A day in the life at Cocking ....

A tree in the rented garden has to come down, it is dying, and today is the day. A very old man came and climbed the tree - before I'd finished breakfast - with no hard hat, and strapped himself on. There is noise and pain and destruction. I had tried to warn the tree, but what good could it do, it couldn't run away, nor hide, nor do much about it. It was already in its death throes with brown leaves instead of its lovely winter green. I told it, it will be all right, but it was a lie. How could anything ever be all right again. Maybe its spirit will go on in some other form, some other way...

I have to go out soon, and when I get back it will be all over. Hermione has been in the garage overnight, having her lovely 9 year old brakes fixed. They had got a bit pitted with age, as we all do. Car years are probably x 9 to make human years, so she is entitled to be a bit lined and pitted, poor thing. Anyhow, when I get back there will be a big hole where the tree used to be and a gap in the hedge which couldn't grow because of it. We will see some neighbours for the first time, and they will see us. Oh dear. Have to be careful nipping out to the hot tub from now on.

Later aside: I am properly fed up with this gloomy weather. Today there was hardly any light at all, witness this blip, but at the other side of the Downs in Chichester, the sun did at least try to break through. Finding it harder and harder to get a decent blip. Roll on Spring .... and blossom:-)