How's your day?

[DJ360 6,743]

Reminded me of close on 30 years ago when I volunteered to 'fell' a big Poplar tree for a widowed colleague. All I had was a handsaw, a small hatchet and a rope.  The tree had 6-8 foot trunk then split into 4 branches, each up to 9" thick and 30-40 feet tall.

I also needed to bring the tree down in a long but narrow garden. I climbed into the 'bole' of the tree and then up one branch as far as I dared...then tied on a long rope.

Next, at bole level, I sawed and hacked at the first branch until it was creaking..then climbed down and pulled on the rope..

I ended up having to repeat that process several times before the branch came down with a sudden crack and I desperately pulled and ran to keep it in the narrow garden. Each time I climbed up and cut deeper I was worried that the branch might suddenly 'go' and fall the wrong way, or worse still .injure me!.

Still ..After most of a Saturday, I had three branches down...

I was getting tired and when the final branch fell, I turned to pull and run, but instead I tripped, fell and scrambled...

I avoided real injury but the thinnest twigs at the top of the branch gave me a good idea what it would be like to be 'Birched'..

I spent the whole of the following day cutting the branches to fit in my clapped out VW Polo and carting it to the local tip.

What fun!!!

[philmayfield 6,232]

I’ve still got a few more branches of the sycamore to cut down. It’s in the hedge at the bank of the orchard and the tree is growing up towards the 11kV power lines. I don’t want to risk electrocution or putting out the lights in the village! National Grid usually keep the adjacent trees trimmed but I’ve not seen them for some time.

[DJ360 6,743]

Maybe I'm prejudiced, but I really don't like sycamores. I believe the timber has its uses but . ...  Sycamore leaves always get that black spotty fungus on them.  Also, nothing but a bit of grass grows under them and you don't see a build up of leaf mould like you do under Oak, Birch and Beech  No fungi either.

[philmayfield 6,232]

We call sycamores ‘weed trees’. This one’s in an ancient hedge. The seeds carry and spring up everywhere. I’m forever chopping down sycamore saplings, oak saplings and blackberry brambles. My bonfire heap gets bigger day by day.

[philmayfield 6,232]

As we drove through the village today there was a sign pointing to a ‘hen do’. My wife, in all innocence, asked why men’s parties were called ‘stag does’ and not ‘cock does’? I gasped and pretended I’d not heard her!

[Jill Sparrow 10,381]

It's because all they can do for the following week is STAGger about, isn't it?

[katyjay 5,091]

If it's a stag do for men, why not doe do for ladies. I wonder where the hen came from?

[IAN FINN 825]

Get it built up for bonfire night phil should be a good blaze.

[philmayfield 6,232]

26 minutes ago, katyjay said:

If it's a stag do for men, why not doe do for ladies. I wonder where the hen came from?

Could be a cow do.

[philmayfield 6,232]

I’ve just tried the newly delivered Tiptree Medlar jelly from Amazon. A subtle flavour, not unpleasant but by far too much sugar. Just like jam. Looks like we’re going to have to make our own after all. 67gms sugar per 100gms medlars!! Not for the diabetics.

[Beekay 5,229]

1 hour ago, katyjay said:

If it's a stag do for men, why not doe do for ladies. I wonder where the hen came from?

It came from an egg !

[MRS B 549]

4 hours ago, philmayfield said:

I’ve just tried the newly delivered Tiptree Medlar jelly from Amazon. A subtle flavour, not unpleasant but by far too much sugar. Just like jam. Looks like we’re going to have to make our own after all. 67gms sugar per 100gms medlars!! Not for the diabetics.

Phil, that’s the beauty of making your own, you can adjust the sugar.  I much prefer redcurrant jelly to either cranberry or medlar. Great with ploughman’s or poultry. Talking of which, Thursday I had probably the best ploughman’s of my life at the Plough at Normanton on Soar. Would highly recommend. Next time we go we are going to order one between us. 

[nonnaB 4,909]

 

As they say “There’s no peace for the wicked” .This butterfly wouldn’t leave alone. Sorry Ben I know you don’t like feet.

[Jill Sparrow 10,381]

He likes them if they're attached to women!

[nonnaB 4,909]

On 7/29/2023 at 4:13 PM, philmayfield said:

As we drove through the village today there was a sign pointing to a ‘hen do’. My wife, in all innocence, asked why men’s parties were called ‘stag does’ and not ‘cock does’? I gasped and pretended I’d not heard her!

There must be an answer to that somewhere

[plantfit 7,665]

There's a walk though a part of Barnsley called "The Hen Pen"

 

Rog

[philmayfield 6,232]

I once saw a sign outside an off license in Barnsley ‘Beaujolais Nouveau is here’.

In Barnsley!

[plantfit 7,665]

A few pics from a great weekend at the 155th Heckington show Lincolnshire, sommat for everyone

 

Rog

[philmayfield 6,232]

Am I looking at the sheep or the large backside? 

[Jill Sparrow 10,381]

The Bedford reminds me of the one that delivered our coal when I was a child. It belonged to Mr Young of Thames Street, Bulwell. I still have one of his receipts somewhere from many years ago. He was a lovely man and is, I believe, still alive and connected with the Bulwell Local History Society.

[trogg 2,032]

Plantfit I have a push lawn mower as in the pictures I was given it in 1975 when my grandad passed away he kept his lawns immaculate with it. Since then it has been put in the back of my different sheds every time I moved house. I tried using it once never again its too much like hard work, give me powered mowers every time.

[Beekay 5,229]

Rog., your 1st picture, is that a replica of a wooden 'boneshaker' or 'hobby horse'? One of the first types of bicycle.

[nonnaB 4,909]

Early morning swim ?

[DJ360 6,743]

Ooohh. He's a big lad!

[nonnaB 4,909]

12 minutes ago, DJ360 said:

Ooohh. He's a big lad!

Yes he is. My son from childhood has been terrified of spiders. Had to fish this out before he wants to swim.

We are used to mosquitoes, leaves and a variety of insects. The other day I found a baby lizard trying to crawl out of the water, I was already in the water and helped it to climb the side and it ran off. Good deed of the day done.