Location: Los Alcázares, Región de Murcia, Spain.
Summary: A busy and social week with nurse visits, family time, meals out, Amazon deliveries, PostCrossing postcards, website work, and a few sleepless nights. I spent time with Karen and Brett during their visit, enjoyed good food, sorted out visas, dealt with pharmacies and parcels, and tried to manage stomach aches and the heat while keeping up with football and my website.
Monday, 8th September
I woke up around 07:00, got a drink, completed the Wordle puzzle, and worked on my website. At around 10:00, I got on my disability scooter and went to my bank in Los Alcázares to withdraw some money at the ATM. The ATM on Rio Nalon hasn't worked the last few times I tried to get money there, so I didn't bother trying this time.
Once I had my money, I went to the pharmacy to get my tablets. I asked why they would only give me 20 tablets, as that wouldn't last three weeks. The lady showed me the prescription, which said it was for 20 days only. I told her I needed more because my tests were a month apart, and she said I would either have to pay full price or get the doctor to alter the prescription.
When I left the pharmacy, I went to Cafe Prensa in Los Narejos for breakfast. I saw my friend Christine and sat with her after ordering a coffee and a tostada. We talked until just after midday, and after paying my bill, I went to meet Martin at Pizzeria La Sombre, but it was closed. I saw Martin at the corner bar and joined him there. While we were talking, I received a message saying my New Zealand visa had been granted. I was very happy and could now really start looking forward to next year's vacation.
It was quite hot, and after 45 minutes, I left Martin and headed home. On the way, I stopped at a Chino store near my apartment and bought four postcards for PostCrossing. When I got home, I ate something and wrote the postcards to send tomorrow. I spent the rest of the evening working on my website and made a couple of Amazon orders for new underwear.
Tuesday, 9th September
I woke up at 7:00, showered, and got ready to go to the health clinic. I had some of the porridge I bought last week. It tasted okay but was more like a milkshake than porridge, and I won't bother getting it again. I left home at about 7:45 and arrived at the clinic before it opened. The usual queue was there, and the Spanish were shouting at each other and blocking the entrance, claiming they were first.
Once inside, I sat outside the Sintrom blood test room. The Spanish continued arguing and blocking the door. When the nurse called the first patient, it was me, Alan Morris. I chuckled and walked past everyone straight in. The INR reading was high again at 3.4, and I expected my dose to be reduced when I collected the official results tomorrow.
After leaving the clinic, I went to the post office. I was second in the queue and soon had my postcards stamped and sent to the USA, Germany, England and Indonesia.
I then went to Buena Vista to meet Martin for a coffee. After talking for a while, we each went home. I worked on my website for an hour before returning to the clinic to have my leg dressed. The wound looked better, and after making an appointment for Friday, I left to join Martin at Pizzeria La Sombre.
I arrived around 13:00 and joined Martin and Dave. Viv arrived later with two of her adult grandchildren. We chatted and drank, and before leaving, I ordered a pizza to take home. I ate it while watching TV. I finally heard from my sister Karen and her husband Brett at around 22:00. They had just arrived at their hotel, and we arranged to meet the next day.
Wednesday, 10th September
I was up early again and went to the health clinic to get my blood test results. The dose of anticoagulants had been adjusted, and my next test was scheduled for three weeks. As I was leaving, Karen and Brett messaged to say they were walking to the beach outside my house to go swimming.
I met them near Buena Vista. While they swam, I took their bags and had a coffee and a tostada. When they finished, they joined me for coffee. We then walked to No Name Cafe for another drink before they headed back to their hotel and I went to Mercadona for shopping.
When I got home, I unpacked my shopping. Just as I finished, Amazon messaged to say my parcel had been delivered to Economy Cash. I went back out and collected it. The new underwear fit fine but felt a little strange. I decided to try them for a couple of days before ordering more.
My neighbour Liz called to say the health clinic had moved my Friday appointment to Thursday. Later, Brett messaged to say the restaurant we wanted to visit opened at 16:30, not 20:00. They came to my apartment, looked at the changes I had made, and gave me gifts: a shirt, an Arsenal mug and English chocolates.
We walked to the restaurant, but it was closed until 20:00. We went to Thai Aroi for a drink, then returned to Restaurante Asador Los Barriles when it opened. I had baby squid and a beautiful steak. After a lovely meal and a long chat, we walked home.
Thursday, 11th September
I got up at 7:30, checked messages, had green tea and cereal, and worked on my website. Karen and Brett messaged to say they were coming for a swim outside my apartment. I met them at El Lobo chiringuito, had a coffee, and read my Kindle while they swam.
After they left for a walk, I went to the health clinic for the third time in three days. The nurse redressed my ankle and made an appointment for Monday. It was getting hot again, so I turned on the air conditioning and worked on my website.
In the afternoon, Karen and Brett asked me to meet them for dinner at Thai Aroi. I tried to nap but couldn't. I walked to the restaurant and met them. We sat outside for drinks, then went inside for dinner. We shared three starters, and I had a prawn Tom Yam Kon. Everything was beautiful.
After dinner, we walked to Buena Vista for another drink before heading home. I cooled off and went to bed.
Friday, 12th September
I didn't sleep well last night. My dreams were broken and jumbled, and I woke often. When I got up around 7:30, I still felt tired. Karen and Brett messaged to say they would pick me up to go to Cartagena to El Corte Inglés.
I had been thinking of swapping my Fitbit for an Oura ring, so I wanted to get my finger sized. Brett drove us to Cartagena. We had a coffee, then Karen went to the Ladies' clothing floor while Brett and I looked at electronics. I measured my finger but they didn't have the ring I wanted. We looked at computers and clothes before leaving.
We drove to the Roman Amphitheatre and took the open-caged lift up the cliff. We walked around the gardens and viewing area before heading back to Los Alcázares.
After being dropped off, I turned on the air conditioning and watched TV. I had a toasted cheese and ham roll, felt full, and thought I might sleep, but I didn't. Later, I researched the Oura ring and ordered one directly from the manufacturer on Amazon. It should arrive Tuesday.
In the evening, Karen and Brett came to pick me up, and we walked to Casa de Papel for dinner. I had pig cheeks in a lovely sauce and a lemon soufflé. After dinner, we went to Santa Teresa Sesenta bar. I saw my friend Lorraine, who had dyed her hair, and later my cousin Jill and her husband Peter.
We moved on to J&G Cocktails for a drink, then walked back along the beach. After saying goodbye, I went into my apartment. A few minutes later, my neighbours knocked on my door by mistake, thinking it was someone else's. They were all on the wrong floor. It was very funny, and I will remind them of it for years.
After cooling off, I went to bed.
Saturday, 13th September
I woke around 07:00, checked messages, showered, and had green tea. Brett messaged, and I set off to meet him and Karen at Cafe Parking. Before meeting them, I picked up my Amazon parcel from Economy Cash.
We had a coffee, then they took me to their hotel to show me their room. They had been upgraded to a suite, and it was very nice. After leaving the hotel, I went home and rested. My legs were sore from all the walking yesterday.
I spent the afternoon watching football, starting with Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest. Arsenal won 3-0, with five new players starting and all impressing. Zubimendi scored twice, and Gyökeres scored again.
Later, Karen and Brett came to say goodbye before catching their flight back to England. It had been great seeing them, and I hope they move here soon. I continued watching TV but got a bellyache. I couldn't decide if it was the toasted rolls or the honey-roasted peanuts. I felt bloated and uncomfortable.
I went to bed around 22:00 but couldn't sleep properly because of the stomach ache.
Sunday, 14th September
I got up around 7:30, and my stomach was still sore. I got some water, checked messages, and watched MOTD. After the game, I walked along the beach to Buena Vista to meet my friend Tony for a coffee.
We talked for about 45 minutes, and then I went home. My stomach was still sore, and I was glad to have a lazy day. I had recently started using X (Twitter) again, but it is rubbish, charges for everything, and I hate Elon Musk's politics and interference in British politics. I deactivated my X account and removed it from my website. In some ways, Elon Musk is worse than Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin in terms of interference. The world would be better without all three of them.
I spent the day resting and watching football. By late afternoon, the stomach ache had eased, and I had a bowl of salad. I continued watching TV and went to bed early at 22:00.
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