Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A hot, humid week with lunch out with friends, long hours working on my website, a few swims, a frustrating parcel delivery and the sad news of Olivia Newton‑John’s passing.
Monday, 8th August
A delivery, a skipped workday and sad news late at night
I woke just after 08:00, had a coffee and updated my website while waiting for my monthly CBD delivery. The postman arrived just after 10:00, which meant I didn’t have to wait all day.
Just before I was due to leave for the office, Martin messaged to say he had extra work at his other job and wouldn’t make it. I was pleased he told me, as I would have hated sitting there on my own working hard. Instead, I could also skip work and have a relaxing day.
I had a shower and shave, covered myself in high‑factor sun cream and went out to get the shopping I forgot yesterday. No matter how many notes I write, I always forget something. Today was no exception. I came home with things I didn’t need and forgot things I did. I’m convinced shops use subliminal messaging to make me return another day.
In the afternoon I had a long Skype chat with my sister in England. It was great to catch up. In the evening I couldn’t get comfortable. It was too hot and a neighbour had their television so loud I could hear nothing else.
I went to bed but couldn’t sleep, so at 01:30 I got up and worked on my website. While working I saw the sad news that Olivia Newton‑John had died at 73. She was one of my first crushes and remained beautiful to the end. I finally finished at 04:30 and went back to bed.
Tuesday, 9th August
A low‑energy swim and lunch with friends
I woke around 08:00 and went for my swim. I had no energy at all. I swam about 200 metres, then floated around for half an hour. The water was refreshing, but I cut the swim short and went home for coffee, cereal and a shower.
At lunchtime, Frouk and Reinder picked me up and we went to Yamami Kitchen in San Javier. I had the Menu del Día: Hot and Sour soup, noodles with Korean spicy pork and a Tiramisu sponge cake. Everything was excellent.
Afterwards we stopped at Taberna del Sol in Los Narejos. We were the only customers and no one came out to take our order, so Reinder went inside. Even after we finished our drinks, no one came out. I went inside to pay and we all headed home.
The evening was spent with my feet up watching rubbish on television before going to bed around 23:00.
Wednesday, 10th August
A good swim, website work and a long chat with my uncle
I woke around 07:30 and went for my swim. I managed three laps of my usual route. Storm clouds were rolling in over La Manga, but there was no rain where I was.
After a shower and a couple of coffees I worked on my website, adding maps to photos from my 2012 Los Angeles trip. While working I received a message saying the postman couldn’t deliver my parcel. Strange, as he hadn’t been past on his moped at all. I suspect the parcel was too large for him to carry.
Being online meant I could chat with my Uncle Dave in Birmingham. We reminisced about our 2012 America trip and caught up on life.
In the evening I continued working on my website, this time adding maps to photos from the Summer Palace in Beijing. I got so engrossed I didn’t realise it had gone midnight. I stopped, put the air conditioning on and went to bed.
Thursday, 11th August
A hot day indoors and new cousins discovered
I didn’t sleep well and woke at 09:00. I was about to go for my swim when I remembered the parcel that was allegedly attempted yesterday was actually due today. I waited for the postman instead.
At 10:00 he delivered it. I took it off him and went back to working on my website. At midday I had lunch from bits in the fridge: Spanish omelette, ham and seafood salad.
In the afternoon I sat on my balcony with my Kindle, but both my Kindle and phone overheated and shut down. Sensible devices. I went back inside and did some genealogy. I discovered a new branch of the family leading to cousins in New Zealand and messaged them through Ancestry.
At 16:30 it was still around 104°F outside, so I stayed indoors. The evening was spent doing more genealogy before my subscription ends next week.
Friday, 12th August
A beautiful swim, a sweaty walk and a tear‑jerking TV series
I woke around 07:30 and was swimming by 08:00. The water was beautiful and there were fewer Spanish ladies forming a moving blockade today. After my swim I had coffee and orange juice.
I took my rubbish out and decided to go for a walk. Bad idea. By 11:00 I was sweating like a pig and breathing like a steam train. I had to sit down and recover with cold water.
Later I went to Mercadona on my scooter to get cereal, the cereal I forgot last time. To make up for it I bought two: honey nut cornflakes and peanut balls. The peanut balls taste like peanut butter and I can’t stop eating them.
In the afternoon I started watching the TV series The Time Traveller’s Wife. I loved the film and the book, and the series is just as emotional. If I could cry, I would have.
I went to bed around 23:00.
Saturday, 13th August
A hot walk, a brilliant Arsenal win and an early night
I woke around 07:30, stripped the bed and put the linen in the wash before going for my swim. The wind had changed direction and brought small waves, but they soon disappeared.
After my swim I showered, changed the washing and had a coffee before walking along the beachfront. Walking in this heat and humidity was a mistake. By the time I got back I was puffing like a steam train again.
The afternoon was spent watching football. Arsenal beat Leicester 4–2, with Jesus scoring two and assisting two. The fans were brilliant after Saliba’s own goal, cheering his name every time he touched the ball.
I went to bed around 23:00 and fell asleep quickly.
Sunday, 14th August
A long swim, a great lunch and a chaotic London derby
I woke around 07:00 and was swimming by 08:15. I swam for about an hour before going home for coffee and cereal. I worked on my website for a few hours afterwards.
It was too hot to cook, so I went to the local chicken shop. I had stuffed aubergine followed by lamb shank, both excellent. I spent the afternoon watching football.
The Chelsea vs Tottenham match ended 2–2, but the managers stole the headlines with a handshake fight at full time. Both had already been booked earlier. I expect big fines and touchline bans. The refereeing was awful and the VAR decisions were unbelievable.
In the evening I installed a new extension on my website, which immediately crashed it. Luckily I had made a backup, but strangely it didn’t include the work I had done that morning, so I will have to redo it.
For supper I had a steak roll with the last of a bottle of wine before going to bed around midnight.
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