Swallowing a gobful of phlegm isn't ideal either. I suppose he could have discreetly deposited it onto a leaf or something.

Why not? It's more ideal than leaving it hanging off the flora where others could step in it or worse. It's his phlegm, he should swallow it, it won't harm him half as much as the fags that he's constantly puffing on.

Eric reminds me very much of my Brother in Law. They're about the same age and their wind up ways, sarky comments and mannerisms are very, very similar.

I think with Eric you have to take a lot of comments with a pinch of salt, laugh and move on. Yes, he's been a bit insensitive and not apologised but in Eric's world, he hasn't seen anything to apologise for - I mean his comments to Rosemary and Helen specifically. Perhaps they've been over-sensitive too, six of one & half a dozen of the other......

I think he does do a lot more than what we've seen, as has been mentioned by outgoing camp-mates, I'm starting to think the edit has been a tad unfair on him. He's entertained us in our house, but as said, he does remind me of my BIL.

All that said, as entertaining as I think Eric has been, I don't think I'd want to spend weeks at such close quarters with him, I only see my BIL a few times a year

I think he's awful and that spitting? Gross!