I was helping with foraging in a nature reserve. It was difficult terrain.
OK, I'll give you a pass then. Sweden IS an advanced country. Riding mowers are featured in our classic Cajun Salesman joke, which I am now in the mood to tell...
Once upon a time in Southern Louisiana, two general stores, Lafite and Thibodeau, faced off against each other across a rural, sunbaked bayou highway. These stores were very much alike in almost all respects, size, design, product lines, parking, signage...
But there was one major difference. Lafite was a bustling operation, and its parking lot was frequently full. Thibodeau, not nearly so much, so one day, Mr. Thibodeau decided to cross the highway and scope out his competitor's operation to see why it worked. He found Mr. Lafite to be a friendly guy...
"Thibodeau" said Mr. Lafite, "There's only one rule in retail. Push de produck. Always push de produck."
And at that moment, the bell rang over Lafite's door, and in came the local man, Jacques. Lafite said "Good morning Jacques, how is all?" Jacques replied "I'm putting in a new lawn. Do you have any grass seed?"
"We're a general store" said Lafite. "Of course we have grass seed, let me show you." They went over to the grass seed, and after several minutes discussion over the varieties, Jacques made his choice. Then Lafite said "Jacques, if you want this lawn to look good this year, you will need fertilizer. We have Louisiana's finest air dried and cured chicken manure!"
Jacques affirmed this proposition and ordered a couple of bags. Then Lafite said "What is the state of your hose inventory? Do you have enough hose to reach all of the lawn from your spigot?" They went over to the hoses and Jacques ended up ordering three sixty-foot lengths. They get over to the cash register. Lafite looked Jacques in the eye and said...
"Could I possibly interest you in a top of the line, gasoline-powered riding mower, with all the bells and whistles, to go along with your order? It's the kind of machine that's basically reserved for a man of your station in society."
Jacques said "Well, it isn't Christmas yet, but I've been a good boy and I'm my own Santa these days and I can afford it, so yes."
They concluded the transaction, the goods were loaded into the back of Jacques' full-size pickup, and Jacques departed the scene. Lafite turned to Thibodeau and said "You see? That's how you do it. Always push de produck." Thibodeau returned back across the highway to his store, dazzled by this display of salesmanship, and 20 minutes later, the bell over his door rang, and in came the local woman, Marie. Thibodeau said to her "Good morning Marie, how is all?"
Marie replied "All is not so good, Mr. Thibodeau. I'm on my period and I don't have any tampons. Do you carry tampons?" Thibodeau replied "Marie, we're a general store, of course we carry tampons, let me get you a box." Thibodeau got a box of tampons, and as he was returning to the cash register, the mantra was coursing through his brain "Push de produck, push de produck." He put the box down on the counter, looked her in the eye and said...
"Marie, could I possibly interest you in a top of the line, gasoline-powered riding mower, with all the bells and whistles, to go along with this order? It's the kind of machine that's basically reserved for a woman of your station in society."
Marie looks back at him. "Why on earth would I need a riding mower to go with my tampons?"
Thibodeau says "Well, since you're obviously unfit to fool around today, you might as well cut the grass."
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That's enough commenting on here for this morning, I have work to do and I'm logging off.
Oh, and the cat in my avatar was lifted off the Wikipedia page for Maine Coon cats. The thumbnail format doesn't do justice to this magnificent animal.
And here I was thinking it was a bottle of rum for 2 years.