I don’t think many people know about my family’s love of holidays in Portugal. It was a time when dad could be dad and take half a break from being Eric Morecambe. Of course that was far more difficult than it sounds as there are plenty of British tourists on holiday in Portugal every summer! But it was slightly easier to relax when in a foreign location. It was a reminder that he was not meant to be working. But of course he did. It was impossible for dad to switch off the Eric Morecambe mind completely… it was who he was at the end of the day. We’d still find him entertaining the waiters in every restaurant we went in and it was not very long until the British guests had found an excuse to circle the table. I have fond memories of sun bathing on a roof terrace overlooking the sea. It was a rare opportunity for us to have isolation from the rest of the world. The sea water in Portugal was somewhat warmer than in Morecambe Bay so we used to go swimming and see all manner of “exotic” fish creatures! I loved seeing seahorses. They seemed so calm to me. Moving wherever the tide takes them.