If you prick us, do we not bleed?

So said Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. But I don't think he was talking about cutting down brambles! Which is what Sophie and Ellen did for Mr C on Sunday.

We got the mission go ahead and met him promptly at 10am. We were told that Mr C was a bit hesitant with strangers. But he was super friendly and talkative, and let us in right away! He explained that he had difficulty walking and that his garden had over grown somewhat. It had got so bad that he had gone out back recently to have a look, but the back door had accidentally closed behind him! Undaunted, he managed to get through the brambles - no mean feat! - out to the back lane and around to the front. Luckily he had his front door key (or it was unlocked) so he could get back in. What a trooper!

So armed with tools, bags and gloves, we headed out back to do our best. We were determined to not let the brambles defeat us. We snipped and chopped and bagged up what could. We also said hello to the neighbour's dog, who greeted us over the wall. Just over an hour later, we'd bagged up 4 bags worth of green refuse - Which was just a start but made a big difference to Mr C who can now consider what else he wants done in his garden. And "that is the long and short of it". The End.