Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of difficult blood tests, website work, video editing, vaccinations, long walks, social evenings, football, and a few frustrating moments with Farcebook and Amazon deliveries. I also enjoyed meals with friends, made progress on my Alaska videos and continued preparing for my Japan trip.
Monday, 9th September
I woke around 06:00, drifted back to sleep for an hour and then got up. I took my tablets and checked my messages. At 08:45, I went to the doctor’s surgery for my INR blood test. The young nurse struggled again and tried three times. She sent the small sample to the lab, but I suspected it would not be enough.
I returned home, took my final Typhoid tablet and had baked beans on toast for breakfast. I developed a headache, possibly from the blood test or the medication, so I took a paracetamol before meeting Martin. By the time I arrived, the headache had gone. I asked Sean if he could install a new fan for me when it arrives, and he said yes.
I sat with Martin and Dave until 14:15, then went to Mercadona for a salad. Back home, I ordered the fan I wanted from Amazon. It had dropped from €109 to €86. In the evening, the nurse rang to say the blood sample was too small and booked me in again for tomorrow. I watched TV and eventually realised the lemon smell in my apartment was the mosquito repellent I had put on my legs. I had a chicken thigh with salad and went to bed at 23:00.
Tuesday, 10th September
I woke at 07:00, had coffee and drank water before my repeat blood test. A different nurse tried today. She attempted both arms with no success, then finally managed to get enough blood from a vein between the knuckles of my left hand. She covered all the puncture marks and told me not to use that hand.
I went to Buena Vista for coffee and a tostada, then met Martin and Dave at La Sombre. Back home, I added photos to my website and tried to post links to my Skagway pages on Farcebook. They were removed instantly with no explanation. Other Alaska links posted fine. I messaged Farcebook to appeal.
In the evening, I watched England beat Finland 2-0. It was comfortable but not exciting. I went to bed at 23:45.
Wednesday, 11th September
I woke at 01:00 and could not get back to sleep, so I worked on my website until 03:30. I woke again at 08:30, had coffee and continued working while waiting for my new fan light to be delivered.
Amazon rang to say they were outside, but they were not. A few minutes later, the van arrived. I buzzed the driver in and collected the parcel. By the time I finished my work, it was too late to go to either of the places I had been invited, so I stayed home. I fell asleep in my chair for forty minutes and watched TV until bed at 23:00.
Thursday, 12th September
I woke at 05:45, had coffee and cereal and did Wordle. I backed up my website before installing a new extension to improve speed. At 11:15, Alison and Lottie picked me up for my appointment in San Pedro.
On the way, I realised I had left my health insurance card at the surgery earlier in the week. We checked, but it was not there. At the insurance office, the lady registered me for a digital card and ordered a replacement. She also rearranged my appointment for next Thursday.
We went to Buena Vista for coffee and sandwiches, then I walked home along the beach. I spent the afternoon watching films and editing my website.
Friday, 13th September
I woke at 08:00, had coffee and porridge with cherries and went to Mercadona for shopping. Back home, I worked on my website and then tried to fix Alison’s tablet. It had been factory reset, and Samsung could not help without the original login details. I wrote down the case number for Alison.
I had salad with chicken for lunch and then binge‑watched the first series of Tulsa King. I was hooked immediately. I went to bed at 23:45.
Saturday, 14th September
I woke at 08:30 after a broken night. I stripped my bed and put the linen in the washing machine. I made a toasted cheese sandwich but forgot to add the onions I had sliced. After breakfast, I typed up the last of my Hawaii and Alaska notes.
I watched football, then showered and walked to Harry’s Bar at 17:00. I sat with Andy and Wayne until 19:00, then walked to Masala Cottage to meet Debbie. We sat outside for drinks, then moved inside for dinner. I had fish pakora and chilli chicken, which was fantastic. Lisa and Archie were also there and said hello.
After dinner, Debbie got a taxi home. I walked to Harry’s for two Radlers, then walked home and went straight to bed.
Sunday, 15th September
I was woken at 03:00 by people shouting outside, then again at 07:00 by the road sweeper. I finally got up at 09:00, had coffee and saw a message from Tony saying he was at Buena Vista. I had forgotten we were meeting. I quickly washed, dressed and walked along the beach to meet him.
The waiter handed me my health insurance card, which must have fallen out of my pocket earlier in the week. We had coffee and tostadas, then I walked home and checked my TV. It was working again, so I finished Tulsa King and watched the Tottenham vs Arsenal derby. Arsenal won 0-1, their third win in a row at White Hart Lane.
For dinner, I had steak with onions, mushrooms and an egg. I watched the match again on catch‑up so I could enjoy it without the stress. I went to bed at midnight.
Add comment