Email: Satisfying the kids

Ralph Helleman has hit the nail on the head with his explanation of the problems of the hire industry, pointing out that boating is so boring for children and the vagrancy of our English weather.

I had to resort to allowing our children to have their various play stations or whatever they call them, bringing a monitor just for the purpose after a disastrous first holiday on the canals where the interest for them lasted about three hours, this time making sure beforehand that the boat had the capability to run them and that there was no objection. Yes I know I should have put my foot down, but it was either that or no canal holiday, that we so enjoy.

Working outside in the weather was of little consequence to us as I had the correct weather wear, but I chatted to other hirers who were really knocked back by the inclement weather, saying 'never again'.

This is a great pity really, for though some don't take to boating too well, we simply loved it, and will do it again next year now that we have the children sorted out!

As to the poor state of the waterways, as we have only been hiring two years, we had nothing to judge them by, and managed quite well.

James Dalby