Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of long walks, swims, meals out, knee pain, late nights, helping friends, fixing laptops, enjoying time with Cindy, and dealing with acid reflux. Plenty of sunshine, plenty of fish feeding, and plenty of socialising.
Monday, 26th June
I woke around 07:00, had a coffee and went to the Mar Menor to feed the fish and swim. I returned earlier than usual because I needed to take Jackie’s laptop back to her. Cindy was still asleep when I left at 10:15. I arrived at Jackie’s at 10:25, and we chatted while I explained what I had done to her laptop.
She mentioned she was getting lots of junk email. It turned out she had unknowingly joined dozens of Farcebook groups, all sending her notifications. Her laptop was too slow to fix everything there and then, so I arranged to finish the job next week on my own computer and write her a guide.
I then went to La Sombre to see Martin, Kate and Aria until about 14:00. Back home, Cindy was sunbathing. I made myself a chicken roll and left some for her. The evening was quiet, I watched TV, checked Arsenal transfer news and chatted with Cindy.
Tuesday, 27th June
I woke around 07:30, had a coffee and swam in the Mar Menor. The sailing school was training youngsters, and the wake from their boats made swimming difficult. I finished around 09:30 and found Cindy on the balcony. We walked to Rio Nalon for coffee and tostada at Punto y Coma.
Afterwards, we went to the bank so Cindy could get money, but the ATM wouldn’t accept her card. She thought another bank near a church would work, so we walked there, only for me to realise she meant the church in Los Alcázares, not the one near my home. We walked 6.5 km in total, and by the time we got back, I was puffing like a steam train. I took a painkiller for my knee while Cindy went to the beach.
At 20:00, June picked us up for dinner at Wok 222. My acid reflux kicked in on the first bite, and I had to walk it off. I eventually managed some soup and a second plate. Afterwards, we went to La Ola bar for a drink. The poor girl serving was overwhelmed, June got wine, Cindy got a pint instead of a small beer, and I got nothing until 15 minutes later.
June dropped us home around 23:15. Cindy and I sat on the balcony with drinks until 00:30 before I went to bed.
Wednesday, 28th June
I woke around 07:00, checked messages and swam at 08:00. Cindy didn’t feel well and stayed in her room. I walked to Punto y Coma for breakfast, but it was closed, so I went to Buena Vista instead.
I worked on my family tree until 14:30, then went to D’Pollo for lamb shoulder and potatoes. Unfortunately, my acid reflux returned immediately, and I couldn’t eat more than a few bites. Cindy went out for a walk while I battled reflux and eventually fell asleep.
At 17:00, my last two shirts arrived, all four shirts came in three separate deliveries over three days. Later, I managed cheese and biscuits and took my tablets. At 22:00, I had an online Lightroom training session. Cindy returned quietly and went to bed while I finished the session. I took my last tablets at 23:30 and went to sleep.
Thursday, 29th June
I woke around 07:00 and swam in the Mar Menor. My arms felt heavy, so I only swam to the rock and back. After a shower, I had muesli with soy milk, not great. Almond milk is better.
Cindy was still asleep at 10:00, so I walked along the beach to see Vince. We had coffee at La Favorita and then a small beer at Club Náutica. I walked home in the midday heat, sweating like mad. Cindy was getting ready to go out, so I had a cold shower and changed shirts.
We walked to Rocco’s for water, then to Perlita’s to see Kate and Joe, where Colin joined us. Afterwards, we went to Costa Narejos for a gin and tonic in the air‑conditioning. Then we walked back up Rio Nalon, had a Piña Colada at the 19th Hole, then returned to Perlita’s and finally Rocco’s again. We stayed until 01:00 and then walked home along the beach.
We sat on my balcony with cold beers until 04:30 before finally going to bed.
Friday, 30th June
I woke around 08:00. It was windy, and the waves were big, so I skipped my swim. My knee was swollen from all the walking yesterday, so I stayed indoors with my feet up.
At 15:00, Cindy surfaced and went for a walk. I checked Arsenal transfer news, they signed Kai Havertz and were close to signing Declan Rice and Jurriën Timber. Cindy returned around 22:00. I took a painkiller and went to bed early.
Saturday, 1st July
I woke around 07:30, sent my sister the usual “Pinch and Punch for the 1st of the month” message and swam at 08:00. Hundreds of tiny jellyfish were in the water, but they were harmless. My legs still ached, so I only swam one lap.
I bought a French stick and almond milk, made bacon rolls for Cindy and me, and worked on my website. At midday, I went to Mercadona for mango tea, it was packed, so I went straight in on my scooter, grabbed the tea and left.
I checked Cindy in for her flight and printed her boarding pass. My knee still hurt, so I took a painkiller and binge‑watched Zoo. I went to bed around midnight but had to close the window because my Spanish neighbours had arrived from Madrid and Murcia with noisy children.
Sunday, 2nd July
I woke around 07:00, had cereal and coffee and took my tablets. Cindy was packed and ready early. At 08:00, I phoned June to make sure she was up. She arrived at 09:00, and we drove to Corvera Airport to drop Cindy off.
Back home, I worked on my family tree and found my great‑grandmother, Maria Harris Read, on the 1921 census. I added the details to my website.
June picked me up at 12:45 for Sunday lunch at Campbell’s. I had roast lamb, and June had roast chicken. Vince and Jan were at the next table with their daughter Charlotte. My acid reflux played up a bit, but I managed to finish my meal.
After lunch, June dropped me home. I napped, then continued my genealogy work. Later, I received sad news, my cousin Geoff messaged to say his sister Janet had died this week. We had exchanged jokes only a few days ago. RIP Janet.
At 01:30, I took a cold shower before bed. It helps me sleep.
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