Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A hot July week of early swims, website work, Amazon deliveries, meals with friends, a broken garage lift, long walks, and the usual battles with acid reflux. I enjoyed time with Alan and Jacky, helped friends with laptops, and kept cool indoors during the heatwave.
Monday, 10th July
I woke around 06:45, stripped the linen from my bed and put it in the washing machine before getting a coffee and orange juice. My back was bad this morning, so I sat in my massage chair for two 20‑minute sessions before updating my website.
I tried a new caramel coffee mix today, very nice, and had cereal with yoghurt to help my stomach acid. After breakfast, I went to the supermarket for more yoghurt and rolls. I didn’t go to the office because I had forgotten to charge my disability scooter.
The rest of the day was spent working on my family tree, watching television and looking at things to do in Rio de Janeiro later this year. Late in the evening, I remembered to put my scooter on charge.
Tuesday, 11th July
I woke at 06:45, had a coffee, showered and shaved before taking a slow ride along the promenade to my bank for a 09:00 appointment about annual holiday insurance. The bank couldn’t match the online quote I had, so I made an appointment for October to change my apartment insurance and went home.
I bought the online insurance, had cereal and orange juice, then rode to San Javier to visit Unica Garden Centre. They didn’t have the plants I wanted, so I returned to Los Narejos to meet Martin at La Sombre. Kate joined us with her laptop, which kept turning off. I suggested testing it without the battery to see if the battery was faulty.
After leaving Martin, I stopped at Henry’s bar to see my friend Stewart for a couple of pints before heading home.
Wednesday, 12th July
I woke at 06:30. Heat warnings were issued for today, so I planned to stay indoors with the air conditioning on. At 09:00, my balcony thermometer already read 29°C.
I spent the morning booking travel for my Barcelona cruise later this year, a flight from Alicante, a hostel for the night before, and a train from Madrid back to Torre Pacheco after my return from Rio.
I ordered a digital thermometer with indoor and outdoor sensors, and some DEET for mosquitos. My Amazon delivery arrived at 18:30, 24 cans of San Miguel Radler for €12.89 with free delivery. A bargain.
The heat kept Plaza de Espejo empty all afternoon. I stayed indoors with the air conditioning on.
Thursday, 13th July
I woke at 05:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I had a coffee and updated my website. I went for my swim at 07:00, but the water was warm and full of jellyfish. It sapped my energy, so I only did one lap.
After breakfast, I went to the pharmacy for my tablets. When I returned, the garage lift door was broken again, so I couldn’t get my scooter inside. I contacted the lift company, and they replied within 10 minutes saying the engineer had been notified.
By 13:00, no one had arrived, and I was worried about leaving my scooter outside in the heat. I remembered that Rik and Jill had a garage and messaged them, they kindly let me store my scooter there overnight.
At 14:45, Alan and Jacky picked me up for lunch at Ruf Mari in Los Urrutias. The restaurant was packed, but Jacky had booked a table. The €17 menu included two starters, a main, dessert and a drink. I had salmon on toasted bread, prawns in garlic, and a steak with pepper sauce, the best steak I’ve had in a long time. I skipped dessert because my acid reflux was starting.
We left around 17:30. Back home, I tried to sleep, but a terrible act was performing in the square outside, loud, repetitive drum beats. Thankfully, I had earplugs and managed to sleep.
Friday, 14th July
I woke around 07:00, had coffee and swam at 08:00. The water was cooler, and I managed two laps to the rocks and back. Thousands of fried‑egg jellyfish floated around me, beautiful to watch.
I collected my scooter from Rik and Jill’s garage at 10:15 and returned it to my own now‑repaired garage. I had cereal and waited for my Amazon delivery while doing family tree research. I found new information about my 3rd great‑grandparents, Harriet Hembury and Thomas Tincknell.
My delivery arrived at 17:30. I updated my website and went to bed around 22:00.
Saturday, 15th July
I woke at 07:00, had coffee and went for my swim. The water was clearer and cooler today. I swam through thousands of jellyfish and saw a huge crab hiding under the rocks, its body was larger than my hand.
I swam around the reef instead of doing laps and felt like Jacques Cousteau watching the sea life. After breakfast, I worked on my website and family tree while waiting for my Amazon delivery.
The news leaked that Declan Rice had joined Arsenal. Good business this transfer window.
My delivery arrived at 17:00, and I went to Mercadona for shopping. Thankfully, both lifts worked when I returned. I spent the evening with the air conditioning on, watching films with a cold beer.
Sunday, 16th July
I woke at 07:00, had coffee and went for my swim. The sea was wavy, but I managed four laps to the rocks and back. If it had been calmer, I would have done a fifth.
After breakfast, I went out on my scooter looking for batteries for my new thermometer. Economy Cash and Dia didn’t have any, but the Chino shop did. I set up the thermometer, the indoor sensor sits by my computer, and the outdoor probe sits in the lap of a Buddha on my patio.
I spent the rest of the day indoors watching the first two Mission Impossible films and keeping out of the heat.
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