Or so the words in Walts (the owner of Rec Tec Scuba) profile say. Today things were anything but. As he strode past our bungalow, at the beginning of his daily power walking session, he, Mary & Jason all gave withering glances in my direction as I watched them through the patio window. I ran out anxiously to intercept them, having been trying to meet them since our arrival on island two days ago.
“Trouble with the car alarm again then?” growled Walt. “Pardon?” I replied. “I said trouble with….Look, will you turn the bl**dy thing off before I really give it something to wail about!” This wasn’t the exchange of pleasantries I’d been hoping for.
A few weeks ago Walt had replied to my appeal for the use of a computer during our stay, to download digital pictures from our cameras to disc. In return I’d promised a bottle of single malt. It looked like he could do with it right now, but I decided quickly that I shouldn’t really be encouraging him to drink at this time of day, as it still wasn’t quite seven am. Plus there was a good chance that he might be tempted to use the bottle as a weapon against me. It was a bizarre coincidence that Walt just happened to be my neighbour at Lagoen & even more spice was added to this state of affairs by his neighbour on the other side….Jason.
Now, Jason reminded me in lots of ways of the late, great, Oliver Reed (when he was still alive I hasten to add). As we all stood in the roadway he looked straight through me, as though I wasn’t there (in much the same way that Oliver would have done too, I guess). I grew used to this reaction, or non-reaction from him as it was to happen many more times during the next couple of weeks. I eventually came to the conclusion that he wasn’t being rude, but genuinely couldn’t see me. On the occasions when he spoke to me it was at machine gun pace & I had great difficulty working out what he was trying to tell me. As you know I’m partial to uttering the odd word myself & usually it wouldn’t take long before both of us were talking at the same time without hearing a single word that the other was saying. It seemed to work well & after he had ignored me for the last time at the airport we parted good friends, saying that we’d keep in touch. Well, that’s what I said anyway, I’m afraid that I didn’t catch his reply!
The four of us hastily, & possibly reluctantly on their part I felt, agreed to meet up at Walt’s at about 20:00 that night. Cursing under my breath I turned towards the attention seeking truck, which by now was half way through the second chorus of Queens “We will rock you”, as the three of them disappeared at breakneck speed around the corner of my bungalow & onto the highway beyond.
Thirteen hours, three dives & a six pack of beers to settle my nerves, later, saw me standing apprehensively at Walt & Marys gate. I called out "Hello?" into the darkness that lay between me & their illuminated front door. An instant explosion of barking erupted which quickly abated to a low murmering grumble. The door opened fractionally, spilling light & the unmistakeable shadow of Walt down the driveway towards me. "Come on in! I was struggling to swallow, never mind call back a cheerful reply. Clutching the Glen Morangie firmly, I tentatively pushed the gate open & tip toed (for some obscure reason which still eludes me) towards my host.....

I'm hooked, waiting for next installment :-)

Andy, you are such a tease!! Do carry on, please! Spellbinding....Carole (Shutterbug)

Andy,,,I can't stop laughing!...was your truck a green toyota helix? we had a problem with our car horn last time around...not sure what we were doing wrong...it just "blew" at the most unappropriate times...and did annoy a few people! This is your second reference to dogs barking and growling at you....must seem ironic. See...You should have met us at Captain Don's WE would have been glad to see you.

Well Andy I have two rules I try to live by.

1. Never post to the net after happy hour.

2. Never discus important matters before at least one cup and preferably two cups of coffee in the morning.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Tip toed in?

Can't wait to hear this response.....