We're almost there! The Captain confirmed today, in his daily announcement, that we will be arriving in Funchal at approximately 10:20pm. We will join the flotilla of vessels in the harbour there in time to view the famed Madeira New Year Fireworks. Even ships that are in dock will sail out and anchor in the harbour because that's the best play to view them from, apparently. It should be quite a spectacle; I can't wait!

We'll have been at sea for a whole 7 days without seeing land. Because we would originally have stopped at the Azores and picked up supplies there, the ship is slowly running out of things. At lunch today, I overheard a lady being told that unfortunately there are no longer any fresh cucumbers or tomatoes on board, and the ice-cream vending machine is down to gluten-free cornets only; I'm sure we'll last the final few hours before Funchal without those particular provisions. In his address, The Captain also apologised for the dull-clanging sound of the noon-day bell yesterday; it seems all the years of daily clanging has finally taken its toll (no pun intended), and yesterday when they bashed it, it cracked. The good news is, the on-board brasier has repaired it so clangs can resume as normal at midnight tonight, when it is traditional for the youngest member of crew and the oldest member to share the ringing of the bell. Also, we altered our clocks for the last time today, which means we are now operating at Greewich Mean Time. Since Madeira is on the same line of latitude as the UK, we won't be required to alter them again now for the rest of the trip.

Today we had another Code Victoria - another leak - maybe the constant full-speed ahead really has started rattling the ship to bits! I happened to pass the place were they had the leak, and at least for crewmen were frantically dashing about beneath a yawning hole in the ceiling there with buckets.

I had to pop into the Entertainments Office this afternoon to rustle up a flip chart for my workshop. I apologised for being a pain, because I knew things were probably very hectic today of all days, and  the Assistant Crew Director confirmed that things were indeed very hectic, and everybody is highly stressed.

Last night, Adam, one of the other crew members from the Entertainments team, who unfortunately suffers from terrible sea-sickness, dropped a hint that they're all very concerned about a hurricane that is currently hovering about Greenland and heading South. If predictions are right, and the hurricane doesn't blow itself out, it's highly probable that it'll hit the Bay of Biscay just as we're crossing it on our last leg home.

Tonight is the last of the formal nights, when we will be treated to a Traditional Hogmanay Feast. I don't know if we have a piper on board to 'Pipe in the Haggis' - it's been suggested by some that he should have joined us at The Azores, so we'll see. I have an image of some poor crew member locked away down in the hold somewhere frantically learning how to play the bagpipes without it sounding like a bagful of strangled cats.

So the New Year approaches and in a few hours time it will be 2008. In case I don't get back to the internet room before tomorrow, I would just like to take this opportunity to say to anybody out there who is still reading the blog (and I know there are quite a number of you - I read the stats); I'd like to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. May your boats always float and your washes dry evenly!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU HUN!!!
MAY YOU RECEIVE THE SUCCUSS YOU TRULY DESERVE & THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD FOR!

Just don't forget about me! All i ask when your rich & famous is a winnebago lmao!!!! Might have my bivvi bag by then lovl!!!

CaZ xxXXxx

Hi Peter
Happy New Year. Reading your blog has given me the best laugh I've had for ages, and having been on several cruises I can relate to it all! Hope you reached Madeira for the fireworks. See you next term.

Thanks for that Caz & Gwen - a very happy new year to you too!!

As you can see from the woolley-cam, we made it in time for the fireworks which were truly awesome. I've just managed to upload the image in an internet cafe on the dockside at Funchal; sail-away is in just over an hour, so I've had to rush a bit to get the photo installed - full post to follow.

Roll on 2008!!!!!!!!

Peter