Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of improving health, Amazon delivery chaos, meals with friends, website work, photo recovery, football highs and lows, and preparations for your upcoming cruise. Your knee slowly improved, and your website hosting finally stabilised.
Monday, 30th October
I woke around 06:30 feeling better than I had in days. My knee was still sore but much improved. Rest is helping, even if I am impatient with it. I made a coffee and sat at my computer. The sky was still black after the clocks went back, and the temperature had dropped to 16°C. My dressing gown is now back in regular use.
During the day, Amazon sent two messages saying they had delivered packages to Tecnyshop, even though I asked for home delivery. Later, another parcel arrived at my apartment. Why one came here and the others went to the shop, I have no idea.
I remembered I still hadn’t received my business cards from three weeks ago, so I went online to complain. As I opened the tracking page, there was a knock at the door, and the delivery man handed me the cards. Excellent timing.
At 16:00, I showered and got ready for curry night. Martin arrived at 18:40, and we put his bike in my garage before walking to Buena Vista. We were first to arrive, followed by Bernard, then Paul and Mike. The food was delicious but more expensive than other places, and they charged for poppadoms, which most restaurants give for free.
I had my usual prawn puri starter and garlic chilli lamb with egg fried rice. After the meal, we chatted outside with another beer before Martin and I walked back to my apartment. I checked my messages and went to bed.
Tuesday, 31st October
I woke at 06:45, went to the bathroom and returned to bed until my alarm at 08:00. After coffee, I checked my messages. I had several jobs today, collecting packages from Tecnyshop, waiting for George to call so I could help him back up his phone, dropping off a hard drive and memory chips at Jackie’s, and meeting Martin and Dave at La Sombra. I used my disability scooter to rest my knee.
At 10:30, I took rubbish out and went to Tecnyshop. One parcel was a cheap pair of trainers for my holiday, which fit perfectly. The other was a knee support labelled XL but far too small. I arranged a return, but the Amazon system hadn’t updated yet, so the lady took my number and promised to process it later.
I continued to the pharmacy to get double tablets for my holiday. A beautiful young lady served me, and I was hypnotised by her perfect English. I bought a Christmas lottery ticket and a knee support that actually fit.
I rode to Los Narejos to meet Martin and Dave, had a couple of beers and paid Dave for my TV package. Then I dropped off the hard drive and memory chips at Jackie’s before heading home. I ate, watched TV and rested my leg.
Wednesday, 1st November
I woke at 06:30, had coffee and checked my website. An unexpected invoice for €3650 appeared, which was ridiculous. I queried it immediately, and thankfully it was cancelled with an apology.
For breakfast, I had Honey Monster Puffs with Greek yoghurt and milk. I always hear the old advert in my head, “Tell them about the honey mummy.”
At 10:00, I walked to Buena Vista. The waiter brought my coffee before I even sat down and had already ordered my tostada. Excellent service. I read a short story called Twits in Peril, which was amusing and thought provoking.
Back home, I checked in for my cruise and began recovering thousands of photos I had accidentally deleted. Luckily, I had backups.
In the evening, I watched Arsenal vs West Ham in the Carabao Cup. Arsenal were terrible. West Ham won 3–1, and it was fully deserved.
Thursday, 2nd November
I woke at 06:45, had coffee and continued recovering deleted photos. At 12:45, Jim picked me up, and we went to Galin’s Bulgarian restaurant for Menu del Día. I had salad, a pork dish and a Spanish dessert that reminded me of a thin Angel Delight. The service was excellent.
After lunch, Jim dropped me home before heading to the airport. Later, he messaged to say his car broke down, he missed his flight and was now back at his apartment. Hopefully he can get a new flight on Monday.
In the evening, I posted photos from my 2004 dolphin swim and went to bed at 22:00.
Friday, 3rd November
I woke just before 08:00, had coffee and worked on my website. At 10:00, I walked to Buena Vista. The waiter brought my coffee and tostada immediately. Wayne arrived, and after breakfast he came back to my apartment to hang two pots on my balcony wall.
George called asking for help, but his lifts were broken, so I went to the spice shop instead and bought bread. Back home, I replanted some hanging baskets and repotted my mini palm tree.
George called again to say the lifts were fixed, so I went to his apartment, fixed his laptop issue and then we went to Poseidon Bar for coffee. I also saw Jasmine, who I hadn’t seen in months.
I returned home and worked on photos until 22:00.
Saturday, 4th November
I spent most of the day working on my website, updating navigation and editing photos. In the evening, I watched Newcastle vs Arsenal. Arsenal lost 1–0, but the real story was the officiating. The ball went out of play, there was a blatant push, and the scorer may have been offside. VAR took six minutes and still got it wrong. A terrible decision.
I worked on my computer until 22:00 and then went to bed.
Sunday, 5th November
I woke at 08:00, had coffee and added more photo albums to my website. I added around 100 new photos before stopping for dinner.
I cooked a pork joint with yoghurt and honey mustard dressing. It tasted fantastic and left enough for tomorrow’s dinner and a sandwich.
In the afternoon, I added photos from my holiday in China. In the evening, I watched a hilarious film called Big Stan. The write up doesn’t do it justice, but it is very funny.
I went to bed at 22:00 as I have a blood test tomorrow and want to be up early.
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