Is it time to brush up your skills or learn something brand new?

I live somewhere in the middle of Cornwall. When I lived in Southampton, I was pretty much the only person I knew who owned a chainsaw. Down here, it seems like almost everyone has one – quite a lot of folks have two or three of different sizes. Like the old-school ‘wreckers’ who pillaged any ship unfortunate enough to run aground on the coast, when we have a big winter storm, we go out to find any trees that have been blown down, sidle up to the owner and say something like: “Er…got any plans for the wood?” We don’t have mains gas round here and life tends to be a bit more self-sufficient. A chainsaw and a downed tree can keep you and your family warm for a whole year.