At last, we're leaving Blighty. The weather doesnt disappoint, we stay on deck for an hour and the French crew tell us we cant stay out here as it's going to get rough. We've lobbed the bags in and so now have a wander around the ship. It's smaller that the ferries to Holland but it's okay to while a couple of hours away. We then decide to stay in the main bar/entertainment area, which looks like something from Star Trek....it's good fun, they have some guitarist type entertainment on and then it starts to get rough. Lots of people have decided to do the same thing as us and as they're all Brits escaping Blighty, they all go a bit demob happy. It's actually a bit of a party. The beer flows and the boat is listing from side to side - no one cares, they're all in party mode.

If they were sober, they may have been worrying, but as they werent they didnt. It was actually a hoot. People would fly past you as the listing ship caught them off guard. I was hanging on to the Bar like Dean Martin, Grant decided to take the Jerry Lewis option and was sliding about like Bambi on ice. The French guys told us it was the worst weather they'd had for ages, we thought they were joking. There were a bunch of British Army lads on board and like the rest of us they were having a good time. I went up on deck to see how bad it really was and the French crew were putting security tape all over the place and telling me...."Non....".....then the British Army lot showed up to have a look...the first thing they did was rip all the security tape off and said.."we're not having this.....", the French crew disappeared. Then the Army lads thought it would be a hoot to start climbing on top of the handrails and trying to walk across them, it was excellent entertainment. I vanished oncce the police type blokes arrived and went back to civilisation. Apparently the Army lads got in a bit of trouble for this, I was told the next morning. Meanwhile back in Party Central, the big deal was the Ship Quiz.....which saw more people heading to the bar and go flying all ways. Grant and myself signed up to the quiz and believe it or not, Team Piss Pot Billy came first - you are no doubt wondering what the prize was? Two packs of playing cards and two pens. Cheapskates.

We retired to our cabin at 10pm.....well more like, we tried to get back to the cabin as we were thrown back and forth against the walls trying to find our room....everyone else was having the same problem.......once in the cabin, you just tucked yourself in and hoped you'd stay in bed. Luckily our old friend alcohol had put us in sleep mode, so we managed to pass out quite easily.

We thoroughly enjoyed this 24 hour crossing. Next up - Santander.