Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: I spent the week juggling clinic visits, blood tests, website work, annoying deliveries, and a broken water heater that thankfully got replaced. I also caught up with friends, ate some good meals, and watched plenty of football. My ankle continued to heal, and although I was puffed out most days, I slowly felt myself improving.
Monday, 5th May
I was up early, showered straight away and had breakfast before doing the Wordle puzzle. After a couple of hours working on my website, I rode to the health clinic to have my leg dressed. I asked the nurse about the INR test on Wednesday because I had been told to bring a urine sample, which I had never been asked for before. She confirmed it was correct and booked me in again for Friday.
Afterwards, I went to Pizzeria La Sombre to meet Martin. He was already there, and I ordered a bottle of water. Dave joined us, and we chatted until Aria arrived on her school bus. I collected a takeaway pizza on the way home and ate it as soon as I got in. I spent the afternoon and evening watching TV.
Tuesday, 6th May
I got up at 07:00, had orange juice and tablets, and did Wordle. At 10:00, I went to Parra Optical Centre because my eyesight had worsened. The optician remembered I was blind in my right eye and tested my vision. Both short and long distance had deteriorated slightly. Because I reused my old frames, the new lens only cost €49.10. They should be ready Friday.
Jim called to say he couldn’t meet for lunch, so we rearranged for Friday. I realised I couldn’t read anything on my phone without glasses, so I stopped at a Chino shop and bought a cheap pair to tide me over.
I then went to La Sombre to meet Martin and Dave. After an hour, I headed home, put a film on and immediately fell asleep for a couple of hours. When I woke, I worked on my website until 22:00.
Wednesday, 7th May
I got up at 06:00 to pee into a plastic cup and transfer it into a test tube for the clinic. After washing and doing Wordle, I rode to the health centre. There was a long queue, but once inside, a lady took my urine sample and paperwork and handed me three vials for blood tests. I thought I was only having an INR test, but apparently I was booked for a full set.
The young man who took my blood spoke English after living eight years in Swansea. I warned him about my terrible veins, and he immediately used a baby needle and got blood on the first attempt. He filled all three vials and said the results would be back in a week.
Afterwards, I treated myself to a coffee at Buena Vista and met Liz there. I fed a stale bread roll to the fish in the Mar Menor, although the waves made it impossible to see if they ate it. Liz and I chatted for half an hour before walking home.
I worked on my website all afternoon and stopped to watch PSG vs Arsenal. Arsenal played well but lost 2-1 and were knocked out. I went to bed straight after.
Thursday, 8th May
I had coffee and did Wordle before settling in for a day of waiting for deliveries. The repaired laptop arrived first, delivered directly to me because Euronics refused to take it. Then an Amazon driver arrived with a terrible attitude, insisting I come downstairs because the parcel was “too heavy”. It turned out to be two packs of Radler beer. I carried one pack myself and told him to bring the other. He complained the whole time. A dreadful delivery service.
In the afternoon, I went to Buen Sabor for two meals, one for lunch and one for dinner. I spent the rest of the day installing new Joomla extensions and working on my website until late at night.
Friday, 9th May
I took my tablets, did Wordle and worked on my website. I realised I hadn’t charged my disability scooter, so I walked to the clinic. By the time I arrived, I was puffing like a steam train. The nurse cleaned and dressed my wounds and said they were healing well. I told her about my breathing problems and low heart rate warnings from my Fitbit. She booked me in for Tuesday to have an ECG and get my blood test results.
When I got home, I emailed Fain about the broken garage lift. At 13:30, Jim arrived to help me take cardboard to the recycling bins, but the lift still wasn’t working. We went to Casa de Papel for lunch instead. The food was excellent — salad, ham carbonara pasta, calamari in sauce and a fantastic mousse for dessert. Only €13.95.
After lunch, we went to El Chiringuito for a drink before returning to my apartment. The lift still wasn’t fixed, so Jim said he’d come back another day. I watched TV and worked on my website before going to bed at 22:00.
Saturday, 10th May
I woke at 06:30 feeling surprisingly good. I had coffee, did Wordle and put the washing on. I worked on my website all day, stopping only for the curry I bought yesterday. In the evening, I watched football and documentaries about aliens possibly being our ancestors. I went to bed around 23:00.
Sunday, 11th May
I got up, took my tablets, did Wordle and worked on my website. For lunch, I had a ham and cheese toastie. I worked all afternoon until 17:30, when I made chicken wings in pepper sauce for dinner.
I turned on the Liverpool vs Arsenal game but wasn’t paying attention. Liverpool scored twice before halftime. Just as the second half started, my sister called, so I turned the game off. When I returned, Arsenal had scored twice and had a man sent off. It finished 2-2. I watched some TV before going to bed at midnight.
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