Timber

You may or may not recall a few years ago on Christmas Day we needed to call the SES out to deal with a large broken gum tree branch that was threatening both our house and our neighbours.  At the time they told us we should get the tree looked at by an arborist.  Given the cost of such an exercise we put it on the long "to do one day" list.

So as we approach Christmas again the gum tree dropped a big branch (see picture below).  Fortunately the kids were not playing in the courtyard at the time but  it served as a reminder that the tree was dangerous.  It was time to bite the bullet, so the tree was moved to the "we'd better get on that now" list.

Several heart stopping quotes later and we were lucky enough to get a contractor who could remove the tree (plus another overhanging the driveway and neighbouring preschool) before Christmas.

On the day of removal it was stinking hot.  The team of tree boys arrived early with their breakfast of Red Bull and cigarettes.  They set to work and did a really great job.   What they predicted would take only half a day took a full one.  Plus they cleaned up afterwards.