Inflatable kayaks

We have three now (along with a folding one) and took them all out this morning to prove that, true to its name, Enniskillen really is an island.

Aidan (11) took our first one, a simple sit-out from Lidl.

It’s a bit slow, but stable and movable, and got us started, so we’re all quite grateful, though we don’t suppose it’ll last much beyond this summer.

Rory (14) was on the Coleman we got from Amazon, described as a “Sport Kayak”.

It’s very comfortable, like a large armchair, and in my experience about as swift and manoeuvrable (the “sport” in the name referring to what you might watch on television while sitting in it) but Rory seems able to tame the beast, disappearing out of sight within minutes.

Being considerate and unselfish boys, kind to their old mother, they let me go in the new one, the Sevylor Pointer K1, which has only just arrived in the UK and is, as far as this complete novice is concerned, totally brilliant.

And M. took all three down to the lake for us on the Burley flat bed trailer

which was also on its maiden voyage and brings back happy memories of tucking Rory and Aidan, eleven years ago, into their D’Lite for the trip across the fields to nursery. We’ve still, after five moves through four countries) got the old wheels – oddly reassuring to see that they are still the same..