Monday 1st December

Mare of a day last night trying to connect to the ships's Internet .....I took photographs which I'll post later when I work out how to stop the machine turning them round after I've turned them round.  Much simpler on my machine.  Anyway....just docking in Madeira....I'll update later ...ship's internet permitting....grrrr.

Monday 2nd December

So after another frustrating start to the session it now transpires that a new male to male USB connecting cable doesn't work so yet more to add into the pot.  I can't charge the laptop at the same time as doing anything.

The weather is not what it's supposed to be....fourteen degrees this morning an spots of rain.  I came here to get ready for winter.  Of course there are the hardy ones in shorts and t-shirts while the sensible ones put on long trousers and sweater...I'm toasty.  Down for breakfast and then purchased tickets to travel into Funchal on the coach...it was far too misty to think about  a trip to the top on the cable car or take one of the organised tours.  They are rip offs without there's a lot  to see and there might have been a lot but  definitely not to see.

No swimming today although there is a barbecue later around the  pool which we may go to despite the fact that there's far too much tempting food in the eight restaurants on board.  I should have plenty of calories stored to take me through the winter.

So far so good...some pictures from yesterday of the tall ship and the Santa Maria is from today.  We arrived in port an it left.  Beautiful flowers and trees in bloom in Madeira.  I found a seed pod that I shall take back with me from a type of mimosa tree and fingers crossed.  LN...The evening beckons....LN

Tuesday 3rd December

Not such a good day weather wise.  They've closed the swimming pool, god has closed the access to the sun and it's a whole day at sea so I've been catching up on my sleep.  There was a comedian flown in from the UK for last night's cabaret.....not bad but I hope they got  the ticket at a reasonable price.  

Tomorrow we're off to Agadir and I've booked one of the organised trips to one of the coastal forts and they're supposed to have a market so I shall be buying my Christmas pressies with a bit of luck.  I've just checked out the sale prices in the  on board shops....and carried on walking.  Almost five....dressed for dinner tonight so just about to press my gold lamee.....just to fit in.  LN....where did I pack that iron....LN

Wednesday 4th December

It was a pretty sleepless night.  You know what it's like ....you  book a tour and set the alarms and worry that they're not going to go off.  Well they did but that was after I was up and about.

Off the ship and on to the coach by eight twenty.  I had to go down to reception to find the  tickets that should have been delivered to the cabin.  The response that 'housekeeping probably lost them' was not what  I wanted to hear and I told her so.  Ah well....it's a holiday peeps.
The local guide took us through the very dry countryside and showed us goats up trees and I found one not up a tree and then on to a restaurant for a quick refresh and a toilet stop.  He reckoned that there wasn't much chance of finding another one in the town.....I thought I was back in BG.

Quick walk through the Medina with another stop at a perfume shop getting splashed with lots of different 'flavour' coming away smelling like Boots.  Back to the ship by two and in for late lunch and thought about a swim....tested the water and gave the idea a miss.  A bit of excitement...we're berthed near the container port and one of the containers was on its end.  I only hope it's not televisions.

Soon be supper time....from one meal to the next.  LN...I'll check out the gym tomorrow....LN

Thursday 5th December

Lanzarotte this morning and we decided not to go ashore since we also pay a visit to it next week.  The weather looked like it might be a mixed bag and it certainly was.  The sun was already up when I put my toe out on to the balcony, I did manage  to get a shot and then down for a very healthy start to breakfast which suddenly deteriorated along with the rest of the day's weather.  Bacon, egg, hash brown, mushrooms and toast and the  first rainbow of the day.

I tidied the cabin and we headed out to the deck and found a fairly out of the wind place on the deck.  I was tempted to swim but the mood didn't  last long, moved on to a sunbed and from what appeared to be a cloudless sky, it started to rain so it was back inside ....lunch was calling.  Quite a strange rainbow....it was horizontal and no I hadn't been drinking.  I've still managed to avoid it even though it's an all inclusive cruise.

Afternoon nap and I've just caught the last of the sunset....cruise band are up on the deck and no one to play for and definitely no one in the pool.  Supper will be on the cards next....I'll burn the gained calories  off in BG.  Rude to refuse it when it's been cooked for you.  LN....Shower and show time.....LN

Friday 6th December

One lot homeward bound today  and another lot in.  In some ways I wish the  weather would change and then I'd be happier for the second week but at least today we managed to go ashore and enjoy Teneriffe.  There were two other ships in so it was multicultural and the Ocean Majesty was in port again and I really must find out  where it's based and who runs it now.  It would be good to go on it again.

An interesting occurrence  this morning...I couldn't get into the cabin safe and  I think someone had been finger happy in control and had us earmarked for leaving or perhaps it was just wishful thinking on their part.  Anyway...all resolved..a lady from reception appeared with the master control and all was intact.

Walked ashore and ambled around enjoying the intermittent sunshine and no rain so pleasurable.  Back for a late lunch, stuffed to the gills and not sure where  I'll put tonight's but I'm sure I'll find a space.  M is snoring his little head off while I do the update.  LN...Shower and hairwash for me....LN

Saturday 7th December

Well pretty entertaining last night for the rest of the table at supper. Now this cruise is all inclusive and the waiters make the wine flow freely but to get an orange juice or a coke you have to present your cabin card which is taken away but the waiter.  The drink appears on your cabin statement with no charge....it's a policy.  So my card was taken and not returned along with the coke so. I requested it twice and nothing was forthcoming so I left the table and found a man in a suit to help me sort it out.  Back to the table, more comings and goings and I decided the best option was to go to reception, have new cards printed for the cabin and the old ones cancelled just to make sure that no one could enter the cabin or use my internet access.  Job done I returned to the table for pudding and nothing has been seen of the old one since.  I shall be ordering a coke from the bar and taking it with me tonight to the restaurant.

I didn't sleep well and read for an hour in the middle of the night and at six was reading again.  Down for breakfast and out and on to the pool side and prepared to swim but chickened out at the last minute....far too cold.  In for lunch and back to the sunbeds only lasting an hour before it was back to the cabin and on to the balcony where the sun briefly shone but now back into the warmth.

Strictly tonight and I'm going to attempt to watch it before supper....I'm not sure how well it will stream.  San Sebastian tomorrow and Island views coach tour so it's best check the weather as to what to wear  Cabaret night after supper...let's see how well they mime tonight to the background backing tracks.  LN...Where's the sun gone.....LN

Sunday 8th December

Reasonable night last night....we went to the entertainment...Ok but not stunning and I was nodding off.  I'd watched a little of Strictly before supper but thought I'd save the browsing until tonight to watch the dance off...saving my allowance.

Morning sun now there's a thing we haven't seen much of and we were on a coach tour to Gomera today...views and sights of said island...one of the smaller ones.  Very narrow roads and to get to the viewing point we had to go down in size from the coach to an eighteen seater and still had to back up at times for cars coming the other way.  It was the usual tour...flora and forna and some really interesting plants, a demonstration of whistling that they teach in schools apparently and is a recognised language....strange folks  but it got very confusing when we were getting back to the big coach.....the instructions weren't very clear and no way can you get a quart into a pint pot.  Eventually everybody was back where they should be and we made our way to the bowl of the volcano and not staying long...it was blowing a gale.  Back on the coach, back on board and as the ship left port I realised that the cabin balcony was facing the sun so I didn't move far from home base.

It just going down now as we head towards  the next port.  LN....Shower and showtime.....LN

Monday 9th December

Better night's sleep and woke up at six.  The latest Kay Scarpetta novel is no more and the twist only came into play in the last chapter and I didn't feel that it was wound up very well.  A twin of the main culprit...now where did that come from.  I watched the pilot boat take us in to port and two others had beaten us to it....the big one that appears to follow us had stolen a march on us and a Saga ship.  Now I'm not young but fairly active....I guessed today was going to be difficult getting around with the little disabled scooters and I was right.

So Madeira it is and the same views from last time.  On to the shore bus....too far to walk for my compatriot....and we set off to walk the town.  Lots of gift shops, street musicians but t...the one next to the band that we found gave up....the competition was just too great.  We walked to the cable car with the intention of going to the top but the queue was horrendous and the clouds rolled in so it would have been a waste of money.  We found a spot on the sea front opposite a lovely garden and I went gathering seeds to bring home with me.  Lots of new ones to try out.

Back on board via the shuttle for about three....late lunch...carried on reading Outlander which is good to dip into and had an afternoon siesta....rude not to.  Almost seven....time to get ready for supper and then more food.  I shall be on a diet as soon as I get home out of necessity with Christmas approaching.  When you have to cook it yourself though it's much easier than having lots of goodies presented to you three times a day.  LN.....A sea day tomorrow....fingers crossed for sun and a sunbed.....LN

Tuesday 10th December

A whole day at sea so what could be better?   A whole day of sea with sun.  There was a hint of pink this morning which did show promise but as the day wore on the promise broken and it's been changeable all day.  I was out on the balcony at around seven watching the gentle waves and the sunrise and down for breakfast by eight thirty topping up with fuel for the day....and there's lots of it.  I shall have to be wearing it off at home.

We managed to find a couple of sunbeds and noticed that the threatened parking ticket system had been introduced.  As you know there are always the ones that grab the sunbeds staking them out with the towel and with space being at a premium with everybody on board for the day the tickets were applied to the offending towels and beds.  It didn't seem to make much difference....the rain did the rest....people came and went all day.  We managed to get a couple under the upper floor parapet out of the wind and light rain and stuck it out until lunch time and finding the same spot on our return.

Tomorrow we're on a tour to Arrecife and a volcano tour and supposedly with various demonstrations which I'll let you know about.  Smart dress night in store.  LN......Just off to polish the gold lame.....LN