This story does have a happy ending but not until we had bought an unspeakably awful one, cheap (£35) from our local hardware shop. They had only one but we wanted to support them ..... yuk. It was a 'Handy' and totally rubbish, especially considering that it was brand new. So, luckily we still had money for a better one, and I ordered a Husqvarna (72-64 Hi-Cut, £90) and put the Handy on Freecycle, with health warning. The Husqvarna is bl**dy marvellous and cuts our, admittedly difficult, lawn in a jiffy. Hurray!