Andy Collins

I've found that the quality of the mike/headset is more important than the price of the radios themselves. Clarity of comms is whats needed. The experimentation to come up with the best combination to get the best results is what costs the money. The items themselves are not so dear. I am currently looking into LPD systems to see if they offer an improvement over the regular 446 systems, though I am happy with the results from my last project, things can always be improved. The next obvious "big step" is into the "business" quality radios, where a licence is required, but the risk of other users on frequency is eliminated. Tbh, a cheap set-up such as mine is ideal for most jobs, its been used on rigging jobs, crane jobs, "blind" traffic control jobs and so on. The only downside was when working near to a paintball range and they were on every available channel shouting "Go Go Go" every 5 mins. I dont know the range of the Stein kits, but many of that price range headsets have around a 500m range, which for a few of my jobs would not be adequate. Perhaps Nigel or Nick could enlighten me as to the range of their kits, and I should like to also know the working frequencies if you could pass this on.

yeah, when I said I liked smoking I did mean I liked smoking! Now I dislike smoking, intensely. My revulsion is in my head i suppose, a mental kneejerk reaction to survive. That sounds extreme, but is probably whats going on deep inside my head. I am pleased that I have now managed 9 full days clean. And I rarely consider cigarettes during the day. Mind you, I now panic if I dont have a pack of gum in my pocket. Another bloody addiction

Not at all.... if making one person stop and think before having their next ciggie, or even leading them to give up, then its done some good. We all are made aware of the risks these days, and we take our chances and puff away. Ignorance is no longer an excuse, its just plain stupidity. (BTW, this comment isnt aimed at anyone else, but myself)

I cant say what I think on here. Cruelty of any sort is intolerable.

i'll be upfront now, i never intended to quit at all. I liked smoking, I enjoyed the aroma of a new pouch being unsealed....lovely. Then I went to the docs last Wednesday. my laryngitis had been dragging on for weeks, around 8, and not clearing. Thats why I went to the Docs. First thng she said was, Your in the 46-54 age group, you smoke heavily, chronic laryngitis such as yours can be a sign of throat cancer, you will be going to the Cancer clinic within a fortnight to be checked out. And i go next Tuesday. it scared the crap out of me, brought it home big time how much I am abusing my body, and how vulnerable we are. Now I know all the excuses, I made up more than I've heard over the years. Cancer will get you whether you smoke or not, you have to go somehow blah blah blah. I never want to hear that word again in my life. Dont just think about giving up, just do it, not for me, the NHS, but for yourself, you dont need it. (I hope I never start again!!) PS in the event that I do start again, I have pledged 50 quid to the Childrens Trust, as has another prominent Arbtalk Administrator

Ha yes, I was in a bad mood

I am already noticing the benefits of quitting, breathing more easily, more energy, more stamina and a new-found will to live amongst others. I weakened slightly on Saturday pm, really gasping for a ciggie, but put paid to that with a few throws of the tomahawk!! Damnable weed has caused me enough grief.

I think you've hit the nail on the head Mesterh, and I do respect Tony for his opinion on this. In these hard economic times, I'm sure corners will be cut, savings have to be made to streamline businesses, and it does seem to me that the only growth industry is the training sector.

I stopped smoking at midday on Wed 20th July. From 40odd a aday to zero. No nico patches or anything. It not just the habit of rolling, lighting, inhaling you have to change, but the habits that develop around the smoking, like checking you have enough until the shop opens, making detours esp to get tobacco and so on. Atb Toprotter, and stick it out, it'll be worthwhile.

I apol0gse Tony, in my bllnkered non-smoking state, I missed where you stated about the 8years, my bad. I do agree with you up to a point, but the rules are not made just for Tony, but for everyone in the industry, because it has been proven that many people will have an accident, and therefore need refreshers to keep them as safe as possible. It also helps to protect the employers, as they can prove that J Bloggs has been trained and refreshed according to industry guidelines, and therefore the employers have fullfilled their duties to ensure you are adequately trained. How do you prove you have been in regular use of a saw since you originally passed your CS units, say 20odd years ago, Tony may have, but J Bloggs may have last used one in 1987 gales and not since, yet his tickets are equally valid, a bit silly dont you agree?

Are you saying you dont have the NPTCs, or are you saying you dont need the refreshers? Or both? No-one doubts your skills accrued over many years, and they are going to be honed by day in day out practise in the field. I stopped by the other day to see an old boy I know doing a bit of felling, just for a chat really. It was breakfast time, so we cracked open the flasks and sarnies and had a chat. I bid him farewell, and as I got up he asked me for a hand to get down a hung-up tree. Which I did in around a couple of minutes. He's been in the game all his life, started out in axes and crosscuts, now been in the woods for about 60ish years. He probably thinks he is as good as he was years back, because he doesnt have a refresher he doesnt realise he is slipping backwards, yet i have noticed in the last few years his cuts arent as precise, his fells arent so accurate, and he probably isnt as strong and as quick as in his youth. Just a thought.

I am in awe of you, Tony

Bear in mind, this thread was started in Feb 09, and lo and behold, here we are halfway thru 2011, and yet the industry hasnt crashed.....yet! so its quite hypothetical really isnt it

Maybe if there were less accidents in the Arb/forestry sector we wouldnt need so much refreshing. Many accidents occur across the board, age is irrelevant, experience is irrelevant. Examples shown in http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg278.pdf show that LA personnel (who we'd assume would have refreshers coming out of their backsides) make mistakes, self-employed workers make mistakes, foresters etc etc. it really makes no difference who you are. So when people like Hama come here on one of their missions to save us from ourselves, just bear in mind that that one tit-bit of information shared on a refresher could maybe save your life.

So why are you against re-assessment Tony? Is it just the costs, or something else? Your bosses company picks up the tab for the tests, he covers this by charging appropriately while you are out on site, hence why we have to pass it onto the clients.

Landscapes were not popular back in Constables time, in a nutshell they didnt sell well, but stick in a person, a prize horse, etc and you are more likely to sell the painting. Fashions have now changed, and landscapes are popular, as people seek to see how things "used to be", even if a bucketful of artistic licence was used. As to whether a particular area is more beautiful than another, thats purely down to the individual. Without doubt Flatford and surrounding area is very pleasant, however it is managed to keep a certain look, an artificial natural beauty, artistic licence on a grand scale, a look that brings in the myriads of tourists that wish to see "Constable Country", so in a way I tend to agree that the proper natural beauty should win over the "fake" natural beauty.

If nobody goes on the re-assessments, thus nobody buys into the system, the system collapses. Ranting and raving, waving banners and placards in faces gets you nowhere, you are then just an inconvenience for a day. But saying this, we (as an industry of "professionals") seek endless qualifications to set us apart from those without, to show we are better than they. Now we dont want re-assessments because it will cost a bob or two. Wanting cake and eating it comes to mind.

Went down a little country lane and happened across this picture postcard scenery. In the 1st pic I cant help think something is missing though, in order to give it a centre. One or two other folk seemed to appreciate the countryside too. The cattle couldnt understand what all the fuss was about. But still, a tranquil and calming day out, now if only I could paint!!

Carefull what you wish for your Awesomeness

I was told once that there is no hard and fast pronunciation of the botanical name, some trip off the tongue easily, some are a pita to say. I may be wrong, but so long as you try to say it, most wlll know. Snobs will try and show you up, but they may be wrong in their pronunciation. As most botancal names are derived from 2 "dead" languages, predominantly Latin and Greek, both ancient languages of which the peoples who spoke it are long dead. I also suspect that depending on the locality of the person, different dialects would come into play, whether ancient or modern.

On a secondary note, would Arb Aid consider making a smaller, more basic kit? Would it be more useful, and more cost effective to the end-user, (bearing in mind, we never actually intend to use it before its end of life date) I've looked into buying the basic dressings, tourniquets to form a kit from specialist suppliers today, and the costs are way below the Arb Aid kits, but if, with a suitable container, this could be done for around 100 pounds I'm sure many would take a lot less convincing, without sacrificing your quality products. As I said, just a thought.

In fact I can now confirm that I shall be attending an industry specific course in mid-August. If it meets/doesnt meet my expectations, you'll here about it here 1st On the kit topic, basic kit is all that should be needed. Major wound dressings, tape and disinfectant (wipes). We are not paramedics, we are 1st response 1st aiders, we should only need to keep the casualty alive until the paramedics arrive on scene and hand over responsibility. Do we really need to spend 100's on a kit? I'm not poo-pooing the kits, but these are questions no doubt many ask themselves, and we are discussing. A typical patrol kit in the forces is not so involved, and they are potentially in a far more dangerous environment. The choice is yours. FTR the PLB is not part of my critique, if you are in a remote area, where mobiles dont work, 2-ways are out of range, public phone boxes are vandalised and so on, I think these are an excellent idea.

Well that has to better than a few blurry shots in someones yard, I do believe you also had some serious competition to contend with!

Didnt you also win an axe to go with that?

My thoughts following on from this thread, and giving it some serious consideration. The best kt in the world will save no lives without adequate training and frequent practice, I think once in 3yrs is too far apart, something we should rehearse far more frequently given the potential for massive injury. A more serious inclusion in our risk assessments for Emergency procedures. Every team member should be well-trained and rehearsed in emergency procedures, not just one person on a team (he could be the injured party) I've probably missed something here, and although I'm an "appointed person" for 1st aid, I certainly feel my own training is not good enough, and will be attending a better course as soon as possible, (BTS do an industry specific emergency 1st aid course)