I could feel the eyes following me.

First, the spidey senses started tingling. Then I saw him. I casually averted his gaze and continued on my way. But I knew he was watching. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed my suspicions. Odd-looking fellow B次元官网网址� bizarre grin, old-timey moustache, eyebrows somehow suspended out front of his nautical-themed hat. Clearly staring right at me. So rude.

He didnB次元官网网址檛 seem to be bothering any of the other people quietly going about their business around us but I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.

I purposefully marched right up to him, then paused slightly, now noticing he had backup B次元官网网址� a half-dozen more exactly like him. I grabbed him, shook him slightly and then dropped himB次元官网网址� right into my grocery cart.

My first-ever box of Cotton Candy Crunch, featuring olB次元官网网址� CapB次元官网网址檔 Crunch himself.

Do you have a guilty pleasure (G-rated, of course)?

Something you know isnB次元官网网址檛 good for you but youB次元官网网址檙e drawn to it anyway. You tell yourself each time will be the last, knowing full well youB次元官网网址檒l be back.

Mine is an odd one - sugary breakfast cereals.

IB次元官网网址檝e been oddly obsessed with them since I was a wee broth of a lad. It was the whole forbidden fruit scenario.

For the most part, our Mum wouldnB次元官网网址檛 let us near the stuff.

Shreddies and Weetabix were about it in terms of cereals for us. I could only gaze in wonder at Frankenberry, Count Chocula or Fred and Barney shilling Fruity Pebbles. Toucan SamB次元官网网址檚 Froot Loops? Not in our house. Trix? Silly rabbit, not for us kids. Frosted Flakes? They may have been grrrr-eat but I mostly had to take TonyB次元官网网址檚 word for it.

There were the odd glorious exceptions. My one buddyB次元官网网址檚 mother shockingly allowed the B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 so terrible for youB次元官网网址� stuff in her home. So the odd sleepover there meant me routinely rebuffing full-on hearty breakfasts of eggs, pancakes, sausageB次元官网网址� you name it, in favour of asking, in my best Eddie Haskell voice, B次元官网网址渢hat looks delicious, but would be be OK if I had some Sugar Crisp?B次元官网网址� (CanB次元官网网址檛 get enough of that).

When we were very young, the other exception was camping. Remember those little variety packs?

There were always one or two gems - Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes or Sugar Corn Pops - surrounded by cardboardish blech like Bran Flakes or things called B次元官网网址楶epB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址�19B次元官网网址�. Some of our sibling squabbles over those (we had what amounted to drafts, each picking our own choices) were epic.

There was actual bartering and I often resorted to skullduggery B次元官网网址� waking up early, eating the good ones and dealing with whatever punishment came my way. Worth it.

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As we got a little older, the restrictions relaxed some, especially once I was able to successfully argue that me putting 15 spoonfuls of sugar on my Shreddies was likely the nutritional equivalent of two bowls of Lucky Charms. So once in a blue moon, we were able to make our own choice of cereal, regardless of their content. But even then, I felt a little bad about it.

And that followed me into adulthood. Even though I theoretically could have purchased whatever I wanted, I could still hear MumB次元官网网址檚 voice, guiding me to the Shreddies every time I considered a cereal purchase.

As a parent, I didnB次元官网网址檛 have to institute any type of prohibition, cereal just wasnB次元官网网址檛 a favourite for the next generation. Dino Eggs oatmeal was about as close as it came.

Now, the odd thing is IB次元官网网址檓 not a huge cereal guy anymore. Actually consuming it pales in comparison to the joy of making the naughty purchase. Our pantry routinely overflows with cereal boxes as I make new discoveries. When I go shopping, I always buy all the fruits, veggies and healthy stuff to fill the cart first and feel better before I head down the cereal aisle in search of a potential cavity-inducing adventure.

B次元官网网址淐hips Ahoy cereal? No way!B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭imbits in a cereal? Yes! Better post that to social media.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淐hocolate Lucky Charms? What a great day!B次元官网网址�

I then get home, slog through one bowl of the cloyingly sweet taboo treat, offer some up to everyone else in the house and then away goes the box, to be seen again only during purges when room is needed.

Happily, though, I have found what amounts to a compromise. Banana Bread Flavour Shreddies. Exotic enough to make it a B次元官网网址榮neakyB次元官网网址� purchase, but still Shreddies. Mum would be so proud.

PQB B次元官网网址/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca, on Twitter or by phone at 250-905-0029. For more news from Vancouver Island and beyond delivered daily into your inbox, please .