Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Lawnmower graveyard

It has been one of those days. The Lawnmower is dead (well actually it is not but it sure is smokin'!!).
Aaron went for a run at 8.15pm just as I was tucking the kids into bed. I have been procrastinating all day about mowing the lawn (if I am real, it has probably been a week) so I gave myself a pep talk and told myself not to be so lazy.

Out comes the lawnmower and I am doubting the wisdom of this as it is getting dark. I mow the strip across the road and as I am coming back into the section I notice that the mower is smoking. A short check confirms that black oil is pouring out of the top of the head, down the side and onto the deck bit.

Now any normal person who works in Health and Safety would eliminate the hazard by stopping the task until either a new mower is purchased, or you hire someone else with their mower. But no - I think - "How fast can I get this lawn mowed? Can I do it before it explodes?:" Following that very bad Health and Safety thought I go for the minimise option in the hazard hierarchy. I go and get our fire extinguisher from the laundry door, check that it OK for oil and petrol and electrical. Yippee it is, so I put it within two metres of where I am mowing and I mow FAST!!!!!

By now it is dark, I have no idea what our lawn is going to look like tomorrow morning. It was looking pretty stripey but the lawnmower and I were running. I did get the lawn done ( well I couldn't see the strips I missed so it must be done). I did wonder at various points just how sensible I was being - not. Half of the reason that I could not see was the mower was smoking so heavily. Aaron came back from his run and took a photo of me mowing the lawn with my fire extinguisher handy.

So anyone working in H&S - just ignore this blogpost or use it as an example of what not to do.

This lawnmower has done us well. It has been treated harshly but survived. We bought it nine years ago and it was well and truly second hand then. It has been so easy to use. Always starts, is light, perfect for me. Over the years it has had to be fixed several times. My trusty and wonderful Father-in-law has done that for me. Last time the throttle cord went and it came back from him with the throttle working backwards (where the prime used to be it was now off and visa versa) so that took a bit of getting used to. So in-spite of all the Kiwi number eight wire it has been faithful. We knew it was going bad as last time I mowed the lawn the entire head came off when I pulled the starter cord. Aaron used his handyman skills and put in more screws and got it looking solid again (much to my and his surprise - bless him his handyman skills are very much hit and miss).

But even I have to accept that it is destined for the Lawnmower graveyard, never to mow another lawn.

Linking to some parties listed here

9 comments:

  1. don't you just love power tools, thankfully lawn mowers do last a bit longer then some others.
    I bought my pink top in Dunedin in between the Golden Centre and the Meridian Mall, from a delightful shop called Hype - my favourite boutique!

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  2. I am going to Dunedin next weekend. So will see if I have time to shop!! thanks Shiree

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  3. This was funny. Hope you have good luck finding a replacement.

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  4. My sweet DH husband HSE too. Geez. This sounds all too familiar. But, our lawnmower is destined to go to the lawnmower graveyard too eventually. LOL, its over 15 years old and it was second-hand too! Hopefully it will last a couple more years! Good luck finding a replacement. and please, by all means, BE CAREFUL!

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    1. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I love second hand but sometimes you just have to admit when it's time to give up!!

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  5. What a funny post! I hate mowing the lawn so much that I planted garden beds and pretty much got rid of most of it except for one long strip in the backyard. I have had a reel mower in the past, and that worked great, but it would take a long time if you have a large lawn. Now I can do what we have with a string trimmer and I'm done. So nice to hear from you over at my blog today, and glad you enjoyed the chalkboard tv cover :)

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    1. Thanks Athena, My MIL hates mowing so much that the first time she had to do it after she was married she got the mower stuck tilting up a tree. Was never asked to do it again!!! great planning on her part.

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  6. Good Morning from Maine!

    I found your blog through the Friday Friend Link up...and I haven't stopped laughing yet! This is so ME!!! In the dark, just trying to get it finished...hoping I don't have to call 9-1-1...and I thought I was the only one out there!

    All kidding aside, love your blog...I will be back to visit again soon!

    Sweet blessings,
    Laura

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Thanks so much for stopping by. I love that you took time out to comment on my blog.

A gorgeous break in Rarotonga

Woo hoo, A holiday with no kids for 11 days. Bliss, relaxing and warm! BTW it was an early 20th wedding anniversary present to ourselves....