Lumberjacks, Italian Style!

Okay, anyone old enough to remember Monty Python or young enough to be discovering them have got to be wondering about this one!

We HAD a tree in the garden, a dead tree. Our Landlord had to obtain permission to cut it down as every tree in this garden is listed and probably has a name, let's call this one Bob. Anyway, Bob was dead long before we arrived but the comune, as with many things, had to approve his removal. He was finally taken down a few days ago. Where he stood there is now a big hole in the sky and the jackdaws that used him as a perch have moved to the smaller trees.

However, his removal was dramatic, noisy and quite exciting, especially when watched with two kids!

Having seen this sort of tree cutting and removal done in the UK with gloves, goggles, harnesses, very large cherry pickers, lots of "danger, men at work" type signs, you can imagine my awe when things finally got underway. In Italy men really are men at times!

Here's the photo's:

One very small cherry picker, one very big tree! At this point most of the branches had already been removed without having to leave the safety of the basket. But no goggles or harnesses!

Where's that cherry picker gone?! Also you may (!) see a harness, I was just never sure what it was attached to!! This guy really was macho!

And, finally, how else do you pull down a tree! Yes, there is a large chunk missing from its base, but you never know with these guys! The lumberjack forgot to put his gloves on for this bit and burnt his hands :P, not pleasant. The noise was tremendous as it came down. Unfortunately a couple of trees and alot of bushes got in its way, but otherwise I'm fairly sure it went where it was expected to go. As you can see, it has already been put to good use. Unfortunately not for much longer as it is quickly being sawn up and taken away. We are "rescuing" pieces ourselves. The smell is wonderful. I'm hoping it acts in the same way as Cedar wood and I can use some as moth repellant. If nothing else I just like the smell!

Now all I have to do is stop my 3 year old singing "The Lumberjack Song" every time the men come back in the garden to cut up the tree! Can't think where she has learnt that song from! ;))