His and hers, traditional, tubular, or swing; the hammock is the last word in lazing. Curl up in a hammock and you can’t help but relax and take it easy.
There’s nothing quite like the deep down feeling of contentment that comes of rocking back and forth or swaying side to side on your very own hammock. Like being rocked to sleep as a baby, it’s an utterly tranquil experience.
Of course there’s nothing complicated about a hammock; just a length of material (usually cotton these days) and some means of attaching it at either end. But perhaps that’s part of the appeal. They’re the ultimate in low technology, low maintenance furniture, equally at home in house or your garden. Easy to store, easy to clean; no wonder they’ve been swaying people to sleep for over a thousand years!
The Mayans gave us the hammock, and European explorers brought them to our attention in the fifteenth century. (Columbus didn’t just ‘discover’ America, he happened upon hammocks too!) As the first visitor to the Bahamas, he set the trend for holidaymakers for years to come: a little sun, sea and sand, a few drinks on the beach and an afternoon siesta in a hammock. No wonder he was so enamoured of them and was so keen to bring them back for the rest of the world to enjoy!
These days, it’s a little easier to get your hands on a hammock, no matter whether it’s from South America, or the shopping centre. Of course if you’ve really got a taste for authentic indulgence; then only the finest traditional hammock will do. Authentic Brazilian made hammocks are available just as easily and almost as cheaply as other models. Choose your hammock with care and you’ll be getting a lot more than a licence to laze in the sun; you’ll be getting a guarantee of quality and fairness. Like chocolate and coffee, there’s been an inequitable trade in hammocks for years. Authentic Brazilian craftsmen were being hung out to dry so that we could all hang out in the garden. Fortunately things have changed. As a rule, today’s Brazilian craftsmen are appropriately rewarded for their industry. So, no more qualms, you can buy your very own piece of Brazilian sunshine in complete confidence.
Choosing your hammock is a serious business! But it’s also a lot of fun. There’s just so much to take into consideration: for example, do you prefer to laze alone with friends? Hammocks range from individual child size to full-blown family affairs! So you can lie in splendid isolation, snuggle up with your partner or enjoy some quality family time.
Framed ‘seaters’ are also available for those of you who want to sit upright and sip your drink in style. Mounted on sturdy frames, these hammocks eschew the conventional fold up trappings of the old-world hammock for a two or three seat garden chair with a real difference. Perfect for lazing by the pool, or just soaking up the summer sun. Some even come complete with canopy and cushions for no holds barred relaxation!
The hammock is such a simple device – and such a simple pleasure – but one you’ll cherish. So make time for simple pleasures, because when you’ve got the hang of your hammock, you’ll just want to hang around for hours.
© Garden Furniture Shopping.co.uk 2005
