Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of new glasses, long walks, genealogy work, cooking, football, weight loss plans, and reorganising the apartment. I also dealt with optician frustrations, enjoyed breakfasts out, and watched Arsenal win again.
Monday, 11th September
I woke around 07:00, had a coffee and worked on my website. At 08:00, Jacqui messaged to say she might be late for our coffee meet up, which was fine as I needed to go to the optician opposite the café to get new reading glasses.
I arrived just after they opened at 09:45. My glasses couldn’t be repaired, so I needed a new pair. My eyesight had worsened slightly, so I had an eye test and chose new frames. I decided against varifocals, they were too expensive, and I’m used to looking over the top of my glasses anyway. The new pair cost €175, so I hope they last.
I checked the café for Jacqui but didn’t see her, so I went into Economy Cash. I bought some chicken nuggets at a 30 percent discount and a chicken stir fry mix. As I returned to the café, Jacqui arrived, and we chatted for about 40 minutes.
At midday, I met Martin along the promenade. Aria is back at school, so the office meeting was quieter. Dave joined us, and we swapped tall stories until 14:00.
Back home, I used the last of my bread to make two bacon sandwiches. I want to lose weight before my cruise, so I’m going back on the Atkins diet. Bread and beer will have to go, which is probably why I have a beer belly.
In the afternoon, I tried to do family tree research, but balancing broken glasses on my nose was too difficult. I gave up and watched TV.
Tuesday, 12th September
I slept badly again, with vivid dreams of strange houses, old friends and odd situations. I must get a book about dreams.
I woke at 07:30, tied my broken glasses around my head and checked my messages. I planned to make butternut squash soup, but I had vegetables that needed using, so I added them and made a brightly coloured vegetable soup. It tasted great, and I froze five large portions.
In the afternoon, I added newspaper clips from a court case involving my ancestors to my website. In the evening, I watched Scotland vs England. England won 3–1. Scotland’s only goal was an own goal by Harry Maguire. Why Southgate keeps picking him is beyond me. He doesn’t play for Manchester United, they tried to sell him, and he refused to leave. I can’t blame him for taking the money, but picking him over players who actually play weekly is ridiculous. Southgate even made him captain when Kane went off.
Wednesday, 13th September
I woke at 07:15, had coffee and worked on my website. I hoped the optician would call early so I could collect my new glasses. Holding them on with cord is annoying.
I made a Keto friendly breakfast, two Cumberland sausages, two rashers of bacon and scrambled egg. After it settled, I went for a walk at 10:50 before it got too hot. I walked along the promenade to La Encarnación, then through the shops to Estribor café for a coffee. After resting, I walked home along the main road. I was puffed out when I got back, but I’ll keep going as long as my knee holds out.
After resting, I typed more newspaper stories from a 1923 fraud case involving my ancestors. At 14:00, I had chicken nuggets for lunch, then took some junk to the bin. The man who lives next to the bin was out inspecting it within seconds, as usual.
I had a half hour nap, then changed my bed linen and prepared the spare room for visitors. The optician never called, so I’ll go there tomorrow. I worked on my website until 23:00.
Thursday, 14th September
I couldn’t sleep, so I worked on my website from 01:00 until 02:30, then went back to bed and woke at 08:15. I had coffee and a protein shake with banana and blueberries before walking to the optician.
The lady searched everywhere but couldn’t find my glasses. She phoned the lab, who said maybe next Tuesday. I cancelled the order and got a refund. I remembered I had problems with this shop last time too.
I went to the Chino shop and bought a temporary pair of reading glasses for €5. They worked surprisingly well. Back home, I worked on my computer, happy to type with both hands again.
For lunch, I had a jacket potato with crab salad, then napped for an hour. In the afternoon and evening, I updated genealogy details until 21:00, then watched TV and had another protein shake.
Friday, 15th September
I woke at 06:00, went back to sleep and woke again at 08:00. I made green tea with jasmine and peach, then air fried bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs.
I walked to La Encarnación, then to Estribor café for a coffee and read my Kindle. I walked home through the back streets and worked on my website until 15:00. For lunch, I had a jacket potato, half with crab salad and half with mushroom pâté.
I worked more on my website, had an afternoon nap and continued again in the evening until 23:00.
Saturday, 16th September
I slept well and woke at 08:15. Tony messaged to say he was at Buena Vista, so I walked around to join him for a coffee. Afterwards, I walked along the promenade to La Encarnación, then rested at Estribor café before walking home.
I spent the afternoon and evening watching the Premier League matches on TV.
Sunday, 17th September
I woke at 08:00, put washing on and had a protein shake with blueberries and banana. I went shopping, but Mercadona and Economy Cash were closed, so I went to Dialprix for milk and tortilla wraps.
I Skyped my sister Karen, and she showed me some houses she and Brett are looking at in Los Alcázares. One looked familiar, so I walked to see it. There were no for sale signs, so it may already be sold.
Back home, I rested, then made a chicken stir fry wrap for dinner. It was very nice.
I watched Bournemouth vs Chelsea, which ended 0–0, then Everton vs Arsenal. Arsenal were much better, and Trossard scored a superb goal. Everton 0–1 Arsenal, our first win at Goodison Park in six seasons.
At 22:00, I remembered the washing, took it out and put it away before having an early night.
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