Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being an arborist in Ilford is like a rollercoaster ride, but today? Today was somethin’ else.
So, I roll outta bed, right? It’s like 7 AM, and I’m already feelin’ the weight of the world. I grab my coffee from that little café on High Road. You know the one? The one with the dodgy Wi-Fi and the best pastries. I swear, their almond croissants are life. Anyway, I’m chugging my coffee, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First stop, I’m off to a job on Cranbrook Road. Just a simple tree trimming gig. Easy peasy, right? Wrong! I get there, and the tree is like, “Nah, mate, I’m not going down without a fight.” It’s this massive oak, roots all tangled up like my headphones after a long day. I’m up there, saw in hand, and suddenly, I hear this loud crash. I look down, and some bloke’s knocked over a bin. Classic Ilford, right?
I’m tryin’ to focus, but now I’m just mad. Like, come on, dude! Can’t a guy trim a tree in peace? But then, I see this little kid, maybe 5 or 6, staring at me with wide eyes. He’s got this cheeky grin, and I can’t help but smile back. Kids, man. They make everything better.
So, I finish up the job, and I’m feelin’ pretty good. I head over to the Ilford Exchange to grab some lunch. I’m thinkin’ a nice burger from that place, you know, the one with the neon lights? But when I get there, it’s packed! Like, I’m talkin’ standing room only. I’m like, “Seriously? It’s just a burger!”
I end up at this little sandwich shop on Ilford Hill. Not my first choice, but beggars can’t be choosers, right? I order a bacon sarnie, and while I’m waitin’, I overhear this couple arguing about the best fish and chips in town. I mean, c’mon, it’s gotta be the one on Ley Street, right? But they’re all like, “Nah, the one by the station is better.” I’m just sittin’ there, chuckling to myself.
After lunch, I get a call about a tree that’s about to fall on a house on Loxford Lane. I’m like, “Great, just what I need.” I rush over, and when I get there, I see this massive sycamore leaning dangerously close to a roof. I’m thinkin’, “This is gonna be a fun one.”
I climb up, and as I’m up there, I can see the whole of Ilford. The hustle and bustle, the people rushing around, the buses on the road. It’s kinda beautiful, you know? But then, I hear this loud honking. I look down, and some guy in a car is losing it. He’s waving his arms like a madman. I’m just up there, trying not to laugh.
Finally, I get the tree down, and it’s a huge relief. But then, as I’m packing up, I notice my phone’s gone. I’m like, “No way!” I start retracing my steps, and guess where I find it? In the bin! That same bin from earlier! I’m just standing there, shaking my head. Only in Ilford, right?
By the time I get home, I’m exhausted. But I can’t help but think about the day. The chaos, the laughter, the little moments that make it all worth it. Ilford, with its crazy streets and even crazier people, is my home. And even on the wildest days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, yeah, that was my day. Just another day in the life of an arborist in Ilford. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!