 A SPLASHING HOLIDAY
BY SARAH HILLS
11:00 - 06 November 2003
Splashing about in the water is what holidays are all about for 11-year-old twins Jake and Thomas Watson, from Bathford. So when booking their family break, their father, Mike, knew that access to a swimming pool was a top priority.
Mr Watson and his partner, Nesta Williams, thought they couldn't go wrong when they found suitable accommodation in Fuerteventura that had three pools.
But an 18th birthday party changed that.
Just ten days before the family was due to fly out from Bristol Airport, Jake broke his arm.
A plastercast was fitted at the Royal United Hospital and Jake was told he couldn't get it wet, so swimming was out of the question.
The boys, who live in Bathford and go to The Corsham School, were really disappointed, but at the last minute, an all-out effort by a company in Yate, near Bristol, saved the day.
ProtectaCast is the trade name for a new product that is waterproof and watertight and fits over a cast or dressing, so people can bathe or swim.
Mr Watson was told about the protective covers the day before they flew out and immediately ordered one from the firm.
It was supposed to arrive the next morning, but ProtectaCast phoned the family to tell them there had been a problem.
It was then that they offered to send a member of staff to Bristol Airport to hand it over to the family personally.
Mr Watson said: "It made every difference to our holiday. My boys love swimming and on holiday they spend all day in the pool.
It would have been tough on Jake and Tom if he couldn't swim.
I contacted them on the afternoon before we were due to leave.
Jake had just got a new cast put on at the hospital and staff asked if I had heard of this company.
I rang them at 3pm and they said they would put it on a courier to get to me by 10am the next day.
But the courier didn't turn up to collect their parcels that night.
They rang and told me the next morning and asked if we were flying from Bristol Airport.
Somebody came and met me and my family at the airport. It was absolutely fantastic.
I don't think I have ever had such excellent service in my life.
It also meant that my girlfriend and I could lie on a sun bed, relax and read a book without Jake telling us he's bored every ten minutes.
The 18th birthday party was a family get-together and the boys were running about, like kids do, and Jake fell and broke his arm.
It was potentially disastrous as my boys spend most holidays in the swimming pool from dawn to dusk."
ProtectaCast spokeswoman Kate Richards said: "We arranged to meet the customer at the airport so that he received the cover in time to take with him.
His son was then able to go into the swimming pool and enjoy his holiday."
ProtectaCast is currently only available to order by phone on 01454 318197 or via the internet at www.protectacast.com. |
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