Across the far side of the field we have a ditch that separates our land from our neighbours. Growing out of the far side of this ditch is an old tree. I don’t know what kind it is but it’s gradually falling down on to our side of the boundary.

We measure it’s demise every so often using me as a measuring stick! That is to say we know how much it has come down following a storm, when we see if I can still walk under a particular branch. Despite it’s decrepit state it grows vigorously, and each years sends out long, thin straight branches at right angles to the larger branches laying on the ground.

One year we decided these would make good cane substitutes, so I cut a lot off and dried them. Unfortunately when I came to use them I wasn’t strong enough to make them go deep enough into the ground to be of any use. Hey-ho.

Over the years we have cut the large branches from this tree as they have come within lopping distance, indeed one year Peter sawed off a huge branch with a hand saw. The job required me sitting astride the branch in question in a rather precarious fashion, hoping not to break both ankles or a leg when the thing came off.

The stub of this huge branch which used to be way above my head is now almost on the ground. Consequently there are now lots of smaller branches within reach again. So today I set about it with the loppers. It was quite hard work but needed doing urgently on two counts.

I can’t get underneath to cut the grass in it’s present state. It would pull me off the mower as it is now and we could both end up in the ditch.

The other reason is the disposal of the twigs/branches. There were a lot, and I keep promising myself to have a bonfire and that’s the best way to get rid of them. So I’ve no excuse now to have a big burn.