The Tree Massacre

The tree massacre has begun - It's a beautiful tree but I don't want to live under it anymore! It makes living in our current house feel like living in a cave, as it covers the whole house and court yard. Not to mention the mozzies that are attracted to the pockets of fallen leaves on the nearby roofs.....I would be feeling guilty if I had suggested cutting it down - which I didn't! As the house slowly emerges from under its huge canopy, I can see new potential for plants, pots, and sunbeds. We are considering staying on here at the end of the contract next month! ! The money we will save on a move can go towards a little garden area. I won't miss the mango's dropping on the roof at night which was rather perturbing although great for a mango shake in the morning!

The landlady has been told by the Barangay (roughly equivalent to a ward in UK) Captain ( sort of mini mayor)to cut it down as dropping leaves on all the other properties and causing mosquito's etc. The tree has apparently been annoying the bloke next door, who's president of the tennis club, and therefore has a lot of influence around here.

Barangay Captains wade in on all sorts of disputes including domestic violence, child abuse and general anti social behaviour. They have their own guards to back them up. Power can and does get abused in some places and captains get shot, along with any other level of politician - but hey they would stop those never ending fence arguments in the UK if introduced! Marc was told off by our Captain for sitting wrongly on one of the Park benches! He was only copying a neighbour sitting the same way - anyway now we know what the Captain looks like. Not a lot happens without the Barangay Captains say so, therefore a lot of VSO work involves keeping good relationships with Çaptains in the Barangays were we work.

The tree surgeon or rather giant (A huge man particularly by Philipino standards) turned up at the door to tell us we needed to get the red dwarf out of the tree before he could cut it down. He told us he would be leaving some food to coax it out of the tree. Apparently we're lucky it wasn't a black dwarf? I assume the bad dwarf has now left, as the giant is now up there fighting with the tree, trying to cut it down with what appears to be a penknife or at most a very small machete. Given he'd already been at it for 3 days when the pictures were taken, he'll be living in the tree for some time to come! So goodbye red dwarf- hello giant and sunshine!!!!!!