A British seaside promenade with rows of
deckchairs for holiday-makers to rest while enjoying an ice-cream is a
quintessential summer postcard image as these foldable chairs have been around
for over a hundred years.
John Thomas Moore (1864-1929) took out a patent for adjustable folding
chairs in 1886 and manufactured them in Macclesfield, in the north of England,
from 1887. Deckchairs were originally used on cruise ship's decks, hence the
name, but were soon to be seen at seaside towns across the country.
Deckchairs, while low, can be comfortable to sit on for long periods
once locked into position. They are collapsible, durable, stackable and easy to
transport although also notoriously difficult to unfold and put up.
How To Put Up a Deckchair
1. Lay the folded deckchair down on the
ground with the fabric seating on top.
2. Look for the grooves along the side and pick
up that cloth covered end (the top).
3. As you do this the cross-frame base is in
position on the ground and the adjustable back support can be slotted into the
groove of your choice.
4. Sit in the chair and feel smug.
This can be a one-handed procedure once you
gain in confidence. Here's a
video to demonstrate how simple it is when done correctly.
To Rearrange the Deckchairs
This saying has nothing to do with the canvas and wooden folding chairs
but means an action that would be pointless as it contributes nothing to a
situation. To 'rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic' only emphases this
point with the doomed liner from 1912 meaning that small changes too late will
not help in a major crisis.
Life is Like a Deckchair
This story from Charles Schulz's Peanuts
is used by public speakers and preachers across the world. Charlie Brown goes
to visit Lucy for life advice at her five cent psychiatric help booth and Lucy
offers this insight:
"Charlie Brown, life
is like a deckchair on a cruise ship. Passengers open up these canvas deckchairs
so they can sit in the sun. Some people place their chairs facing the rear of
the ship so they can see where they've been. Other people face their chairs
forward - they want to see where they're going. On the cruise ship of life,
which way is your deckchair facing?"
Without hesitating, Charlie
replies, "I can't even get my deckchair unfolded!"
Hopefully you're not like Charlie Brown and you can enjoy lounging on a
comfortable deckchair with a seaside view sometime soon.
Laura Porter has written this article for ISIC, our mother ship. She writes an online London travel guide for About.com
(part of the New York Times Company) and is a Visit Britain Super Blogger
too. She fits in further freelance writing while sustaining an afternoon tea
addiction to rival the Queen's. You can follow her on twitter at @AboutLondon.
