Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: I spent the week walking more, meeting friends, sorting out errands, dealing with nurse appointments, and working on my website. I also enjoyed some good meals, had a few unexpected encounters, and watched plenty of football. My ankle continued to heal, and I tried to follow the doctor’s advice to eat better and exercise more.
Monday, 2nd June
I woke at 06:00, got a coffee and did the Wordle puzzle before working on my website. The hosting changes and image format updates I made last week were successful, so I could finally continue adding descriptions to the photo albums. After cereal, I left just after 11:00 to meet Martin at La Sombre.
I walked slowly along the main road from Los Alcázares to Los Narejos, stopping halfway to rest on a wall by some allotments. After ten minutes, my breathing eased and I continued. I arrived just before midday and ordered a large bottle of water. My doctor told me to exercise more, but I think I will start with every other day. Even my Fitbit warns me when I am doing too much.
Martin and Dave arrived, and we chatted until Aria’s bus arrived. After her usual greeting to my belly and inspection of my ankles, she sat with us. Later, I walked through the housing estate so I could rest more often. At Rio Nalon, I stopped at Harry’s bar for a drink while waiting for the lottery shop to open.
I chatted with the owners and a man with his young son. The boy tried to pay for their drinks with a card but was told the minimum was €10. I joked that he could buy my drink to reach the limit. The dad laughed and told his son to pay for mine too. A lovely gesture.
After checking my lottery ticket, I walked to Rachid’s bar, now renamed Roccos. I sat with Wilma, who used to work at the old Roccos, and we chatted for a couple of hours before returning to Harry’s bar. After a couple more drinks, I walked home along the beach. I sat down for ten minutes before cooking, but fell asleep and didn’t wake until 22:30. I skipped dinner and went to bed.
Tuesday, 3rd June
I woke at 05:30, got a coffee and did Wordle. After cereal, I worked on my website for a few hours before riding my disability scooter to the clinic. The nurse checked and redressed my ankle and told me to get ointment for my dry skin. She made me a new appointment for Friday.
I met Martin and Dave at La Sombre. Viv and Sean were there too. Vanessa arrived and bought us all a drink. After everyone left, I went home and cooked a pork knuckle for lunch. Later, I had another one for supper. They were delicious and only took fifteen minutes to heat up. I went to bed around 23:00.
Wednesday, 4th June
I was woken at 01:30 by a motorbike that sounded like strangled cats. The rider often wakes me at the same time. In the UK, the bike would have been seized for noise. I couldn’t sleep, so I worked for a couple of hours indexing pages for Google and did Wordle.
I went back to bed at 03:30 and slept until 07:00. After medication and breakfast, I rode to Economy Cash and bought two pasta salads, two regular salads and a pre-carved rabbit for a stew. For lunch, I had tuna and cheese rolls, and in the evening, a pasta salad. Still hungry later, I had cheese on crackers before bed at 22:30.
Thursday, 5th June
I woke at 06:45, had coffee and did Wordle before working on my website. Lawrence arrived at 09:00 to take me for coffee. We went to Café Prensa. Darren arrived and told me that my friend Steve had passed away yesterday. He had been in hospital and then moved to a care home, but his body finally gave up. RIP Steve. You are now reunited with Carol.
Steve, Bev and Theresa joined us, and we chatted for a while. Lawrence dropped me home afterwards. I spent the afternoon watching TV and checking for Arsenal transfer news. I also watched the second half of Spain vs France. Spain were 2-0 up when I switched on, but it finished 5-4. A brilliant second half.
Friday, 6th June
I woke at 06:45, got a coffee, did Wordle and worked on my website. At 09:45, I rode to the clinic. Two people before me didn’t turn up, so I was seen quickly. The nurse changed my dressing and made me an appointment for next Wednesday.
I rode home along the beachfront. The Mar Menor looked beautiful, and I wished I could swim. I decided to have breakfast at home instead of Buena Vista. I worked on my website until it was time to meet Lawrence.
I waited outside in the midday sun for twenty minutes before calling him. He had lost track of time. While waiting, my phone fell out of my pocket and cracked the screen. The protector hadn’t arrived yet. Thankfully, the crack was small.
Lawrence picked me up, and we drove to Venta El Puerto 3, but the menu wasn’t great, so we went to Los Celtas in Mil Palmeras. I had crab salad, lasagne and cheesecake. Afterwards, we walked to the beach to admire the view before driving home.
I spent the evening watching Insane Pools and Sky Sports News, although Sky spent two hours talking about Tottenham sacking their manager. Before bed, I noticed lorries setting up in the square for an event tomorrow. I charged my disability scooter and went to bed.
Saturday, 7th June
I woke at 06:30, used the bathroom and went back to bed until 08:15. After coffee and Wordle, I worked on my website and put the bed linen in the wash. The lorries were still in the square setting up for the event.
I went to Café Prensa to see friends, then to Mercadona for shopping. After putting everything away, I walked along the beach to meet Gerry. He arrived late, but we chatted for half an hour before his wife joined us. They left for a BBQ, and I walked to Plaza de Espejo to look at the stalls and listen to reggae music.
I found a stall selling jewellery and asked if they could repair the string on my jade Buddha. The man said he could do it in ten minutes for €3. I walked around barefoot, burning my feet on the cobbles, then returned to collect it. He had done a great job. I gave him €5.
As I walked home, I heard my name and saw my cousin Jill waving from the beach. We chatted briefly before I went home. I had seafood for lunch and watched Andorra vs England. England scraped a 0-1 win in a dreadful match.
Later, I updated my video camera firmware and emailed the company about returning it. The music in the square turned into loud Spanish techno, but thankfully stopped at midnight. I made my bed with clean sheets and went to sleep.
Sunday, 8th June
I woke just before 08:00, put washing on, had coffee and did Wordle while listening to Radio 2. I went for a walk while it was still cool. I walked along the beachfront, up the Rambla, along the main road and back to the beach. I stopped at Buena Vista for coffee, tostada and orange juice before walking home.
I spent the rest of the day relaxing, working on my website and watching the Nations League Final between Spain and Portugal. Spain dominated the first half, Portugal the second. Portugal won on penalties. I kept an eye on players Arsenal have been linked with. I hope we sign Zubimendi, Williams or Leao.
I went to bed straight after the game.
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