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<p>The tree removal should have been done and dusted over a couple of days but it hasn't gone quite to plan.</p>
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<p>I was heading off to London for the weekend and by 9.30 the beech tree was virtually removed. It seems the guys had a piece of equipment failure when working on the Ash tree and they didn't finish it. One week later and it still stands.</p>
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<p>They left me with a very large pile of wood chip which after a few days it started to steam in the freezing weather. It had to be spread out along the paths so that it wasn't in the way. It took me a couple of hours in total to move about 2 tonnes of chippings. It tidies up the area and gives it a fresh look. All I need to do now is split the logs into fire sized pieces then it can season ready for next winter.</p>
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<p>A weekend with Richard and Nicola is always a good time. On the Saturday Helene and I met up with her daughters at St Pancras for lunch before heading into the West End to see a matinee performance of <a href="https://thegarricktheatre.co.uk/tickets/hamnet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hamnet, at the Garrick Theatre</a>. It's an interesting play, well performed as one would expect from a Royal Shakespeare production.</p>
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<p>After the theatre we headed back on the tube to King's Cross, Coal Drop Yard, for dinner at <a href="https://www.linastores.co.uk/locations/stable-street-restaurant-delicatessen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lina Stores</a>.</p>
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<p>After a pleasant dinner we saw them onto the train at St Pancras before walking back to Islington. </p>
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<p>On Sunday we made our annual pilgrimage to <a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</a> at the Natural History Museum. It's always fascinating to see the expertise and patience the photographers' have. We finished the day with dinner at an <a href="https://www.zaffrani.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indian restaurant</a> in Islington.</p>
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<p>It's that time of year when the seal pups at <a href="https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donna Nook</a> are at their peak. On a cold Wednesday morning we travelled to the coast. We were delighted with the number of seals and pups that were close by. This one was suckling on it's mum. After an hour spent out in the freezing temperatures we headed for Louth where we had lunch at the Mason's Arms.</p>
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