The week started with the delivery of a new combined washing machine and dryer and became a lot more exciting as I set off on a cruise around the Mediterranean on Thursday.
Monday, 15th May.
I woke up at around 7:30 am and got up because my new washing machine was being delivered and fitted this morning, anytime after 8 am. I didn't have to wait long as they phoned me around 8:30 am to tell me they were on the way. The men had brought the machine in, installed it and taken away my old tumble dryer by 10:30 am.
At around 11 am I set off on my disability scooter to my friend Junes' house. She had given me a bag of power leads to try on a hard drive I had without a lead. Unfortunately, none fit, so I returned all of them to her on my way to the office this morning. I met up with Martin just before midday, and we sat drinking and talking until around 2:30 pm. Just before I left, I ordered a pizza to take home with me.
When I got home, I started to eat my pizza, but just as I started my friend Bob arrived to cut my hair and trim my beard. It didn't take him long and I was soon looking irresistible to women, it could prove very bothersome fighting them all off on my cruise at the end of the week.
This evening, my friend Vince came around to watch the Leicester vs Liverpool football game on the television.
Tuesday, 16th May.
As soon as I got up this morning, I phoned Costa Cruises because I was having trouble downloading the ticket for my cruise on Friday. The man I spoke to said he would again try to find out what the problem was and call me back.
After my morning coffee at home, I went to see my friend Mike for a coffee. On my way there the man from Costa Cruises called me back saying there was a problem with my details online and that I would need to add my passport details as well as my Spanish NIE number. He said that as I was out, he would call me back after 3 pm. I continued on my way to meet Mike, and we sat at the cafe he went to talking for a short while before he went home. I got another coffee and sat reading my Kindle for a while before continuing around to the office to see Martin and Dave. We sat chatting for a while and I headed home at around 2:15 pm to ensure I was in when Costa Cruises called me back.
For my lunch, I had sausage, bacon, fried eggs and fried mushrooms and just after I had finished, Costa Cruises called me back to take my passport details. They then updated the computer system and emailed me my cruise and baggage tickets. I printed them off and downloaded my train ticket and the booking for my hotel in Valencia, before then packing them all in my man bag ready for my trip.
Vince came around this evening to help me look for the drip on the pipework I had replaced under the sink. He thought it was a washer that wasn't sealing properly, so I will get another one tomorrow. This evening we walked to La Playa bar to watch the AC Milan and Inter Milan football match. I think we talked with Paul the barman more than we watched football, but we had a great night. I got home at around midnight and had just gone to bed when I got a message from an old friend in the UK, and I ended up chatting with them till nearly 3 am before finally going off to sleep.
Wednesday 17th May.
I got up at around 9 am today, very late for me, but after last night's late night, I had some sleep to catch up on. After having a coffee, I set off to the hardware store on my disability scooter and got the washer that Vince thought I needed. Whilst there, I also bought a new toilet seat, I have been meaning to buy a new seat for as long as I can remember but never got around to it.
On my way home, I remembered that I was a bit short of the Omeprazole tablets I take, so went to the pharmacy to get some more and to buy some paracetamol for my holiday. I do tend to walk too much when I'm on holiday, and if my legs swell up too much, I will need some for the pain. On my way home I consider going to Buena Vista Restaurant for a coffee but decide to drop my shopping at home first. When I got home, I saw that I had missed a message from my friend Jim who was at the Buena Vist Restaurant having breakfast. I dropped my shopping at home, messaged him back and went to join him for coffee and a tostada.
After we had finished breakfast, we walked back to my apartment and Jim helped me carry some old furniture around to the rubbish bin. We had to make two trips as the things we were dropping off were quite large and heavy. By the time we returned a second time with the cupboards I wanted to get rid of, the nested table set I had already dropped off on the first trip had already been taken by a man hanging around the bins. I have no doubt that he will have taken the cupboards as well as soon as we move off around the corner. I still have one cupboard set to get rid of, but it can wait until I get back from my holiday now.
After walking back to my apartment Jim leaves and tells me he will call me tomorrow before he comes to pick me up to take me to the train station in the morning. I get in, replace the washer in the sink plumbing, put it under pressure with water and leave it to see if it has fixed the leak. It is not long before I realise it hasn't but it will have to wait until I return from my cruise. It only leaks when the sink is drained, and as it won't be used whilst I'm away it will be fine to leave it.
Thursday, 18th May.
Today I left to travel to Valencia to begin my cruise around the Mediterranean. It was an early start, but I was ready for it.
Friday, 19th May.
Today was the day I boarded the cruise ship Costa Diadema in Valencia to start my cruise around the Mediterranean.
Saturday, 20th May.
Today, the ship I was on, the Costa Diadema, docked in Marseille, France, and I went to visit Aix de Provence.
Sunday, 21st May.
Today, my cruise ship docked in Savona, Italy, and I went on a coach tour to visit the two towns of Noli and Finalborgo.