05/08/2014

The results of my blood test arrived in the afternoon post. I am pleased to report I have been classified as “alive”.

LSS has been cutting the grass in the alleyways around the property with the brushcutter attachment on the tractor. She decided to tackle a particularly overgrown area, not realising there were tree stumps underneath the ferns and brambles. The result was that the tractor was stranded with the engine block resting on a tree stump and both front wheels in the air, so she had to walk back to La Darnoire to fetch me. I tried using the diff-lock pedal without success; both rear wheels were unable to get sufficient grip.

I returned to the scene later in the afternoon with my Hi-Lift jack, and jacked up the front of the tractor so the engine was no longer resting on the stump. Then using low range reverse (still with diff-lock), the tractor was freed easily. (It’s the same principle as is used for lifting the front of a Land Rover out of wheel ruts). I’m so glad I kept my Hi-Lift jack!