Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being an arborist in Felixstowe is like a rollercoaster ride, but today? Today was somethin’ else.
So, I roll outta bed, right? Sun’s barely up, and I’m already thinkin’ about the trees I gotta check on. I grab my coffee from that little café on Hamilton Road. You know the one? The one with the weirdly good scones. Anyway, I’m chugging my coffee, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First stop, I’m at this massive oak on High Street. Beautiful tree, right? But then I see it—some numpty’s carved their initials into it. Like, seriously? Who does that? I’m fuming. I mean, come on, respect the trees, people! They’ve been here longer than you’ve been alive!
Then, outta nowhere, this kid runs up to me. He’s like, “Mister, can you make my tree grow faster?” I’m like, “Mate, I’m not a wizard!” But I can’t help but smile. Kids, man. They see magic in everything. So, I tell him about watering and sunlight. He looks at me like I just revealed the secrets of the universe. Adorable.
Next, I head over to the seafront. Felixstowe’s got the best views, right? The beach, the pier, all that jazz. But today? The wind was howlin’ like a banshee. I’m tryin’ to check on some willows near the water, and I swear, I nearly got blown away! I’m clutching onto my clipboard like it’s my lifeline.
And then, bam! I spot this old bloke on the promenade. He’s got a parrot on his shoulder. A freakin’ parrot! I’m like, “Is this a pirate convention I didn’t know about?” Turns out, he just likes to take his bird for walks. Classic Felixstowe, right? You never know what you’ll see.
After that, I’m off to the park on Orwell Road. Beautiful spot, loads of families chillin’. But then I see it—litter everywhere! I’m like, “C’mon, people! This is our home!” I start picking it up, and this lady walks by, gives me a thumbs up. I’m feelin’ like a hero for a hot second. But then I trip over a bottle. Classic.
By now, I’m knackered. I decide to grab some grub at that fish and chips place on Undercliff Road. Best chips in town, no contest. I’m sittin’ there, munchin’ away, and I overhear this couple arguing about the best way to cook fish. I’m like, “You two need to chill. Just eat it!”
But then, outta nowhere, I get a call. It’s my mate, Dave. He’s like, “You won’t believe this! There’s a tree down on the docks!” I’m like, “Great, just what I need.” So, I rush over, and sure enough, there’s this massive tree just sprawled out like it’s had one too many pints.
I’m tryin’ to figure out how to deal with it, and I’m getting all sorts of looks from the dock workers. They’re probably thinkin’, “What’s this tree hugger gonna do?” But I’m not backing down. I get my gear out, and we start clearing it up.
Finally, after hours of work, we get it sorted. I’m covered in dirt, sweat, and probably a bit of fish and chips. But I’m feelin’ good. I saved the day!
As I’m packin’ up, I look out at the sea. The sun’s setting, and it’s beautiful. I think about all the trees I’ve seen today, the people I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard. Felixstowe, you’re a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, yeah, that was my day. Just another crazy, emotional, and downright hilarious day in Felixstowe. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!