Trampoline Mania

[Errogie]

I've picked up from the gale warning thread that flying trampolines have now joined liberated Christmas trees as a hazard on the streets of Wick.

Last summer when I cycled through the Western Isles couldn't help noticing that every second crofter from Barra to Stornoway had one of these set up in their back garden. Remarkably there was never one actually in use, not even a sheep having a fly bounce or a Hebridean grannie waulking tweed on one. As the days went by I became gradually consumed by a desire to jump a fence and have a few sly bounces or perhaps execute a few steps of an improvised Highland fling. Thankfully I'm made of sterner stuff and limited any exuberance to an ocaisional wheelie in front of indifferent sheep.

So trampolines have spread into Caithness. I mean what is this about, shaking your insides and vital organs into unnatural and shocking positions while trying to defy gravity.

Have you all been indoctrinated by the famous mantra from the Natural Law Party about yogic flying? What effect is this having upon the population? Is there a trampoline injury specialist in the hospital, can you be breathalised when in charge of one, is it an chargeable offence to wear a skirt in a high wind, and of course are they always locked up on Sundays.

I am still trying to battle an irresistable draw to actually try one out. Can anyone explain this trampoline phenomena.

[Billy Boy]

i think its called keeping up with the jones's lol;) [lol]

[canuck]

In my household if one mentions the words trampoline and Caithness in the same sentence gales of laughter will come from some corner. During my first week in Scotland in June of 2004 I had my 18 year old daughter with me. She was studying for final exams so in the evenings she would retire to her assigned room and work on her books. One night she emerged to announce that the children next door were still out there on the trampoline. Her now oft quoted words were "it is 10:30 at night and they even have the dog with them on the trampoline." Okay, maybe it looses something in the translation, but the bit that is necessary to the story is the knowledge that from the time she was 3 days old she found excuses to stay up past any reasonable bed time. She is a bright kid, so over the years some of the excuses were brilliant. But once she reached that mature age of 18 or perhaps the character building winds of Caithness, she suddenly discovered that perhaps young kids should be in bed right early and she was going to be the new champion of the cause.

[MISS K]

:D it so is to keep up with everyone, our daughter badgered us till we got her one not happy with a wee one it had to be a certain size (the biggest) she used it for a few months, got bored, had enough of it, in the end our dog used to lie on it, sun himself, and was able to look in the house at us:lol:

[burstbucker]

I've seen one do take the whole side out of a neighbours parked car after the wind threw it, so best make sure that your insurance is up to date.

[MISS K]

After ours went flying through 2 neighbours gardens (without the dog on it) we just dismantled ours, they are very much a have to get, get bored of very quickly thing ;)

[Moby]

I think that all trampolines should come with a warning - "Not to be used by ladies who failed to do sufficient pelvic floor excercises after pregnancy" :lol:

[crazy]

We have a trampoline in our farm shed. The shed has a concrete floor so we have to have an enclosure. It was a very expensive toy BUT I can honestly say that our children have had hours & hours of fun on it. Because it is indoors, they play on it every day of the year no matter what the weather.

[percy toboggan]

Our four year old g/d has expressed an interest and Mum approves!
We poo' poo'd it. Are we miserable , sensible, or what. ? One reads of injuries. I don't want to wrap her in cotton wool but these seem to be asking for trouble.
What do you think?

[sweetpea]

i'm not allowed one but if I had one I'd be on it all weathers. They are great for toning. I agree they need to be made safe and drunk adults kept off them but there must be some way of securing them so they don't blow away or just take them down at this time of year.

[garycs]

The recent rise in the popularity of trampolines is the result of a very clever marketing campaign sponsored by plaster of paris manufacturers. During the summer term last year at my daughter's previous school there were seven children in plaster at the same time due to trampoline accidents! Three were from the same family !!

[Errogie]

Perhaps a bouncy castle is a safer alternative for people who want to get airborne but when you do come across one they don't seem to allow adults onto them.

[mums angels]

We got a trampoline last summer and the kids loved it and were out on all weather on it, they still would be if i hadn't had to take the net down and tie the thing to the fence after my neighbours one flew away. :( It'll be back up properly as soon as spring arrives (i'll keep the ropes handy thou) .great exercise for the kids as well as myself..lol and gets much more use than our bouncy castle which is a pain to pack away!

[loobyloo]

Our four year old g/d has expressed an interest and Mum approves!
We poo' poo'd it. Are we miserable , sensible, or what. ? One reads of injuries. I don't want to wrap her in cotton wool but these seem to be asking for trouble.
What do you think?

I bought one for my daughter but I got an enclosure with it. There have been accidents on them but this is usually due to thin padding over the springs, or kids falling off awkwardly. If you get padding of at least 35mm over the springs (I think!!), they're safer. Also, go through the rules that come with it about not bouncing near the edge, on your head etc etc.. Also, don't let a whole heap of kids on it at the same time (that is asking for trouble!!).
Ours has been very well used, although we dismantle it in the winter. Just make sure you buy a good quality make: easy to research it on the net. Ebay's a good source to get good brands considerably cheaper than if you buy from shops as they come direct from the supplier (carriage is ridiculous though).