Sorry I have not written for a while but I have been to monkey World in Dorset with my dear wife - had trouble getting out - the wife I mean!! A few bananas resolved the problem.
The parts for the little red tractor arrived and with much scratching of head and burn out of anglegrinders - up to my arms in *!^^^**** as well as grease and oil - not the mention the elastoplast I have installed the new clutch and parts on the old three cylinder diesel engine. With mighty constructions of timber, trolley jacks and other implements which would not put Arcamedes to shame I attempted to fit the engine to the gear box without success. After a day, which looked more like a reanactment of the building of the pyramids, I still had not succeeded, but they say it is better to have friends than money in this world and over the horizon came my dear friend Pete. Mounted on his 8 ton JCB and masses of chain he lifted the engine onto the gearbox. MUCH JOY - off he went to save other struggling souls and left me to reassemble the little red tractor. After a day of steady work - nuts, bolts, wires, new oil in the engine, fitting of the battery I started the engine. I jumped up on to the springy seat, depressed the clutch, reved up the engine, put it in gear, let out the clutch and NOTHING HAPPENED!! Wo is me. I was not dispondent so I looked around at the multitude of levers that surrounded me - tongue in cheek - I pulled and pushed the odd lever and off the little red tractor went. MUCH JOY. Now I am looking for some work to do with it. I have terrorised the wood pile and put some huge ruts in the ground and I am having a fantastic time playing with my tractor!! PS It will soon be time to pick the broadbeans you put in last winter - see earlier blog.