The life-time warranty extends only to an imperfection in the umbrella, which was not the case. However, here is what the good soul at ShedRain wrote to me after I complained bitterly about my loss:

"I am so sorry to hear about your umbrella.
Due to the high cost of international shipping, we will not require you
to return your umbrella.
I do need to see if you can tell me what style it is.  There may be a
white tag on the inside of the umbrella.  
Please give me all numbers that are on this tag and we will see what we
can find out.

Thank you,
Brandy Jameson
ShedRain Corp"

So there is hope.

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon