Now I don't have huge garden - I guess it's about average but I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time mowing the lawn. One day I'll hopefully have a bigger place where I can justify one of those big sit on ones and sip a cold beer whilst mowing the lawn.

Well the other week I lost my temper with my rather expensive Hayter lawnmower - it's a big old thing really well built and solid. It cuts through everything and leaves a lovely finish . There are drawbacks though - nearly dislocating your shoulder trying to start the thing being just one.

Anyway last weekend this behemoth failed to start yet again and I discovered it was due to a little rubber bulb that had split. Completely fine apart from that but it still wouldn't start !

Anyway I digress, on searching the Internet for a replacement little rubber bulb (not nearly as easy as you would think!) I ended up checking out the Bosch Rotak range of lawnmowers. They seemed to get rave reviews all over the place - so in that impulsive manner that many Internet purchases are made I bought one - the Bosch Rotak 40 to be precise.

First impressions are good - didn't take me too long to put together - say about 5 minutes - had a little problem putting the grassbox together but nothing major.

And then I was off and running - I tell you if anyone is used to pushing a big petrol mower around this will be a revelation. It's like using a vacuum cleaner - the Bosch Rotak 40 is extremely light - anyone could use it. It cuts right up to the edge and frankly this rotary mower does a similar job to my much more expensive hayter.

Leaves nice stripes - tried on all sorts of lengths and no real problems. Cuts on all sorts of surfaces and manages dampish grass ok.
In fact the whole experience of cutting the lawn is so much easier - I don't even use the strimmer anymore as the Bosch Rotak 40 has a little comb thing that pulls the grass in so it really does cut right up to the edge.

In fact the only complaint I have about it - is getting used to the power lead which you have to keep watching - but to be honest if I'd known the Bosch Rotak was going to be this good I think I would have invested in the Battery version - Bosch Rotak 43 which is pretty much the same but has two LION batteries so you don't need the lead.

A cracking little mower that is perfect for ordinary gardens in my opinion.
Joe Simpson
reviewing the Bosch Rotak 40