A major clean up

It all started when our neighbour approached us about fixing or replacing the fence separating our front garden from their driveway. Apparently they replaced the fence on the other side of their garden so therefore we are responsible for attending to the fence between us. I then told them that it is not our fence but in fact it is their fence, as our fence, which is the retaining wall, is inside their fence. Technicalities! I cannot get used to the 'I am responsible for the left side so therefore you are responsible for the right' side (or something like that) which people maintain is the law here. We could not find the law that actually states this either.

Our fence was either built in 1929 or when the land was subdivided in the late 1940's. It is very old anyway and looking down between the two fences I can see that it is very much on a lean. But to take our neighbour's point I could see that their fence was dangerous and our shrubs were not helping the situation. Just to make matters worse, the bamboo which grows in front of their fence has worked its way up into our garden.

So out came the saw, the cutters and our battery operated hedge cutters and a massive cut back took place.

After two hours of cutting back we finally managed to make a small gap in the shrubs. A start anyway. Unfortunately we disturbed a small red robin who obviously had made its home in the wilderness.

The fence that is beginning to fall down, after we removed two of the concrete panels which were hanging on by a thread.

One day later all the shrubs have been cut down to ground level, although they will recover but will not be so tall. The small conifer has gone completely. Unfortunately the bamboo will sprout again, and there is no way that you can get rid of it completely. It is a curse!
Of course we became very keen then and decided to tackle the shrubs and bamboo beside the footpath. The front now looks like it has had a very bad haircut. I am hoping for some speedy growth next year. Walter made nine trips to the dump! I think I have repetitive strain injury in both elbows!