Half Brolly — Episode 2: Will this appease Flautist?

When last we visited the half brolly in Episode 1 last week — on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 3:01 p.m., to be precise — its appearance was greeted with a fusillade of derision from down Atlanta way.

bookofjoe's very own Georgia peach commented, "Four hundred dollars for a half-(assed) umbrella and base, just for some shade???? My Tweety & Sylvester parasol would keep you in the dark with style and flair — $10.00. Or... garbage bag stretched over an old TV roof antenna: $2.50."

That stung just a wee bit.

But we're resilient here, me and Shawn Lea and her mighty crack research team, so we went on an all out search for a version that might better suit the sensibilities of our musically inclined friend.

And I do believe (pending Flautist's weighing in here, of course) we may very well have succeeded.

Without further ado, then, the second, far cheaper — $139 v $400 — coming of the half brolly.

From the website:
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Even a small patio has room for this half umbrella.

Now you can enjoy shade where a full-size umbrella just won’t fit!

This half umbrella fits up against the wall and only needs half the space.

Even use it as an instant awning for a window.

Because the pole fits up against a wall you can use this umbrella with or without a table.

There’s even room to stand under it because it’s almost 8' high.

Use to shade a small table on a narrow balcony, or place in front of a window where it can do double duty as an awning.

Sturdy steel pole, easy-up crank handle, and mildew-, fade- and weather-resistant polyester canopy.

Details:

• Plastic ring, metal clip, steel base pole and hardware included

• Decorative floral designed cast iron base [below] included

• Canopy measures approx. 7'6"W x 3'9"D x 7'10"H

• Base measures approx. 19"W x 12¼"D x 1"H

• Steel umbrella pole with crank handle
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Hey, Flautist, don't get your knickers in an even bigger twist — "crank" handle is their copy, not mine.

Beige or Green.

$139 (cast iron base included — can you believe it?).