page 20 Christmas on count down

20  Page

Christmas on count down,
I’m on melt down

Mother has the chocolates, biscuits and cards for Christmas. Even the presents are taken care off, but unfortunately it doesn’t stop there,

“Now who is coming this Christmas” (here we go again) “is your daughter coming, how about her father and is her partner invited………” mother in full flow.

“Wait a moment, I did say in her job they never know what they are working, she will be over around lunch time. Her father will turn up, it’s a free feed. As for her partner I haven’t a clue” at which point I stopped for breath.

“Oh well I need to know so I can get the turkey” mother looked a bit sheepish.

“I will go to the super market a couple of days before and buy one don’t worry” I really don’t stress over Christmas, but mother does.

“Ok I will leave it to you” and that tone of voice said, if all goes wrong, it’s your fault. (The finger is metaphorically pointing)

At which point I made my escape and went down the field to do a few hours on the hedge. I just had to get out the house for a while and this would probably be the last chance i get before Christmas. It was heaven being in the fresh air, the weather had been really mild and dry so I was trying to make the most of it.

The last time I had got to a spot that was blocked by a small fallen tree, whose branches were going over the top of the stock fence and into the field. This was also covered by brambles and other rotten bits and pieces. Just what I needed to let off some steam.

I put the hook and my other tools leaning over the fence safely out the way and set to work clearing the rubbish off the fallen tree. I came across an old metal fence post in amongst it all, but try as I might, it would not come out the ground. So I bent it over as far as I could, thinking that if I fell it would be safer.

 With the rubbish cleared I could attempt to move the tree by sawing it off bit by bit. With bow saw in hand I clambered up and across its branches to lop them off so they fell into the field. Being a small tree this didn’t take long and soon I was hooking my saw on a branch and clambering back down.

 I felt the branch I was holding break, my foot slipped and I went backwards, fell on the metal bar bounced and landed, sprawled, face down in the ditch, ouch.

My first thoughts were, where does it hurt. My backside felt bruised from where I had trampoline-ed off the metal pole, thank goodness I had bent it over, nothing else appeared to hurt lying in the ditch (which was dry and full of nice soft leaves) I looked up I saw the tools, placed safely down the fence, I thought back to my father and how he always nagged at me about safety when working alone, until putting tools out of harms way and clearing hazards became second nature. “You never know when it might save your life” he would say and of course being younger I always thought silly old fool, but went along with it.

All I can say today is, Thanks dad.

Till next time


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