[Lardman]

Either Im getting weak and feeble (possibly) or my strimmer is playing up.

Its one of those Ryobi expandit ones. Its never been the easiest thing to start but for the life of me I can't get it to fire at all now. (although it did splutter twice). It and the petrol have  been in the shed all winter. Anything I can do to assist it or just keep pressing the bubble and pulling the cord. Would the petrol really have degraded that quickly?

[Gwiz]

The modern petrol can go off in a trice.
I expect that the stuff in the can is alright-ish, but what was left in the machine will be Very "off" indeed.
drain it out, fill with fresh, prime the carb.
take out the spark plug, clean it.
pull the engine over a few times without the plug in it (because it will be flooded by now, or better still, leave it overnight without the plug in)
have another go tomorrow.
the chances are it will go after all the rotten old stuff in the engine has evaporated

[Lardman]

How simple was that - plain English and not a pictogram in sight.

I've drained, removed the plug (looks fine to me) I'll leave it to dry out over night and try again tomorrow with a fresh mix.

Ta muchly.

[Lardman]

Fresh mix this morning and it started on the 2nd pull.. 

[Gwiz]

I love it when a plan comes together.....