Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: I spent the week walking more, battling the heat, meeting friends, sorting errands, dealing with nurse appointments, and working heavily on my website. I had a couple of rough moments with dizziness, but also some lovely meals, good company and productive days. My ankle continued to heal, and I kept trying to improve my fitness and routines.
Monday, 9th June
I got up at 06:00, had a coffee and did the Wordle puzzle. I decided I needed to increase my exercise, although in hindsight I should have planned my walks for cooler times of the day. After cereal, I walked to the office. I left at 11:00, took rubbish to the bin and walked slowly to Los Narejos, stopping halfway for a ten minute rest. I arrived at La Sombre around 11:45, puffed out but not as bad as usual.
The waiter brought me a large bottle of water, and Martin and Dave soon arrived. We chatted until Dave left, and Martin and I stayed until around 15:00. I walked towards Rio Nalon, but my knee began to ache, so I stopped at La Zona Bar and chatted with Michael. I messaged Kate for a lift but didn’t hear back.
I continued walking, stopped at the new Roccos to cool off, then went to Harry’s Bar. My knee was throbbing badly. I messaged Bob to ask if the tourist train was running. I didn’t get a reply, but I heard the train’s horn and hurried to the end of the road to catch it. Thankfully, I made it. I rode home, rested my knee and went to bed early with the fan on.
Tuesday, 10th June
I woke feeling better and decided to walk again, which turned out to be a mistake. After coffee and Wordle, I walked to Rio Nalon for breakfast at the Tipsy Thistle. I missed the bus by less than a minute. As I turned back, I saw Martin at Café Parking and joined him. He told me to call Dave for a lift.
I queued fifteen minutes for my lottery ticket, then returned to Café Parking. Dave called to say he was on his way. As I waited in the full midday sun, I began to feel dizzy and unsteady. A delivery lorry blocked my view of the road, and I couldn’t see Dave’s car. I moved into the shade and finally spotted him. I got into the car and cooled down.
At La Sombre, I felt dizzy again when I stepped out into the heat. I ordered a large bottle of water and slowly recovered. Viv arrived and checked on me. I barely spoke when Bernard joined us. Dave drove me home afterwards, and I cooled down with the fan on. My Fitbit showed my heart rate had spiked during the dizzy spell.
I spent the rest of the day resting and watched England vs Senegal. England were dreadful and lost 1-3. Senegal deserved more.
Wednesday, 11th June
While doing Wordle, Lawrence messaged asking if I wanted to go to Café Prensa. After a shower, he picked me up. We joined Theresea and Christine, and later Darren and Steve joined us. After coffee, I showed Lawrence the lottery shop in Los Alcázares, which he preferred to Rio Nalon.
When I got home, my Amazon parcel arrived with the phone case and screen protector, but it was the wrong size. I initiated a return. I worked on my website and added Jamaica information pages. In the evening, I walked to Thai Aroi for dinner. I had Massaman Gai and an avocado milkshake. The curry was delicious. I walked home along the beach and went to bed around midnight.
Thursday, 12th June
I got up at 07:30, had coffee and did Wordle before walking to Euronics to return the Amazon parcel. I continued to my bank, where the staff reset my login details. Even the banker couldn’t log in at first, which made me feel better about needing help. They gave me their phone numbers in case I had more problems.
It was getting hot, so I walked home through the shaded backstreets. George phoned me, but with his strong Scottish accent and the bad connection, I could barely understand him. I thought he said he was leaving for Scotland tomorrow.
At home, I had cereal with yoghurt, raisins and walnuts. I worked on adding descriptions to the 6,300 photos on my website. Later, I messaged George to ask if he and Yvonne would be at Avenida Bar. I walked there at 17:00. They arrived shortly after, and it turned out I had completely misunderstood him earlier. They weren’t going back to Scotland at all. They needed help translating medical paperwork, so I offered to scan and translate it for them.
We chatted until after 21:00. When I got home, I reheated two ham knuckles in the air fryer and ate them while watching TV. I worked on my website and went to bed at 23:00.
Friday, 13th June
I was woken in the early hours by someone shouting in the square. It stopped after thirty minutes. I got up at 07:30, had coffee and did Wordle. I walked to Dia for rolls, but only cheap ones were left. I bought tiramisu ice cream to cheer myself up.
At home, I had a crunchy chicken burger for lunch. George and Yvonne arrived with medical documents. I scanned and translated them and printed the results. They gave me some melons as thanks. After they left, I sorted through old electric leads and found a charger for a tablet I no longer use. I reset it and messaged Kate to see if she wanted it. She did.
In the afternoon, I researched holiday insurance. My annual policy expires next month. I chose worldwide cover with cruise insurance and full medical disclosure. It cost €443, but it covers everything properly. I then researched tours to Australia and New Zealand for next year.
I had another crunchy chicken burger and some ice cream, watched TV and set the dishwasher to run overnight. I closed all the windows to block out the noise from the square and went to bed at 22:30.
Saturday, 14th June
I woke just after 07:00. The dishwasher had run correctly on the delayed start. I received an email from someone mentioning my India trip, but I didn’t recognise the sender. I replied asking who it was.
I had muesli with yoghurt and chopped melon, then worked on my website until 13:00. I messaged Kate about the tablet, but she didn’t reply until 15:30, by which time it was too hot to walk it over. I told her I would give it to Martin on Monday.
For dinner, I cooked fish and chips. The chips triggered my acid reflux again, so I slowed down and managed to finish the meal. I worked on my website until midnight, closed the windows and went to bed.
Sunday, 15th June
I woke at 09:00, surprised I had slept so long. I opened all the windows and heard Spanish voices over a tannoy in the square. After coffee and Wordle, I had breakfast and spent the day researching my three times great‑grandparents, Richard Wilde and Elizabeth Prescott.
I added census records to their pages and created modules for each census page so I only have to enter the information once. It will save time in the long run, even if it takes longer now.
For dinner, I had fried chicken with mushrooms to avoid potatoes. I had a slight bit of reflux but nothing major. I continued my research from my armchair to avoid backache.
I tried to watch the Club World Cup, but the coverage kept freezing, so I watched old quiz shows instead. I went to bed at 22:30.
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