,*#$**# Roses

Our house was a new build when we moved in and the back garden was basically a building site. We've done our best with it but neither MrM nor I are particularly keen gardeners which is a polite way of saying I'm clueless.
One of the first plants I bought when we moved in was a dog rose which is beautiful the one week of the year it flowers and is a triffidy death trap the remaining 51 weeks. I have decided it is time for it to go so spent this afternoon pruning it right back. Look at the thorns! I should have been wearing chain mail.