We've been having some heavy, stormy, rain recently, and we're about to have another week of it. I can't think why, but it set me thinking about BROLLIES.
Other than my cheap schoolboy brollies, my first pukka 'brolly' was bought in order to equip myself correctly before taking up my first ever post-school job; as a 'blue button' (trainee broker) on the London Stock Exchange.
I should never have mentioned anything to my aesthete school friend Monty, but he insisted that I visit Swaine Adeney Brigg in Piccadilly; where, he assured me, all gentlemen bought their umbrellas.
I followed his advice, and found myself spending a bloody fortune on a brolly that I hardly ever used, and eventually lost on the train.
I was then told by another friend to visit the lost property office at Victoria Station, to give them the details of a train and time (but to be vague about the day) when I had lost my brolly, and I would be shown a good selection from which to choose my next 'free' brolly. I did as advised, put on quite a convincing act, chose an expensive looking model from a vast selection, and replaced my lost item with a very good alternative.
Since those city days I have had an extensive collection of cheap brollies, most of which either instantly turned inside-out, or finished with spokes penetrating the covering. I'm sure you recognise the ilk.
My latest model (see the 2 pix above) is very much on a par with my original Swaine Adeney one. It was expensive, is well made, and I hope will see me through. Just look at all those spokes; very solid, and quite heavy too. It's a pukka job.
Bring on the rain.
That brolly is beautiful …. a work of art and far superior to my collapsible M&S one !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteThe amount of 'spokes' it has is amazing.
DeleteIt looks very robust.
ReplyDeleteWe are on a very windy island and any brollies I bought for my daily commute had a very short life. I eventually bought one of those transparent plastic dome shaped brollies which proved to be the most effective solution for me. I could place it completely over my head, to touch my shoulders, and still see where I was going. Brilliant.
I know the ones you mean.... they wouldn't suit me though!
DeleteI bought one of those for William. He was dressed as an alien for Halloween. The bubble umbrella was the center of the ufo with an extended nylon circle made from a large hoop to extend the ufo outwards. It was cute. He didn't like it. Couldn't carry his treat bag.
DeleteI have just started to read a book that is initially set in the London Transport lost property office. Quite amusing in many ways!
ReplyDeleteThe one at Victoria station was amazing. You could hardly imagine some of the things that people left behind on trains.
DeleteYou don't need an umbrella. A nylon anorak with a hood should suffice. Perhaps a day-glo orange one so that you can easily be spotted when walking the dog along country lanes.
ReplyDeleteI do have one of those. It's dark green, and reaches down to the ground. It's very unpleasant to wear.
DeleteThat is a brolly befitting a true 'gentleman'. I inherited a brolly when my grandfather died. It was a 'proper' one and tailor made for him as he was not particularly tall and used it as much as anything as a walking stick when in the city. I had it recovered by the umbrella makers in Liverpool from whence I believe it had originated. I still have it. It was last used in a film recently. I have never used it since I came to Lewis. It would be pointless in our winds.
ReplyDeleteIn Brighton a brolly is pointless, as the rain in invariably accompanied by strong wind. Here it tends to fall vertically and is very useful. Even so, I get to use it very rarely.
DeleteAs YP says, anoraks or cagoules work just as well, although my wife wouldn't agree - she uses both a cagoule and an umbrella at the same time and makes fun of my wet legs.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, if the weather is really foul I tend to stay indoors.
DeleteI have a waterproof coat but I still use the brolly with it, I don't know why walkers tend not to bother with them. After all, it's so much more comfortable under a brolly, not getting the rain in your face...and not having to bring a wet cagoule indoors when you come home.
DeleteI agree with you, as long as it's not too windy.
DeleteAn umbrella reduces the amount of rain sunning from the wet cagoule down on to your trousers, which after a while becomes quite unpleasant. I find waterproof leggings just to hot to wear.
DeleteI use a brolly too, it's a really cheap one that I bought in C&A yonks ago, about 30 years, and it's lasted all this time,never turned inside out and I just love it.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say you should write to the Company to congratulate them, but C&A are no longer there, and if their brollies lasted so well, I doubt if the makers are either.
DeleteLooks like it could lift you into the stratosphere!
ReplyDeleteIt has the power!
DeleteIf it is rain you want then anywhere in the UK can provide it at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWe're having plenty thanks. Our builder is working outdoors at the moment, and both he and we have been really inconvenienced.
DeleteIt's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteIt is; even I'm impressed!
DeleteDefinitely enough spokes to ward off any deluge.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of spokes is amazing. One day I'll count them.
DeleteThat's not about to flip inside out any time soon! Very handsome brolly. We have many, including a handmade pair bought in Paris yonks ago - mine has the disconcerting habit of leaking through its seams, proving a fool and her money are easily parted when presented with silken polkadots!
ReplyDeleteA polkadot brolly sounds very Parisian; I trust you have the Poodle to go with it.
DeleteI only ever owned one brolly, which blew inside out several times on its first outing. I shoved it in a hedge and have never bought another! And I get so angry when having to dodge umbrella-wielding people who seem intent on blinding me with their weapons. So glad not to risk colliding with you, Cro.
ReplyDelete