Monday 18 April 2011

Lovely Day

The first thing I clapped eyes on this morning (apart from the Memsahib that is ) was a Gold Finch followed by a Yellowhammer outside the patio doors, all this before the first cup of tea! Off to work to practice emergencies and unusual circumstances which finished early, and then off to the stable to see to Luce's needs. She was in good form, in fact she had only just woken up from an afternoon kip when I arrived, still lying down with a sleepy look on her face and straw in her mane, ahhh bless! Finished mucking Luce out and giving her tea, prepared tonight and tomorrows hay nets and then left the stable and back home for tea. The Memsahib was still at work so I prepared an omelet with our own free range eggs and for pudding a thick slice of bread and homemade lemon curd, Mmmm yummy. I have to admit the whole meal was washed down with a rather fine Shiraz, hic. Upon checking the mail box I find one of my ebay purchases has arrived, a fine pair of Dublin Cotton Jodphurs, the only question now is will I be brave enough to wear them, they are rather clingy! Photo to follow? Maybe ;-)
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Sunday 3 April 2011

Me on Luce

I know, I know, it's the Memsahibs hobby, back off. And I only came along to give her support honest, but this horse lark is pretty good fun. Maybe it's the thought of jodphurs and knee high boots that's driving me forward. I have this image of me looking like an extra from a Jilly Cooper novel, more like Mr Arsey than Mr Darcy!
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The first cut with the freshly serviced (ahem!) Lawn tractor

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DIY Mechanics

So, the lawn tractor was dead and the grass is starting to grow. Everywhere I look people are cutting their grass and making their gardens look fabulous. Meanwhile I am stuck with just a hover mower to contend with all my grass, and at this rate my garden is not going to look fabulous for a good while! There is only one thing for it, I will need to roll my sleeves up and try to fix the problem myself. I ascertained that the battery was working and the engine was turning (all the while the battery lasted) it just would not fire. Deduction, spark plug. I managed to get part of the engine casing off and get at the spark plug, it was looking a bit sorry for itself, blackened and dry looking. I cleaned it up with some wet and dry paper and oiled the thread then replaced it in the engine and tried again; Success the engined fired into life with much smoke (flooded engine) and not a little noise but other than that we were back in business, bring on the growing season I'm finally ready. As a footnote to this blog I really must take more care of the petrol garden equipment with regards to servicing said items. It looks like I am going to have to become a. It more of a DIY mechanic if I am to avoid the same shenanigans next year and keep costs down :D
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