Hammocks, the wave of the future.

Promenading around the palatial grounds of Stately Wade Manor* on Friday evening, glass of something fortifying in hand, I found myself thinking what a pleasant evening it was. "In order to make this evening complete, what the garden really needs", I thought, "other than a rose bower, a forelock-tugging retainer, a couple of fountains, a gallop, a maze and a scullery maid to romp with in the bushes, is a hammock".

So began Operation: Acquire Hammock.
This was hindered by the fact that the Rolls was nicked last week by a denizen of the local estate and, whilst the police have subsequently recovered it (and found that the theif was so mind-boggling stupid that they not only left their dabs all over it but also left their address book on the passenger seat, much to my hoots of derision), they've still got it impounded as evidence material to an ongoing investigation.
You might also be surprised how difficult it is to buy hammocks in the shops these days. Most garden accessories shops carry 'portable hammocks', which are rubbish, but eventually I tracked a proper, hang-it-from-two-trees hammock here.

And what an excellent purchase it was. Only a fiver and, in terms of quality of life, almost certainly the best fiver I've spent in as long as I can remember. An entire afternoon of reclining with booze and a good book in delightful weather. What could be better?
So that's my recommendation to you lot. Tired? Stressed? Borne down by the vicissitudes of life? Get a hammock. They're great, they're cheap, and the cheery feeling of contentment they afford is worth the effort.

Oh, and then I had my evening slightly spoiled by a particularly rubbish episode of Dr. Who. Shame.

^{*A description as accurate as 'Holy Roman Empire'.}