Today's workshop went well, and I've started collecting work from students in readiness for our exhibtion which will take place at the very back end of the cruise. I've also started making a few of those all-important sales, too, which makes the whole thing just that little bit more worthwhile.

My other good news is that I've been invited onto a table in the Thistle Restaurant for the New Year's Dinner, which is an absolute first for me (tutors are not allowed to dine in either of the two formal restaurants unless specifically invited by a passenger). My Christmas Day meal was okay, but being dressed up to the nines and eating in the Palms cafe by yourself kind of misses some of the festiveness of the occasion. Tonight is also a formal night, so I'll be able to enjoy the formal dinner, dressed in my formal wear, in appropriate formal surroundings - woo hoooo!!

The New Year is a few hours away here (although the evening activities will start in just over an hour's time), but because The new year in the UK will come around 4 hours earlier, I'd like to just take this opportunity to wish everyone who has taken the time to read this blog (and I happen to know there are a fair number of you because I'm able to check statistics), a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Roll on 2009!