Location: Los Alcázares → Bournemouth → Portsmouth → Cosham
Summary: A week of deliveries, website work, travel back to the UK, a smooth airport experience, catching up with old friends, and celebrating your sister’s wedding. Busy, emotional and full of familiar faces.
Monday, 20th May
I woke around 06:00 and had coffee and porridge with banana, peanuts and raisins. I was expecting my new Google tablet today, so I spent the morning adding more photos to my holiday albums and doing administrative updates to hundreds of pages on my website.
The delivery finally arrived at 16:00. I checked everything was correct and did the initial setup. It looks ideal for travelling and working on my website.
Tuesday, 21st May
I woke at 08:00, showered, had cereal and coffee, and checked my messages. After Wordle, I set off on my disability scooter to do some chores.
I went to Euronics to return a parcel, but it was closed until 10:00, so I continued to the pharmacy for sintrom and omeprazole. Afterwards, I went to Espressarse café near the Rambla. The Tuesday market was busy, and the café was full. I ordered coffee and waited for Lisa. When she arrived, I had a tostada, and we chatted until 10:30.
I returned to Euronics to drop off my parcel, then went home. Amazon messaged to say my replacement stylus pens were nearby, so I sat outside on my scooter waiting in the sun. After 75 minutes, nothing had arrived, so I left to meet Martin.
I sat with Martin, Dave, Karen and Aria before heading home. The delivery finally arrived later in the afternoon. The pens were cheap but perfect for my tablet and phone.
I worked on my website in the evening and went to bed around 22:00.
Wednesday, 22nd May
I spent the day working on my website and packing my case for tomorrow’s flight. At 17:30, I received a message saying a parcel would be delivered soon, but it didn’t say who it was from.
At 18:00, the security door buzzed. The driver had a huge pallet with my recliner chair — the one I had asked to be delivered after 29th May. He refused to bring it inside, and there was no way I could move it, so I refused the delivery and contacted the company to complain.
I watched TV until 23:00 and went to bed, hoping for a good night’s sleep before travelling.
Thursday, 23rd May
I woke before my alarm, showered, packed my wash bag and waited for Jim. When he messaged to say he was on the way, I took my case outside. He drove me to Corvera airport for my flight to Bournemouth.
At check‑in, four women were repacking eight cases and a long trunk on the floor. They waved me ahead of them, and I was checked in within two minutes. The staff winked at me as I walked past the chaos behind me.
At security, the staff told me I should have used the disabled gate and showed me where it was. I was quickly through security and immigration.
At the gate, I waited until almost everyone had boarded. The staff took me down in the lift to the runway, and I boarded last. I had the front seat with extra legroom, but the seat was very narrow. I had to empty my pockets to fit properly. The couple next to me were reading Kindles, so I joined them — we looked like a special Kindle‑only row.
The flight was smooth, and we landed in Bournemouth in under two hours. My case was searched, and when I told the officer I lived in Spain and was back for my sister’s wedding, she relaxed and let me through.
I waited in the car park for Chris. Somehow, we missed each other even though we were only a few spaces apart. When we finally met, he drove me to the Sir John Barleycorn pub in Cadnam for lunch. Afterwards, he drove me to Karen’s house in Cosham.
Karen arrived shortly after, and we caught up. Brett joined us, and we had fish and chips. Karen was whisked away for a surprise hen night, so Brett and I went to Port Solent for a pint before heading home.
I went to bed exhausted.
Friday, 24th May
I woke early, made tea and updated my website until Karen and Brett came downstairs. They were busy preparing for the wedding, so I kept myself occupied indexing pages on Google.
I received an email from the recliner company saying they would charge a restocking fee. I told them I still wanted the chair but only if they followed my delivery instructions. They agreed to arrange delivery after I return to Spain.
In the evening, Chris picked me up, and we went to Spice Village for an Indian meal. We chatted for hours before returning to his house. I got an Uber back to Karen’s around midnight.
Saturday, 25th May
I woke early again, made tea and indexed more website pages. Karen and Brett were making last‑minute preparations for guests arriving after the wedding.
At 14:00, Brett left with my cousin Peter, who was acting as best man. Karen and I were picked up shortly after by her friends in a car decorated with wedding ribbons. She held my hand the whole way, just like a photo of us as toddlers sitting on our grandparents’ doorstep.
The ceremony was beautiful. I looked after the rings and handed them over at the right moment. Peter and I were the official witnesses.
After photos, we returned to the house for the reception. We sat in the garden eating, drinking and celebrating. I caught up with cousins I hadn’t seen in years and met more of Karen’s friends. It was a lovely day, and I was ready for bed by the end of it.
Sunday, 26th May
I woke later than usual, around 06:00, and spent the morning chatting with Mr and Mrs Paine. At 14:30, my friend Del picked me up and drove me to the Hill Park Memorial Working Men’s Club in Fareham.
I saw several old friends, including Jez and Sean. After a while, Del’s mum Christine invited me for dinner, so we went to his house and had dinner with her and his sister Sharon.
Afterwards, Del drove me back to Karen’s house in Cosham.
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