Location: Los Alcázares, Región de Murcia, Spain.
Summary: A hot and busy week with nurse visits, long walks, website work, new health gadgets, family meals, Amazon deliveries, and football. I spent time improving my fitness, adjusting my routines, enjoying visits from Karen and Brett, and dealing with the heat while keeping up with my website and daily habits.
Monday, 15th September
I woke about 7:30 this morning, and after getting a mug of green tea, I sat down at my computer to do the Wordle puzzle online. I did some work on my website, and as I sat working, I suddenly realised it was time to meet my friend Tony at Buena Vista restaurant. I quickly walked along the beach to the restaurant and found Tony waiting for me. We sat and chatted for about 30 minutes before leaving.
I walked back to my apartment and continued working on my website for a while before getting on my disability scooter and going to the health clinic to get my leg dressed. When I arrived, I realised I had read my appointment time incorrectly and was an hour early. The clinic was nice and cool, so I sat reading my Kindle.
When it was my turn, I was rewarded for being patient. In addition to my regular nurse, two young trainee nurses were present, and all three looked after me. The two young nurses were very good, smoothing my leg and fluttering their eyes as they learned from the regular nurse. She told them she wanted my leg healed before my holiday to Australia next year. After treating my ankle, she made an appointment for Thursday.
After leaving the clinic, I went to Cafe Prensa in Los Narejos. I saw Steve and Theresa and joined them for a coffee and a tostada. Theresa left as soon as Steve and I started talking about genealogy. After paying my bill, I continued to Pizzeria La Sombre to meet Martin and Dave.
I sat talking with them until around 13:45, but it was getting very hot again, so I left for home. When I got back, I turned on the air conditioning and had a salad for lunch. Heat warnings had been issued again, and I was pleased to be indoors. I spent the evening working on my website and watching the temperature climb on my balcony. My thermometer showed 52 °C.
I had been invited out for dinner, but the restaurant they chose always upsets my stomach, so I politely declined and had an early night.
Tuesday, 16th September
I woke before 5:00 and couldn't get back to sleep. I got up, made a green tea, and worked on my computer while listening to Radio Two. I sent a WhatsApp message to Owain Wyn Evans, who read it out on air. I wondered if any of my friends or relatives in the UK heard it.
I got ready to meet Tony at Buena Vista again. I took some rubbish to the bin and walked along to the restaurant just before 9:00. The staff were opening up, and one of the waitresses brought me a coffee. Tony arrived around 9:30, and we talked until he left to meet his wife.
I was expecting delivery of my new Oura Ring today and kept checking the Amazon app. When I got home, I continued working on my website. My legs had been aching recently, and I had been told it was water retention. I watched some YouTube videos about exercises for people with mobility issues and ways to reduce water retention. One suggestion was raising your feet at night, so I looked for a leg pillow online and ordered one.
My new ring arrived mid-afternoon, and I set it up. It was strange that I could take a photo of my food and the phone would identify it and add it to my food diary.
In the evening, I watched Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal in the Champions League. It was 0-0 until Martinelli came on and scored within 36 seconds. He later set up Trossard for a second goal, giving Arsenal a 0-2 win.
I began watching the Tottenham game, but it didn't interest me. My phone beeped with a message from the ring software telling me to wind down for bed. I was amazed it had already learned my sleep pattern. I followed its advice and went to bed at halftime.
Wednesday, 17th September
I woke up and made a mug of ginger tea. I checked the sleep report from my new ring and was amazed at the detail. I registered my tea on the app and checked my hydration levels.
After showering, I planned to go for a walk, but realised I had no food for lunch. Instead, I went to Mercadona on my disability scooter. When I got home, I turned on the air conditioning and worked on my website, removing around 800 outdated pages and images from Google Index.
For lunch, I had a Texas Salad with wraps. I must have fallen asleep afterwards, and my ring detected and timed my nap. It seems very accurate.
Later, a delivery driver returned my coffee machine. It worked perfectly, and I enjoyed a Café Latte. Cecotec then sent me a survey, and I told them their service was rubbish. They had my machine for 40 days and never updated me.
In the evening, I noticed the temperature on my balcony had risen above 50 °C for the third day in a row. I will be happier when it cools down so I can exercise more.
Thursday, 18th September
I got up around 7:45 after sleeping well again. The ring software suggested blocking out all light in my bedroom, and it seems to have helped.
I made a coffee with my repaired machine and completed the Wordle puzzle, extending my streak to 50. With no deliveries due and my clinic appointment at 12:40, I went for a walk along the beach while it was still cool.
I walked to the Rambla and then to Espressarse Bar for a coffee and tostada, but a dog was tied across the disabled ramp and door. Inside, I was ignored by two waitresses, so I left and continued my walk. I walked home, got a cold drink, and checked the readings from my ring. It had mapped my walk in detail, including pace, calories, steps, and heart rate zones.
I continued removing blocked links from Google Index until it was time to go to the clinic. On the way, a Spanish man greeted me, and although I recognised him, I couldn't remember from where.
The nurse cleaned my wound and filled it with a powder before dressing it. She explained what it was, but my Spanish wasn't good enough to understand. I hoped it wasn't gunpowder in this heat. She made an appointment for Monday.
When I got home, I was exhausted but pleased with my walks. I had a salad with wraps for dinner and spent the evening working on Google Index. I also finished the chocolate Karen brought me from England. Now I can focus on losing weight without temptation.
I went to bed just after 22:00.
Friday, 19th September
I woke a couple of times during the night but got back to sleep quickly. I got up around 7:15, made a coffee, and checked my computer. It was running slowly, and a warning popped up saying it was low on memory. I ran a cleanup program, and it ran much better afterwards.
I removed around 500 more indexed pages from Google Index and then went for a short walk. On the way out, I took a bag of old clothes to the recycling bin. After my walk, I compared the Oura app to the Fitbit app and realised Fitbit was double-counting steps. I disconnected the two apps.
My Amazon delivery arrived around 12:30. It was the leg pillow I ordered. I unboxed it and left it to expand for 24 hours.
I emailed my distant cousin Lyn in Australia to share my holiday plans and ask for travel tips.
At 17:45, I went for another walk and then met my friend George at Avenida Cafe. We talked about his health and hospital care. We both had non-alcoholic drinks, which would surprise anyone who knew us years ago.
After walking home, I watched Police Interceptors. The way people treat the police these days is despicable. I went to bed around 22:00. Now that the summer visitors have gone, the area is beautifully quiet.
Saturday, 20th September
I woke around 7:45, made a coffee, and checked my messages. I received a nice email from Lyn with helpful tips for my trip.
I did the Wordle puzzle, taking my streak to 52 days. After breakfast, I stripped the bed and put the linen in the washing machine. At 9:30, I went to Economy Cash for groceries. They didn't have the pasta salad I like, so I may have to make my own.
I fed and watered my plants, using liquid fertiliser from my compost bin. I washed the balcony down and then rested in my recliner.
When the washing finished, I hung the linen on the clothes horse. I hope I remember to make the bed later.
I read about Rosemary and how boiling it can make the kitchen smell nice. It is hardy and ideal for my balcony, so I made a note to replace some plants with Rosemary and possibly mint.
While watching TV, I was irritated by American cooking shows claiming dishes like fondue and Tex-Mex as American. I used to love everything about America, but the longer Donald Dump is in charge, the more irritating it becomes. Please, America, Dump Trump.
I felt lethargic today and didn't walk. According to the Oura app, I had a broken night's sleep. I watched football and played CIV VI. I ate properly today, though, and the ring seems to be tracking everything well.
I heard from a few old friends in England today. Martin thought I might have died because of my Facebook ban. It was great to talk to them all again, and I hope we meet again someday.
Sunday, 21st September
I woke at 7:00 and made a double-sized coffee. It was a mistake, as it was cold by the time I got halfway through it. Tomorrow, I will go back to two small cups.
I did the Wordle puzzle and then went for a walk while it was still cool. I walked along the beach to the Costa Los Narejos hotel, then up to No Name Cafe, but it was shut. I continued to Elena's cafe and stopped for a coffee and tostada while reading my Kindle.
After breakfast, I walked back along the beach to my apartment. It was still only 10:30, so I put on Radio Two and worked on my website.
For lunch, I cooked roast chicken basted in garlic and ginger paste. It was fantastic. The small chickens I buy are enough for two meals and cost only €2.99. I plan to make spaghetti bolognese next week to freeze for ready meals.
In the evening, I watched Arsenal vs Manchester City. Arsenal were the better team but didn't commit enough players forward. Haaland scored for City, but Martinelli came on late and scored an equaliser. Arsenal are second in the league and have had a tough start.
After the game, my Uncle Dave called me on WhatsApp. His carer had fixed the app for him. He is considering buying a disability scooter, and I gave him some advice. I looked up local stores for him and sent him the links.
I watched TV until around 22:00 and then went to bed.
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