Andy Collins

Aside from the ecological, and ethical, points of view, I can't help but think someone somewhere here is missing out on the Market for more locally sourced fuel wood. So you can't get it on the Isle of Man, but you're not that far from the UK mainland, and many local suppliers (well more local than Africa anyway) are just across the water. Surely educating the customers as to the benefits of locally sourced logs is better than importing vast distances. Why not at least import from EU connected countries if the UK can't meet your needs? Obviously you've looked into this far more than I have, or would, this is your business and you have to make it work anyway you feel necessary, in order to survive in a tough industry.

Nice one Ed, proper result!! Can't wait to see the pics of all the kit you've won

Truly stunning, beautiful pics there, I'm jealous:biggrin:

I have a couple of lines, one zing-it and dyneema liros. The zing-it has snapped repeatedly under load, like when it jams under a flake of bark, the liros has never broken, and I just know I can pull on it far more aggressively if it jams up a tree. I must have used the liros for 3 or 4 years now, and still prefer it over other types.

To back up a couple of points. Firstly, buy one of the Big 4, spares and dealerships everywhere. My brother works for a Honda dealership for quads, and they get to go and field trial many other makes in the course of their work, and each time hell come back and say this make or that make are trying to improve but don't hold a candle to the Honda. You could say he's biased, but they sell Honda for one reason and that is because it's the make that farmers, keepers, and many others trust over the years. Some have gone and bought makes such as Polaris, only to return to Honda for whatever reason. The 2nd point is that of the weight fitted to the racks on any make, many overload the racks beyond the manufacturers safety recommendations, which will affect safe handling of the machine, and Also can cause the frames to snap, so check front and rear loadings before buying the biggest pelleted or sprayer you can, or opt for a trailed version instead if you must go large. Btw I have a 500cc Honda, FE, and the leccy shift is possibly the worst Version available, get either manual or fully auto, not leccy shift.

Haha I expected to be the butt of a few jokes when I started this, in fact I probably came out with most of them myself at one time or another in the last few weeks. all I'm going to say here is that my own stupidity and pride led to 2 major ops and 8 weeks of hell

Many a true word spoken in jest, Ty, infact it was partly mistaking blood in my stools that masked a far more sinister problem inside my body. I am no wiz at websites, in fact I struggle with most computer related stuff! I shall find something to do, just trying to decide what in the short term.

I do have a couple of people in mind, but I feel I should be on site, which currently is an issue, plus I want to be on site. I know I can't run before I can walk, literally, and I can only stand for very short periods of time, let alone do much at all. I know I need proper recovery time, and to rush in may well be detrimental to my overall recovery, so I have to really sensible for the first time in my life!!

As a few of you know, I have recently undergone major surgery, well 2 ops actually, and then had to rush back in hospital with kidney failure. I'm now home and hopefully in the clear this time, my minimum recovery time is expected to be around 3months, but to get back to work fit anything up to a year. Now I have been active in arb work for the past 15/16 years, on the tools side rather than anything else. I can't see myself changing career drastically at 47, but do wonder what I can do in this trade that is going to be physically possible while I recover. I have thought of Maybe sitting down and doing some more learning while I have the time, but it's only going to put me in the same position at best as many others who are struggling to find work. Im lucky, I do have a fairly loyal customer base at the minute, but I can't expect them to wait for ever for me. I could adopt a supervisory role, but at he moment I need a snooze every couple of hours, so hardly acceptable, and the other problem is that if I were on site the frustration of my limitations would tempt me to do something daft like work!! I don't really wish to be employed, no t that at the moment Im employable anyway, but it's important for my recovery to have some achievable goals. Ideas please, and if you've been in the same boat, what did you do? Cheers

Am looking for the leccy part that regulates the fuel flow into the carb on 18hp. vanguard, before I was I'll I had all the details, but they are lost in the desk somewhere. Briggs ordering system seems rather complex, seems that the little rubber tip to this part has perished and hence it won't work. Anyone help?

What a fine effort on evryones behalf, stunning! Excellent total raised, thanks to all those who put up prizes, participated, and steve for his Stirling job organising it once again. Congratulations to those who won the prizes, but at the end of the day it's the Chilldrens Trust who is the real winner once again, I'm sure they will be over the moon with this Once again.

Nice designs Steve, love them all, work well with the colour too! Been a long time coming and well worth the wait. Top job, well done!

Was it you who posted this job up last year Alex? Or did someone else get the job before?

Thanks Alex, the steroids I'm on are messing with my thought processes

Guessing the article in the EADT is about you, reads well and can only do you some good. All the best and hope it all carries on well for you

Can't say for my regular puters as I'm in hospital on iPad to get into the site, but I have no issues with it from here at least.

So what else do you need now?

What is so wrong with that? What are you afraid of? Surely you increase your expectations too? Up til about 11 years ago I was a groundie on £80 a day. So now in the latter part of 2011 people are saying that a groundie should still be on the same money, although the cost of living has gone by how much? Meaning that the £80 a day is now worth far less.

Barring one post on this thread I can see why this industry is in the state its in. Slavery was abolished many years ago. Based on the posts here I'd sell your saws and go and shelf stack at Tescos, your prospects are higher and at least you are warm and dry.

Been a member for a few years now

I've had many planting jobs where fencing and guarding is required in the job spec, it makes little sense but it happens all to regularly.

What happened to the big fella who carried you around Mick, used to be on here?

Oh and you can work in peace and quiet, dont have to wear chainsaw trousers, make a neater job and be just as quick as someone with a chainsaw (on that little tree anyway) So I dont see that they are slower than a chainsaw, the effort well they weigh less than a chainsaw, boredom? Thats down to attitude I'm afraid. Perhaps time spent honing skills and attitude to the job would be time well spent?

Nothing is worth getting stressed out over certainly not work (cant believe I just said that!) but if you are unhappy even a little bit you do need to plan to change things. Try speaking to your boss about it, hopefully he's approachable, and sort things so you get some tree work. It may not be in his comfort zone to take on much tree work, or he may not have really even considered how important it is to you. Try and put a positive spin on your situation, that you can learn different skills which make you a better employee in future, you get a rest from climbing, so more time for your body to recuperate, and you have a steady wage coming in leading up to Xmas, which is more than many. Good luck.