Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A difficult week with worsening knee pain, long walks, hosting friends, garden centre trips, Joomla hosting battles, and a weekend spent mostly resting. Despite the setbacks, there were moments of laughter, good company, and determination to keep your website running.
Monday, 16th October
I woke around 06:30, had coffee and immediately started working on my website. After a few hours, I walked to Buena Vista for breakfast and read my Kindle until 11:15. I then walked to the office to meet Martin.
Just before I arrived, my leg gave way, and I only saved myself by leaning heavily on my walking stick. The knee ached badly, and Martin said I looked in pain. After sitting for a while, it eased slightly. Martin told me the office would be closed next week due to work commitments.
As we were leaving, Kate arrived and offered me a lift home. With my knee aching, I gratefully accepted.
In the afternoon, I worked on my website and discovered my hosting company no longer supports Joomla properly. They claim they do, but they refuse to answer Joomla questions. Poor form, considering they were a Joomla host when I signed up.
I spent the evening searching for solutions and went to bed around midnight.
Tuesday, 17th October
I spent the morning researching ways to fix my Joomla problems. I realised the only option was to buy backup software and try to fix it myself. I spent the rest of the day reading documentation and investigating the issue. My eyes were sore from staring at the screen, so I decided to do the backup tomorrow.
Wednesday, 18th October
I installed the backup software and attempted to back up the site, but it crashed again. The hosts refused to help and blamed the backup software, even though I have repeatedly told them their servers are running outdated versions of Joomla and PHP.
When I told them PHP needed updating, they rolled it back to an even older version without security fixes. Completely unacceptable.
I contacted the backup software developer. When he heard who my hosts were, he said he used to work for them and left because of their poor Joomla support. He refunded me fully and offered a 30 percent discount if I buy the software again after moving hosts.
Thursday, 19th October
I spent most of the day researching Joomla friendly hosting companies. I found one I liked and asked my current hosts for the codes needed to move my site.
They told me I could do it from the control panel, but when I tried, it crashed the server again. They reinstated the site and blamed me for not following instructions. I decided to stop working on the site until I move hosts.
Friday, 20th October
I took a break from website work. After coffee, I went with Liz to a garden centre to buy compost, stones and some plants. On the way, John Parr called to say he would be at my apartment in an hour. I had forgotten he was visiting.
I bought five more plants, compost, white stones and three small Buddha figures in the see no, hear no, speak no evil pose. Liz helped carry the plants to my apartment.
John and his girlfriend Tony arrived shortly after. I showed them around my apartment, and we walked to Rocco’s, but no one was serving, so we went to La Petit Bistro instead. After a few drinks, we moved to Perlitas, then Harry’s, then Buena Vista for a meal, and finally La Playa bar. They left for their camper van, and I finished my beer before walking home.
Saturday, 21st October
I woke around 08:00, had coffee and checked my messages. I heard my phone ring while in the bathroom and saw I had missed a call from John. I walked to the camper van to offer breakfast, but as I approached, they drove off. My knee was in agony, and I couldn’t catch their attention.
I messaged John to wish him a safe trip and took painkillers. At midday, I walked to Rio Nalon and sat outside Perlitas with a friend, having a few beers. I then went to Harry’s to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea, which finished 2–2.
My knee pain worsened, so I had a rum or two to dull it. On the walk back to Perlitas, my knee popped out again, and I could barely stand. The staff ordered a taxi for me and helped me to it. I went home, took painkillers and went to bed.
Sunday, 22nd October
I woke around 09:00, and my knee was still very painful. I spent the entire day on the sofa with my leg raised, taking painkillers. Every time I stood up, the knee hurt and gave way. I drifted in and out of sleep while watching football.
I went to bed early, still in a lot of pain.
Add comment