Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week focused on replacing my disability scooter batteries, dealing with tinnitus, keeping warm with a new heated gilet, and watching the World Cup, including one of the greatest finals ever played.
Monday, 12th December
Bus adventures and a long walk home
I woke early and began working on my website at around 07:30. I decided not to risk using my mobility scooter again until the batteries were replaced. I requested quotes from several companies and downloaded the Moovit app to check local bus times.
At 11:45 I walked to the bus stop. The two timetables at the stop contradicted each other, but the app was correct and the bus arrived at 12:06. I paid my one euro fare and ten minutes later I was at the office with Martin.
After getting some work done I decided to walk home, stopping at La Zona bar to rest my leg, then again at Rocco’s on Rio Nalon where I chatted with people I had not seen for a while. When the pain eased I walked home and spent the evening with my feet up.
Tuesday, 13th December
A quiet day and Argentina reach the final
I woke around 08:30. My left leg ached and it was cold, so I decided on a quiet day watching Christmas films and resting. I replied to messages about scooter batteries and contacted more companies. Some replied quickly, some ignored my email entirely, and others replied without reading the details I had given them. Two companies responded correctly, so I waited for the final quote.
In the evening I watched Argentina versus Croatia. Argentina won 3-0 and reached the World Cup Final.
Wednesday, 14th December
Battery ordered and tinnitus trouble
I woke at 07:00, got a coffee, and worked on my website. The final scooter battery company replied with a quote that included twenty four hour delivery and insurance, so I ordered from them. I had a sausage, mushroom, cheese and spinach omelette for lunch before cleaning the kitchen and trying to nap.
My tinnitus was very bad today and I could not sleep before the football. I watched France versus Morocco but struggled to concentrate. France led 1-0 at half time. In the second half Morocco played very well and focusing on the match helped the tinnitus ease slightly. France eventually won 2-0 to set up a final against Argentina. I went to bed around 22:30.
Thursday, 15th December
Early morning tinnitus and new batteries arrive
I woke at 03:30 and could not get back to sleep because of the tinnitus. At 04:00 I gave up trying and made a pot of jasmine and peach green tea. I searched online for tinnitus relief and eventually found a YouTube therapy track that sounded like an R2D2 droid talking to a grasshopper, but it helped.
In the afternoon the two new scooter batteries arrived. This was the highlight of the day as it meant I would soon be mobile again.
Friday, 16th December
New batteries fitted and tiny recycling bags
I woke around 08:00 feeling much better. At 09:30 Bob came round and fitted the new scooter batteries for me. Even in the short time I was outside my back and shoulders began to ache from the cold, so I decided to buy a heated gilet.
I waited for two deliveries, one from Asda with pyjamas and one from Amazon with recycling bags. The pyjamas arrived first and fit well. The recycling bags arrived later and were laughably small. The A4 envelope they came in was almost bigger than the bags themselves. I immediately started the return process.
While working on my website one of the extensions caused the site to crash. The hosting company could only suggest restoring the database from the overnight backup, which meant losing all of the work I had done that morning. I restored it and then found another way to achieve what I needed. I redid some of the work but will have to finish the rest tomorrow.
Saturday, 17th December
Website repairs and a new heated gilet
I slept well and woke around 08:00. After coffee I put my washing on and sat at the computer to redo the work I lost yesterday. By mid afternoon most of the website was working again, although one small issue still bothered me. I decided to take a break.
My heated gilet arrived and fits perfectly. Even with a low battery charge it warmed my back, shoulders, stomach and neck. I will fully charge it and test it outside tomorrow. In the evening I watched The Transporter Refuelled, which was a good action film with plenty of attractive women in it.
Sunday, 18th December
Website fixed, scooter tested, and the greatest World Cup Final
I woke at 07:00, got a coffee, and sat at my computer. The solution to yesterday’s website problem came to me overnight and I fixed it quickly. A good night’s sleep really does help.
It was chilly so I tested my heated gilet. It warmed me up quickly and even helped the blood return to my fingers. I then tested the new scooter batteries by riding to Lidl, then through Los Alcázares, down to the beach and back home. The batteries performed well.
In the afternoon I walked to La Playa bar intending to stay for an hour before watching the World Cup Final at home. Instead I watched the match in the bar with friends. It was a fantastic game. I wanted France to win as a team but also wanted Messi to win a World Cup. Argentina led 2-0 at half time, France equalised in the second half, and extra time saw both teams score again. At 3-3 it went to penalties. Messi scored the first and Argentina won 4-2.
It was the best final I can remember. I walked home, got something to eat, and went to bed early, although tinnitus kept me awake until around 04:30.
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