Sunday, July 24, 2005.

Today it came together: reasonable weather, my friend John with the back hoe, another friend Tony, who had been waiting impatiently to help for months, our gardener, Joseph and my mental state to tackle "The Big Project," getting the great big heavy casuarina off our roof.



You all remember the tree trunk picture, right?




The Intrepid International Crew is ready




The first cut is successful!




The main trunk is trickier and a whole lot heavier.




Well, maybe a little more cutting.




Taa-Daah!!!!! We'se profeshunal, mon!




Easy does it........ Notice the safety engineer holding up the other tree.




But Tony comes through when we need him. Note how the casuarina righted itself nicely.




On to the next tree which has been leaning precariously ever since the hurricanes.




In our second effort, the second tree was not nearly as cooperative and the operation not so successful. Note the new architecture of the fence. Out of the picture are our wonderful neighbours, the ones with the incessantly yapping dogs, coming over with their point and shoot throw-away camera and with the police and a justice of the peace arriving. Because this is a "for all" rated site, the discussion that ensued is not included.

At the other end of the yard, the water fall boulders were rearranged as a result of a stuck gear on the runaway back hoe.


This evening we will celebrate coming out of this with no broken bones or even a scrape or splinter!