Can you make out what's going on in this photo? He's ironing. In scuba gear. Underwater.
OK, I just have to comment on this. Do these people have nothing better to do? More importantly, don't they have real ironing to do? If they love to iron that much, I have rather a large pile staring at me as I write. I can even fill the bath for them. What a bloody stupid idea. I mean, what would be the point of ironing underwater? And, come to think of it, how haven't they all electrocuted themselves? (On closer reading, I find that they remove the cables for safety reasons. Oh good, that means that whatever they are ironing will really be ironed well now doesn't it?)
Apparently the activity (does it really qualify as a sport?) is called Extreme Ironing. I would have thought that referred more to shirts that were a bit fiddly, or dangerously balanced ironing boards, but it appears that it's underwater ironing. If you think I've gone a bit too far with this post, see their web site It states -
Welcome to the home of extreme ironing - the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt.
"Danger sport"? What? I know getting your hand caught when you're collapsing the ironing board can be a bit painful, but it hardly comes with a health warning. Next thing we know it'll be featured in the 2012 London Olympics.
The world record was held by a group of Aussies, (typical), but has just been cruelly snatched from them by the British team. The challenge was to iron one item in a ten minite time frame, although the quality of the ironing wasn't judged. Ten minutes to iron one thing? Obviously the "ironing" part of extreme ironing isn't really the point.
Oh, and the people who do this are called "ironists". How fab. I can add that to my list of titles - wife, mother, writer, blogger, chauffeur, chef, ironist. If you don't like ironing, will that now constitute some sort of prejudice- - anti-ironism? I can just see them taking a class-action lawsuit out against anyone who dares write anything ridiculing them. Err. Ahem. (Slinks off...)
.
Sorry, can't comment - I'm in training. (You should see my pile of ironing!)
ReplyDeleteBarking ... absolutely barking
ReplyDeleteOMGosh...
ReplyDelete'the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt.' in 1952 perhaps..but !!! I'm stunned..
perhaps the pst as
IRONIC!???
If it took me 10 minutes to iron a shirt I'd never get it all done. I would be stuck in ironing Groundhog Day where the pile is the same size every morning. aaargh!
ReplyDeleteWhatever next?! 'Desert laundry'? 'Underground hoovering'? 'Bungee cake-baking'? The mind boggles.
I have a pile of ironing waiting for me to start! This is a ridiculous sport. Mad!
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be the most insane thing I've read in many months!
ReplyDeleteI'm an anti-ironer, detest it, can't iron to save my life and if I really have to do it it takes me 30 minutes to iron a shirt!
Completely bloody ridiculous L x
ReplyDeleteI'm with Nobby on this one. Ten minutes is far too long for one shirt. Ten minutes for a whole pile? Well, now they're talking extreme sport!
ReplyDeleteOkayyyyy! Me thinks you need to go sit on the loo with a hot cup of tea and a digestive!
ReplyDeleteDo they at least take ironing donations?
I'm sure if I ever get to the top of my Mt. Everst size pile of laudry it will surely qualify as "extreme." Any mountain climbers out there want to give it a go?
ReplyDeleteI am an occasional ironist. This blog wins a prize for the most unusual subject matter methinks.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Extreme Parenting? I bet severa of us could break a record on that one...
ReplyDeletemum, I thought you were using an 'iron press' these days, or so you wrote in your comment to my 'Routine Ironing' post of some months ago? x
ReplyDeleteSome ironists should visit this house and they can do it raw, live and plugged into the electrics, there's a mountain of ironing to climb that's what I call extreme! Bet they won't accept that challenge though, cowards!
ReplyDeleteI saw it on the tv and thought it was totally bizarre
ReplyDeleteIroning. Under water. As a sport. An Olympic sport.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what you read in blogs these days.
I had heard of Extreme Ironing (early morning weekend TV is to blame.) You've got to figure that ironing underwater *is* dangerous....I thought they always told you not to mix electricity and water in science class.
ReplyDeleteAnd are the clothes really ironed when they emerge? Surely they are just wet. Isn't that called washing???
Heh heh, I bet that Brit just ironed a baby sock. I'm allowed to say that as I am a Brit ok?
ReplyDeleteToo much free time, indeed! I only iron in emergencies ;-)
ReplyDeletei do find ironing to be therapeutic once every lunar eclipse. my ma in law loves it bless her. she's visiting, so everything is ironed, and i mean everything.
ReplyDelete:-)
Old hat ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, its been over a decade since Extreme Ironing started, check out the Extreme Ironing wiki page. The sport even has a website.
So none of you play eXtreme Croquet either?
Thanks Susan. Actually the croquet version is much more up my street. The thing I just don't get about under-water ironing (and I know it's supposed to be ridiculous) is that you can never achieve it. My son joked about underwater basket-weaving, but actually, at least the end results are possible.
ReplyDeleteI think just scuba diving is tricky enough...without the ironing involved! Anyway scuba is all about enjoyment - why drag ironing (v. less enjoyable unless a brill TV prog is on at the same time) into it!
ReplyDelete(If I put my eco hat on...hope they are protecting the environment/not standing on corals etc. etc. whilst they worry about their creases and air consumption!)
Actually just had a brief look at the website. Um. Err. Hope I'm not being a spoilsport here.
ReplyDeleteYorkshire Divers did raise £6000 for the RNLI with this. (Am massive supporter of the RNLI...they rely totally on public donations. The life boat service, the RNLI, don't get any funding from the govt...save lives and what do the govt. do? They increase their tax on marine radio licences which the RNLI need to carry out their job! There is a big campaign going on to stop this...)
Sorry! Sorry! I'll get off my soapbox now! Sorry expatmum. I'll buy the first pint...pretty please.... :)
No you're right H. I should've mentioned that they did in fact, raise money, but the post was going on a bit. Thanks.
ReplyDelete