Tree fellers wanted

I have mentioned before the tall oaks that we have in the garden. At the northwest corner of the house, one has been growing and forcing its way into the garden wall and causing cracks in the lady wifes Roman road (a birthday treat from 2007).

It had to go, it towers(ed) over the pool and was causing a worry that one day the roots might burst through the pool wall or the water tank in the other direction, so tree massacarists were called in and today was the day.

We have used Cesc before, he appears to be a new age traveller in appearance, complete with shaven head and pigtail, but exhibits a degree of skill that is breath taking. He slings a light rope over a branch, uses that to haul up a climbing rope, straps himself into a harness, dons a huge belt, attaches what look like artificial limbs to his lower legs and climbs 6 metres up the trunk in the time I would take to make sure the ladder was sitting square.

From his belt, in the manner of a knight of old, dangle various ferocious pieces of equipment. A chainsaw, a hand saw, a pair of loppers and various caribiniers and loops of rope and slings.

He moves from branch to branch, cutting a branch here, a limb there until he is able to tie another rope onto a major branch, which he then cuts with the chainsaw close to the trunk. The branch then makes a controlled descent down the guide rope, to his equally attired mate below.

Cesc swings nonchalant on the end of his tether, lopping branch by branch until the main trunk is all that remains. This is then sliced and lowered. No fuss, no mess, no drama.

5 hours later all that remains is a stump (my responsibility) and a pile of firewood that will see me through the winter. I am sad to see the tree go but my study is a lot lighter and I am not worried by subterranean invasions into the waste water, the pool or the wine cellar. All in all a good days work.