Went to Browns to order the new part for the tractor, costly mistake - £205 + VAT.
Rained all morning.
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
May 31st, 2010
Kids away, nice day so Steph and I went bud rubbing. This is physically the most demanding job in the vineyard year, It involves bending/squatting down to remove all the lower buds and growth from each vine. 5000, squat thrusts - can my thighs take it? We started at the east end with the longest rows and managed 6 rows in total, ~600 vines.
May 30th, 2010
We are rostered to do lunch at the sailing club today. Made a Bolognase as the special and enjoyed the Laser racing.
Decided to go up to the vineyard to make a kerb at the entrance. I drove the tractor up to the vineyard and Steph picked me up so we could get the Landrover. I left the tractor by the gate on the hill.
Horror upon horror - when we returned 20mins later the hand break had slipped and the tractor had rolled down the hill into a tree. The front wheels were pointing in different directions and the Steering leaver is broken. Too stressed to take a picture. We managed to jack up the front of the tractor, straighten the wheels and Steph reversed it to the top of the hill. I had to steer the offside wheel by hand. I was absolutely devastated. My No1 Industrial accident fear involves handbreakes and gates, luckily no one was hurt and I am sure that the tractor can be fixed - its just gonna cost...
Funnily enough the same thing happened to George in exactly the same position a few years ago. Th tractor hit the same spot on the same tree - spooky!
www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk
Decided to go up to the vineyard to make a kerb at the entrance. I drove the tractor up to the vineyard and Steph picked me up so we could get the Landrover. I left the tractor by the gate on the hill.
Horror upon horror - when we returned 20mins later the hand break had slipped and the tractor had rolled down the hill into a tree. The front wheels were pointing in different directions and the Steering leaver is broken. Too stressed to take a picture. We managed to jack up the front of the tractor, straighten the wheels and Steph reversed it to the top of the hill. I had to steer the offside wheel by hand. I was absolutely devastated. My No1 Industrial accident fear involves handbreakes and gates, luckily no one was hurt and I am sure that the tractor can be fixed - its just gonna cost...
Funnily enough the same thing happened to George in exactly the same position a few years ago. Th tractor hit the same spot on the same tree - spooky!
www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk
May 28th, 2010
School inset day. Took the kids to the park to play, but managed to start reassembling the trailer. The new Suspension/axle units look fantastic and for the first time the wheels are straight.
www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk
www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk
May 27th, 2010
Weeded the veg patch. Again not a job that I like, but one that is well worth it and I always feel a lot better for doing it.
Welded the Cement mixer toplink back together. I hope it is strong enough. Spent 2-3 hours trying to attach the drum of the cement mixer to its frame. Should have done this as soon as I brought it home last year. Rust as ever is the problem. Eventually managed it, but would not like to disassemble it again. The new top link works - yet to fill with a heavy mix.
May 26th, 2010
Sprayed broad beans as they are showing damage from "pea and bean weevil". Rain over night.
Noticed that the grass seed that I planted weeks ago is doing best in the crack caused by the dry weather.
Did a modification to the cultivator today. Using large hinges welded to the back frame I was able to attach some spring tines that will act as a rake and leveler. The hope is that it will turn over any weeks pulled out by the large tines and level the ground. We will see..
May 25th, 2010
A job I dread - earthing up potatoes. It must be done and today is the day to do it. Nearly 300m in total. All I can say is job done and I am absolutely Kna****ed. It will be worth it when I make my first batch of lovely crispy chips in a few months time.
May 24th 2010
I know that I have lots of other jobs to do, but so many involve the trailer so I decided to take it apart to get at the suspension/axle units. It was so hot that the metal tools were too hot to pick up after 20 mins in the sun. It was easier than I expected to remove the units, but it still took most of the morning. Ordered the parts from Bustings at Bicester
Contractors came to mow the grass for silage.
Lost 2-1 at football.
May 21st, 2010
Bent the toplink for the Cement mixer. It needs grinding and re welding.
Good job that I have been practicing my welding!
Did some mowing, first pass through the rows that I intend to manage by cutting the weeds on a regular basis.
Clive did a thorough service on the landrover and replaced a Universal Joint that had siezed up.
Hot again today.
http://www.chafor.co.uk/
info@chafor.co.uk
May 20th, 2010
Moving all equipment to a new area behind the game cover. It will be better hidden. It is a long job - much longer than you would think as there is lots of tinkering, in and out of the tractor, tractor repositioning greasing etc. I am much better at it now than 6 months ago, but still along way to go. It is also a very dangerous job as the implements are heavy - very heavy in the case of the post basher and the 3pt linkage will not stop if a finger, hand, arm or any part of the body is in the way... I am so paranoid about the post basher falling over that I use wires to tie it to a large fencing post.
Bent the suspension units on the trailer - they have been on their way out all winter.
http://www.chafor.co.uk/
info@chafor.co.uk
Bent the suspension units on the trailer - they have been on their way out all winter.
http://www.chafor.co.uk/
info@chafor.co.uk
May 15th, 2010
Nipped to Birmingham to buy some picnic tables. Got back about 3ish to play cricket. 2 run out and 4-14. Won easy vs Preston Capes
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