Why do people fuck up things that are solid?

By the look of it, a 16 year old boy took a chainsaw to this iconic sycamore tree at Hadrian’s Wall.

Something older and more nuanced than he will ever be has been destroyed forever by him. I wonder who planted it, and when.Was it blown there? What did it see?

We all know the tendency of the ignorant to break things that threaten their little worldview. My initial worry is that this is along those lines. All the environmental stuff. “I’m more better than this tree!” Felling a tree like that is not easy. Likely he would need a chainsaw, and maybe a generator… Even some skill or some help. Plus he would have had to get the kit up to the tree to fell it. It is all very very weird, and I find it upsetting because it speaks of both catastrophic ignorance, and planning.

How lovely though, for me to be able to wonder about such things instead of being spoken to like I’m a recalcitrant ten year old. I am OUT of the bubble. Hooray!!!

I dropped the substitute gaffer van off in Watford. Then I went home. Now I’m looking at the next gig. I’ve got a meeting online tomorrow morning. My various collaborations have started to click back in. I’ll have things to do between now and December…

Home has a friendly cat in it. I’ve been getting photos from Frank the whole time I’ve been up in Aberdeen being belittled and now I’m back I get to actually hang out with the cat and be treated like a normal human being.

He’s a beautiful heart, Boy. Frank and he are clearly already bonded, and now I’ve artived he seems delighted to have two slaves. I’m glad he’s had the time to get to know Frank before I came back. It seems like he might be with us a bit longer. He’s had quite a runaround, poor Boy. I think it’ll be good for him to have some peace, and it’s exceptionally chilled here these days.

It is so nice to be out of the bubble. I was entrusted a Pleo card last night to return to my manager and almost drove out of Aberdeen before I realised I still had it. Even that final interaction was a mire of passive aggressive fuckery. I’m really really disappointed. It’s a lovely thing damaged for no discernable advantage.

But this is what we do. For short term things we sometimes break long term things. I don’t know what that 16 year old thought as he chopped down that tree, no more than I know what my friend was thinking as they repeatedly talked to me like I was a moron. That beautiful ancient tree won’t grow back. That heavy handed idiot has ruined it forever. Short term foolishness.

Maybe my friendships will slowly grow back over time. I really hope so. Right now I am fed up and angry and don’t want to initiate conversation with them. But … tonight I get to sleep in my own bed and maybe get jumped by a friendly fluffy cat at some point.

Home sweet home. Phew.