Andy Collins

Shows all need the following : Camping, even if its just an area for tents Bar axe throwing spectacular Some sort of climbing comp Some sort of seminar Knot "school" Huge fire pit thingy Huge BBQ Quality food, not rubbish cheapo burgers every bloomin time! An assortment of decent trade stands We could have Bruce Springsteen, but tbh we have Mark Bolam....who needs 2nd best?

My thoughts: I always enjoyed the Capel show, it had a cracking vibe for many years, and agood crowd that got bigger and bigger with the growth of this forum, coincidentally. Then 2012 came, different person running the show, terrible weather, split site where people thought the show was only in one field and in fact in two, and poor attendance. I don't think the continuing economic "blip" has helped, traders have to decide when to set up stall, if it's not viable, why do it? Maybe, there are now too many shows, saturation point if yu like, people can only afford so much, you can't afford to keep paying staff to go off on jollies when times are tough. I really hope this show finds its feet again, it is a cracking setting, great atmosphere, and really started off the season with a good feeling.

A tenner a load to him? I think you need to be alittle more precise on this deal. If you're doing small loads, it's a large percentage and certainly your profit gone, so I'd be borrowing your Dads Landie and getting good value from this. Of course, it cuts both ways, he could stockpile the timber and sell it on himself and make some cash too. If I was him, I'd be paying you a days wage to do the logging and delivering for me, it would make more sense. anyway, good luck with your venture Little Butch

I've used the Otterbox series for several years, I dropped my phone 40feet onto concrete and it stayed intact. However these days I have a JCB tough phone for work, and just forward my calls, saves the expensive mini computer phone getting knackered.

Not far from me, ill keep my ear to the ground. Not that it does any good . Sorry to hear it

One thing to remember is no two patients are the same with IBDs. My UC came in with a vengeance, starting a week before I was rushed into hospital. No warning nothing, I literally plummeted off the face of the earth. In that week I reached the state where I was close to death, rushed in to hospital and on drips to stabilise me. I was losing blood at a colossal rate and my colon was extremely fragile.a fortnight later the only option left was life saving surgery. Ironically the life saving surgery nearly killed me , needing further life saving surgery and having to endure acute kidney failure. But now I'm active again, not pre-illness active, but good for someone in my state. Life does go on, it's not stopped me in my tracks, just slowed my pace of life a little. Read up as much as you can, follow dietary advice carefully. Honey is good, I have it every day, very soothing. Anyway, now off to work, got some big Limes needing some care and attention with a chainsaw

I had my entire colon (large intestine) removed as a result of my UC. Crohns can be more debilitating, as it can flare anywhere in the body between mouth and butt, at any time. UC can be removed in one, as mine was, or with progressive surgery, ie a little removed at a time. Seriously, alcohol will aggravate, and smoking masks the symptoms well, making a flare worse when it does arise. google Crohns & Colitis UK for help and advice. If you get a flare, go on a low residue diet (google that too) to clear out your gut, certain foods will get stuck in the folds of your gut and aggravate it. Finally, many people manage to work with Crohns or Colitis, and the docs will tell you you can lead a "normal" life.... Just remember, this is not "normal" work and will make it hard for you during a bad spell. I work hard on my good days now, and chill on the days im not so good. If there's anything you need to know, and don't want to broadcast it on the forum, pm me and ill try to help, from my own experiences.

I run a mixed bag of equipment from various manufacturers. My saws of choice are either Stihl or Husky. Due to this change in policy over online sales, I shall have to replace my Stihl products with another make that will still supply the parts I need. As many others, I can't wait weeks for a dealer to decide to get me the parts I need. Shame, and very short sighted in my opinion, hopefully this will be read and noted by those who have some influence, and Stihl will make a U turn on this absurd policy. PS, quite understand the face to face on new machines, just the parts and sundry items that beggars belief.

I used to work for a faller who only used used hydraulic oil for his bar. Lovely and thin, lubed his chain up no problems all winter. You could see the mist around him all the time his saw was running!!

Hi Jon, I should be there again....as usual...

I agree with the sentiment here. As a parent, you did everything spot on. As trained rescue personell you will do the same for other parents. It's the way the brain ticks that's all. Not easy being a parent, toughest job in the world at times like this.

Wow what a warm welcome to a new member . Someone comes on here seeking advice, and is instantly remonstrated for daring to ask? It is a fact of life that as people move across departments, they will be placed into positions that they have to learn a new area that they aren't familiar with. Pink fairy, on behalf of the membership,please don't take to heart the attitudes of the small minority here, most here are only too keen to help. Please hang around, your input on certain other topics may prove invaluable to those of us who don't know everything.

As above, or Daniel at Chippertech 01449 616665

I'm with CICA, for personal accident, and sickness cover and Critical illness. They have no restraints on working at height, or bizarre outdoor dangerous pursuits. On the occasions I have needed to make a claim (once on each policy) they have paid out promptly and with the minimum of paperwork. They have done everything they claimed to do to make my life easier when I've needed it most. In the past, CICA had an annoying habit of sending a rep around far too frequently, cajoling people into buying insurance that wasn't fit for purpose IMO. This has now stopped, they have changed their sales technique and are IME a better company for it. These days, insurance is a necessary evil, you don't always have to have it, but anything that helps protect your income is a bonus. The last thing anyone needs when the chips are down is to be worrying about how they can pay the household bills.

Looking at the OPs location I'm guessing he is Poland, is there any form of TW out there?

Peter is bang on the money with his statement. I used to do 6.5days a week, lots of hours a day, loved the work and the pressure and missed it when it was quiet. The stress and strain gets you in the end. I'm now doing around 3 days a week, to earn just enough to keep fed and watered. I still enjoy the work, but a hard day is now out of the question for the foreseeable future. Enjoy the work while you're young enough to graft, build up a nest egg for when you can't. Good luck for your future.

Nice one Adam, congratulations to you both

For £16.50/tonne it should be made clear its your way or the highway. As for felling the Ash when it should be left

Guessing they know no different. Old school doesn't seem to get taught any more.

Surely if an employer supplies the kit, supplies the training to use that kit and a climber goes out on site and refuses to use that kit, then it is the employers (or his foreman/manager) place to point out the method he wishes you to use. It's him paying the insurance, and the employees. Each member of crew has a position of responsiblity for every other person on site, (H&S at Work act), and therefore would quite within reason to point out that maybe using a certain piece of kit would be advisable. In the past, I have seen a short strop cut through with a handsaw, that would not have happened with a wire strop. Re: pegs, I have seen the result of a climber leaving serious pegs on a take down. It took three operations for him to be able to move his arms above waist height again, only took one slip once in about 15yrs of tree work. No one is ever too good to get hurt.

Well done Jennie

I thought it was a better turnout yesterday than previous years, it didn't clash with the FA Cup Final this time, I see to recall it did in past years. It's never going to please everyone all the time, personally I preferred it in the woodland setting years back, it was more Weird and Wonderful back then. But it's moved wit the times, expanded, and became a prime event. And there was some very high quality products on display, showcasing some of the best of wood related skills.

Ill sleep tonight knowing that

Shame not to have caught up with you Alec, sorry I missed you. My lad was at Hadleigh manning the Fieldens ATV stand, or propping up the burger van nearby if not!!

Seriously, I hope others don't see the real benefits of these machines, well local to me anyway. I certainly wouldn't be without one nowadays.