Spanish bandits

We are 2 weeks into our first venture abroad and it's proving eventful to say the least. Stuck in snow around Paris for 2 days - I intend to start a story about this trip soon. The most serious event however happened on the A4 south of Madrid on Saturday 23rd March. We stopped for a rest and lunch at a service area at kilometre 195. The petrol pumps weren't open but there were a few cars and lorries parked up. We stopped the caravan at the side and got in to prepare lunch. As we did so I caught a movement out the corner of my eye and realised that somebody was down on the nearside wheel. I shot out the van and caught an arab looking guy in a funny little white hat, coming round the back. I could hear the tyre hissing. I swung two punches to his face and kicked him up the arse as he ran away. He jumped in the waiting car and roared away with me shouting and swearing at him. Nobody helped.

We had to change the tyre, no fun tussling with the AlKo spare wheel carrier when you are all shook up. My wife was distraught. Anyway we did it, bombed off and didn't stop until we reached our overnight at Cordoba. Next day we did Conil de la Frontera non-stop. We have recovered now but a bad do all round.

So beware on the A4 out of Madrid, keep your eyes on the rearviews and check around at aires before you stop. I reckon they tailed us for some time but we didn't notice them.