I take back everything I said about the stupid fucking greenhouse

by Veronica on December 10, 2010

in Garden, Gotta Laugh, Headfuck

Oh yes, it was BRILLIANT, right up until we had a bit of a breeze and some rain.

I woke up this morning, to find it collapsed and half the joins broken. No matter I thought, DUCT TAPE. It fixes everything.

I hassled Nathan until he got out of bed to help me and in the middle of a rainstorm, with the wind trying to blow us away, we put it back together. Of course, then the sun came out and defrosted our frozen fingertips and ears.

We pinned it down better than before and went away.

An hour later, it sailed merrily across my paddock, dropping poles and joins all the way.

This time, it was pretty broken.

Some people might have called it fucked, but not me.

No, I am more determined than intelligent.

Through the waist high grass I dragged its various bits and pieces back to the small enclosed yard.

Wind safe! I thought. Protected! I thought. Easy to access!

Haaaaaaaaaaa. Cough.

Amidst a lot of swearing, Nathan and I put it back together. We only had to traipse back out to the paddock to look for missing pieces half a dozen times or so.

An entire roll of duct tape and an awful lot of cursing later, it was back upright and mostly okay. We pinned it down, even better this time and went inside.

It will be fine I thought. It’s protected from the wind on all sides! The weather isn’t even hitting it.

I kept thinking that, right up until the wind grabbed it and tried to steal it.

Again.

Racing outside in bare feet, I grabbed it and held it down, while the wind gusts passed.

And then we tied the fucking thing to the fence on one side and star pickets on the other side. I’d like to see it try to run away now.

On the upside, the temperature inside must be sitting somewhere near 38C – a far cry from the 10C it actually is outside.

As soon as I can find the energy to bring the watermelons and honeydew seedlings over from the big garden, I’ll pot them up. Again.

I’m sure they’ll be grateful.

UPDATED:

Photos. Because Kristin asked me for them.

I tied it to the fence. Front and back. If it goes, it takes the fence with it. Please don’t let that happen.

A bamboo stake promotes “stability”.

More “stability” and lots of duct tape. And some grass.

And now, two different dramatic representations of how it looked when I found it blown away.

Marylin December 10, 2010 at 2:31 pm

Oh dear. Erm, at least it shouldn’t blow away this time? Maybe…

Veronica December 10, 2010 at 4:10 pm

If it goes again, I’m giving up.

sharon December 10, 2010 at 2:55 pm

I know the feeling, our little ‘compact’ shed did exactly the same thing – twice. It fell onto the car the first time and made a dent in the front wing and the second time it just imploded. It really is windy up on our hill lol! When we finally get enough pennies together for a proper shed it will be bolted to a concrete pad and the roof will be very firmly attached.

Hope the seedlings survive the upheaval and grow well.

Veronica December 10, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Things need to be built to withstand wind.

Wanderlust December 10, 2010 at 3:18 pm

Oh no! Perhaps it’s poor form to say, but I was really hoping for a picture of the duct-taped, tied-up greenhouse.

Veronica December 10, 2010 at 4:08 pm

Updated. Now with photos for your viewing pleasure.

Sarah Casey December 10, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Thank you.
I seriously was in need of a laugh and your story was fantastic. I seriously thought that stuff only happened to others.

Veronica December 10, 2010 at 4:02 pm

Maybe only to others, when you’re an other person. This kind of thing happens to me ALL the time. I should tell you all about the time a pig bailed me up in the toilet.

Fiona December 10, 2010 at 7:44 pm

ugh.

well, that just sucks.

I hope it stays put 🙁

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:14 pm

It has done so far and the wind was pretty bad last night. So, win?

river December 10, 2010 at 8:49 pm

Silly greenhouse thinks it’s a parachute.

I hope it stays put this time.

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:15 pm

Or a tumbleweed. I’m not quite sure which one.

frogpondsrock December 10, 2010 at 9:10 pm

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA *goes to get your father*

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:16 pm

Hehehe. Helpful Mum, very helpful.

frogpondsrock December 11, 2010 at 4:23 pm

You’re welcome Sweetheart.

BendyGirl December 10, 2010 at 10:34 pm

*giggles* oh dear! I had a mini version of your greenhouse to grow tomato plants in….but it had to be brought inside partly cos of the wind and partly because every cat in the neighbourhood thought it was for them. They get really, really hot inside but do work well if they can be pinned down enough. Perhaps recruit the local cats?! BG Xx

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:16 pm

My cats haven’t discovered it yet. I wonder what’s going to happen when they do?

Wanderlust December 11, 2010 at 4:37 am

Hahahahahaha!!! Love the dramatic representations!! Thank you for indulging me. My day is now complete. xx

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:21 pm

You’re welcome!

edenland December 11, 2010 at 9:03 am

The only thing better than the title to this post is the illustrations.

Hope that fucker doesn’t blow away any time soon!

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:22 pm

I’m glad you liked them 🙂

It hasn’t blown away so far. Fingers crossed.

Watershedd December 11, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Oh Kim, a little sympathy for your daughter, please! *Watershedd, sitting in corner, trying to suppress a snigger!*

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:22 pm

I would laugh too, if it wasn’t me.

kayK December 11, 2010 at 2:55 pm

you don’t have floods there tho, do you ? lol.
funny post

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:23 pm

Nope, no floods. Just damp, cloudy weather, with occasional rain. Tassie has been pretty flood free.

bigwords December 11, 2010 at 3:08 pm

Oh no!! I can just imagine you out there trying to fix it! Bummer! I hope it holds up as it looks fantastic!

Veronica December 11, 2010 at 3:24 pm

Oh, I bet it would have been funny, watching as an outsider. I swore, quite a bit.

Tassiegal December 11, 2010 at 3:33 pm

This story is better than an image of me chasing a J&R trashpack down the driveway due to the wind.

Kirrily December 11, 2010 at 3:51 pm

Ahhhh that is so freaking funny! Love your dramatization illustrations, btw. You have done a most sedate and neat job of the duct taping. Man, my efforts would have looked as crazed as a serial killer, I would’ve been flying that tape round with rage. So props to you for keeping your cool enough (or making it look like you did!) to do such great taping down.

Nikki December 11, 2010 at 8:50 pm

Mine went with the bin men couple weeks ago… the wind shredded it and the poles rusted stoopid thing. Bought a glass one second hand for £20. Now I just gotta figure out how it goes together… The fabric of yours looks tougher than mine was so good luck!!

Stimey December 13, 2010 at 1:21 am

Oh, that is so tragic. But so, so funny.

The Duck Herder December 13, 2010 at 3:39 pm

Awe Veronica – I so understand. I have the same greenhouses. I spent far more time/sweat/swear words securing them to the planet than it ever took to put them up…….I used start pickets driven into the ground inside. I also gaff taped up all the joins…….

One is into its second season (and probably last), the second one is new, and I spent even more time enforcing it……..A friend bought the same one…and well, they had a similar outcome to you…….

crap crap crap.

It is a TROLL of a greenhouse 😉

Barbara December 14, 2010 at 1:46 am

Laughing at The Duck Herder’s comment.

But also, oh no! I hope it stays together and on the ground from now on. Good luck.

Kelly December 14, 2010 at 3:49 pm

We had a greenhouse on our farm; but now it’s gone, from the cyclone 🙁

Merilizzie December 21, 2010 at 11:25 am

Splendid reenactment! I was enthralled! Psssst Can I borrow your artist?

Glad it is (currently) (*I hope*) still standing!

Suzanne
@MeriLizzie

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