsenal were 1–0 down within four minutes, 2–0 down by halftime, and then had a player sent off. Strangely, going down to ten men made them play better. They scored a crucial away goal and still have a chance of reaching the final.
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