Dear LPG, 

When you get to the time of life where I suspect visiting the pages of LPG would interest you, reading should not be influenced by the pictures.  But I have to say that I can’t help it, the pictures that come with the writings still draw my eyes.

I recently read an LPG article about National Relaxation Day  (►►►) and, while the article was interesting, it was the picture posted with it that really captured my imagination that day.  The general greenness of her surroundings, the look of utter peace reflected on the face of the subject and the fact that she looks perfectly content, all be it momentarily, really illustrated a state of idyllic relaxation that I wanted to experience.  In fact, the lady looked so chilled in her garden hammock that I felt the need to add that experience to my bucket list.   

Perhaps this is something that really needs to be researched in earlier life, but a quick bit of internet investigation tells that being suspended in a swinging environment can be a serious stress reliever.

I decided to buy one and try all the theories and they are not that expensive even if you don’t have two strategically placed trees for support in your garden.   I have always been a follower of the advice to ‘start small’ and I have to say that investing in a hammock seemed as if it would be an unexpectedly achievable ambition.  

In our ever-changing English climate, which dictates the occasional need for following any sustainable hobby-quest either indoors or out, it is vital to recognise that something like the use of a hammock as more than an al fresco pastime and so I wondered about accommodating an essentially new bit of furniture.  Where to place it and if there will be enough room is always a bit of a worry but many of the cheaper hammocks are refreshingly self-supporting and surprisingly collapsible.  This also means that you don’t have to leave it in the garden all winter to gather dirt and bugs.  

But my journey to the state of this version of supreme rest and relaxation was not without even more potential trials.   Getting in and out of the thing comes with its own challenges; challenges that I am still trying to overcome…  

This form of relaxation is not for everyone; I suppose I am still a relatively young pensioner with no knee or hip problems so far.  It also needs to be said that if you suffer with motion sickness you might prefer to sit, or lay this one out, but, if you feel half as inspired as I was, I suggest that you also invest in a double mattress to place under the hammock before you try to work out how to get into and out of it… 

I am still working on perfecting that aspect of the thing…

RR, Lewisham

RR has found a few how to get into a hammock instructional video …

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… and she also found the ultimate how not to do it version…

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