The day started with getting the mower ready and doing the safety check with help from Bodacious the cat shepherd.
He is very good at assisting in all the safety checks and lining up the tow bar and ball.
Next it is to make sure that the tow bar and ball are secure.
Now to inspect that the ball and hitch are securely attached, this needs close inspection because if it comes off while on a hill we could have a very bad accident.
Next we need to check that the tire pressure is correct on the quad, if pressure too high I will get no grip and wheel spin if to low it won’t be able to tow the mower.
Then we move onto the mower making sure bolts all secure, flails are free, grease all the grease nipples and finally a tire check.
Ready to pull out of the shed and fill up with fuel.
When I fire up the mower Bodacious departs as he feels the mower is a bit too noisy but he is replaced by Pepper who loves to help mow the fields. He keeps a sharp eye out for any mice, rabbits or hare who might run out of the long grasses. I stop the quad so he can jump down and give chase but he never catches anything.
So starts the day of topping all the nettles, thistles and grass.
What I love about my mower is I can get right in under the trees which with a tractor would not be possible.
As always when you only have one final row to mow you run out of fuel.
Pepper is bemused by the silence of the mower and stares at it.
When this field is finished I head out the gate stopping on the lane to close the gate behind me. I look to my right and who has been sleeping in the shade waiting for me to finish but Bodacious.
He might not like the mower when it is going but he loves a ride on the Quad any chance he gets. So he saunters down from his napping location to try and hitch a ride back to the yard.
Up he jumps onto the mower to wait for my return from closing the field gate
As I come back he jumps off the mower and onto the quad demanding I give him a ride back up to the yard.
So up I get onto the seat and himself curls happily onto my lap waiting for me to start the engine.
When I start up the quad Bodacious gets into his driving position for a spin up to the yard.
Still more fields to top but I take a break to have some supper then go out to check on sheep before continuing. As ever Bodacious is on the job but this time waiting for me at the gate telling me off for being late.
This evening some of the sheep come towards us as I’m a bit late and they are curious as to why.
Other sheep are to contented to move staying put and chewing their cud.
He then starts walking through his sheep greeting those he feels like and ignoring others.
He then walks over to show a healthy sample of sheep poo not to be stepped in by cat or human.
Now it is time for me to continue my mowing.
Having had supper and a glass of wine (or two) you can see my straight lines have a wee bit of a curve to them.
I want to get the field mowed as the next day it is due to rain so I mow well on into the night finishing after 11pm.
When I am finally done I go into the house for a warm apple brandy and find a very lazy cat sprawled out in front of the Aga.
