I started week 39 of 2021 with a visit to the doctor to get the results of my blood test last week.
Friday, September 24th.
This morning, I walked around to my doctor´s surgery to get the results of my anticoagulant blood test. After picking them up, I carried on walking to La Encarnacion where I had breakfast.
When I got home, I had to work out what level of anticoagulant tablets I would have to take. I have two apps on my phone for this. One lets you put in your INR reading from the test, along with your current dose, and it then tells you if you need to alter the dose of tablets you are taking. The other keeps a record of all your INR results, reminds you each morning to take the tablets, and keeps a history of what you have taken handy if a doctor needs this information. After working out what I should take for the next few weeks, I sort out my tablets and put them in a monthly reminder pillbox with the others I take. I sometimes wonder why I don't rattle more when I walk.
Saturday, September 25th.
When I woke up this morning, I had a craving for a cooked breakfast and having not remembered to take any bacon or sausages out of the freezer; I walked to The Tipsy Thistle for a small English breakfast. It is definitely the best place for breakfast in Los Alcázares, and I sit and read my Kindle whilst enjoying my breakfast with a pot of green tea.
After breakfast, I walked back to the chiringuito outside my apartment and sat reading for a few hours before going back to my apartment to watch some of the day's football on the television.
Sunday, September 26th.
I was up quite early today. It was a beautiful-looking day, and I walked downstairs for a coffee and a tostada at the chiringuito. I sat there reading for a while, and it got hotter and hotter. Luckily for me, I had my swim shorts on, so I gave my belongings to my friend Andrew to watch for a while, and I dived into the Mar Menor for a swim. The water was beautiful, and there was no one else in the water.
After my swim, I felt very refreshed. I got a bottle of water and sat at the chiringuito, reading for a while before going back inside for a shower. At lunchtime, I got out my disability scooter and went to Roda to Campbell´s bar, where I ordered a Roast Lamb Sunday lunch for myself. I got there at 1 pm and was soon eating a beautiful meal accompanied by a pint of cider.
After my meal, on my way home, I headed to Aldi to get myself something for dessert to eat when I got home. I bought a small pot of mixed fruit, some ice cream and a few other bits for next week. When I got home, I ate the fruit and ice cream and fell asleep on the sofa before the Arsenal vs Tottenham football match came on.
The football match was brilliant. Arsenal played really well and easily beat Totteringham Hotspurs 3-1. After three games of this season, Arsenal had lost all three of their games and were bottom of the league. Tottenham had won all three of their games and were at the top of the league. Now, after only three more games, both teams' fortunes had been turned around. Arsenal won their last three matches, Tottenham lost their last three matches, and Arsenal climbed into the top half of the table while Tottenham dropped to the bottom half.
Next up on the television, Arsenal ladies played Manchester City ladies. Arsenal blew Man City away, winning 5-0, a result which took them to the top of the WSL, above Tottenham ladies in 2nd place. This weekend was an excellent weekend for Arsenal fans, but it was not so good for Tottenham fans.
Monday, September 27th.
This morning, I went for a swim in the Mar Menor, but when I finished, the chiringuito had not opened, so I went back into my apartment for a shower and breakfast. For breakfast, I had cereal with bits of dried fruit in it. I added a bit more fruit and some Greek yoghurt and ate it before settling down at my computer.
My friend Mike is a Tottenham fan, and as he doesn't always see the football scores, I made a beautiful poster to inform him of the Arsenal vs Tottenham score from yesterday. I drove to Mike's house on my scooter, and when I got there, he had left the window open on his van, so I was able to slip it onto the driver's seat before I carried on to Cafe Prensa for a coffee and tostada.
After breakfast, I carried on to Pizzeria la Zombra, where I met my friend Martin for a couple of pints and caught up. I hadn't managed to see him at Campbell's yesterday because he was so busy cooking, and I hadn't met him for a few weeks, so it was good to catch up for an hour before he had to shoot off to meet his daughter Aria at the bus stop.
When I left, I went home via the Mercadona supermarket. I have made this my usual store to shop in because it's easy for me to park my scooter outside, and there are always people on the tills, so I never have to wait too long to be served. Instead of buying my usual ribs from the deli counter today, I got half a chicken with potatoes before heading home.
When I got home, I couldn't eat all of the chicken and potatoes. I ate some, and I saved what I couldn't eat for tomorrow. This evening, I watched another American TV series on Amazon Prime before watching some of the Crystal Palace vs Brighton football match on television.
Tuesday, September 28th.
I got up this morning and updated my website before finally getting myself some fruity muesli that I bought yesterday.
At lunchtime, I went to meet Martin at La Pizzeria Sombrera for an hour. We chatted for an hour, and then I headed off towards home. I found my scooter would not work correctly; the steering seemed to have a mind of its own. As I tried to steer it to my apartment, it fought against me, and instead of taking a left to my garage entrance, it continued straight on into Los Alcázares, winding its way through the back streets. It eventually came to a stop. Scared because of what had happened and worried it may do something else, I jumped off it and dashed into the establishment, where it finally stopped.
Luckily for me, Shellie, who owns the establishment (La Playa bar), knows me. Shellie sat me down at a table and got me a pint to steady my nerves. I sat reading my Kindle for an hour, and after Shellie had checked the scooter to see if it was okay, I felt I could risk seeing if I could get home.
The scooter seemed to be going well until I got close to my apartment. I went to turn and put the scooter in the garage when it again had a strange change in direction and pulled up at the chiringuito. Luckily for me, my friends Keith and Dave were there and brought the scooter to a controlled stop. They got me a pint to control my nerves, and once again, after a chat with my friends, the scooter seemed to be working correctly. I was able to park it safely in the garage for the night. I hope the scooter behaves better for the rest of the week and that I don't have to get it serviced somewhere.
Wednesday, September 29th.
I didn't sleep particularly well last night. Waking several times because of noise outside and being bitten by a mosquito. I fell back to sleep at about 3:30 am but then didn't wake until after 9 am. I had muesli with milk and Greek yoghurt for breakfast and updated my website before tidying up my kitchen.
This afternoon, I sat reading the latest book I am reading on Kindle while waiting for this evening's football match. Arsenal ladies will be playing Tottenham Ladies. I watched the lady's football match and was horrified when Tottenham went 0-1 up in only two minutes. It didn't take long for the Arsenal ladies to equalise, though, and they went on to win easily with a final score of 5-1, although it could have and probably should have been a lot more. It had been lovely this week to see both the men's and the ladies' Arsenal football teams easily beat their north London neighbours, Tottenham.
Thursday, September 30th.
This morning, I was up early because last night, I was told that I would need a copy of my Padron for the NIE to TIE transfer appointment I have next week. I went to the office at 9 am when they opened, got the copy of my Padron, and then returned home before my cleaner Lesley arrived today to clean my apartment.
While Lesley was cleaning my apartment, I caught up on my paperwork and updated my budget records on my computer. Because I don't have coffee in the apartment, I went downstairs to the chiringuito to get a coffee and bring one back up for Lesley.
After Lesley had finished cleaning my apartment and gone home, I made some Butternut Squash and Carrot soup. I make enough for around six large portions, most of which will be frozen for later.
I had some of my freshly made soup for my tea before updating some paperwork on my computer and having an early night.