Feats of Engineering
There have been many amazing feats of engineering in the world, throughout all the ages.
The Pyramids of Egypt - with the Great Pyramid built in 2560 BC as a tomb for Khufu. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Caused awe and wonder for millenia. Probably wasn’t so popular with the people who built it, what with the whips, and the lugging of massive stones and all that.
The Great Wall of China - The world’s longest human-made structure, at over 6,400 km, built between the 5th Century BC and the 16th Century to protect Northern China from Mongolian hordes. People used to claim that it could be seen from the moon, but Google Earth quickly put that belief to rest.
The Empire State Building - 102 stories, Art Deco design, what’s not to like? It was the tallest building in the world for 40 years, after it’s completion in 1931.
Le Viaduc de Millau - It’s the tallest “vehicular” bridge in the world, 343 metres at its tallest point, taller than the Eiffel Tower and 38m shorter than the Empire State Building. It just looks awesome.
But they have all been topped.
What amazing feat could top all of these wonders?
The raised-couch-on-deck of course.
The flat is in the perfect location to get a good dosage of sun most of the day, especially through the afternoon. Sunday, the sun was out in force. So we moved the couch onto the deck. I sat there studying. Jordan, however, had other plans.
“Come on, get up. I need your help with this.”
“With what?”
“We’re going to raise the couch.”
“Sorry, what? Why?”
“Cos where it is at the moment, all you see is the railing.”
“You know what, that’s ok. I’m just looking at my books.”
“Come on… it’ll be high enough to put your legs over the railing rather than squeeze them between the rails and the couch. Let’s just try it out.”
“Alright… what are you going to raise it with?”
“These chairs” He’s brought out four chairs from the dining room.
“Um, I really don’t think this is a good idea…” Images of the couch snapping in to, or the chairs simply collapsing race through my mind.
“It’ll be fine.” I see a smirk on Jordan’s face as he turns away. This is not a good idea.
Still, we go ahead. It takes some trying. We lift the far side of the couch onto two chairs, and then hold the other side up while sliding the other two chairs in.
Jordan looks at me.
“Time to test it, bro.”
“Fuck off - that’s your job”
In the end, it actually works quite well. Thankfully our chairs are sturdy. I was wondering for the first few minutes how long it would be till we plummeted to the ground - but hey, it all worked out in the end. It was incredibly comfortable. The sole problem was needed to climb right over anybody else if you wanted to go inside for any reason. Didn’t happen much, the sun was too nice.
I did actually manage to get some good amount of study in. And then I managed to get a good amount of beers in too.
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12 Responses to “Feats of Engineering”
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Adey Ben, 2 months without a post is terrible. Get moving!!!!!
yojoe What about Missile Pops?
Shannon OMG. Check it out… http://mudhead.uottawa.ca/~pet e/beard.html
Ben A singular beer won’t quite cut it. But you’re on the right track…
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Awesome, just.. Awesome. Love the photo too, you look very rock-star - rather than burnt nerd studying….
[…] you’re bored at all I suggest you head on over to Bens and check out his post on what he did yestarday. I had a good giggle at […]
Rock star huh?
Would probably have to throw the couch off the balcony to earn that title
Cant believe you even let Jordan try that, haha. Study must have made you weak
Sheer genius. That’s all I can say.
Thats gold.
Adey - Study made me open to distraction
SGS and Kat - why thank you. Yes, I will take the credit, as you can clearly see it is me sitting in the couch in the picture. So thanks
What happens when it rains?
Brilliant feature - it’s not that difficult to assemble, or take apart. Logically, when we’re done with sitting on it, we take it apart and move it all back inside.
And if it looks like rain, we’re probably not going to be setting it up to begin with.
At the very least it’s fresh air and exercise.
At the very least.
At the most it revolutionises the art of sunbathing on the deck.
How innovative! Now that sounds like the right way to study; when I think back to my studying days, all I remember is all-nighters, too much coffee, a dark and musty basement, and lots of shaking…god I’m glad I’m done school, haha