Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: I spent the week dealing with disturbed sleep, frustrating medical appointments, good breakfasts, website work, catching up with friends, and a few emotional moments. I also had some lovely meals, sorted out health admin, and watched plenty of football. My ankle continued to heal, and although I was puffed out most days, I kept going.
Monday, 12th May
I was woken at 02:30 by kids playing football in the square and didn’t get back to sleep until after 03:00. I got up around 09:00 feeling grumpy, had a coffee and a bacon sandwich, and worked on my website. While I was working, I got a message from Jane in England telling me that my good friend Pete King had died on Friday. It hit me hard. Pete and I had known each other for decades, and we had some brilliant times together, especially our St Trinians fancy dress night.
Later, I messaged Bob to see if he could trim my beard. He came round ten minutes later and shaved my head and tidied my beard. I felt much better afterwards. I spent the rest of the day working on my website.
Tuesday, 13th May
I woke at 07:00, took my tablets, did Wordle and worked on my website. At 11:30, I walked to the clinic for my blood test results and INR discussion. I was puffed out when I arrived. The nurse dressed my ankle and booked me in for Friday.
Then I saw the doctor. It was one of the worst experiences I’ve had in Spain. She huffed, refused to explain my blood test results, threw the paperwork at me, and told me I needed an interpreter. She wrote a prescription for Sintrom and an ECG and threw that at me too. She dismissed me without explaining anything.
The nurse did the ECG and tried to help. She and another nurse asked questions in English and explained that the clinic had no record of me and needed a control test for my INR. I gave them Liz’s number so the blood lab could call her.
I walked home, told Liz what had happened, and had a burger for lunch. I decided I would go to the ASSSA office tomorrow to sort things out.
Wednesday, 14th May
I got up, had coffee and did Wordle before riding to the ASSSA office. On the way, I saw friends at Café Prensa and stopped for a tostada and coffee. As I left, the Los Arcos blood lab phoned with an appointment for the 22nd.
At the ASSSA office, Sophia was brilliant. I explained everything, and she confirmed I was right — the private clinic should have helped me. She advised me to go to the Los Arcos appointment to get everything sorted. We talked about the public and private systems, and I told her I would keep both for now.
Afterwards, I went to Mercadona, then home to eat and work on my website. At 17:15, I went to the pharmacy to collect my Sintrom and blood pressure tablets. Because they were on prescription, I only paid €1.67 instead of €16.70. A huge saving.
I saw George and Yvonne at Avenida Café and chatted for an hour before going home to work on my website until 23:00.
Thursday, 15th May
I woke at 04:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep. I got up at 05:00, did Wordle and took my tablets. My 52 day Wordle streak ended today. Too many possibilities.
I worked on my website until 10:00, then walked to Buena Vista for a tostada and coffee. I read my Kindle for an hour before going home. I worked on my website all day, stopping only for cheese and ham rolls. I made great progress and was pleased with the new extensions I installed.
Friday, 16th May
I showered, had coffee and checked my messages before riding to the Libera clinic to ask about a missed call. Rosa checked my phone and explained the number belonged to Los Arcos hospital, not the clinic. That mystery solved, I went to Avatel to ask about the Spanish health app. They told me my phone wasn’t Spanish, which annoyed me because they are my provider.
I went to Economy Cash for groceries, then home to work on my website before going back out to have my leg dressed. The nurse was lovely again and did a great job. She introduced me to a friend who spoke English, and we chatted briefly. She reassured me that my Los Arcos appointment time was fine.
Outside, I saw Sean and chatted before going to Dia for soy sauce. At home, I looked up new phones and found the Google Pixel 9a on sale. With my trade in and a surprise €100 credit, it only cost me €144.99 instead of €799.99. I ordered it.
In the evening, Jim came to help me take cardboard to the recycling bins. I had already moved most of it, which puffed me out badly. We loaded what we could and dumped it. Then we met friends in Roda for drinks before going to Campbells for dinner. Everyone had fish and chips except me. I had steak and ale pie with sweet potato mash, which didn’t trigger my acid reflux. Thanks for the tip, Martin.
Our waitress, Lauren, gave me her phone number so she could help translate for me when needed. The others were jealous. Jim dropped me home at 22:30, and I watched TV for half an hour before bed.
Saturday, 17th May
I woke feeling much better. I took my tablets, did Wordle and messaged Liz to see if she wanted to join me for breakfast. We walked to Buena Vista and sat in the shade. I had the combined breakfast — coffee, tostada and orange juice. We chatted for an hour before heading home.
I stripped my bed and put the linen in the wash. Then I messaged Lauren with the details she needed for my Los Arcos appointment. While working on my website, I got an email from Pete King’s daughter, Tara. She told me she and Pete had been talking about me the week before he died. We exchanged emails and I sent her photos of Pete and me dressed as St Trinians schoolgirls. RIP Pete — save me a seat at the bar, wherever you are.
In the afternoon, I cooked a seafood stir fry and watched the FA Cup final. Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0. I was delighted. After that, I watched Doctor Who and then Eurovision. Most of the songs were rubbish, but I still watched to the end. Israel came close but Austria won.
Sunday, 18th May
I slept until 08:00 after staying up late for Eurovision. I got up, had coffee and did Wordle — got it on my second attempt. I worked on my website until 11:00, then had toast with avocado and a poached egg.
I worked all afternoon and had a chicken stir fry for dinner before watching Arsenal vs Newcastle. Arsenal won 1-0 and secured Champions League football for next season.
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