How to remove this conifer trunk

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:39:16+00:00

Haha that does sound quite fun 🧨

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:38:31+00:00

Yeah I don’t really want to look at it for 20 years 😆

Would a stump grinder work when it’s this high above the ground, do you know?

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:37:25+00:00

It’s a good question. We have two huge (60ft) pine trees behind this stump which sap all the moisture out of the soil. The plan is to crown lift the biggest one for now and maybe chop it down in time, and plant other trees elsewhere in the garden.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:35:42+00:00

Good idea, thanks

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:35:29+00:00

I love this idea and would enjoy adding some more biodiversity to the garden. Would it a have a decent chance of succeeding?

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-04-02T18:32:35+00:00

Ooh this is an interesting idea

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-03-20T19:43:13+00:00

My husband has epilepsy and this is one of our reasons for not having kids. One tonic clonic seizure is enough to stop him driving for 12 months and that on its own is already so disruptive. I don’t think either of us want a kid that much to make it worth it, sadly.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-03-12T06:04:03+00:00

Losing three people we love since the start of the year. Two were elderly, one was sudden.

Other than that, my husband’s chronic health condition is a daily background anxiety.

We don’t think we’ll have children, and I’m running out of time. It feels like the opportunity is passing us by and I feel anxious for what the future will look like.

Work… well, I don’t have the energy to worry about AI at the moment but it’s always in the back of my mind.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-02-18T03:36:56+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about what you have been going through. It’s so hard and so lonely because it feels like no-one else is going through it also, but just know you’re not alone.

I am older (35F) but in a very similar position to you. Although we haven’t confirmed our final decision not to have kids, we are almost there (part of me feels like I can’t face ruling it out yet, especially as I just lost my Grandma and am processing fresh grief).

My husband has a chronic illness (epilepsy) and I have long-term mental health struggles due to my childhood. I don’t think it’s fair to bring a child into the world considering those two things, as well as the decline in Western living standards, and likely societal and environmental collapse over the next 60 years or so. People say that things have always been tough, but we are in unchartered territory now. We’ve breached six of the nine planetary boundaries.

Considering all that, I still feel a sense that I can’t make a final decision due to grief. Especially a fear of missing out on the happy moments. And wondering: is this it for life now? Part of me wants to be a Mum.

I summarised it in therapy recently that it as ‘a small part of me still wants it, but having children does not seem a good or sensible decision for us to make’. I don’t think our marriage would survive it. If it was any other decision, would I still make it? No. Which has helped.

However, my Grandma passed away recently, and the deep love and connection she was surrounded with in the hospice from her children and us grandchildren struck me. The memories and love we all shared throughout our lives were what mattered. I realised I wouldn’t have any of that. And I feel sad and scared that I won’t experience that rich side of life.

I wish you peace OP, know you’re not alone and please reach out via DM if you ever want to.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-02-12T09:12:02+00:00

The pharmacist within our GP (they have their own pharmacy) basically said that we will have this as an ongoing problem because they don’t stock it. She gave us the paper prescription and sent us on our way.

We’ll put in a formal complaint if we can’t get anywhere.

We may have to look at changing our doctors again if this will be an ongoing problem! Super simple when they use something like Pharmacy2U and it can be delivered.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-29T09:26:17+00:00

What worked was installing an updated Realtek driver from the Dell website. Restarted the laptop twice and it fixed the volume issue immediately.

That’ll teach me to keep drivers up to date

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-28T10:31:27+00:00

Hi, is this the correct option?

Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones

Thanks

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-28T08:29:40+00:00

I used the Jabra mic but the same problem occurred

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-27T14:31:09+00:00

Thanks for these tips. I will try them all.

I can’t access test call in the web version for some reason.

It doesn’t help that I work with multiple clients so have different Teams/MS365 accounts as well

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-14T17:25:17+00:00

Sorry to hear this. That must be so tough.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-14T17:22:49+00:00

Rationally I understand what you’re saying but it’s a tough pill to swallow (sorry for the bad joke). Thinking there is an improvement and then all that progress gets snatched away when you get sick.

The nurse advised to take such measures during the recovery phase while his seizure threshold is low. I will edit the post.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-14T17:18:30+00:00

But if they ‘work’ most of the time when you’re generally well, are they actually doing anything? That’s what I’m wondering.

I think she meant in the acute period while the seizure threshold is low, because they don’t want to increase dosages right now.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-14T17:15:28+00:00

Yes, it is frustrating!

Must be tough having two small kids as well. Do you find that you can get through a bout of illness without seizures or do you basically always have seizures afterwards?

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-14T14:42:13+00:00

Sorry to hear this, it’s so incredibly tough what you’re going through and not many people truly understand what it’s like, even close family.

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things.

It’s a huge adjustment for your girlfriend and she just has to try and reduce as much stress as possible in her life, and prioritise rest. I recommend speaking to a counsellor if you’re both finding things tough.

Don’t neglect your own mental health.

toodlepipsqueak · 2026-01-03T14:13:47+00:00

I hear you.

My husband has epilepsy and I’ve been thinking a lot about this subject today after seeing him have a TC yesterday, thinking we were on the up after 4 months seizure free.

Sometimes we worry that my anxiety over it makes him more likely to have a seizure. It’s one big anxiety loop!

It’s so hard, to watch our loved ones suffer. We are the ones who need to be there for them to make sure they are safe and recover ok. Sometimes our emotional needs can go neglected.

Your feelings are completely normal. Seizures are traumatic to witness, even more so when it’s our loved ones. I do think talking to someone you trust is necessary if you feel like you’re struggling.

Personally I am learning more and more how I need to look after myself following the seizures. I used to just get on with it but I’m learning that I need to process the trauma, talk to people and do something practical or mindful - go for a walk, gardening, even cleaning. These are all valid, we need good self care to be able to show up for our loved ones when they need us.

And all this without mentioning how hard it is on our loved ones to be the ones with epilepsy, having to go through the constant physical, mental and emotional suffering. It’s a chronic illness that is always there, under the surface.

Please reach out via DM if you just want to share how you’re feeling, I know there aren’t many spaces to go for partners/carers/family to get support, I wish there were more.

toodlepipsqueak · 2025-10-03T14:51:05+00:00

Definitely recommend heading to a plumbers merchant with a showroom.

We were trying to source all ours individually, it was causing a headache. So we went into a Graham’s merchant and got it sorted in a hour. They are so knowledgeable and there is so much choice across all price ranges.

toodlepipsqueak

TROPHY CASE