So, getting back from holiday and being in a 'can-do' frame of mind, I decided to set about our front hedge. It's been a while since I cut it back (possibly 2 years!) so there was a lot to come off. It took me about an hour and a half to get about half-way, with a crappy old Challenge 40cm wired hedge-trimmer, and at this point, Mrs Smudger brought me out a drink and informed me she was going to pick up the progeny from nursery. By this time the recycling bin was pretty full up and my 'can-do' attitude was waining. So I had a drink, then resumed. I was cutting one bit thinking 'that cable's a bit close to the blade'. And the next thing I know, there's a bit of a flash and a pop, and I've gone through the cable. No shock felt, just mild alarm. So that puts an end to that day's trimming. Oh, shame.
Anyway, I get myself to Bunnings and get a new Ryobi battery-operated one, as the missus won't allow me a wired one any more - something about my life insurance not being enough to make her rich once the mortgage is paid off. Something which cost me a fair bit over the price of another bog-standard, no-name device.
And I have to say, these things are a wonder. I finished off the rest of the hedge in about 20 minutes, and the longer reach and it's got a ridge up the middle of the blades so all the debris gets guided off, instead of going in your face/hair/back. I'm now considering going and trimming all the hedges around my way, just to get to use it some more.
The downside is, no matter how good your trimmer, you still have to pick up all the tiny bits that fall to the floor.