David and Goliath

I've never mentioned the two large trees on the property behind me. The tenant is as good a neighbour as you could ever wish for. The property development company that owns the property is another matter.

Both trees have been left without care or concern for how or where they have grown. Over time both have deprived me of sun, warmth and light. 2.5 years ago I had some limited success with the company (after 11.5 months of sustained effort). Their representative was smart, abrasive and prone to lying. Since then they 'stone wall' and refuse any form of communication. One tree wrecks the asphalt in my driveway, the other is unstable and dangerous in high winds (according to three arborists). Neither specimen can be described as attractive or is protected. Both trees will be bulldozed within a couple of years when they redevelop the property.

I asked the company nicely before my surgery to please carry out routine maintenance on the trees and allow me a warm home to recuperate in. No response. I've even been prepared to pay for both trees to be expertly thinned and topped by an arborist. Legally I can't do that without the property owners permission. The trees became Goliath. Selling and moving isn't a short term option for me and I've felt powerless.

At my expense I could try to prove through the District Court the trees are dangerous and cause me undue impact. They could order the owner to do something but I'd be liable for both court costs and any work the court ordered. Sometimes the law is an ass.

Knowing a little of my year David the arborist offered to ask their permission to thin and top the trees (me paying). Despite numerous phone calls and emails David got nowhere. Last Tuesday he sent another email. This time he changed the subject line from "trees at 14 ... St" to "free tree maintenance". Within minutes he had a reply, yes, he could carry out whatever pruning was required by me.

Today it happened. Yes, I've paid (and quite a lot) but I have sun, I have light, I have warmth. It's helped my neighbour too and for as I live here I'll feel quite different. That's priceless.

Sometimes you can't always get what you want but sometimes you what you need.

I'm happy :-)