Just as …

Just as you get used to the holiday malarkey it’s the weekend and the return home in sight , made more looming by helpful reminders from Jet 2 about our transfer to the airport when we actually leave. But today was pure holiday, as we joined our friends for a visit to the next village, Câmara da Lobos. We had arranged to meet at the bus stop, but finding out we’d have an age to wait soon hopped onto/into a taxi.

We spent the rest of the morning pottering round the town where Churchill liked to paint, looking into a couple of carving-encrusted churches, sharing massive club sandwiches on a cafe terrace. We walked towards Funchal along the winding coastal way past cement works and beaches of black sand, stopping for a drink before making our way up to the main road to catch a bus for the rest of the way. It felt like holiday, relieved of all responsibility because we were with people who knew what we were doing and seemed happy to be guides. My arms and face are a different colour from what they were before, and I feel I’ve been out in the sun…

Dinner in the mansion again - a tiger king prawn surrounded by little deliciousnesses, some perfect lamb and a fabby dessert. And home to bed under the moon…