Mags, I certainly won't miss that great long drive of ours that would fill with leaves, I had to try and keep it clear while we were selling and it was a nightmare! I chopped down one tree here as soon as we moved in, we have a plum and an apple tree, both groaning with fruit at the moment, that will shed, it I can forgive them!
Sass your friend sounds like my mums neighbour who recently passed. She suffered terribly but never complained and was always the first to offer aid to another.
I'm another who cannot do anything first thing without coffee in hand!