Funny Old Day Really

Today turned out nothing like I had planned.

I went out in the garden to pull a few weeds up and then thought I would cut back one of the overgrown shrubs. It was overgrown and had rooted under our willow tree and sprouted all over the place. So I began to cut back under the tree - only to discover that the only thing holding the tree up was the fence to our neighbours' garden!

The tree had blown over a few years ago and I had pulled it back upright and staked it up. It carried on growing, but I hadn't realised the stakes were broken and it was leaning on the fence. It was too big and heavy to stake again so the decision was made to take it down - the tree not the fence!

Finlay wasn't impressed even though he had found some discarded balls. This afternoon I had a pair of very good helpers.

Sad day as we had had it for about 15 years - brought home in the car - poking out of the sun roof - much to the amusement (embarrassment?) of the children.

As I was clearing up I found this giant caterpillar - about 5 cm long - which I think is a Poplar Hawk Moth larva.