Special K (with chocolate curls!) & tripping up.

I could not help but laugh with Barbara again as her face convulsed and tears rolled down her cheeks as she recalled the 'tripping' incident of the previous night.

We were at 'Sagres' parked behind Phil and Linda's Burstner Motorhome. I'd first met Phil and Linda last year in Spain. A few days ago in 'Alvor' they had recognized Tanya and called us over. We met them again at our wild spot near 'Lagos' where they assisted in fending off the continuous begging from the local 'travelling people'.

Phil and Linda were enjoying their 'meal in' as we set off to sample an evening meal out at the local 'Sagres' surfers beach restaurant. We knocked on their door on our return, the agreed signal for them to join us shortly for an evening drink.

Now a motorhome is simply a house condensed into a very small space. Upon entering Sadie our immediate task was to 'move' things, which loosely translates as 'chuck stuff on the bed'. This of course to make room for our guests. I lifted the basket of 'stuff' which lives on the bench seat, swung round to take two paces toward the bed. Next thing I am sprawled head-first upon bed with head half in basket. Blue, denim jean clad legs, according to the convulsed with laughter Barbara, were waving around horizontally and alarmingly.

"What the ..... who the hell put my toolbox there .... First rule of motorhoming is NEVER EVER BLOCK THE FLOOR SPACE!!'' 

This was my furious repost as I regained my feet and stupified, stared vacantly at my toolbox neatly placed on the floor in front of the bed. With pointed wagging finger this now very angry bearded apparition rounded on the culprit only to be faced with a Barbara doubled up with laughter, cheeks glistening with tears and not far off an incident involving the lower regions.

Phil and Linda then announced their arrival at our open doorway which meant the whole story had to be re-canted by the virtually incoherent with mirth Barbara. Phil joined me in the highly male ritual of 'Hmmmph!' Which is the delicate and nigh on impossible transition of male red rage anger into desperate and futile face saving justification when faced with overwhelming, and frighteningly mysterious, female humour. Linda meanwhile 'getting it wholeheartedly' was by now laughing too as the sorry tale of the fuming angry horizontal leg waving bearded motorhomer unfolded.

Overall it was a good start to what turned out to be a lovely evening and a farewell to our friends as they started to head North the next day.

We meanwhile headed for the local 'Supermercado' to stock up the dwindling food supply. All went well until I made the mistake of allowing Barbara freedom to roam. She found the breakfast cereal aisle. I knew immediately we were in trouble as her unmistakable whoop of delight echoed around the supermarket. I arrived as the shelf was being cleared of the unavailable in the UK 'Kellogs Special K with chocolate curls.'

Special K with Chocolate curl (SKCC) addiction is a growing problem across Europe and Barbara, a vulnerable victim, and totally unaware of the lethal and lifelong consequences had tucked into her first milk soaked bowl of SKCC a year ago in Paris. This unexpected fresh exposure brought on a total relapse undoing all the good work SKCC anonymous had achieved over the past year.

Strong action was needed. A threat to report her to the GNR (Portuguese gun toting police) was thankfully enough to allow me to replace all but two boxes. These days, due to the explosive expansion of SKCC use across society, two boxes per shopping trolley is tolerated by the GNR. However; the strange and far away look in her eyes plus the way she clutched tightly to the supermarket trolley reminded me of the injuries I sustained the last time I tried to touch those two allowable boxes.

She is now doing OK after phoning her SKCC anonymous buddy. It's a bit like handling an eggshell first thing in the morning but once she has consumed her morning fix she becomes the Barbara I know from an un-addicted past life. The daily scrumptious Greek yoghurt recommended by her buddy seems to be helping too with her relapsing only once so far into more than one bowl a day.

But overall, and pushing aside for once, the joint crazy humour we both enjoy, Barbara, Tanya and I have been enjoying a wonderful sun blessed time here in the Algarve. She will be missed.