Now I have the Ajay sorted (for now, to some extent, mostly, possibly, perhaps, maybe and any other caveat you can think of!) after 4 months of fiddling I thought I could relax. And mow the lawn.

But no. The mower is having none of it. Starts fine, runs, revs up as it should, runs for fifteen seconds then dies back to barely a tickover. After a few seconds it revs up again and so the cycle goes on with the occasional stall.

It's had ethanol carp in all winter so obviously a blocked carb - presumably fuel flow restricted given the symptoms.

So, I dismantle the carb numerous times, remove fuel filter, substitute proper petrol pipe for the soft rubbish that I spot can stick to itself slowing fuel delivery. All jets out, all passageways cleaned and blasted with the compressor. A whole morning of frustration as the symptoms alter slightly but never go away.

So, as it's so obviously a fuel problem I take the plug out again and rather than just clean it as I have already done I close the gap a bit. Problem solved.

Torch spark plugs. I guess they must be one step up from a Bic lighter that has no fuel. NGK on the way. Obviously when it arrives I shall discover that the problem is the magneto/governor or whatever lives in the depths of the engine but a proper plug is a start

This last week I have felt victimised by the things in the garage. I won in the end but I'm not sure they aren't plotting out there each night whilst I'm innocently sleeping.