I did find the characters of the three “pirates” blurred together, as did the twins a bit, but kudos to the author for keeping his sequels fresh and interesting. If the balance is not received by the due date then your holiday will be treated as a cancellation and you will remain liable to pay the balance of the rent. If there have been any breakages during your stay, we would be grateful if you could advise us at the time and before you leave. All you need to bring with you are sensible non-slip shoes, and you’ll receive all the training about safety you need from your boatyard staff when you arrive.

Lawns is the largest of the lot and can be booked with the little cottage next door, to sleep 11 in total. Available on the Norfolk Broads and Cambridgeshire waterways, these boats are available in a range of sizes sleeping from 2 to 10 people.No screens, no helicopter parents (though the parents do worry that they could get into trouble), no slackers. Bookings made less than 8 weeks before your arrival date must be accompanied by the full amount of the holiday. The ongoing clearing and eradication of alien vegetation to allow the endemic flora and fauna to thrive. Narrowboat sterns have three main "shapes" (see descriptions and illustrations below) and all steer by means of a tiller at the back, or stern.

The four traditional stone cottages (sleeping 2-11) are set slightly further inland, closer to the Clubhouse and the main pool. Overlooking the river there is an open air veranda which gives you the chance to sunbathe, catch fish (season allowing) or to simply enjoy the view. Couple that with a rather abrupt ending and it definitely places the book towards the lower end of the otherwise excellent series.The manual on board your boat has plenty of information about mooring places, and your boatyard will show you how to moor up.

Thinking it all over, you know, in terms of the monster, and talking it over with your mother, considering her as a coot, I've come to a conclusion. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina.After a short 3 minute walk from your private parking space, you enter the light and airy space of the houseboat, with windows flanking all sides. Yellow-billed ducks float below burrows made by giant kingfishers, egrets and glossy ibis wing their way up and down the waterway… several ways to explore, from hiring a kayak to hitching a ride on a river cruise.

The 4 in the party must sleep in the provided beds and under no circumstance use the sofa or other areas without gaining the express permission of the owners. There are several line drawings in the book, which are fun to look at and sometimes do help to explain what is going on when the terms used are too nautical. I went with a school party but I was one of the few to fully apreciate the journey because we sailed past all the places mentioned in the story. Floor to ceiling sliding windows let the light flood in and maximise the phenomenal view; the main bedrooms and open-plan living spaces look directly over the glittering lagoon and out towards the mountains.

There are also plenty of water activities available at the boatyard, such as canoeing, kayaking or hiring a Stand Up Paddleboards. The open living/dining/kitchen area features a fireplace and opens out on the large verandah, overlooking the fynbos gardens. Seven perfectly poised and beautifully styled houses (4 traditional cottages, 3 new boathouses) take in the magnificent views. I enjoyed the sailing and birding adventures and all the new characters, especially the Admiral and her pug, William.