Goodbye old friend..

Sad words for an old companion who I am going to miss. The log. AKA Pinocchio. He arrived in February 2022 (I was going to write “this year”, (unused to the change of year so numerals will kill any misconception). Since then, he has taunted me with his promise of untold riches and wealth of wood for burning beyond dreams. He arrived in an eight foot surge, I speculated that he wouldn’t move until a similar sized surge this February (2023). I wasn’t far off. This is him – gone…

He and I bonded over the summer, and indeed into the winter. I hacked (chain sawed – Ed.) pieces of him, carried half roundels of wood up the steps, through the gate, up the slope and narrowed to the shed working area, where we further bonded over the saw horse as I trimmed him to size. But where to put the finished split logs? Quick, build a log store!

Regular readers will remember him, new readers begin here from his arrival.

As his demise neared I formed a plan to take further wood off him – instead of roundels I would cut half and quarter pieces, more manageable and easier to carry especially through water. I couldn’t lose him now, I determined to use all of the log, or at least as much as I could. If I could put my strong one inch rope round him, and tie him off, I could prevent his departure. Yes, it would work. But no, he has gone. But to where, with whom? I will scour the river down to Builth to find him – but then what? Cut him up and Jeep him back to his rightful resting place – dreams only I’m afraid.

So, say Hi to Hay, holler to Hereford and waive to Whitchurch. Bow to the bridge as you make your new way in life. Make new friends, but don’t be too friendly because who is going to look after you now? You have given us warmth and your hundred (two hundred? – Ed.) years has not been wasted or not admired – your legacy continues.

Farewell my friend – “fair winds and following seas” as they say (sailors – Ed), “worse things happen at sea” as my Mother says (said – Ed. Not entirely relevant incidentally, just thought I would point that out).