Do I have a right to be upset about my experience at Willen Lake yesterday?
Posted by PossibleLine6460@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 43 comments
I was at Willen Lake with family and 2 kids wanted to ride on one of the pedalos so I went on with them, paying £25. I thought it looked like a safe, relaxing activity as I could see other people on them moving slowly near the shore.
One of the young male employees strapped us in our life jackets and pushed us off, and the wind just immediately blew us out to the edge of the area, toward the middle of the lake. We were drifting out, and paddling and turning the steering seemed to do nothing to move the pedalos or change our direction.
The kids were panicking and getting upset, which made it difficult, and I couldn't seem to turn us round at all, all my turning and steering was just taking us farther out.
We were told by the employee that if we got in trouble to shout and wave our arms, but we spent a full 15 mins yelling and waving and were unable to get the attention of the 3 male employees who were chatting to each other on the pier.
Eventually a very kind passing family in canoes stopped and talked to us and helped push us back. The family also told me they thought the rudder looked loose.
I felt embarrassed as I haven't been in a pedalo for years and didn't remember it being so difficult. I also feel stupid for talking anxious kids on the water in general.
I didn't even stop to complain as the kids were so shaken up, I just needed to get them out of there.
Classic_Peasant@reddit
Such a reddit moment, asking to feel validated about a negative experience you've paid for.
You paid.
Equipment faulty.
Staff not aware of your calls of distress, which they told you to do.
Contact the company.
Jolly-Ad-8088@reddit
Such a cockwomble comment, get off reddit and get some air.
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
Thanks. I suppose I just dont have enough other adults to immediately bounce off at the moment
Classic_Peasant@reddit
You're an adult, its your own feelings about the experience.
You dont need anyone else to confirm how you feel 😀
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
i meant more in the way of did I have a legal right to expect more from the staff
Classic_Peasant@reddit
Well, you probably did expect them to do as they said they would, but didnt?
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
thanks
Nannyhirer@reddit
I am sure you mean well calling this a Reddit Moment. These type of comments about ‘get off Reddit and ask like a real person’ are getting too much.
Reddit is here for us to ask and get a range of replies. Maybe even meet someone who went through similar,or wilder still shared similar at the same lake.
We have to stop shaming people for doing one of the things that makes Reddit what it is and asking a question for valuation and opinions before taking action- if any, Because actually sometimes it is as simple as ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’
No_Presentation_1216@reddit
This "problem sharing problem halved" is in itself the real issue. If everyone did this then the amount of issues shared here would slowly diminish, thus leading to a reduction in ad revenue for reddit. Possibly even collapsing the platform and leaving me with no way to shame you for shaming someone else who was just slightly shaming the original poster.
wikuti6a4m1@reddit
Thanks, Sherlock. I’ll get right on it.
beaky_teef@reddit
Have you ever watched Bill and Teds excellent adventure? You might take something away from it.
tropnevad@reddit
Determining the operational status of the equipment is challenging, as pedalos inherently present steering difficulties, particularly at slower speeds, which would be compounded by a single adult operator. Regardless of the equipment's condition, the lack of timely assistance for a reported 15-minute period is a significant concern that warrants escalation.
kidcurry1867@reddit
Steering doesn’t work if you’re not really moving forwards. It is hard work, especially if you have young kids who can’t pull their weight. They probably got anxious because they saw you struggling.
SnooCheesecakes2923@reddit
If your kids are traumatised by a pedalo, you do probably need to develop some resilience.
dewberlilly764@reddit
Sure, here’s a short, human, slightly sarcastic reply:
Ah yes, nothing builds resilience like faulty equipment and being ignored by staff.
SnooCheesecakes2923@reddit
Fair point, well made.
I suspected the OP of hyperbole.
Maybe the 'young male staff' were negligent and I would urge them to submit a complaint.
However, from experience, the way to keep one's young children calm is by taking control in a composed manner.
Not flapping around. Literally or figuratively.
But I accept your comment with good grace.
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
If I was hysterical, screaming and splashing around, as you imagine, that's all the more reason the staff should have been aware and helping.
Illustrious-Bit-9273@reddit
You're absolutely right to be upset about this experience! It's not just a matter of embarrassment, it's a safety risk. What if one of you had fallen in or had another kind of emergency?
I get that things can be boring and we all like having a chat with co-workers, but this isn't your average service role. These people have a duty of care and shouldn't be working the job if they don't take it seriously.
They've failed to do this because: A) The equipment wasn't safe for use B) The weren't keeping vigilant of potential emergencies (to the point that passersby had to help).
hoile_elmaz5qv0@reddit
You'd think "keeping people from floating away" would be part of the job description.
Opening-Reward-5210@reddit
Shirt happens x
interactor@reddit
That's not the kind of experience they would want you to have, and if there might be something wrong with the pedalo they should be made aware.
https://www.willenlake.org.uk/contact-us/
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
not received any reply from them since that morning
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
I've mailed them
ggharami@reddit
I was in the same exact situation 3 weeks ago. All the steering didn’t seem to work until I figured out you need to steer in short bursts left middle left again. It was pretty smooth sailing from then on. The employees probably view it as a non-risky activity since the lake is literally the height of a normal human being..
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
it is normally non risky for adults and I've canoed and boated myself many times. I just wanted help with my panicking kids.
artcopywriter@reddit
Maybe don’t take panicky kids on a body of water in a boat then…
mebutnew@reddit
A child can drown in a bath, so that is in no way an excuse for them not paying attention (for 15 minutes...) to people under their charge asking for help on the water.
Even an adult can get in serious trouble in a small amount of water in various circumstances.
So if they see it as a non risky activity they need better training.
Br0kenCompass@reddit
I’m going to echo people here. Complaint for sure. It’s not so much the boat, it’s the 15 minutes trying to get their attention which is annoying. Anyone can drown in water and if a company is responsible for a water activity there should be safeguarding measures in place.
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
I actually emailed them early this morning, not had a reply so far
Shlxke@reddit
You’re valid in your feelings. Employees are likely young immature ignorant kids just trying to make a little money. Not paying attention to their job and what they’re meant to do. I’m sorry you had to experience what you did, must have been scary for your children
Carl0s_H@reddit
This is very likely with these kinds of activity - you get the teenagers/young adults who are given a lot of responsibility with minimal training and get paid minimum wage, so they ultimately don't give a crap or know what to actually do. Not making excuses for them at all - the company hiring them should be held accountable for letting this kind of thing happen. Can imagine a number of bad scenarios involving open water, no matter how shallow.
imagudspellar@reddit
The only person you can be upset with is yourself unless the pedalo was actually broken, You all had life jackets so remaining calm was your main responsibility.
mebutnew@reddit
I dunno I'd be pretty pissed if I'd been trying to get the attention of the people responsible for my safety for 15 minutes, especially with 2 kids, and gotten nowhere. That's a serious issue.
benroon@reddit
It’s ’pissed off’ - ‘pissed’ means drunk!
killah10killah@reddit
There’s two responsible adults in this scenario: OP, and the staff members who had instructed them to shout and make physical gestures if they faced any issues.
OP has conceded their own responsibility in this scenario, but makes a very valid point in that the staff members have instructed them of how to raise any issues whilst they’re out in the water, and have then neglected to respond to the signal.
I’m siding with OP on this. If you’re employed in this kind of role, where people are putting themselves into what could become a precarious position, you have to be alert and vigilant of any signs of danger.
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
I was calm, but I just couldn't get the thing to turn. I think the staff should have been watching out for us.
progburt777@reddit
Sounds like dont skip leg day 🤣🤣
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
I'm actually a strong swimmer and pedaller when alone. I just expected more help getting the kids out. It was ridiculously tight anyway. They told me to keep my bag on me because there's "loads of room". There was barely room for an adult to sit.
ThatstheTahiCo@reddit
COUNTRIES GONE TO THE DOOOGGGSSS
SnooCheesecakes2923@reddit
Did you not think about leaving or saying something?
Head_Journalist6469@reddit
We went on one a couple of days ago and couldn't get it to steer, until one of the guys said to get momentum going forward first and then turn. Worked perfect after that.
PossibleLine6460@reddit (OP)
I would have been fine with adults tbh, I'm just annoyed they didn't help pull us in when I waved
itsibitci@reddit
I think you should at least put in a complaint so the pedalo can be checked and another family doesn't have the same experience. Young adults looking after activities where there is a safety element is always a bit risky. When I was young my cousin and I nearly drowned at Bletchley pool and the young lifeguard was too busy chatting up a couple of girls on the other side to notice. Luckily someone else jumped in and saved us.