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potatoes and white sauce, and sauterne to drink; after that ham and
more boiled potatoes, followed by an "old Finnish custom" - rice
porridge with milk and sugar. Next there were pastries and biscuits
and buns, fruit, nuts and T.S.T. hospital brandy, and black coffee -
a very vast and excellent meal. My cold was terrible. I sometimes
felt I'd never "see it through", but when Capt. left the table about
10:30 p.m. I soon followed suit.

Xmas Day. Very quiet, the whole ship recovering from the "great eat".
A. still in bed, but appears very much better. Capt. and Steward both
take a very dim view of my "ministrations" to the patient! A lovely
Xmas gift from Captain, book ends, on which are the bows of sailing
ships - made by Capt. Owen of Swansea. I am thrilled with them. It
was a complete surprise. I made up small parcels for the Australian
boys, cigarettes, soap, chocolate, and magazines, and they seemed very
pleased. Head-wind for the last 2 days - making in the direction of
Gibraltar - more or less!

Monday Dec. 26th. A. still not "in action", but got up a short time
before mid-day meal. Seems to be very weak for one so young, and to
all intents and purposes strong, it is strange she has not picked up
more quickly. Captain rather "tessy" about it, seems to resent my
getting her meals for her, but think if I did not, she would fare rather
badly. A head-wind and more or less becalmed all day, so Captain very
silent and reserved and "bi-de-wind". I still haven't sorted out
the crew. There is a Frenchman and a Spaniard and 2 or 3 Germans,
Swedish-Finns, English and Welsh and one Irishman, I think, and
"ourselves" (Australians). Some of the crew look fairly useless, and
are not as young as sailing ship crews are as a rule. Several "suck"
large pipes and fuel "tough rough sailormen", and all that!!

Monday 27th. The old, old story - Peasoup and Pancakes on Mondays!
A calm, grey day but sailing easily. A. got up about mid-day and
"carried on". Capt. talked of putting her ashore at Madeira, but it
was only talk! We thought we had discovered something very odd -
a long streak like a silver ribbon under the water alongside the ship
on the starboard, but on reporting it to Captain, was told it was keel
water. "Archibald Russel's" sails airing on deck all day. A Royal
bent on mizzen mast is apparently a good fit, and Captain is very
pleased. Upper gaff is also set, so we have a full set of sails on.
Towards evening the wind changed to N.W so in our favor. We are
nearish to some reefs, so Captain watching carefully. As there has
been no sun for 2 days our position is a little uncertain. Several
steamers have been seen during the last few days, but mostly pass at
night. We put up our flag to "bow" to an American ship, the "Blue
Grass State" this morning.

Tuesday. Passed Madeira Is. during the night. Sailed 145 miles
during last 24 hours, wind now very good, should pass Las Palmas
tommorrow. Lovely day, still a bit cool. Decks completely cluttered
up with "Archibald Russel's" sails draped over everything, drying and
airing. New lower topsail bent on main mast amidst much shouting
and muddle, owing to so many of the crew being "green horns". The
Frenchman, Laloux, got in a hopeless mess with the steering and was
much upset. Fortunately Captain was not aware of what was going on!

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