Can’t believe it. Sure John has arranged it. It is torrential rain and very windy i.e. we are storm bound. So what you may be asking. Well we can’t go sailing and I could go shopping but we are stuck in the North of the island where there isn’t even a mini mercado never mind decent shops! Humbug!

The day dawned early as the engineer knocked on the bow. He was most apologetic about not returning yesterday. Anyway he could find no problem to fix and left without charging. Would there were mor elike him. As a result of the early start we decided to venture back to Funchal by local bus. This driver this morning was an older man who knew how to work the clutch and the brakes. The result was that we arrived safe and sound in Funchal before lunch. We managed to find the market today which was filled with the most amazing array of fruits, vegetables and fish, They don’t half catch big tuna around here. We tasted a variety of passion fruits, local to M We had hoped to take a cable car ride up the mountain to see the magnificant views. However the girl said it was thick fog and raining at the top so we opted for the open top bus tour instead.

Currently debating whether or not we should make a run for Lanzarote as there is a huge weather system about to descend on Madiera which is likely to last till Thursday at earliest. That is beginning to cut it fine to get to Canaries in time for Jane and Jim arriving.
John is currently in the aft locker taking the generator casing apart to check it out. If that works then we will probably make a run for it. We will however need assistance to get out the berth we are in as it is extremely tight and we don't do backwards very well.
Voyageur left early this morning and hoped to get well clear of the front by tomorrow. Spent a lovely evening with them last night.

Lots of lovely e mails from home - thankyou all will reply asap.