It was a day like any other in my garden. I got Roger Rover, the mower, out of his shed. 25 years of faithful service without complaint. He never had an oil change, no new spark plug, no new air filter. He was the typical Aussie. Tough, strong, can suffer abuse and never complain. But he drank a lot. Oil and unleaded. Towards the end he began to mix them. He became wobbly. A tough guy who was at his end, and today it came. There was a knock in his bottom end. He could no longer "perform" (ladies- you know what I mean). It was time to let him go, to introduce a new mower to the garden- Howard Honda. I know "It did not matter...we could take him to the doctor etc..., but performance IS everything in this day and age.
Howard Honda is sophisticated! He is a mix of Aussie "know how" and Japanese understanding. A perfect blend. He sipped his drink slowly. He is environmental and caring. He could mulch or catch- What ever you wanted. He even had big ball-bearings in his wheels. Like Roger, he was a four stroke. Unlike Roger, he was computer literate and well versed. He even had galvanized parts. He cares about what your garden wants.
I placed dear old Roger in the garage, thanked him for the work he did for 25 years. I hope Howard the Honda lasts as long. Howard took to the lawn with care and consideration.
Me? Well I mowed and said hello to a Black Prince Cicada who chose my shirt as a nice landing place... whilst I worked.
And a grub moved happily across a daisy,
Such is my garden.
Never has a power mover heard a more poetic swan song. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe cicada reminds me of summer evenings in my old home, haven't heard her song since I left it. Do you have anything like the 17-year periodical species I know from the American East Coast?
Poor Roger Rover! I do hope Howard Honda lasts as long because nothing else does these days HAHHAA. Bet it was a pleasure mowing this weekend (apart from the extreme heat)! I saw my first Black Prince Cicada only a couple of weeks ago in our backyard, but he didn't go for a ride :) The Cicadas were deafening today ... they love the heat!
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention that's a beautiful grub if she moved across your daisy without eating it :)
ReplyDeleteMe, I *lost* my lunch while out tramping, felt very grotty even when I got home, had a siesta, and easily ignored the long lawns in my garden!
ReplyDeleteMerisi:- haha thanks! poor old rover.. It simply started to make a loud knocking sound, and then started to blow heaps of smoke.
ReplyDeletecicada:- yes the stay underground here for 7(?) years.. then out they come. Anon is right they are v. loud this time of year.
there are two types- Black Prince and Green Grocer. the GG was common when I was a child, but now its the other way around
Anon:- It was a pleasure mowing.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you say that, my family tell me the other neighbours think I am a loon because I mow every week in summer. Yet the mower just purrs along, and I have a lawn and not grass..
I think Cicadas love that really intense heat that comes just before a storm....
I had an Orb weaver spider go for a ride as well...
The daisy did not get easten :o)
Kiwi:- you lost your lunch? did you throw up???!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you ok? Or did you push yourself too hard...??
Let us know!
Oh BTW:- I am "renovating" the other blog. As such some of the links have dissapeared:- I will be returning them all v.soon
ReplyDeleteyeah... I did throw up, but thought "lost' sounded more polite. Didn't feel good even from the start of the tramp... hills felt steeper and longer than usual. But a siesta and some fizzy fruit juice cured it. So I had no excuse for staying home from work today!
ReplyDeleteIt can happen kiwi. I have ridden and felt the same. How long was the walk?
ReplyDeleteI walked for six hours.... possibly more like 5 hours on a better day! I go in one end then back again when I have done enough; it is 3-4 hours to do the track one way. I figure it is quite a good climbing track, without being too arduous, to practise for my first days out of Le Puy. I gather there is quite a bit of climbing involved, up and down, before you get onto the Aubrac plateau. People's photos of the Le Puy route always seem to show the flat, easy stuff-- maybe they don't like to stop on hills to take photos in case they can't get going again.... but I am sure I will try to take some photos to show everyone exactly how steep it is! (So long as it is not pouring with rain which is always possible in April!)
ReplyDeleteIs that blond hair sprouting out of you neck Simon on the photo of the cicada?
ReplyDeleteLorenzo.
no no no!! it the cord of my hat!
ReplyDeleteOh sigh ... your farewell to dear Roger brought back such fine memories and remorse. I found myself with a lovely green and magnesium-decked mower which I had bought new and given my mother 35 years ago. I officially retired it several times but always went back and resurrected it. I wish I hadn't given it to the ultimately unappreciative sods who bought our place but I was told that I would no longer need it in the desert. Wrongo. And I missed that trusty old fellow!
ReplyDeleteJut mowed my lawns this morning simon after successfully ignoring them for a few weeks. (Writing school reports and doing necessary Camino walks is my excuse!) I took special notice of the old mowing machine this morning, and it has served me well. I bought in 1984 if my memory serves me correctly, and its Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp four stroke motor still seems like it could go on forever. More problematic is the catcher which is nearly ready to complain "Enough!"
ReplyDelete