OT - Near death experience with a twist!?

[Nawor]

For the last couple of years I've been contemplating building a garage next to my house. There is a concrete area where I could erect it... er that's THE GARAGE! The one problem has been a large Copper Beech tree of about fifty feet in height and aged about 80 to 100 years old. It has four trunks branching out from its base all covered in lychen. A lot of the older trees up here are heritage listed and are not allowed to be removed. It is a really beautiful tree. However due to its posistion it was the main stumbling block in putting up the garage. Then this afternoon I was out in the garden looking up at this tree and wondering if there was another way I could posistion the garage. After many weeks of very dry weather, News Years eve has brought a reasonable amount of rain and quite strong winds. After turning away from the tree to head inside a sudden, and extremely violent gust of wind blew up. I heard a crack followed by a loud groan. As I turned I saw the largest trunk of the Copper Beech falling towards me. :eek: I somehow ran, hopped, skipped and jumped all at the same time. Leaves and small branches seemed to whip past my face and followed by an earth shattering thump! I couldn't see anything for a second or two except for leaves and branches swaying all about. Then I realised I was still alive. I walked up to where the trunk had broken away and the whole base is rotten to the core! :eek: My next door neighbour came over when he heard the noise. He estimated the weight of the fallen trunk to be between 2 to 3 tons! So after going inside and having a good stiff drink... or THREE! :freak: , I decided I just might get to put up my garage after all... and the local wood turner can make me a coffee table... say out of some Copper Beech timber! ;) All this happened just over ninety minutes ago. Where's Mulder when you need him?

[phaeton]

IT'S A SIGN!!! Build your garage, and they will come.... Either that, or the tree said "I will stop you from building a garage here IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO." Good thing it failed :)

[Alndln]

I think the tree read your thoughts and stepped out of the way.It probably said to itself,"Well,I guess Iv'e been around long enough,time to make way for the young varmits".

[phaeton]

Yeah... them young vomits.

[Lee Tyler]

You almost gave your name, "RIP", a new meaning! :freak: Glad you are OK. I had a similar experience during a bad-ass ice storm in NYC in the 70's. I was helping my polio-afflicted neighbor get his car out of his spot, and suddenly, without warning....just a loud *SNAP*. :eek: A 16 inch diameter branch crashed down on the hood of his car as I grabbed him and tried to duck under his vehicle. Humans 1, tree 1, car...0 :rolleyes: MO FO!! ~~~Lee

[Tedster]

Sounds like the tree knew your plans and was a-comin' ta gitcha. It's a sign. Glad you weren't hurt!

[Jotown]

[quote]Originally posted by Tedster Lombardo: [b]Sounds like the tree knew your plans and was a-comin' ta gitcha. It's a sign. Glad you weren't hurt![/b][/quote]That's what I'd be thinking. Good luck on your garage and your coffee table.

[DC]

Glad you're okay Rowan! We had a big crash outside on a dark and stormy night years ago. Went to the back window and all I could see was branches. Same with a bunch of other windows. Couldn't tell much; dark and raining hard. Next day we go out and this maple had lost most of itself to the back of our house. Also landed on my van. No real damage to speak of, but a hell of a mess to clean up. I've still got a few chunks of maple in the garage.