How Hard Can This Be?
Thirty one white metal poles lying on the lawn.
Can it really be so hard to assemble them into a Gazebo with out instructions. We stand and fiddle for a bit, until logic suggests that 2 to 2B to 2A etc might be a reasonable place to start.
Perhaps 1's are the legs. Purposefully we fit them together, then carefully take them apart again, as, with regret, as we decide that being able to reach the top is important.
Judy has some dim memory of the shape of the roof so, following her decisive and clear instructions we make tremendous progress as we lay out four legs at the corners.
It takes very little time to realise that the bent tuning fork objects are indeed the tops of the corners, it is the work of a moment to fit them, and the work of but several moments for them to fall off, as we try to establish a roof shape.
Endeavour slackens briefly as we start to laugh, initially quietly then with increasing volume, indeed one undignified construction worker lies down on the grass and succumbs to mild hysteria for several shameful minutes.
We give thanks: firstly that we have plenty of time available, secondly that no men are watching and thirdly that it is not raining and we have no soggy students waiting to shelter under the damned thing.
Eventually a low level meccano like erection is built, surely the end is in sight, all that remains is to fit on the cover.
Bravely Sally plunges out of sight and the white sheet billows like a drowning whale as she cleaves her way to the middle.
Three corners safely fitted but, consternation! The fourth will not go on.
Examination of the poles confirms that they are correctly fitted and approximately in the correct sequence.
It is mutually decided that we must co-ordinate the attack and put on all four corners simultaneously.
Is it possible for three people to hold four legs in the right place whilst simultaneously pulling on all four corners of the floating white sheet?
No it is not.
Sally hangs on to one side with white knuckles , her side is staying up even if it kills her, Sue attempts to elongate her left arm to stabilise two poles simultaneously, whilst Judy scampers like a whippet, from pillar to post pulling on the cover corners.
Success. The cover is fitted and we have a gazebo. Granted it is suitable for a hobbit, being only four feet high, but the finishing tape is definitely coming into view.
Boringly the same question arises. Can three women lift four legs in a co-ordinated manner to enable the fitting of the remainder of the poles?.
Well co-ordinated it was not, but managed it was.
We are women after all.
Can it really be so hard to assemble them into a Gazebo with out instructions. We stand and fiddle for a bit, until logic suggests that 2 to 2B to 2A etc might be a reasonable place to start.
Perhaps 1's are the legs. Purposefully we fit them together, then carefully take them apart again, as, with regret, as we decide that being able to reach the top is important.
Judy has some dim memory of the shape of the roof so, following her decisive and clear instructions we make tremendous progress as we lay out four legs at the corners.
It takes very little time to realise that the bent tuning fork objects are indeed the tops of the corners, it is the work of a moment to fit them, and the work of but several moments for them to fall off, as we try to establish a roof shape.
Endeavour slackens briefly as we start to laugh, initially quietly then with increasing volume, indeed one undignified construction worker lies down on the grass and succumbs to mild hysteria for several shameful minutes.
We give thanks: firstly that we have plenty of time available, secondly that no men are watching and thirdly that it is not raining and we have no soggy students waiting to shelter under the damned thing.
Eventually a low level meccano like erection is built, surely the end is in sight, all that remains is to fit on the cover.
Bravely Sally plunges out of sight and the white sheet billows like a drowning whale as she cleaves her way to the middle.
Three corners safely fitted but, consternation! The fourth will not go on.
Examination of the poles confirms that they are correctly fitted and approximately in the correct sequence.
It is mutually decided that we must co-ordinate the attack and put on all four corners simultaneously.
Is it possible for three people to hold four legs in the right place whilst simultaneously pulling on all four corners of the floating white sheet?
No it is not.
Sally hangs on to one side with white knuckles , her side is staying up even if it kills her, Sue attempts to elongate her left arm to stabilise two poles simultaneously, whilst Judy scampers like a whippet, from pillar to post pulling on the cover corners.
Success. The cover is fitted and we have a gazebo. Granted it is suitable for a hobbit, being only four feet high, but the finishing tape is definitely coming into view.
Boringly the same question arises. Can three women lift four legs in a co-ordinated manner to enable the fitting of the remainder of the poles?.
Well co-ordinated it was not, but managed it was.
We are women after all.
posted by Diary Cow at 10:07 pm
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