The tree's been lopped, the tree's been lopped.

[rumples riot]

Hey happy days. My neighbours tree is missing two big boughs today. Yes you guessed it, it finally happened. After several months of negotiation and donations of red wine and sweet talking my neighbour, who BTW is a hell of a nice guy anyway; the offending tree to my planetary pursuits has had a hair cut. I could only manage to get two big boughs and a smaller one lopped. But this gives me a view almost unobstructed to the Meridian. Before that I had about 30 degrees to work with. Now I have nearly 70. All of my previous planetary images were done through the merk and never at meridian. Now I might be lucky to get some great images.

Now just to work for the next two years on the rest of the tree disappearing from just above their roof line. Hehehehehe Besides it is a fire hazrd to the house! Thats my next step. Don't want their house to get damaged. Or the tree might fall. Would not want them to get hurt. BTW it cost me to have the tree lopped also. Best $330 I ever spent.

Happy days.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Congratulations. Big trees can be a danger to houses.

It is interesting to read though that some trees like the Lillypilly actually have fire retardant properties.

[h0ughy (David)]

post a before aand after pic Paul

[rochler]

raises an interesting moral dilemma. What do you do in this situation if you're a keen amateur astronomer by night, but a tree huggin' hippie by day?

[silvinator]

Goodonya Paul If they really can't part with the tree, maybe you could suggest to your wonderful and understanding neighbours that they should plant something else in it's place like a really pretty cherry blossom tree or something. That way they can still be "tree hugging hippies" You can offer to buy it for them too as a present - bribery goes a long way...

I'm glad my dad got rid of our tree that was smack bang in the middle of our backyard years ago. The reason for the chop? Well, a branch kinda, sorta fell onto our neighbours fence during one freak thunderstorm... Missed my dad's shed though I'd say that and the fire hazard excuse is a great incentive for any neighbour wanting to get rid of a tree

[rumples riot]

h0ughy, no pics unfortunately, you just have to take my word for it. As distorted as it may be. Ask Peter he had a look this afternoon.

Rochler, tree hugger? Hmm. I love trees but not when they are in my way.

Silvie, I think that a long campaign will have to commence in a month or so. Some interesting ideas that you have given me. But stay tuned.

[rochler]

Yeah, I know what you mean. In your area trees near houses are a big fire hazard anyway. They don't call it Blackwood for nothin' hehe...

'Bring me a shrubbery' could be our new motto...

It is like someone changed a curtain from being 1/4 open to nearly 3/4 open. one helluva difference. The amazing thing is they have a rear pergola/verandah with laserlight roofing, one of those gum branches falling would wreck the whole structure, not to mention anyone who is unlucky enough to be under it if/when it happens.

[davidpretorius]

good one!!!

[Robert_T]

Hey Paul, that's great news - given what you've been able to achieve so far getting a clear meridian should be a boon indeed.


I'll count myself fortunate that I only have about 30-40 deg of sky but it's mostly straight up

cheers,

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I have a similar problem, basically I can't see anthing from the backyard in the North from the horizon up to about 70 degrees, all through the winter my backyard never sees the sun! The house is currently tennented but the owners are moving back after Christmas...and they love gardening. You can grow much nicer plants when you don't have a dirty bit gum tree sucking all the water and goodness out of the soil you know.

I am also surrounded by at least 5 local sporting ovals that have night footy practise in the winter...and I can't stand footy anyway at the best of times!