There's no denying I feel a real sense of sadness that all bar one of the fruit trees are gone now. Whilst they were old, gnarled, growing at stupid angles, and in some cases dead or rotten, it's another little piece of Haig history to say goodbye to. Given that my family had lived in the house for more than the last 70 years, no doubt they had been planted by my grandparents many years ago, and we all know how Nan loved them.
Still, there's no point clinging on to the past, and I'm really pleased that one pear tree has been kept. The garden couldn't go on how it was, and hopefully we're in the process of turning it into a delightful open space that will be great for a family to enjoy in the future.
Just as a reminder, here's the "before" photo.
And here's how it is looking today, taken from the same upstairs window.
Next week clearance will be finished, the crooked concrete path will be removed, the coal bunker will be knocked down, and then new topsoil will be put down and then turfed as well as a deck outside the back doors and shingle to the side.
We need to get on with fixing and painting the fence, as well as giving some TLC to the garage in the form of painting, new windows, new guttering and stripping and repainting doors.