Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A steady week of coffees, walks, website work and family‑tree research. I enjoyed time with friends, dealt with calls from the DWP, booked another cruise and ended the week with a good Sunday lunch and some storm‑watching.
Monday, 24th April
I woke at around 06:45, got a coffee and checked that my website was still working after an overnight update. Everything looked good, so I treated myself to a coffee and tostada. I dropped rubbish in the bins, went to Economy Cash on Rio Nalon for milk, a cream‑filled pastry and grapes, then went to Punto y Coma for breakfast. The coffee there is always great, and the tostada is always nice.
Afterwards, I travelled along the promenade to the chino store where I buy my pots and picked up a new pot for a cactus on my balcony. Back home, I repotted the cactus, had a drink and half the pastry, then headed out on my disability scooter to meet Martin at Pizzeria La Sombre for our regular business meeting. I stayed until around 15:00 before going home and having one of the pies I made last week for dinner.
In the evening, I watched a film called Quasi, a comedy about Quasimodo made in a Monty Python style. Many men will find it funny even if the ladies don’t. Worth a watch if you have nothing else to do.
Tuesday, 25th April
I walked to Buena Vista on the beachfront this morning. I sat reading my Kindle with a coffee and tostada. Martin stopped for coffee on his way to the bank, and we chatted while watching the wildlife parade up and down the promenade. After he left, I read a bit longer before going home to get my disability scooter.
I met Martin again around midday at La Sombre, and Dave joined us. While we were sitting there, I received a call from the DWP in England apologising for the delay in paying me the money they owe. The delay was because the person who could authorise overseas payments had left, and they were trying to find someone else who could approve a payment to Spain.
We chatted until Aria’s school bus arrived. After Martin and Aria left, I went to La Playa bar for a couple of beers before heading home.
Wednesday, 26th April
Last week, I received a leg pillow, and I’ve been sleeping with it since. It’s supposed to help posture, and whatever it does, my back feels better already. I woke around 06:00 but managed to get back to sleep until 07:30. I got up, made a coffee and had sausage, bacon, poached egg and beans for breakfast before sitting down to work on my computer. I spent the day researching my family tree and looking at the 1921 UK census.
In the evening, I watched Manchester City destroy Arsenal 4‑1. City could have scored 10. The difference between the squads was obvious. Arsenal were still top of the Premier League, but I couldn’t see them staying there once City played their two games in hand. It has been a great season, but City are still too strong.
Thursday, 27th April
I got up, had a ginseng coffee, took a shower, trimmed my beard and went to EconomyCash for a couple of bits. Back home, I sat on my balcony with a cold drink and read my Kindle in the sun.
Around 13:00, I took a siesta. When I woke, I watched a Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett concert on television, two of my favourite singers. In the evening, I did more family‑tree research and flicked between football matches, mainly to see how my fantasy football players were doing.
Friday, 28th April
I woke around 07:00 and got up half an hour later. I took my daily concoction of tablets, blood thinners, acid‑reflux tablets, fish oil, multivitamins and the herbal tinnitus pill. After two and a half months, I still haven’t noticed any difference, although I was told it would take three months. I washed them down with ginseng coffee.
I researched my family tree before walking to Punto y Coma for coffee. On the way home, I noticed a small market in the plaza outside my apartment. I looked around and bought a lovely wooden black Buddha. Back home, I did more genealogy.
In the evening, I walked along the beachfront to go to the bank, but when I reached La Playa bar, I saw Alan and sat with him for a drink. He didn’t stay long, so I went inside to chat with some friends.
Saturday, 29th April
I spent the morning and afternoon doing family‑tree research. In the evening, feeling a bit bored, I searched online for a cruise and booked one around the Mediterranean. I’ll leave Valencia on the Costa Diadema, visiting Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Oristano in Sardinia and Palma de Mallorca before returning to Valencia.
Sunday, 30th April
I didn’t sleep well and woke several times. I finally got up around 07:00 and had a coffee. I spent a few hours working on photos for my website and then read my Kindle until June picked me up for lunch at Campbell’s bar. I always have the lamb, I don’t cook it at home, and it’s always excellent there.
After lunch, June drove me to a 24‑hour chemist in San Javier to get tablets I had run out of. In the afternoon, I watched films and football while keeping an eye on lightning. I managed to catch some lightning on my camera, but the shots were out of focus. Next time, I’ll focus the camera before the storm starts.
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