Some people prefer all hard surfaces in the garden, with pots and raised beds. I like a bit of green lawn too but no more than is manageable with a small hand mower. I tried the new mower yesterday and inspected the result this morning.

It’s a little unevenly mowed in places – where the dogs used to dig and the chooks had dust baths. When I had chooks I didn’t mow much at all so they could enjoy being up to their feathery bums in grass. Grass and weeds I should say. It is still quite weedy in places, which doesn’t bother me.

The new mower was quite a different experience from the old one. It felt as if you didn’t have to make any effort at all – and I do like to feel that I am getting exercise as I mow. The mower purrs along nicely not making a loud clacking as I feared it might.

However, the new mower seemed to make no impression on the lawn at all! For a panicked moment I regretted leaving the dear old Meteor at the shop. Luckily, you don’t have to muck about with spanners to lower the blades on the new mower. There are huge wingnut screws on each side. Even then, the catcher was barely half full when I finished mowing. Still, it looks tidy enough – especially with the edges done.

Here’s Felix, getting a bird’s eye view from the cabbage tree.

Lately, he’s been racing to the very top of the trees. Sometimes he chases his tail up there while I hold my breath down below.