The week started slowly and ended with me booking another Mediterranean cruise and a free lightning show over the Mar Menor.
Monday, 24th April.
This morning, I woke up at around 6:45 am. I got myself a coffee and checked that my website was acting as it should after it had been updated overnight. I was pleased to see that it was still working and decided to treat myself to a coffee and tostada.
I dropped some rubbish in the bins, went to the Economy cash store on Rio Nalon, and bought milk, a cream-filled pastry, and some grapes. Then I went to Punto y Coma for my coffee. I like the coffee there; it always tastes great, and the tostada is always nice. When I finished, I travelled along the promenade until I got to the chino store on the main road, where I bought all my pots. I went to the store and bought a pot for a cactus I have on my balcony that must be repotted.
When I got back to my apartment, I repotted the cactus in the new pot, got a drink, and had half the pastry that I had bought before heading back out on my disability scooter to meet Martin at Pizzeria La Sombre for our regular business meeting. I stopped until around 3 pm chatting with Martin before going back to my apartment, where I had one of the pies I made last week for my dinner.
In the evening, I watched a film called Quasi, a comedy about Quasimodo made along the lines of the Monty Python team. Many men will find it funny even if the ladies don't. Worth a watch if you are doing nothing else.
Tuesday, 25th April.
I walked along to the Buena Vista Restaurant on the beachfront this morning. I sat there reading my Kindle and had a coffee and tostada for breakfast. My friend Martin stopped for coffee on his way to the bank, and we chatted while watching the wildlife parading up and down. Martin soon continued on his way, and I read for a while longer before going home to get my disability scooter.
I met Martin around midday at La Sombre Pizzeria, and Dave joined us. While sitting with Martin, my phone rang, and it was a call from the DWP in England. They were ringing to apologise for the delay in paying me the money they owed me. They told me that the money had been delayed because the person who could authorise it had left the office and that they were trying to find someone to authorise it, the problem being that it is being paid to my bank in Spain and there aren't many people who can authorise an overseas payment.
Dave, Martin and I sat chatting until Aria´s school bus arrived and Martin collected her. We then finished our drinks, and when Martin and Aria went home, I went to La Playa bar for a couple of beers before heading home.
Wednesday, 26th April.
Last week, I had a leg pillow delivered, and I have been sleeping with it since. The pillow is supposed to help your posture when you sleep. Whatever it does, my back is feeling better after less than a week, and I'm sleeping better. I woke around 6 am today but was able to get back to sleep and slept until around 7:30 am. When I got up, I got myself a coffee and sausage, bacon, poached egg, and beans for breakfast before sitting down to work on my computer. I spent the day researching my family tree and examining copies of the 1921 UK census returns.
This evening, I watched Manchester City destroy Arsenal 4-1. To be fair, Manchester City could have scored 10. The difference between the two squads was there for everyone to see tonight, and although Arsenal is still at the top of the Premier League, I can't see them staying there beyond Manchester City, playing the two games they have in hand over Arsenal. This season has been a great ride, but Manchester City are too good for the rest. Arsenal have caught up a lot this season but are still way behind.
Thursday, 27th April.
When I got up this morning, I got myself a ginseng coffee, took a shower, trimmed my beard and got ready to go to the shops. I didn't need a lot, just a couple of things and I went to the Economy Cash supermarket for them. When I returned home, I went onto my balcony with a cold drink and read my Kindle in the sun.
Around 1 pm, I took a siesta, and when I woke up, I watched a concert by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, two of my favourite singers, on television.
This evening, I did family tree research and watched some football, flicking between games I was only interested in because of my fantasy football team players.
Friday, 28th April.
I woke up around 7 am and got up half an hour later. I took my concoction of tablets for the day. Some to keep my blood from clotting, some to stop acid reflux, fish oil tablets and multivitamins to help me get through the day without too much creaking and a last tablet, a supposed herbal pill to help my tinnitus. After 2 ½ months of using it, I haven't noticed any difference in the tinnitus, although I was told it would take 3 months to start working. I washed them all down, with ginseng coffee, which seemed to wake me up quickly.
BuddhaI researched my family tree before walking to Cafe Punto y Coma for coffee. On the way home, I noticed a small market in the plaza outside my apartment and looked around. I saw a nice wooden black Buddha and liked it enough to buy it. I then returned home and did some more genealogy.
This evening, I walked along the beachfront to go to the bank, but as I got to La Playa bar, I saw my friend Alan and sat down to drink with him. Alan didn't stay long, so I went inside to chat with some friends.
Saturday, 29th April.
I spent the morning and afternoon doing family tree research, but in the evening, feeling a bit bored, I scoured the internet for a cruise and booked one around the Mediterranean again. I will leave Valencia on the Costa Diadema, visiting Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Oristano in Sardinia, and Palma de Mallorca before returning to Valencia.
Sunday, 30th April.
I didn't sleep well last night and woke up several times. I finally got up around 7 am and got myself a coffee. I spent a few hours pottering around with some photos for my website and then read my Kindle until June picked me up for lunch at Campbells' bar.
Lightning over the Mar Menor.I always have the lamb as it is something that I don't cook at home and because it is so good there. After we had finished our meals, June drove me to San Javier to a 24-hour chemist to get some tablets I had run out of but would need in the morning.
This afternoon, I watched some films and football on television while keeping an eye on lightning. I caught lightning on my camera, but the shots were out of focus. Next time I think a storm is coming, I will focus the camera before the lightning starts.