Sometimes a plan comes together a bit too well

[simont]

In my study, I have a pair of large desks against one wall, and lots of cables running back and forth between things on those desks. Most of the cables, both here and in my previous flat, trailed along the floor behind the desks. This was fine to begin with, but as I accumulated more and more computer equipment, I reached the point where if I stretched my feet out they would encounter an enormous pile of cables, mains adapters and power strips. This was (a) uncomfortable, (b) unaesthetic, (c) risked me accidentally unplugging something if I fidgeted the wrong way, and (d) made it impossible to hoover that area.

So this month I decided to do something about it. I obtained some string netting by the standard method of obtaining weird things in the modern world (i.e. Google and a credit card), and I've just spent most of this afternoon crouching behind my desks, hanging the netting in a half-tube from hooks I screwed into the underside of the desks, threading all the cables through the resulting space, and cramping my back. Now I can stretch my feet out and all they encounter is nice warm carpet. The plan was entirely successful.

Somewhat too successful, in fact: I bought more netting than I needed, on the assumption that I would probably end up having to throw the first lot away and do it all again with slightly different-sized pieces, and/or have to double the netting up for strength, and/or something else I hadn't thought of. Then I added a standard fudge factor to that as well, and ended up ordering a 4m×10m sheet of netting, which I thought ought to be more than enough even in the worst case.

But in fact the plan worked perfectly the first time, and I ended up using a piece of netting that was more like 4m×50cm. Leaving me with a rather silly 95% of the original sheet left, which is currently cluttering up my spare room and will shortly instead be cluttering up my loft.

So, um. I don't suppose anyone has any use for a large piece of netting?

Comments

[atreic.livejournal.com]

I'd happilly take it off your hands

[atreic.livejournal.com]

Although I haven't worked out exactly what I'd _do_ with it, it just sounded vaguely fun. Feel free to give it to other people with better plans.

[mair_in_grenderich]

purchase some playpen balls ...

[angoel.livejournal.com]

You should create a hammock, suspend it across the computer room, and use it when you wish to recline with your laptop.

[angoel.livejournal.com]

Although it does kind of depend on what the netting does when it's under tension. I bought some netting for a similar purpose, but it's default state is to form a sort of rope, not really suitable for reclination.

I'd be tempted to ask for it, assuming it is suitable, except I don't really know where I'd be able to put a hammock up. Still, if noone else wants it, I'd be interested.

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

You should do this (http://blag.xkcd.com/2007/11/19/growing-up/). But you should put the netting underneath the ball pit-- that way, you can pick it all up in one go for easy cleaning and disinfecting.

[rmc28]

Well, I think we could use your approach for tidying cables up in the New Study ...

[simont]

Does that mean you'd like a piece? About how big, do you know?

[rmc28]

Sorry for taking a while to get back to you. I think we could usefully use 2 pieces, each 100cm x 50cm.

[pjc50.livejournal.com]

Use it to camoflage your house.

[deborah_c]

I have children, who will find constructive uses for *anything* :-)

[wildeabandon.livejournal.com]

Are you sure that you want your children to be finding creative uses for a large quantity of netting, presumably in your house? You're a braver woman than I...

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

One of them could be suspending the fabric mountain on the inside of left wardrobe in my bedroom, in fact :)

Would 1m x 1m break anybody else's plans?

[simont]

You're the first person to actually specify the size they want, so 1m×1m is yours. If I remember, I'll try to give it to you when you come round for dinner next week.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Thankyous! :)

[ewx.livejournal.com]

What an excellent solution to the cable problem. I am seized with a desired to do the same thing under my desk.

[simont]

Does that mean you'd like a piece of my netting? About how big, do you know?

[ewx.livejournal.com]

1m x 2m should be at least enough.

[senji.livejournal.com]

JPEG!

[xraycb.livejournal.com]

I could use a cargo net in my car boot

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

That is a very good plan. My driving instructor was telling me about somebody he knew who died when he had an accident on a country road and the toolbox in the boot went through the back seat at 60mph, through the front seat and shot several large spanners through his internal organs.

[simont]

I think cargo nets tend to be made of thick elastic netting, rather than fine string. But if you think the latter is better than nothing, you're welcome to a piece; how big?