recursion in plpgsql

Hi:

I'm trying/failing to write a recursive plpgsql function where the function
tries to operate on a hierary of records in a reflexive table.
parent-child-grandchild type of recursion.

I tried with a cursor, but got a "cursor already in use" error. So that
looks like scoping.

I know I did this sort of thing in the past, but I can't remember if I used
cursors or some other construct to traverse the hierarchy.

Here's the code that's failing...

========================================================
create or replace function spk_fix_areas(parent_id int)
returns text as $$

declare
par_area text;
child int;
child_node_curr cursor for select id from spk_ver_node where parent =
parent_id;
area_id int;
area_area text;
begin

select area into par_area from spk_ver_task_area where id = parent_id;

open child_node_curr;

loop

fetch child_node_curr into child;
exit when not found;

raise notice 'child: %',child;

select id,area into area_id,area_area from spk_ver_task_area where id =
child and area = par_area;
continue when found;

raise notice 'attempting insert child = %, area = %',child,par_area;
insert into spk_ver_task_area (id,area) values (child,par_area);

select spk_fix_areas(child);

end loop;

return('done');

end;
$$ language plpgsql;

===============================================

Thanks for any help !