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Are you talking about my mum there?

Dirty glass please. The hygiene thing is a joke. You're going to be kissing the same people later in the evening.

Cold sores definitely date back to the olden times, I know and I blame my mum!

You definitely have to pick your battles regarding jobs, and climbing yourself or getting someone else in, as you get older. It’s a fine line, you’ve got to keep your ‘match fitness’ so to speak. I still enjoy big climbs when there isn’t much to do, or smaller climbs when there’s a fair bit to do. Big climbs with lots to do are in my history. My favourites are small climbs with not much to do, but for big money.

I was going to say I haven't had one of these completely stripped down but pullers are generally your friend pulling any bits apart but the ball joint splitters look good.

We’d call that a Sussex half in….well Sussex. I suspect it’s a universal thing.

I quite often keep my glass. Drink 3/4 pint then ask for another half in the same glass. If they brim it (which is what you want) it’s known as a ‘marsh half’ down here on the edge of the Romney Marsh.

Thanks Mark. It would be good to see what you can find out.

We adapted one of our home-made post punners, adding a return bracket, to stop half-round posts from twisting, while being driven. Quite good for holding any type of post though. Cost: just half an hour, with a stick welder!

Ill try to check it this week but I've just had a lot on my plate getting machines fixed before the Christmas closure. I did have a scan on the interweb and resets only seemed to apply to resetting batteries that have Bluetooth connectivity, just to reset that bit so they can connected to other Bluetooth devices rather than resetting a failed battery.

Thanks. The 300's should provide full power. If its anything like the Stihl MSA 300 it will only hit about 5,000 RPMs with a standard battery.

100% The correct decision, something the UK should be doing right now.

I didn't think that they had arrived in the UK yet as I was trying to buy some spare parts the other week and there weren't any available, I couldn't even order them which usually means the machine hasn't been launched. If anyone does have one don't break it!

I’ll post a review, I have 5 batteries some 200s for the topper and 300 for the 542i not sure if they’re X or not.

At 61 I'm wanting/aiming to be climbing/pruning 3 days a week, in winter. But only when it's dry -in Manchester -call me fairweather ❄️ , and at the gym/yoga 2/3 times weekly.

If you do buy one I would be interested in any feedback please. Do you have the X series of batteries as you will need to use those to get full power?

I think that the cost is part of the issue why they don't sell very well. It used to be that a machine, battery (or maybe 2 if there was an offer on) and charger was the same price as a petrol machine.

The other aspect of getting someone in to do the climbing is if they think that they’re the bees knees and you’re too old or whatever is the scenario whereby they believe themselves indispensable and start throwing their weight about. So I always make sure if they don’t want to do it, or start saying they can only do it this or that way I can always say ‘ok fine I’ll do it, you stay on the deck’ The current guy isn’t like that, but I’ve had that scenario on the odd occasion, always good to put on the guvners hat from time to time.

Then give it a go, with the option to change your mind (without any penalty, either way) in say, 18 months time? Anticipate one or more break-ins and don't leave any power tools/valuables there overnight -it looks less secure than a cardboard box.. I think Mick's right, it does seem a high monthly rental cost -but then I'd imagine renting a couple of old back-street shipping containers might cost €400 a month, anyway ? We just bought three of them, including an office unit, 'temporarily' rather than rent them.. and that was 2 decades ago; they're still in daily use!

Again . Never noticed it in my day .

It is of course your decision. Yes, geographical price differences are significant. I thought your ‘siege d’entreprise’ Years ago was great when I was up there a decade ago, great road side location. €500 seems more like it. Maybe try and screw em down a bit perhaps.

I will have been climbing and falling for 30 in May and I am having to adapt. At 53 I have changed my goals and expectations of myself, but I still need to be fit enough to grind another week out. i use more contractor climbers, mechanise when I can and exercise three times a week if I am not too beat up. Changing what I expect of myself is the hardest bit

Cold sores/herpes is the real concern.

Understood . However back in the day monkey pox was not heard of and I don't recall anyone dying coz someone used the same glass . I think dirt was cleaner then though 🙂