Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A painful week with back trouble, blood tests, swims in the Mar Menor, website work, a Tom Jones concert, delivery chaos, brunch with June, Flamenco music outside your apartment, and a lovely Sunday lunch with Debbie. Despite the heat and discomfort, you kept busy and productive.
Monday, 22nd July
I woke in a lot of pain. My back was excruciating, and I took painkillers with my morning coffee. At 08:45, I went to the doctor’s surgery for my regular INR blood test. The nurse struggled to find a vein until the receptionist pointed one out. The nurse tried it and got blood immediately. I can only assume the receptionist has worked in phlebotomy before.
I returned home to work on my website, then took another painkiller before meeting Martin at La Sombre Pizzeria. We chatted for a few hours. When he left, I sat with Terry, and Martin returned briefly before going shopping. I said I would meet him at La Zona.
Getting into La Zona is always difficult because they never open the gate properly. After squeezing through on my disability scooter, I sat with Dave and Martin. The barman shut the gate again, and I had a heated discussion with him. He said he did not care if people could not get in, it was not his bar, and he got paid either way. I paid my bill and left.
I planned to collect a parcel from Euronics, but it was not open yet, so I went home for a cold drink and more painkillers. I sat in my chair and fell asleep. When I woke, Euronics was closed, so I went to bed, hoping my back would let me sleep.
Tuesday, 23rd July
I woke still in pain, took more painkillers and had coffee and porridge. I messaged Jo from La Zona to apologise for raising my voice yesterday and explained the gate issue. She told me not to worry and said she would make sure the staff left the gates open from now on.
I planned to swim but decided to charge my disability scooter first. That was when I remembered leaving it outside overnight. I rushed downstairs and was relieved to find it still there. I will make sure I put it away before taking painkillers in future.
I collected my parcel from Euronics and was pleased to see my new Arsenal shirt fit perfectly. I checked my blood test results online and was delighted they were almost perfect, despite all the medication I have been taking.
I spent the rest of the day editing videos from my whale watching trip in Alaska and arranged to meet Debbie for lunch on Sunday. My back was still painful, so I took more painkillers and went to bed at 22:00.
Wednesday, 24th July
My back was still sore but slightly better. I had coffee, checked messages and went for a swim in the Mar Menor. I floated around for forty minutes and collected more shells, which I scattered around my bamboo plant.
After showering, I worked on my website all day and finished the whale watching video, which I posted on YouTube.
Thursday, 25th July
I woke at 07:30, did Wordle, had coffee and worked on my website before packing a small overnight bag. I left home later to go to Murcia to see Tom Jones in concert at the bullring.
Friday, 26th July
After arriving home, I unpacked my bag and worked on my website, editing photos and videos from the Tom Jones concert. By the time I finished, it was 20:00. I could not be bothered to go out, and I had little food in the house, so I made scrambled eggs with tuna on toast. I watched TV and went to bed at 23:00.
Saturday, 27th July
I woke at 07:30, had coffee and did Wordle. I looked at a new video hosting package that might be better than YouTube because it allows linking directly to my website without all the YouTube clutter.
I put washing on, had porridge and enjoyed the quiet morning with birds chirping outside. I spent the day working on my website and watched TV in the evening. I had planned to watch Arsenal vs Manchester United, but it started too late, so I went to bed around midnight.
Sunday, 28th July
I woke at 07:15, took my tablets and watched the Arsenal vs Manchester United friendly that had been played overnight in America. United scored first to make it 0-1, but Arsenal grew into the game and won 2-1.
I had jam on toast, shaved and showered, then left at 13:00 to meet Debbie for lunch at Campbell’s in Roda. I saw her walking ahead as I crossed the motorway bridge, so I slowed down and we walked the rest of the way together.
We had a drink in the bar before going into the dining room. We both had roast lamb, and I had Bailey’s cheesecake for dessert, although Debbie pinched some of it. We sat outside afterwards and talked until 16:30.
We walked back under the motorway and went our separate ways. When I got home, my back hurt again, so I took a painkiller and watched TV. I fell asleep and woke at 19:30. I had cheese and crackers, watched a film and went to bed at 23:00.
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