It's Wednesday everywhere you look

I've had a very busy few days, starting with the felling of the pine tree in our front garden. Now this tree has some history, it has grown from a seedling handout by Father Christmas (to the daughter of Rodger, who built our house) and over the years it has grown to be a 28ft feature of the village.

When Bob arrived Tuesday lunchtime, equipped with chain saw, we had many a discussion about how we should fell the tree as it is hemmed in on all four sides, by our garage a neighbours garage the footpath and our garden. We had some scratching of heads and decided that we would go and have a couple of pints to work through our strategy. Equipped with beer mats and pencils we deliberated, but then as the second pint went down, we agreed that on cartoons we had seen over the years, the characters always cut a wedge shape out of the tree, shout timber and the tree falls exactly where it is expected to.  So we ditched the beer mats and pencils and decided just to go for it.

We cut off the lower branches, and decided that as we had limited wriggle room we would initially chop down the top third of the tree. We couldn't procrastinate any longer, a few passers by had stopped to watch, no doubt ready to film the pending disaster on their phones and be the first to load onto Facebook or You Tube. Bob went up the ladder, tied a rope to the top branches and cut out the wedge.  So far so good. With Bob safely back on the ground we tugged on the rope and with a loud crack the tree fell perfectly in its designated space. There was a somewhat muted cheer from the crowd (no doubt disappointed that the task had been executed to almost military precision) and just at that point Alison pulled the car onto the drive and we were able to account for all limbs and fingers and all property remained undamaged. Although she would never admit it, I think she was quite impressed. Who says beer, ladders and chainsaws don't mix.

We have completed a couple of other pending tasks, resetting the fence in the back garden and clearing the ground ready for building work to start.  We  have managed to add a few pubs to our Cask Marque Ale Trail one of which was the second pub in our village, The Baskervilles . Whilst sat chatting in walked a bloke wearing a Sheffield Wednesday T-shirt. In turns out he lives in our village and there is a small but thriving Wednesday community with other supporters in the village as well.  It's amazing what you find out over a pint.

Today I'm off to Go Ape with Meg the monkey, I call her that not because she has any facial resemblance to the primates, (I have to say that because she reads this blog) but when we are completing the tree top adventure she managers to whip across the various obstacles with ease and takes great delight at watching me blunder along, gripping on to the ropes like grim death. Last time we visited I managed to do midair splits, as two trapeze type logs I was stood on decided to go their separate ways! I'll let you know how I get on.