On The Island

Mal was feeling a lot better. Today we were in the throes of storm  Eleina. This makes good reading…

After breakfast the four of us decided to get a Bolt to the Forum so we could go shopping for some warm clothes! They still have a C&A there, so at least we won’t be cold. We left the Forum having ordered a Bolt back and as we stood waiting (only for 2 minutes) we were covered in hail stones! As we keep being told this is very unusual weather for Madeira.

We chatted to one of the hotel guests all packed up ready to go. She had been told to take the transfer to the airport and they would give her a voucher for another hotel until they could manage to find her a flight. No flights had arrived or taken off all day! They doubt if there will be any tomorrow.

Early evening the thunder and lightning started.

Dinner was fish night and so we had a huge bowl of fresh prawns on our table. The four of us love them and then we went to get some more! Delicious.

After dinner we listened to the singer and a few drinks and still the rain and storm  continued.

We planned to go into Funchal in the morning but rain was forecast, so had breakfast first, Paula came down for a while and then took food back up to the room for Gilly.

In the end we chose to go for a long walk along the sea front as it was a grey, windy day.

Mal didn’t feel like lunch and instead went to bed feeling really tired. This is our hotel….

He was still not feeling well in the evening so stayed where he was. I went down for dinner with Paula and Gilly and then we met up with Rob and the folk dancers gave us a very good display. They are always excellent and have everyone up joining in.

Following that we went to what we know as “the naughty corner” for a few drinks. Last in the bar again.

Mohamed the lovely bar man asked if there was anything we wanted as I said Mal was in bed and I said just some milk to make tea (we have fridges in the room). He came out with a huge carton of milk for me.

No sign of Paula and Gilly when we went to have breakfast. We didn’t expect it as Paula I am sure would have been the worse for wear.

We took the hotel bus into Funchal. We had a quick look but coming back another time to see all the Christmas decorations.

We then ordered a Bolt (Uber) to take us to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, my favourite place and also we had some more memory stones to place up there.

I have to say the sunsets from our room are amazing.

We had a totally mad evening with Rob the Welshman , I did warn him about the terrible twins, Paula and Gilly but he came back for more!! At stages we were all crying with laughter. BUT we enjoyed ourselves and I think even the staff love that we enjoy ourselves so much.

 

We sleep with the patio door open because it is so nice listening to the sea outside but we were woken by torrential rain and the sea was so rough. The entire day was stormy which meant we stayed in the hotel and quite honestly had a “holiday” day. We played cards, ate and drank!

Mal complained the previous night that they had no cider…..they had some this evening! Quite honestly they will get in anything you want. It should have been BBQ night but hopeless as everything outside was drenched and still raining, so we ate indoors.

A really nice relaxing day, Paula drank far too much and was a little loud!!

I did manage to watch the Spurs game and they won!

A public holiday today – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – the official start to the Christmas Festivities.

We went for a walk in the morning and then Gilly and Paula arrived. Mal went to help them with their cases but they said they just wanted a drink first and left their cases in reception cupboard. We had lunch together and quite a few drinks and were still sitting at the same table in the evening!

Eventually Mal helped them upstairs with the cases, we all changed for dinner and continued downstairs listening to the music and chatting. Our favourite barman Mohamed welcomed us and gave us all a hug. We spent the evening with another hotel guest a Welshman who was a solo traveller, I think we entertained him with our stories of days gone by and happenings in Cyprus etc. A really good evening.

We were up at 2.15 am to get ready for our holiday to Madeira. All our packing into the car plus Ellie’s provisions and we drove to Faversham to drop Ellie off with Lou and Rhys and then Lou drove us to Gatwick for the 7.15 flight.

I was not impressed with the lady in the seat directly behind me who coughed and spluttered the entire journey. The pilot actually made it 15 minutes quicker than it should have been.  We have been so lucky as we have never had trouble with take offs or landings here, many have and  the plane has to be diverted, maybe to the Canaries because of the cross winds. The runway is only available to experienced pilots!! The runway is short and right next to the sea.

A good landing today. In fact it took us back to Cyprus days as all the passengers applauded.

and the sun was out!

Even though we were really early, our room was ready and they welcomed us back with a welcoming glass of Madeira wine!

Unpacking and then into lunch.

A glass of wine followed by a glass of Sangria. So nice to be back where they remember us and welcome us and so nice to see the sun at this time of year!

The view from our room

And then one of the staff brought this up to the room!!

Celso entertained us with his karaoke in the evening.

We took Ellie to Knees wood, one of her favourite places.

We met a couple with a golden retriever who we have met before. He is such a lovely boy and I made a fuss of him and then realised I was covered in mud!! He had been rolling in puddles and then leaning up against me! Bless him!

For a change a good Spurs game in the afternoon.