"The cup of silver"

as Cadiz has been nicknamed due to the glittering ripples of the sea it may be, but my cup of tea it ain't. The hopes were high,but never have I been happier not to have booked a tour than today. Grade four hurricane all night.Winds and gales never worry me on P & O ships,in fact on any ship to date,they all had stabilisers, except the infernal Columbus that should never have been allowed to cross the Atlantic,the stabilisers ensure we are rocked and rolled to the minimum,even though at the time it does not seem so.But rain without respite is something else.And this morning we had the something else.We went into the terminal to take the advantage of free wi-fi [in fact my sister only, I buy the daily package on board],at times the falling rain sounded like a plane raring to ascend.Still, well covered we decided to venture outside.Big mistake.The pavements and the sides of the streets were swimming in water,soon my shoes were soaking wet and I said enough, I am going back.My sister joined me. As it was almost 1, we stopped in the Ligurian for lunch.Avocado and a tomato on warm toast,delicious, my favourite starter to date,corn soup,very nice,stewed beef,cabbage and a dumpling very pleasant, but had the dumpling been bigger and the piece of beef smaller,I would have been happier.The waiter came back to take the dessert order.We chose the walnut gateau with a mandarin and coffee.When the plate was placed in front of me I realised it was my favourite cake at sea to date.I had it three years ago at Christmas and have been singing praises of the deliciousness of this light as feather concoction since.My sister was not as impressed, but then she consumes masses and masses of cakes, biscuits,tarts and gateaux.With four grandchildren to bake for, her two daughters in law compete in coming up with the most extravagant creations. So I am now in my cabin nursing a cup of hot lemon wate.I may be on the way to a chest infection.Several nights ago my throat began to hurt,so in Cartagena I picked up Notus Antitusivo pastils,I take them religiously and am hoping to avoid a visit to a doctor.Bad luck getting this on board of a ship, but then worse things happen. My sister is on the top deck taking photographs and we are hoping it will stop raining and we will be able to go out for a walk again. We sail at 18.30 for Gibraltar.