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A few more photos from other sections at the show... Glad we were not at the GDSF today as the weather has been awful !

Had plenty of seat time today. As it was a good forecast for the day, I thought I'd better do some catch up round the garden, green and verges. Front hedges and bushes needed trimming, so that was the first job. After a run out for fresh petrol supply. Next came the lawn and verge outside the house. When I'd returned from my week down south, the grass had shot up. Even though it was wet, on Tuesday, I cut the green and verges on a slightly higher setting than normal. The cut grass was left lying. Today I thought I'd better do something about it as it looked untidy. I wasn't sure if the sweeper would pick it up as it was, so using the Black Horse and a scarifier/rake thingy the Showman gave me a couple of years back, I roughed up the lying grass. Swapped the rake for the sweeper and got the grass cleaned up. Then it was the turn of the C-125 and cutter deck. Green and verges mowed, albeit slowly, as the grass was still quite wet. While doing the green, the deck decided to lose a wheel. This necessitated a workshop visit and both wheels were changed for those off the dead side discharge. Though a slightly larger diameter, with the rear of the deck dropped a notch, mowing commenced with no further mishaps. All this took around 5ltrs of petrol and nine hours, including removing and cleaning the deck and tractor. Which I always do after use. Still got the green and verges to sweep, but they will be done Monday or Tuesday. Rain forecast for all day tomorrow. Well it is a Bank Holiday weekend.

Quick video from this morning

For a look of some early and rare garden tractors made in America this page is a great resource. http://raregardentractors.com/gardentractors-for-sale.html BTW, the Pond brothers started with Shaw manufacturing company that made the Shaw Du-All tractor in Galesburg Kansas just about 100 miles north of me. From Gas Engine Magazine " The Speedex Tractor Corporation was founded in 1935 by Harold Pond, who is considered the developer of the first four wheel riding garden tractor in America. Harold Pond was associated in the late 1920s with Stanley W. Shaw of the Shaw Mfg. Company in Galesburg, Kansas, who fabricated walk behind garden tractors and outdoor power equipment from reclaimed motorcycle and automobile parts. Harold Pond, Elmer Pond and Glen Heilman ( Harold Ponds Brother-in-Law) all worked for Shaw MFG at one time. These three dispersed to Ohio and Indiana to form their own companies and develop their own tractors. Harold Pond developed the Speedex line of tractors in Ravenna, Ohio. Harold's brother Elmer and his son Cecil developed the Pond line of tractors which later became named Wheel Horse in the South Bend, Indiana area. Harold's brother-in-law Glen Heilman developed the Garden-All line of tractors in Mishawaka, Indiana. Glen was married to Harold's wife's sister. These three, who grew up in Galesburg, Kansas, were responsible for many innovations in the lawn and garden tractor industry. While Harold was working for Shaw he was assigned the territories of Ohio and Pennsylvania. During that time he developed the Speedex walk-behind tractor. In 1935 he founded Speedex Tractor Company and began making a riding tractor called the Model B Speedex. It had tiller steering, Briggs & Stratton Model ZZ air cooled engine, and the tractor utilized a Ford Model A transmission and a Ford model T rear axle which was narrowed to suit the tractor. The Speedex Model B was the first riding four wheel garden tractor with an air cooled engine and pneumatic tires. According to a letter from Mrs. Harold Pond: 'When Harold brought out his first riding tractor, the Speedex Model B, it outsold his walking model by far. He started a national advertising campaign on his new riding tractor and they sold like Carter sold liver pills. We were married in March 1939 and did not take our honeymoon until the slack season commenced."

Without photos it didn't happen .

Apologies for being off topics however this is a really great charity event. If you are in Norfolk this weekend this is worth a look, where else will you see a convoy of over 80 trucks. Some details here https://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/Great-Yarmouth-East-Coast-Truckers-Annual-Convoy/details/?dms=3&feature=1001&venue=0096899 and our videos from last year's event

Down in Dorset for a few days, yesterday we went to the GDSF. Lots of moaning this year about queues to get in, awful loos, etc etc, we had a great day, the only queue was to get out Here's some photos...

Over the summer I've been doing a lot of clearing and levelling around the garden. There is a large mound of soil that I've been working my way through and using to fill up a few low areas. A few weeks ago my father suggested using his Howard 350 rotavator to go over the areas to break the ground up a bit and make levelling it easier. That sounded like a good plan at the time. First problem was just getting it of of the shed where its been resting, the hinges on the door were rusted solid so had to remove the screws. Once out I pushed the 350 down to our workshop to give it a once over. I drained what old petrol was left in the tank, removed the spark plug and checked for a spark. Nothing, this was going to be a bit more work than I'd hoped for.

Some really nice trucks there, Iain. Thanks!

I like the early Ford Capri. I had a metallic blue one. Also three of the white Cortinas. All 2.0 ltr. One again metallic blue, One orange GT and a metallic brown estate. Weak point was the camshafts. The lobs wore pretty quickly. Easy to change though.

Great pictures Paul and some good looking tractors

I know what you mean, when you have a lot to do in a limited amount of time photos are't in the picture so to say. I'm mowing 3 acres and trimming 800 yards of fence line; that leaves little time for photos. I'll ask the neighbors if they have any picture of me mowing, they wait until their grass is nearly knee high, they aren't busy doing anything.

I found this guy about six inches off the ground climbing my tomato plant. Proof positive and turtles are agile and proficient climbers in secret

Here in the states we call them Box Turtles

So there were 3 Wheelhorses there then... sort of...