Location: Los Alcázares → Córdoba, Spain
Summary: A week of flu, Lemsip cocktails, broken kettles, website work, football, and the start of my trip to Córdoba for the Patio Festival, complete with neighbour drama, coach trip chaos and a hotel door key that refused to cooperate.
Monday, 2nd May
Aches, Lemsip, and a new kettle
I woke around 07:00 with an aching back and made myself a coffee before checking emails and working on my website. I’ve had the flu for over three weeks, so after coffee I made a Lemsip with honey. The cough and phlegm were still hanging on.
A new kettle was due to arrive today, my fourth kettle in four years. Spanish kettles don’t seem to last. This time I’d ordered a hob top kettle, hoping fewer electronics would mean a longer life.
I cleaned the kitchen, arranged a return for a bamboo toilet seat that didn’t fit and set Peggy the robot hoover off around the apartment. For lunch I made fish and chips in the air fryer and washed them down with another Lemsip cocktail. Amazon arrived with the new kettle just as I was about to eat.
In the afternoon I felt well enough to go out for ice cream, but both supermarkets were closed, I’d forgotten it was a bank holiday. I spent the evening watching Manchester United vs Brentford before another Lemsip and bed.
Tuesday, 3rd May
A new SIM, a meeting, and a dramatic Champions League night
I woke at 07:30, had coffee and saw an email from Correos about an upcoming parcel. I expected a small Amazon delivery today but decided not to wait in all day.
My phone was playing up again, so I went to Avatel. They replaced my SIM, my fourth this year, and assured me it was fixed.
I cycled to meet Martin at La Sombra for paperwork. After a productive meeting, he left to collect his daughter and I went to La Zona Terraza. I bumped into Terry and had a pint with him. Martin joined us briefly after shopping.
I left my bike at La Zona, got some shopping at Mercadona, then cycled home. After dinner I watched Villarreal vs Liverpool. Villarreal levelled the tie 2,2 on aggregate by half time, but Liverpool stormed back to win 2-5 overall.
Wednesday, 4th May
Rain, Lemsip, and a stunning Madrid comeback
I woke with a blocked nose and decided to stay in with Lemsip. It was raining anyway. I spent the entire day working on my website, reorganising photo albums and preparing them for future updates.
In the evening I watched Arsenal Women beat Tottenham 3-0, then switched to Real Madrid vs Manchester City. Madrid made a stunning comeback to win 6-5 on aggregate and reach the Champions League final.
Thursday, 5th May
More rain, more Lemsip, and a full day of website work
I woke to more rain, a perfect excuse to stay indoors with another Lemsip. I spent the whole day adjusting how my website displayed photos. It involved a lot of backend work and moving files around the server. When I finally looked up, it was nearly 19:00. I made sandwiches and watched football for the rest of the evening.
Friday, 6th May
Pharmacy run, menu design, and an engagement party
I woke, made coffee, checked emails, showered and took the Sharky Mobile to the pharmacy. I needed Sintrom, Omeprazole and a Lemsip alternative called Frenadol. It tastes awful, but honey and a splash of spiced rum improved it. I also bought a cake to help the medicine go down.
Back home I worked on a menu design for Shellie at La Playa, then took her a printed copy. For lunch I had beef stew.
In the evening I went to Rocco’s to take photos at Matt and Jo’s engagement party. I stayed for two hours before heading home.
Saturday, 7th May
Photo editing, tiny shorts, and two frustrating draws
I woke early and edited Matt and Jo’s photos, then printed a few for them and one for Rachid. After delivering them to Rocco’s, I made Shellie’s requested menu changes and emailed her the final version.
I collected a delivery of two pairs of shorts for my Córdoba trip, but they were tiny and barely reached my knees. They’d have to be returned.
In the afternoon I watched Chelsea draw 2-2 with Wolves, then Liverpool draw 1-1 with Tottenham. Not ideal for Arsenal, but not disastrous either.
Sunday, 8th May
Neighbour chaos, coach trip drama, and a stubborn hotel door
My alarm woke me at 06:45. I shaved, showered and finished packing for Córdoba. A neighbour had offered to drive me to the coach pickup at The Arches for 08:20. I messaged her at 07:00, then knocked at 08:15, no answer. I called through the window, nothing. At 08:25, panicking, I knocked on another neighbour’s door. Thankfully, John took me immediately.
As we left, the coach company called to say they were already there but would wait. When I messaged the original neighbour, she replied rudely, saying she’d been sitting in her car in the garage. I ignored it.
We stopped for a break after 90 minutes, then again around 13:00. The guide asked me to move to the front so a lady at the back could stretch out. I didn’t mind, I got more legroom and a better view.
We arrived in Córdoba mid afternoon. The coach dropped us around the corner from Hotel Selu. I’d stayed there before and hoped not to get the same awful room. Thankfully, this time the room was lovely.
I listened to the second half of Arsenal vs Leeds, a 2-1 win, then walked to Mercado Victoria for rice and chicken, followed by a burger on the way back.
My room key card didn’t work. I went back to reception for a new one. That one didn’t work either. Third time lucky, I finally got in.
After updating my website, I went to bed at 21:00 with my Kindle and a bottle of water. The last time I was in Córdoba was for the Flamenco Festival, when the shows started at midnight and finished at 06:00. Times have changed.
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