SC - Haggis and Strawberries

[Lee-Gwen Booth]

Phillipa asked: 
> We are thinking of getting one of those heavy vinyl inflatable  beds (The 
> ones as seen on tv that inflate in one minute) to use as extra guest space.  
> Or, failing that to get a futon mattress for the same purpose.
> 
> Has anyone ever used a vinyl inflatable bed?  Are they any good?  Do you 
> think they will last long or do you think they will get a puncture in them?

I used something similar for about six or seven years. It was a double
air mattress where one of the large sides was a velvet-like vinyl and
the others were vinyl. It lasted until it leaked. I think because we
got lazy about carefully putting it away when at home. Of course we
were using it on top of an indoor-outdoor carpet which was on top of
a double rope bed. This one did not inflate in one minute. Maybe
because we used a seperate 12V pump or foot powered pump.

After the first one sprung a leak, I bought a double air mattress
made of rubberized cloth. Slightly smaller and slightly thinner than
the first one. I find futon mattresses to be rather large and bulky
to transport, but they don't leak at inopportune times, either.

For some more info on beds, including rope beds, platform and slat beds, 
mattresses and other stuff, including info on a period air mattress (No, 
I'm not kidding) check this file in the HOME, SWEET HOME section of my
files:
beds-msg         (119K) 10/15/99    Medieval and SCA beds. rope and slat beds.

- -- 
Lord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris             Austin, Texas           stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****