shelter on a stick

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What is it about an umbrella that has superstitious-types cringing at an indoor opening? Or what is so desperately embarrassing about your domed-rain-keeper-offer flipping inside out at the traffic lights in Melbourne's CBD wind tunnels? The more compact we make them, the less resistant to gales they become and then the more resilient we make them - the more you look like a imbecile traipsing down the street with a potential weapon that could double as a hiking stick - all in a bid to keep the drops off your head, or clothes, or both, in the event that they may fall.
Curiouser still is that the first of their kind seemed to be constructed as sun obstructors and now (in my experience) it is quite the oddity to find someone sporting a personal umbrella as an extension to the 'slip-slop-slap' mantra in our summery months (beach umbrellas aside).
In spite of all their peculiarities, these pop-up, stow-away, portable ceilings remain, for me, a marvel. And above are some of my favourites.

It would appear that in the case of a flood - umbrellas serve as vessels of safe voyage for bears. 


Wonders will never cease!


e.


p.s. if anyone knows where those two mystery pictures are lurking in the murky mire of the inter-webs please give me a hoy.