We have been umming a arhing over buying a new hedge trimmer… which brand, how much to spend or can the old one even be repaired?  The old one to be fair was only about 40€ purchased from Auchan (local Hypermarket) in Perigueux.  It’s only about 2 years old but has given up the ghost and quit on us after cutting our overgrown hedges here at La Treille.  Jeff has been yearning after an ‘all singing all dancing’ Stihl model one for the last few weeks so after much research and reviewing by yours truly we finally plumped for the Stihl HS45 and found Leroy Merlin in Marsac to be the cheapest.  Still the Stihl at 400 eruos wasn’t cheap and we’ve blown the budget now for this years ’spending’!  Just have to work harder at getting some more bookings for the gites.

Jeff and his new 'boys toy!'

I’ve had to download the English Manual from the net for Jeff so that he can get to grips with ’starting it’ (typical man doesn’t think he has to read the instructions)…

That's the first half nearly done!

So, here we are Saturday morning and we’re doing a joint effort of trimming the hedge… Jeff doing the trimming and me collecting, it’s hard work but hopefully I’ll burn a few calories into the bargain… and these photo’s are proof that I could do with loosing a few pounds.

Me looking fat!

I haven’t told him yet but we’ve still got all the ‘top drive’ to do too… that’ll keep till for another day though!

Top drive at La Treille

Tonight we’re off out to Perigueux for the annual Fête de la Musique which I’m really looking forward to.