How soul-less are those who live by bureaucratic tosh rather than use their brains with an enlightened heart.

Having spent the last several weeks in North Carolina and Virginia, I must admit they are perhaps two of the most beautiful states in the USA. This has much to do with the trees everywhere. Absolutely everywhere, including in the cities, lining freeways, around buildings - just everywhere and everywhere!

I had not long been home when I heard a truck pull up outside our house. A quick glance out the window told me I was needed out there. The tree butchers from the local council had arrived!

Many years ago I had approached the council, not just once but repeatedly, to ask that they plant some trees on our berm. The street needed more trees, looking particularly barren and not very special. One day they turned up and left behind a very small specimen down by the nextdoor neighbour, but no more and certainly not where they really were needed. So eventually we planted a few more ourselves. They are now tall and strong, maturing nicely, and looking quite lovely.

So when the truck pulled up I went out to lean on my gate.

Three men got out of the truck. I was told that branches overhanging the road where they would interfere with cars needed to be cut back. I was told “we’re just doing our job” to which I replied “…and I am just keeping my eye on you.”

Out came the chainsaw. Immediately the criterion they had just given me was violated.

“So what make of car might possibly have been able to hit that while still remaining on the road?” I asked. There was no answer. As the man with the saw stood on the footpath eyeing yet another branch, I added “and of course, we have cars driving along the footpath every single day here!” He changed his tune… it was the posties on bikes, he said. “Sure, we have posties well over 2 metres tall riding bikes here every single day”, I informed him, my sarcasm getting away on me.

Another man reached back inside the truck for some papers and started reading aloud the council by-laws. The third man stood there looking uncomfortable. The man with the saw, having swung on another branch to see if it could be dragged down to possibly bother the mythical posties over 2 metres tall, sensibly decided against any further action. Fortunately the others followed his lead by getting back into their truck and then drove away.

They had overlooked a dead tree standing on the berm of a neighbouring house, but less than half a mile away there was more evidence of their handiwork. A cluster of beautiful native trees in a small reserve was decimated, ugly stumps being all that were left behind.