Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of back pain, massages, lunches out, cruise prep, windy walks, long chats with friends, and plenty of website work. A mix of rest, socialising and getting things organised before your holiday.
Monday, 18th March
I woke around 07:00, had coffee and took a painkiller for my back. After Wordle and browsing the internet, I had cereal for breakfast.
Just before midday, I took the bus to the office. We had a heavy workload, and Bernard Fisher from the Ireland office came to help. Dave, Viv, Sean and Kate joined us before Aria arrived from school.
Kate dropped me home afterwards and collected a big bag of fish fingers I no longer wanted. I spent the afternoon watching TV and resting my legs. My back felt better, and I hoped it would stay that way.
Tuesday, 19th March
I woke to thick grey mist and could not see the beach. After coffee, I sat in my massage chair for twenty minutes to ease my back. I did Wordle and then walked to Buena Vista for coffee and tostada.
Back home, I phoned NCL to ask which hotel they had booked for my overnight stay in Honolulu. I was delighted to learn it is the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. I watched videos of the hotel for a couple of hours and cannot wait to stay there.
At 13:00, Frouk and Reinder picked me up for lunch at Yamami in San Javier. It was Father’s Day in Spain, and the restaurant was already busy. I had chicken and corn soup, egg fried rice and teriyaki duck. We chatted until 15:00 before heading home.
In the afternoon, I ordered washing strips and magnetic hooks for my cruise so I can wash clothes in my cabin and hang them to dry. I had two more massage sessions and then rearranged my furniture to make the massage chair easier to use. Bob agreed to help me move things tomorrow.
I updated my website and watched TV in the evening.
Wednesday, 20th March
I woke just before 06:00, had coffee and two massage sessions. My back felt better afterwards. I worked on my website until Liz knocked at 10:00, and we walked to Buena Vista for coffee and tostada.
Bob arrived at 13:30 to help move my furniture. It didn’t take long, and after he left, I swept the floor and continued working on my computer.
At 19:00, I went out on my disability scooter to drop off recycling and then picked up a Chinese takeaway. The chicken and walnuts were okay but nothing special, and the special fried rice wasn’t very special either. I saved half for tomorrow.
After dinner, I sat in my massage chair for two more sessions and watched Police Interceptors before going to bed early.
Thursday, 21st March
I woke at 04:45 and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I got up, had coffee and a twenty‑minute massage. I had two Amazon deliveries due today but didn’t expect them early, so I went for a walk at 08:00.
The wind was strong, and a few gusts nearly knocked me sideways. I walked to La Encarnación and then to Estribor near the Town Hall. It was too windy to sit outside, so I sat inside with coffee and tostada and read my Kindle.
When I left, the wind was still strong, so I checked the bus times. As I reached the stop, the bus arrived. I paid €1 and got on. The driver unexpectedly stopped outside his house to drop off a toy motorcycle before continuing the route. He bypassed my stop, but I got off at Rio Nalon when he paused for a lady with a pram.
Back home, I had juice and worked on my computer. I ordered a few things on Amazon and then sat in my massage chair watching TV while waiting for my delivery. It never arrived.
I watched the entire first series of The Cleaning Lady. It was very good, but now I have to wait again for my delivery.
Friday, 22nd March
I woke, had ginseng coffee and a massage, then checked my email. My deliveries were rescheduled for today. After scrambled eggs on toast, I worked on my website and finally finished adding descriptions to all my photo albums, including the Tatanka Story of the Bison exhibition.
George phoned asking if I wanted to meet him and Yvonne for a drink. I told him I had to wait for my delivery. It arrived at 12:40, so I called him back and arranged to meet at Salón Avenida.
We talked and laughed for hours. I had pork meatballs with onion, the best I have ever tasted. Later, Sophia and Ady joined us. We stayed so long that the café closed, and we were being served from the casino next door. We finally left at 20:30.
Back home, I watched TV briefly before falling asleep. I woke an hour later and watched more TV until bed at 23:00.
Saturday, 23rd March
I woke to grey skies and stayed in bed until my alarm at 07:00. After coffee and a massage, I did Wordle and got it in three attempts.
Mick messaged to say he could fit my new clothesline on Monday. I arranged to meet him at Buena Vista for coffee first.
I had nothing for breakfast, but Liz messaged asking if I wanted coffee, so we walked to Buena Vista. I had a medium cooked breakfast and coffee. We chatted until 11:00.
I spent the rest of the day editing pages on my website. For tea, I cooked steak with a Dijon mustard and herb crust and homemade chips. It tasted fantastic.
I tried to watch England vs Brazil, but the first half was so poor I switched to something else. I went to bed at 22:30.
Sunday, 24th March
I slept well and showered as soon as I got up. I stripped my bed and put the linen in the washing machine before having coffee and a massage.
I made a Skype call to my sister Karen and chatted with her and Brett for about forty minutes. Afterwards, I trimmed some balcony plants but left the main work for a warmer day.
I indexed more website pages and tidied my dining table. My new watch strap arrived but was faulty, so I arranged a return.
I dropped rubbish and recycling at the bins and left a bread maker beside one of them. It was gone within minutes. I then walked to Aldi for shopping.
Back home, I put everything away, had dinner and put the heating on. In the evening, I watched the last episodes of season two of The Cleaning Lady before going to bed.
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