As Ratty said in Wind of the Willows (a fabulous book by the way) “There is nothing - absolutely nothing, half so worth doing as simply messing around in boats.” I believe messing around in boats is where the problem lyes with me, and is the reason why I tend to fall in a lot! Many an afternoon in the school holidays was spent with friends dragging me out of the lake in Portishead when a rowing boat expedition went wrong. This was due to the fact that I also believe the is nothing like messing around in boats - to the extent that I lose my balance and fall out! The cries of ‘man overboard’ (never woman for some reason) followed me for much of my childhood.However I can proudly report that I came away from my latest boat experience dry (despite Joe’s threats to throw me overboard!) We went on a river boat on Ullswater, in the Lake District, which I recommend, as the scenery is stunning! I think it was looking at this that kept me still, and prevented me from going over the railing. I had a close call with my camera, which was almost sent to rest at the bottom of the lake, and narrowly avoided banging my head on the jetty. But all was fine, and it was a pretty uneventful trip.
One observation from the trip is that it attracted a lot of pensioners! Apart from the odd few kids we were the youngest by far. Another observation is that we were dress wrong, wearing jeans, a jumper and trainers. Apparently we had not received the memo that every other passenger got - please come dressed wearing a waterproof, shorts, socks and sandals. A big rucksack and binoculars are optional! But the most important thing to remember is that I came away from the trip dry. Maybe i have broken the curse of falling out of boats?! Or maybe it was just because I had Joe there to keep a firm eye on me?! Whatever the reason I still feel victorious!!
