I have been boring my friends for years. But it is only in the last few months that it has taken on jaw-stretching proportions, since, in fact, I got given a scythe for my birthday.
I thought this would display nicely on a granite wall alongside other artefacts of a bygone age - a wooden rake, a quern, a pestle and mortar. But curiosity got the better of me and I gave this state-of-the-art Austrian scythe an outing. I was amazed. It was light, easily adjustable, awesomely sharp and presented me with a footpath through woodland in a very short time indeed.
The strimmer will still get used - on stone steps and patios - but for general work around the place it is the scythe every time. I now take it for a walk daily and look forward to the endorphin rush of prolonged easeful exercise in the quiet of the countryside. I hear the cheating cuckoo as he counterfeits the coombe, and take pleasure in the soft footpaths that meander through wildflower meadows. No more the liquidised amphibians or spattered glass panes, and chips pinging off poorly parked cars. At 2kg and only a sharpening stone to carry it wins hands down against the 8kg strimmer with its noise, emissions, protective gear and wasteful plastic by-product. Where did the last 6m of strimmer wire go when it needed a refill, I wondered? And none of my neighbours is disturbed if I feel the urge in the silence of a Sunday.
The other win from the last month’s ‘change’ has been raising the lawnmower’s cutter. Pink cranesbill, birdsfoot trefoil, red and white clovers as well as daisies and buttercups have taken advantage of the extra inch and suddenly the formerly sterile lawn is quietly and literally humming with insect life, while still providing a luxurious playing place.
If you want convincing about the scythe, try this video.
I thought this would display nicely on a granite wall alongside other artefacts of a bygone age - a wooden rake, a quern, a pestle and mortar. But curiosity got the better of me and I gave this state-of-the-art Austrian scythe an outing. I was amazed. It was light, easily adjustable, awesomely sharp and presented me with a footpath through woodland in a very short time indeed.
The strimmer will still get used - on stone steps and patios - but for general work around the place it is the scythe every time. I now take it for a walk daily and look forward to the endorphin rush of prolonged easeful exercise in the quiet of the countryside. I hear the cheating cuckoo as he counterfeits the coombe, and take pleasure in the soft footpaths that meander through wildflower meadows. No more the liquidised amphibians or spattered glass panes, and chips pinging off poorly parked cars. At 2kg and only a sharpening stone to carry it wins hands down against the 8kg strimmer with its noise, emissions, protective gear and wasteful plastic by-product. Where did the last 6m of strimmer wire go when it needed a refill, I wondered? And none of my neighbours is disturbed if I feel the urge in the silence of a Sunday.
The other win from the last month’s ‘change’ has been raising the lawnmower’s cutter. Pink cranesbill, birdsfoot trefoil, red and white clovers as well as daisies and buttercups have taken advantage of the extra inch and suddenly the formerly sterile lawn is quietly and literally humming with insect life, while still providing a luxurious playing place.
If you want convincing about the scythe, try this video.