When Columbus was crawling into its Madeira berth yesterday morning,

the island was basking in the most glorious sunshine.I did not dilly dally once the ship was cleared by customs and set out on the loveliest of walks to town,I have never timed the walk, the ship's daily newspaper suggested 25 minutes and 25 it may well be. I wanted coffee,good coffee and knew where to get it, then the shoe shop and the clothes shop,and if time allows, Oriflame cosmetics.Well, we have a saying in Slovakia - clovek mieni,pan Boh meni- one can plan,but God has his own ideas!I took a short side street Rua Dos Murcas and came across an immaculate little coffee shop called Bonjour Cafe,empty at the time, with the nicest of staff,and they make the best coffee in Funchal with milk that smells like milk and tastes like milk,and a delicious hot sweet cheese pastry and freshly squeezed orange juice [ I had two glasses].Fortified I continued on my travels.Eureka shop had exactly what I wanted in the shoe department,the most comfortable nude coloured sandals half price, ankle lace up boots for day,black but with red sole and white heel,utterly lovely,and ankle blue kind of velvety suede boots for the evening,low heel,pointed toe,stylish,elegant.The clothes shop had nothing to make me jump with joy except some very expensive though most unusual long designer necklaces,the one I liked the most was 96 euros, but I resisted,when I return to Funchal on 21st December,it may be on sale.Have I mentioned that I am spending Christmas on board of the Queen Victoria,leaving Southampton 17th December for 12 nights?Yes, I will have just two days to get ready,as we are docking in Tilbury,England on the morning of the 14th December.