In Week 23 of 2024, I relaxed at home as much as possible before flying to Marrakech at the weekend with my friend Lisa.
Monday, 3rd June.
This morning, I woke up around 7:15 am, got up, and got myself a coffee before sitting in my new recliner chair and working on my website. At 10:30 am, I stopped and got myself a fully loaded bowl of porridge. Before I could eat my porridge, Alli called to say she was on the way to pick up the sack truck before seeing our friend June. Because I wasn't sure if my disability scooter had a full charge, I asked if I could also visit June. From there, I could continue on foot to meet Martin at the office.
I left the porridge in the fridge soaking, walked to the garage, collected the sack truck and went outside. Alli had parked outside the building, and after putting the truck in the car, we drove to Junes' house. We talked briefly before Alli left, and then June offered me a lift to the office in her new car. June dropped me off at the office at about 11:45 am, and Martin was already there.
Dave soon joined me and Martin and we sat talking. At 1 pm, Kate joined us, and a short time later, Aria got off her school bus and we all sat talking until Dave went home. I decided to see if I could walk home and went in the general direction of Rio Nalon. I went past La Zona and looked to see if I knew anyone there, but I continued as I couldn't see anyone. I cut across the car park and approached Rio Nalon by Economy Cash.
At Rocco's bar, I saw my friends Mick and Nita and sat with them for a drink. After chatting with them briefly, I moved down to Harrys' bar. I sat outside for a while, talking to some of the locals. As it got warmer, I moved inside for a while before leaving and headed to the Thai Aroi restaurant near my home. I had a chicken Paneng and ordered a grilled pork dish for my lunch tomorrow. The curry was fantastic, and the flavours were wonderful. I washed it down with a small beer, and I talked to an English couple beside me as I ate my meal. As we talked, the waitress offered us some free tapioca pudding. I have had it before and told the couple how good it was, and the man and I both had some. It was beautiful, and you should try it if you ever go to the restaurant. After my meal, I ordered one of the bubble coffees. I couldn't describe it, but I will try more bubble drinks in the future.
I paid for my meal, took my takeaway pork dish, and returned to my apartment. My legs were aching after the long walk today, and when I got home, I got some water and went straight to bed.
Tuesday, 4th June.
I woke up around 7 am this morning. I tried to get back to sleep but couldn't and got up at 7:30 am. I got myself some fruit juice and sat down at my computer. After checking my messages, I removed yesterday's porridge from the fridge and reheated it for breakfast. Once I had finished breakfast, I sat at my computer and did today's Wordle puzzle before starting work on my website.
Most of the day was spent working on my website today. I tagged many pages, typed notes up for my first day exploring Kauai in Hawaii, and added photo descriptions to my photo albums for the same day. I stopped around 2 pm, took a bag of smelly rubbish to the bin, and went to the local Chino store to buy a dustpan and brush. Once I found a brush set I liked, I paid for it and returned to my apartment.
I took a break from working on my website and watched a Clint Eastwood film called Cry Macho. It was good, and it gave me a break from the computer. Once I had seen the film I returned to work for a few more hours before stopping for something to eat.
This evening, I watched a film starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney called Ticket to Paradise. It was quite funny but very predictable. It is the first film I have watched starring Julia Roberts that she looked a bit older but her wonderful smile still brightened up my day. As for George Clooney, he seems to look the same in every film he makes. After watching the film, I got a cold drink and went to bed.
Wednesday, 5th June.
I woke up around 6:45 am today. I got up and got a cold drink. I will go for my regular blood test this morning, and it is supposed to help if I drink plenty of water before I go. I also had a coffee to wake me up and did the daily Wordle puzzle. It was tougher this morning, and I nearly didn't get it. On my 5th go, I had all the word's letters, but in the wrong order. Luckily, I switched some letters around and got the correct word on my final attempt to carry on my winning streak.
At 8:50 am, I got on my disability scooter and went to the doctor's surgery for my blood test. A new lady was working alongside Rose today, and as I approached the desk, Rose told the new lady what I was there for and the new lady began to check me in for my blood test. I was seen very quickly, and the new nurse listened when I told him where the best vein to get blood was. He got blood at the first attempt, put a covering over the puncture wound and sent me on my way very quickly. I looked at my watch as I left, and it was still only 9:07 am, that was a very quick time, 17 minutes from leaving home to check in, get the test and walk out of the surgery.
When I left the surgery I went to the bank in Los Alcazares and drew some money at the ATM before heading home along the promenade. When I got in I got myself porridge with peanuts, walnuts, banana, blueberries, raisins and some honey. I got a coffee with my breakfast and then returned to work on my website. At 11:30 am, I jumped in the shower and changed into clean clothes before walking to Buena Vista restaurant to meet my friends Jim and Dave.
When I arrived, Jim was already there, and I sat with him and ordered a coffee. A short time later Dave arrived and also ordered a coffee. We sat chatting till around 2 pm before we left and went to Galins´ Bulgarian restaurant at the Oasis in Los Narejos. We were met there by Doreen and we had an excellent meal. I had a liver starter and Bulgarian moussaka for my main, followed by apple crumble with ice cream. It all tasted great, and when we left, Jim dropped me off in Los Alcazares before he went to the airport to fly home.
I returned to the Buena Vista restaurant, where I had arranged to meet my friend Colin for a beer. Colin was still there, and I sat down with him and we sat chatting, enjoying the view and the warm sunshine. We were joined by Colins' friend, John, who sat with us. We sat chatting, with Colin leaving first. John and I continued to chat until we finished our beer and left to go home.
Once home, I got a drink and watched TV until I went to bed at about 10 pm.
Thursday, 6th June.
I woke up around 6:30 am and immediately got up and got myself a coffee. I sat at my computer, checked my messages and began editing a video I had taken in Kauai, Hawaii, a few weeks ago. This took me some time as I had to edit the video and add graphics. I stopped around 11 am and got some porridge for breakfast before returning to work on the video.
At around 2:15 pm, I walked to Buena Vista restaurant to meet Lisa for a beer. We sat outside chatting until around 4:30 pm, when we left for an Indian cookery demonstration at my neighbours' apartment on the beach. When we arrived, there were already many people there, around 30. I had thought there would only be a few people and hadn't realised they were doing it to raise money for MABS.
Unfortunately, I couldn't see very well and didn't see much of the demonstration, but the food tasted fantastic and I was given an instruction sheet on how to make onion bhajis and a curry. After the demonstration and meal, I returned to my apartment and put my feet up. My legs were aching, and I didn't want to overdo it before I went to Marrakech on Saturday. More importantly, the event raised over €700 for the charity.
This evening, I relaxed and binge-watched episodes of a series called Sweet Tooth before going to bed around 11 pm.
Friday, 7th June.
I woke up around 6:30 am and got myself a coffee before going to work on my computer. I did the Wordle puzzle, checked my messages and printed off everything I will need for my trip to Marrakech tomorrow.
This afternoon, I packed my small bag for my trip and binge-watched more Sweet Tooth episodes on the TV before going to bed around 11 pm.
Saturday, 8th June.
I woke up at 7:15 am this morning. I got myself a coffee and then did the Wordle puzzle on the NYT website. I pottered around on my website, and at around 11 am, I went to Buena Vista for a cooked breakfast.
When I returned to my apartment, I did a bit more work on my website before being picked up to go to the airport for my trip to Marrakech.
Sunday, 9th June.
I spent the day exploring Marrakech and the Medina today.