Gutter Cleaner

After my mother had a fall, my wife and I move up to the grand farmhouse to help her get back on her feet. This has turned out to be a long term change for us as our own kids have taken over the family home. So, I get cracking and sort out all the wee jobs needing done around a large house that has missed the capable hands of a blokey bloke to do.

Some weeks later, I am sitting comfortably one afternoon, feeling smug about the numerous jobs I have just completed when my brother comes over from the neighbouring house.

"Yo, Jock, get off yer arse and get those gutters cleaned out!", he nods his head towards the vast length of guttering two stories up, some of which is showing signs of quite mature vegetation sprouting from it.

"You know I don't like ladders don't you?", I reply shuddering slightly at memories of standing two stories up on a wooden ladder with advanced woodworm and no cognisance of health nor safety.

"Tough, needs done, go do!" he replies, never being one to