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The ‘Royal Mail’ are now a privately (foreign) owned business looking for any excuse to justify increased prices and reduced services. Of course they will blame Trump for anything they can.

and in the lunchtime news today, Trumps import taxes are reported to be responsible for the Royal Mail to halt their regular mail deliveries - they will add 50p to each package now to cover processing. 2 options: UK businesses will suffer that due to the goodness if their hearts, reduce the pay perhaps to workers to compensate. Or, the US customer will pick up the tab. Hmmm wonder which - a man for the people increasing their costs again.

Finally someone who can sharpen a saw properly!

I like this remix... https://youtu.be/pSq3-lE377Q?si=KZj1MwZGG2q1g-RV

Here are your opportunities to upgrade your approach to tree risk with VALID in 2025. https://validtreerisk.help/Tree-Risk-Training Because of demand from NZ, AU, and USA, it looks like we won't run more workshops in the UK until June 2026. VT = Validator Training VU = Validator Update

This question comes up frequently on social media, so we've put these resources together to help you. Risk Assessment Review https://validtreerisk.help/Tree-Risk-Assessment-Review Peter Gray's 2020 article in Arboriculture Australia's The Bark looks at the strengths and weaknesses of TRAQ, QTRA, and VALID. The post in the link addresses some points Peter raises about VALID. Western Springs Pines, Auckland, NZ https://validtreerisk.help/Western-Springs-Pines This high profile dispute ended up in the Environment Court. It's the only case we know where TRAQ, QTRA, and VALID risk assessments were carried out on the same trees. You can download the reports. If you want a geeky deep dive into what's going on with the wildly different risk ratings, have a look at Andrew Benson's report. Tasmanian Government QTRA to VALID https://validtreerisk.help/Tas-Gov-QTRA-to-VALID Tasmanian Department of State Growth (DSG) - State Roads has customised and adopted VALID's Government Tree Risk-Benefit Management Strategy. They did this after a Coroner's Inquest into Brendon Smith's tragic death when a tree fell on his ute whilst he was driving on a state road during a storm. When putting together the Strategy, DSG upgraded their approach to tree risk from QTRA to VALID. The head of the DSG's tree risk framework review asked us to put together a briefing note for the General Manager State Roads, to explain why they were moving from QTRA to VALID. We thought this note was confidential, but as DSG is a Government organisation, anyone can access it with Freedom of Information request. Several times people asked whether we could make it public because there is valuable technical information in it about tree risk assessment.

Going back to it at the time , circa 2001, done through an agency going on 1/4 of the facts ... thes isn't any point going out their if you dont come back with money ...plus being stuck with Australians .. great . I

I hate the bastards . Get someone in with a night scope and a decent air rifle .

Top version ! 👍

Hard work tasks i tend to use stihl asa20 cordless secateurs, stihl gta26 cordless chainsaw pruner and loppers. Rest i try to use hedge trimmer. Hedge trimmer design is not really for hard tasks (thick branches). But we are testing the equipment limits all the time.

I have a lot of makita LXT battery tools for small jobs and I have to say they are amazing. Not broken one yet. But if I am doing any 'hard work' petrol powered followed by mains electric is the way to go. Battery just doesn't have the power and the components tend to be lighter weight. Alkalyte fuel produces far nicer fumes. Long reach hedge cutters keep the fumes further from the body.

Wordle 1,529 6/6 ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Had to walk away twice. Heroic save (imo)

Any help identifying this fruiting body hosted on Sorbus intermedia would be very welcome...thanks.

Its a shame that you didnt emmigrate,it would have increased the IQ of both nations.

We are hosting a TRAQ Course delivered by Guy Watson - 2 days with a half day assessment, delivered in person in the beautiful setting of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Inverleith gardens. Arboricultural Association - Course Detail TREES.ORG.UK Professional training courses and workshops for Tree Surgeons, arborists and consultants. A wide range of Tree Surgeon Courses and Tree Surgeon Training available with either online...

Bit of a guessing game today, no logic. Wordle 1,529 4/6* ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Thanks. Battery converters if you can find one work on simpler models. Once it gets to brushless and more electronics, they often are not usable. Chainsaws, i go all petrol. Had a cordless one, not comparable ). Many will disagree. But a hedge trimmer, being so often close to the breathing area, i find nicer to use battery operated. Although i never tried petrol one. I held petrol one in my hand, but it being considerable weight, would keep it and fumes again close to the body while operating.

a tripod ladder isn't essential - same as it isn't essential to change from using a family car to provide a hedge cutting service. A 12ft tripod goes inside the roof of a LWB Transit, or strapped on any pick up/ tipper. But a dedicated vehicle is a serious investment. Especially if you can't have an older one due to LEZ.

for batteries, they are selling converters between some brands so you might not be just limited to Einhell and Makita if you can get a converter. Not sure about lifespan though, my petrol ones are still going strong so haven't considered the alternatives yet.

The rapist, Trump, gets more mental as he goes... This mornings news included the quotes "In Europe, they call me the President of Europe" and "The (US) people are saying they would like a dictator. I am not a dictator" Very much thinking case of emperors (presidents) new clothes where he is just told any rubbish to keep him quiet - which makes me think he isn't in charge any more. Oh, and another here, 200 percent tariffs because the Chinese arn't selling him magnets (that was an unhinged clip as well)