Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week filled with surprise reunions, great meals, long chats, cinema trips, scooter adventures and the familiar rhythm of chiringuito mornings, all wrapped in sunshine and the easy pace of life by the Mar Menor.
Friday, October 1st
A morning with Elizabeth, a surprise visitor, and a full day of socialising
I had muesli for breakfast and was about to head to the chiringuito when Elizabeth called to ask if I wanted a coffee. We walked to the pharmacy, then had an Asiático at the café next door, they really do make the best one. After a quick shop at Dia, we returned home and Elizabeth came up for a cup of tea.
Just as she was leaving, we heard someone calling my name from below the balcony. To my amazement, it was my good friend Jimmy, freshly arrived from Scotland. Elizabeth headed home and I went down to the chiringuito to catch up with Jim over a pint.
We then moved on to Galin’s in Los Narejos for a Menu del Día, soup, pork fillets with mash in a gorgeous sauce and bread pudding, all washed down with a pint. Highly recommended.
Alan Bond was doing his music video bingo at a restaurant near the Town Hall, so Jim dropped me off. There were only a few people there, but I won the first competition and received a bottle of red wine. Afterward, I walked home via La Playa bar for a quick pint, where Alan joined me again. We chatted with Shellie until closing time. Alan dropped me home and I was asleep in minutes.
Saturday, October 2nd
A quiet morning and a gritty Arsenal performance
I updated my website, checked emails and had porridge with grapes. The afternoon was spent watching football, including Arsenal’s hard fought 0-0 draw at Brighton. The attack was poor, but the defence held firm, something they wouldn’t have managed last season.
Sunday, October 3rd
Photo sorting, a perfect roast lamb, and a long evening at La Playa
I spent the morning deleting around 1,500 photos that were either poor quality or useless for artwork. At 12:30 I took the Sharky Mobile to Campbell’s for roast lamb, fantastic as always.
On the way home I stopped at Boochies, the new sports bar in Río Nalón, to watch Celtic with George and Yvonne. After the game I went home for a nap before I headed to La Playa to hear Diana sing. I chatted with Jo and Michael, then spent time talking to six people from Newport who knew Porthcawl and even some pubs my cousins have run. I stayed far longer than planned but got a lift home at the end of the night.
Monday, October 4th
A cancelled appointment, a trip to La Manga, and a Tom Selleck marathon
My TIE appointment was cancelled because my translator was ill. Jim phoned and asked if I wanted to go to La Manga while he visited the bank. I jumped at the chance, without a car, I don’t get far.
After the bank, we stopped at Ninos for coffee and tostada. Service was slow, but it gave us time to chat. Back in Los Alcázares, we went to Estribor for a Menu del Día, stew starter, pork knuckle with chips and melon for dessert. Very good today.
We stopped at a chino where I bought a hosepipe and spray gun to make watering the balcony easier. In the evening I watched several Jesse Stone films, easy viewing, and with seven of them, I knew I’d be busy all week.
Tuesday, October 5th
A business meeting, ribs for lunch, and the last of the Jesse Stone films
I updated my website in the morning, then popped in to see my cousin before my “business meeting” with Martin. I was late and reprimanded for not having a doctor’s note. We chatted for an hour before I headed to Mercadona for ribs and potatoes.
The ribs were great, the potatoes undercooked, so I saved them for tomorrow’s breakfast. I watched the final Jesse Stone film and went to bed.
Wednesday, October 6th
A huge breakfast, James Bond in Murcia, and a good burger
I started the day with a large fried breakfast, sausages, bacon, fried potatoes, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and tea. After coffee at the chiringuito, I read on the balcony until Jimmy arrived at 15:00 to take me and some friends to Murcia to see No Time To Die.
The cinema was excellent, only 5€ for a ticket. The film was very good, full of classic Bond elements and sprinkled with references to older films. Afterward we went to The Good Burger. The burgers were smaller than the pictures suggested but still very tasty.
Back home, I watched an episode of CSI Miami before bed.
Thursday, October 7th
ATM chaos, a long lunch adventure, and dreaming of giant TVs
I updated my website, then went to the bank to withdraw money. After queuing for 15 minutes, the ATM was reloaded and became unavailable. I walked to La Encarnación for tostada, but it was full, so I went to Bar Espejo instead. After breakfast I returned to the bank, thankfully the ATM was working.
Jim picked me up at 13,15 and we set off to meet his friends for lunch. After a scenic detour caused by taking the wrong road, we arrived at Restaurant San Marino in Campoverde. I had salmon pasta, fish in white sauce, cheesecake and coffee, all excellent.
We then went to Torre de la Horadada for ice cream. I was “forced” to eat a large pistachio tub while looking out over the sea. Afterward we stopped at Media Markt in La Zenia, where I admired the enormous TVs, especially an 85 inch model with surround sound for 8,600€. If only I’d won the lottery.
Jim dropped me home, and I watched an episode of Medium before bed.
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