Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: The week leading up to Christmas felt slow and lonely. I kept myself busy with website work, errands, cooking, and meeting friends, but the lack of festive spirit and a Christmas Day stomach ache made it a difficult week.
Monday, 19th December
A long day, old friends, and sad news
I slept badly because of tinnitus and woke feeling grumpy at around 10:00. After coffee I worked on my website before heading out to meet Martin for lunch. I rode my mobility scooter at full speed to test the new batteries and they performed well.
At La Sombre Pizzeria I chatted with Martin and then with his dad Dave, who has recently had a knee operation. After Dave left, June stopped by for a chat. I also saw Christine, who admired my heated body warmer and asked for the details. While we were talking, Lynda passed by and told us the sad news that her husband Billy had died yesterday. He was a big character and will be missed.
When Aria arrived from school she joined us briefly before heading home with Martin. I went with them to pick up some chutneys and then stopped at Mercadona for Christmas food shopping. Prices seem to rise every time I go.
Later I met Darren at Tiki Taka bar to collect some mince pies and steak pies he had brought for me. After half an hour chatting I headed home and went to bed around 22:00, hoping for better sleep. Before bed I ordered a heated body warmer for Christine and put on tinnitus masking music.
Tuesday, 20th December
Another sleepless night and Christmas films
Tinnitus kept me awake again and by 02:30 I gave up trying to sleep. I worked on my website and designed a header logo for my Mississippi and Tennessee page. I chatted with a few other insomniacs on Farcebook between 03:00 and 05:00 before finally falling asleep at 07:30. I woke again at 11:00.
For breakfast I had toast with creamy brie and truffle, sliced salmon, and scrambled egg. It was delicious. The rest of the day was spent watching Christmas films. One of them, This is Christmas, was excellent. Thank you for the recommendation, Sara.
I watched a couple more films in the evening and went to bed around 22:30.
Wednesday, 21st December
Excursion planning and catching up on sleep
I woke around 07:00 feeling better after a decent sleep. After coffee and breakfast I worked on my website. I am already excited about my cruise in February and after receiving a reply from MSC I booked excursions for Genoa, Barcelona, Tangier, and Casablanca.
The heated body warmer I ordered for Christine arrived at 13:30. I drifted in and out of sleep during the afternoon, still catching up from the previous nights. In the evening I watched television until about 22:30.
Thursday, 22nd December
Eye test, errands, and a warm evening indoors
I slept well again and woke around 08:30. After coffee and an hour of website work I headed out to return a package at Euronics. While there I went to Parra Optico to book an eye test. The optician offered to test my eyes immediately. He checked both eyes, compared the results with my current reading glasses, and told me my glasses were perfect and I did not need new ones. I was impressed by his honesty.
I then met Christine and some friends at a cafe in Los Narejos to deliver her parcel. It was nice to see Mike again, although he seemed quiet and I worry about him. On the way home I picked up some shopping and bought dinner from D’Pollo. Christine later phoned to say her husband loved the body warmer.
I spent the rest of the day indoors watching films.
Friday, 23rd December
Pharmacy frustration and Christmas preparations
I woke around 08:30 feeling good. After coffee and website work I realised I needed more of two of my regular medications, so I went to the pharmacy. Afterwards I went to Mercadona for the last of my Christmas shopping.
When I returned home I found a letter from the DWP. I filled in the form immediately and took it to the post office. Unfortunately the most awkward woman in Spain was working. She insisted the postage was not paid even though it clearly said it was. Only after checking with someone else did she reluctantly accept it. How she keeps her job is a mystery.
I walked home along the beach, had ham rolls for lunch, cleaned my kitchen for tomorrow’s cooking, and spent the evening watching television.
Saturday, 24th December
Christmas Eve cooking and a brief lift in spirits
I woke around 07:00 and felt completely unchristmassy. After coffee and bacon and egg rolls I checked messages and then began cooking. I made mince for cottage pies and prepared vegetables for chicken and vegetable soup. The smell of the mince cooking lifted my mood.
I cooked a whole chicken on the rotisserie and by 13:30 I had three large cottage pies cooling and a cooked chicken ready for soup. Two pies went into the freezer and one was kept for dinner. I let the chicken cool before pulling it apart for the soup.
In the evening I watched a couple of films and went to bed around 22:30.
Sunday, 25th December
A miserable Christmas Day
Happy Christmas, bah humbug. I was awake all night with stomach ache and barely slept. I have no idea what caused it, so to be safe I will throw away everything I cooked yesterday. It could have been the cottage pie, the chicken, the eggs, the ice cream, or a combination of everything.
I spent most of the day wrapped in a blanket on the sofa, watching films and sleeping when I could. By evening my stomach had settled enough for a few crumpets and biscuits, but I ate nothing else. I went to bed around 21:00 hoping to feel better tomorrow, as I am supposed to take part in a swim in the Mar Menor at lunchtime. One thing I learned today is to only eat one of the things I cook, so if I get ill I know which one caused it.
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