The go-to-bed-for-a-few-hours-and-get-better approach to general feelings of cruddiness appears to have worked once again, and my swim this morning (Saturday) was conducted with the usual spirited resentfulness that characterises my approach to such mindless (but vital) exercise.
My 1500m were swum in my customary lane, but alas, not alone. As the weekends have an opening time an hour later than usual, there tends to be something of a clash of ‘earlies’ and ‘laters’ which means that some lanes have three swimmers in them following a rough oblong pattern to ensure swimmer separation.
As I swim in a lane next to the edge of the pool (with the steps jutting out a bit into the lane space) people are generally dissuaded from joining me, as there is the more than likely chance of hitting the steps on passing. However, this does mean that if someone does join me then the swimming becomes a little more tense, as the swimmer nearer the side swerves out slightly to compensate for the obstruction of the steps and then stands a chance of hitting the arm of the swimmer going in the other direction.
As I am something of a ‘fixture’ in the side lane early in the morning, I feel ever so slightly resentful if I am joined by someone. Anyone. But I tell myself, such vicissitudes are character enhancing – and it makes my eventual cup of tea and baguette even more of a just dessert. Which prepares one for lunch.
As we hadn’t been out for a few days (see: ill health above) we decided to go for a menu del dia in spite of the fact that the cost of these meals increases absurdly during the weekends. One must attend to one’s little pleasures.
My choices were: vino tinto y Casera, with ice and lemon, to drink; a first course of fideau with alioli, and a second course of galtas cooked with Cognac, the meal completed with lemon cream pie, and iced coffee – all for less than, well, even with the Euro at 86p (70p when I first came to Catalonia!) just under nineteen quid! At the weekend! And people ask me why I moved here! Well, actually they don’t – and with what is going on with the so-called governance of the United Kingdom at the moment, that is hardly surprising!
We ate outside, as the restaurant we ate in is situated at the bottom of parallel residential blocks, and that gives the paseo between them a very pleasant breeze. The weather has changed somewhat over the last few days and the temperature is cooler – though we are still using the fans to make the temperature pleasant. The seasons are changing, and we have been forecast to have tormentas this afternoon, though it is now going into the early evening and not a drop of rain, nor a sound of distant thunder so far!
Monday sees the first of the autumn season of hospital visits (as an outpatient I rush to add) and I expect little from this one, but much from the one next month. However misplaced such hope might turn out to be!
