Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain
Summary: A week of hospital visits, leg treatment, early mornings, cold weather, shopping trips, new gadgets, long walks, films, football and a very memorable North London Derby.
Monday, 17th November
I woke up ready for the day ahead. I got a coffee, sat at my computer and checked that my server was running. I uploaded last week's blog to my website and worked on the server, moving more of my videos from an external hard drive to it. After a shower, I got ready to go to the health clinic. I took my Kindle with me, which turned out to be a good idea. When I arrived, the nurse was not there, so I started reading. She arrived after my appointment time and told me there would be a one hour wait. I kept reading until I was called in at about 12:20.
The nurse cleaned the wound, covered it again and repositioned the compression sock. She knew I had to go to the hospital tomorrow and made me an appointment for Friday. I left the clinic and went to meet Martin. I arrived at La Sombre around 12:45 and fancied a beer today. I sat with Martin, Dave, Aria and Kate, and Jesse and Sean joined us. We chatted and drank until later than usual. I ordered a pizza to take away and left around 15:30. The temperature had dropped a little, and I was glad I had worn my body warmer.
At home, I warmed up and ate the pizza while watching TV. I was still hungry, so I ate the other half as well. I could not get comfortable in my armchair, so I lay on my bed for a half hour nap. The beer and pizza made me fall asleep quickly, and after going to bed at 16:30, I did not wake up again today.
Tuesday, 18th November
I woke at 2:15 and again at 4:30. I tried to get back to sleep but could not, so I got up and worked on my website while listening to Owain Wyn Evans on Radio 2. At about 6:00, my hands were getting cold, so I turned my heating on low and made a coffee. After a shower, I got dressed for my hospital appointment. I worked on my website until 10:00, then met Liz downstairs. We got in her Smart car and drove to San Javier.
We arrived at Los Arcos hospital with plenty of time. I checked myself in easily and we waited to see the nurses. Liz came in with me to translate if needed. One nurse removed the plaster and cleaned the wound while the other spoke to me in English. I mentioned that the wound had healed quickly once when a powder was used instead of cream. She checked my notes, found the powder and used it again. They took a swab to check for infection and told me I did not need a translator next time. They made me an appointment for two weeks' time.
Liz needed to see an administrator, so I waited and read my Kindle while she had X rays. Afterwards, she drove us to a shop that sells English goods. I bought three boxes of Quaker porridge oats with golden syrup and a bottle of Heinz salad cream. We returned to Los Alcázares.
In the afternoon, I cooked two pork knuckles for dinner. They were lovely and cheap. I continued transferring videos to my server. In the evening, I played Whiskerwood and watched Wales beat North Macedonia 7-1. Wales finished second in their group and will go into the playoffs. I played Whiskerwood a little longer to tire myself out and went to bed just before midnight.
Wednesday, 19th November
I slept very well. I woke at 6:00, went to the toilet, went back to bed and fell asleep again. My alarm went off at 7:00, but I fell asleep again and finally got up around 7:45. I put on fresh compression socks, got a coffee and checked my messages. Martin had messaged late last night to say he could not meet me today because his TV had blown up. I told him the Black Friday sales start on Friday and he might want to wait.
At 9:45, I went to Mercadona on my disability scooter. I loaded the shopping onto the scooter and went home. The battery was low, and I was glad I had not gone any further. I put the scooter in the garage and carried my shopping upstairs. After putting everything away, I rested and then called Liz to let her know she could come up to look at my electric heater and shower stool. She has been saying she wants to buy both for two years. She looked at them and stayed chatting for about an hour while I tidied the kitchen.
When she left, I finished transferring videos to my server. I spent the rest of the day watching TV and playing Whiskerwood. It really is a compulsive game.
Thursday, 20th November
I woke around 6:30 and lay in bed until the alarm went off at 7:00. My phone read the news headlines to me, then I got up and made porridge with banana and blueberries. I got a coffee and sat at my computer while listening to Radio 2 and doing the Wordle puzzle. After a shower, I walked to the health clinic for my flu and COVID jabs. I was glad I wore my body warmer because the wind was chilly.
At the clinic, I sat with a few others. A nurse came out, read some names and went back inside. I waited until she called mine. She gave me the flu jab, then said I could not have the COVID jab because I was too young at 58. I told her I had received it in previous years because I am disabled. She checked the computer and instructed the other nurse to give me the COVID jab as well. It was painless and I walked home.
Amazon delivered my new bed sheets in the afternoon. I stripped the bed and remade it with the new green sheets. They fitted perfectly. I turned on the heating, made a cup of tea and read my Kindle. In the evening, I toasted a chipatti roll and spread it with guacamole and tomato. I played Whiskerwood late into the night, trying new ideas and telling myself I would stop in five minutes, until it was about 1:00 and I finally went to bed.
Friday, 21st November
I woke when my alarm went off at 8:00. I washed, dressed, made a coffee and porridge with banana, blueberries and raspberries. I did the Wordle puzzle and checked my appointment time. I had thought it was 10:00, but it was actually 10:50, so I did not arrive too early. I walked to the health clinic with my Kindle. The nurse was delayed again, but only briefly. She redressed the wound and I walked home.
I spent the rest of the day working on my website, playing Whiskerwood or watching TV. When it gets cold, I really do not feel like doing anything.
Saturday, 22nd November
I slept well, got up, did the Wordle puzzle and had a coffee. I messaged Martin to see if he had found a cheap TV in the Black Friday sales. He said they were going to MediaMkt in Cartagena today, so I asked if I could go along. It would get me out of the house. He said yes and that Kate would pick me up after 12:00. I spent the morning playing Whiskerwood and worked out how to tunnel under mountains and grow mushrooms. Exciting stuff.
Kate and Martin picked me up and we drove to MediaMkt. While they looked at TVs, I looked at mobile phones and juicers. I found a Moulinex juicer with a large feeder tube and bigger pulp collectors, much better than mine, so I bought it. I also bought some coffee and a set of metal straws.
I waited near the door with Aria while Kate and Martin paid. They had to collect the TV from the warehouse next door, but it was too big for their car, so Martin called Dave to help. While he waited, Kate, Aria and I walked to the shopping centre. They got drinks and a sandwich, and I went to Primark to look for joggers. They had gone down from €14 to €7 in the sale, so I bought two pairs.
Kate drove me home, and on the way, Martin messaged asking if I wanted a beer. I dropped my shopping off and went straight back out. Kate dropped Aria and me at the Corner Bar. It was very cold outside, and we moved tables a few times but I could not get warm.
After a couple of beers, Martin took Aria home. I walked to the ATM at Rio Nalon and was glad it was working. As I walked past The Celt, I saw my old friend Stuart. It was strange because Martin and I had been talking about him earlier. He was the one who originally called me Shark Bite, which became Sharky. We chatted briefly before I walked to Harry's bar.
I stayed there for a few hours, chatting and watching football. Liverpool lost 0-3 to Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle beat Manchester City 2-1, which was great for Arsenal as long as they beat Tottenham tomorrow. After the match, I walked to Roccos bar, saw Rachid and watched people play pool. I played the winner and potted all my reds before he had potted one yellow. Feeling generous, I switched to yellows and still potted the black. I chatted to a Spanish girl who was very good looking, though I was not sure who she was with.
I walked home and saw Harry's bar closing. I thought it was early, but when I got in, I realised it was almost midnight. I got straight into bed and fell asleep quickly.
Sunday, 23rd November
I did not wake until mid morning and felt a bit worse for wear after yesterday. I sat in my armchair, keeping warm and playing Whiskerwood. Arsenal played Tottenham in the afternoon. I had planned to go to the pub, but I stayed home under my blanket and watched it there. Arsenal played brilliantly and won 4-1. Eberechi Eze scored a hat trick. Tottenham had tried to sign him in the summer, but he chose Arsenal, the club he supported as a boy. His emotion after the match was lovely to see. It was the first hat trick in a North London Derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978. With yesterday's results, Arsenal now had a six point lead at the top of the Premier League.
I played Whiskerwood into the early hours and went to bed a very happy Gooner.
Add comment