The idyllic picture of someone lazing away in a garden hammock is enough to make even the most driven of us stop and ponder for a few seconds. Hammocks make us pause and tease us with an all too blatant suggestion of carefree relaxation. They encouraging us to slow down and enjoy life.
But savouring a relaxing hour or two in a hammock with a good book does not mean we have to pack our bags and head off to a South Pacific island. The effect can be easily had in your own back yard, garden or even a patio. There are literally dozens of types of hammocks today to suit all domestic environments - and budgets, for that matter.
Those with a large back yard or garden have a mouth-watering menu of hammocks to choose from, but this does not mean those with small or courtyard gardens need go without. Gone are the days when two trees of any species were required to indulge in happy hammock-ing. The development of framed hammocks means even those of us whose only outdoor escape is a balcony or small patio, can still attain that feeling of escape.