Biggles has always had a thing for director-style chairs; he seems to like a seat that really molds itself to his shape. Such chairs tend not to last, especially if we get lazy and leave them out in the rain once too often. I installed our last serviceable director’s chair in our new shed and he makes regular use of it on cooler days. He seems to enjoy it even more if I’m not in there; it’s become his own private little snoozing room. The clumsy, shuffling sounds that accompany him getting into the chair and getting comfy always bring a smile to my face.

On sunny days however the shed gets too hot to spend any time inside, so he just mopes around on a regular dog bed looking bored and sorry for himself, which is clearly unacceptable! In a stroke of luck Susan spotted the perfect replacement director’s chair in The Range, able to handle being left outside even on typical Scottish monsoon/heatwave/monsoon combo days. Biggles’ initial reaction to  his new chair was disappointing, but then I don’t think he’s ever really got the whole flat-pack concept.

Are you sure this it Dad?

It doesn’t really get you far off the floor does it?

OK, I’ll try it but don’t get your hopes up.

Oh the chair’s inside, you say?

OK, give me a minute to dig about in here…

Nope, it’s not looking good Dad

I mean the head rest is OK, but that’s about it.

No, still not seeing it Dad.

Oh right, yep I like it now. Just get me a chew and a bowl of water and I’m good for the afternoon.

We can leave the frame in place on the deck and it only takes a second to slip the fabric bit on or off in response to the weather. It turns out that Biggles is smart enough not to try climbing into the chair when the fabric isn’t in place, which is a good. Less good is that Beanie, who normally finds chairs like this too squishy and unstable to trust, tried the chair one time and seemed to like it. There may be noisy squabbles in our future.