Banjo

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Every since I saw Tommy Steele singing 'I want a Banjo' in the musical 'Half A Sixpence' I have had a hankering for the instrument that went 'ring a janger, jing a janger' and now I finally have one. A beautiful instrument (the photo does it no justice)  i can now shut myself away and play 'ring a janger,jing a janger' to my hearts content (provided I am out of earshot of the Memshaib that is =D ) Once I have conquered 'ring a janger, jing a janger' I'll move on to 'Duelling Banjo's' from the movie 'Deliverence' :-D

Holidays @ Home :-/

Two weeks off and for the first week glorious sunshine. We were going to do a cycle trip if the weather was good (which it was) or take a short notice trip somewhere warm if inclement (which it ain't) where do we end up? At home! The Memsahib decides it would be nice to stay at home seeing as it is so nice and potter around the house (for that read DIY). Before you can say 'but dearest' I'm out in the garden stripping the wet roof off of the summerhouse and replacing it with fresh felt and Batton and that's were we stop; because we do not yet have the top dressing for the roof, that will be here middle of next week. New glass is on order too for the window and doors of aforementioned summerhouse, but that's not here yet either. Move swiftly across to job number 2, the pond. It requires the liner raising up to make it deeper and a top dressing/seat applied around the top. Once again I'm stripping back a previously finished job and improving, shall we say, the structure that already exists :o Three days later and that job is finished, interspersed with some horse riding shenanigans and guess what? The glass is here. So we pick up the glass and its back to the shed; excuse me, summerhouse and we replace the glass. It has to be said that once completed it is a much nicer place to sit and wile away the time (not that we'll be doing much of that I dare say). As we speak I AM sitting in the summerhoose sipping a beer whilst the Memsahib is up at the yard seeing to the horse. The pond is complete, the summerhouse awaits its new roof dressing and I; well I am awaiting the next job :-)
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Swallows

It's always a treat to see the Swallows return with their incredible aerobatic displays and we have had Swallows nesting around our house since we moved here seven years ago. Last year a new nest was built under the eaves of the log store and a successfull nest full was achieved from it. This year they are back again and are already checking out the nest, I wonder if the same breeding pair find their way back each year to the same nest spot or is it a different pair just taking over a ready made home? I have a feeling its the first point made. I find it amazing that such small birds can find their way back to a garden in South West Scotland from South Africa year after year. They really do herald summer and its certainly feeling summery around here at the moment, 20 degrees regularly for the last week or so, fantastic. Spot the glass of red wine in hand, still fits in with the swallows theme :-)
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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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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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