Andy Collins

Can I ask why you are leaving Green TreeWorks, if you're currently working there why not stay?

Talk about going around in circles on a topic, and getting nowhere. Some will be for, some will be against. What does it matter? A leader of this country has passed away, end of an era that stood out in history. Some will say for good reasons others will say for bad. I don't care either way, I think I did ok as one of that generation, but then I got my head down and worked, not whined about how unfair life is, others I know took the whiny route. They are the losers in life, and still are to this day.

On this forum, we have a few simple rules which as members you all agree to adhere to. One of these rules is Rule 4, I suggest some might read throught he rules again before posting further. If you have an issue with anyone's service, products etc you deal with it privately ie not on the forum. This is most important from the legal perspective, how would you feel if it was your business being slagged off on a public forum, and how would you react to it? Think on.

From my perspective of the YTS/YOPS scheme that was brought in, I was a supervisor on one team. It was a great success to re-motivate and re-invigorate a stagnant youth. As each completed their programme, many tried to get on it, with a team of 6 usually had 18 turn up. This wasn't because they were forced to, they wanted to be there. It was easy money, all they had to do was turn up on site at 8 and be at work till 4, not graft, just be there. They got their benefits plus a tenner for their efforts. Most really enjoyed it, one or two struggled with the demanding regime of getting out of bed, but they soon left and were replaced. IME it was one of the best ideas at that time, given the mess of the country.

Reading Alis post at the beginning of this thread, I read it in the first person, ie as if it were myself in his boots. I think many of us have been in a similar situation, or been on a site where something similar has occurred. I can think of several instances where I have advised the company boss against his wishes, one resulted in the tree failing whilst he was climbing it, I'd previously talked a novice out of climbing the same tree as it looked unsafe IMO. But I ask myself, what would I have done in Alis position, hired in for the day with his groundie to get a job done? would I have pulled out, or got it done? Simple, I'd have stayed there and done my job. The accident that occurred was unforeseeable, other factors such as traffic control etc were inadequate but did not contribute to the actual accident in his case. The only thing I would change if I were Ali, is to have personal accident insurance, if he doesn't already have it. This won't protect your business turnover, but will help your domestic situation.

:congrats: I remember us paying a fortune for coal to keep the fire in, I recall the rubbish piling up in the streets, the TV going off suddenly, due to strikes, I recall all the misery that the unions gave this country. Not Maggie, as said Labour was in power at that time. Maggie did come into power and she did sort this country out from the dire mess it was in. Under Maggies power, we had 1 in 10 unemployed...to begin with, but I think I was unemployed for a matter of days in all that time. Those who wanted work could find it, due to her re-building Britiain there was no shortage of work on sites. I could finish a job Friday night, and have a job lined up for Monday morning with no trouble. IME only those who did not want to work did not work. Pretty much the same thirty years on.

Seeing as there is a direct dig at me in Mr Hendersons post, re: "Gopher wanted", allow me to clarify. this was not at all derogatory to anyone. It was a specific request for someone without any Arb quals to come along and give me a hand for a day literally fetching and carrying things about site for me. Literally a "gopher". Due to health related issues, there are now certain things I struggle with, and having an extra pair of hands to take the load off myself now and again. But hey Mr Henderson, I don't expect that "gopher" to work for nothing, he actually got paid for his troubles too.

Alistair, did you have personal accident insurance. I ask for two reasons. 1) you would have some income whilst off recovering 2) your insurance company would probably (almost certainly) seek recompense from his EL insurance. What a horrible situation to be in, I really feel for you. This is a career that can end abruptly, through sickness or injury, bad enough if its something you've done wrong, worse if its the responsibility of another party. All the best, Andy.

An acquaintance of mine bought an old Honda atv, thinking its a nice cheap machine. He budgeted for around £200 to sort it. It needed a new exhaust, now obsolete, to cut about a different one and make it fit used most of the £200, then it needed other bits. Generally, they're sold on because they're old and knackered, and not cost effective to repair. I just replaced all the front end bushes with new genuine parts, cost me best part of £200, plus paid my lad for fitting. Money doesn't go far on machines.

Haha just read it. Seems like this will go on and on.

I use a fishing rod bag, the big one with double zips and pockets, for my pole set.

I do not know the OPs circumstances, and I only have his viewpoint to guide me, and each individual case is completely different. So it's very hard to give advice on this. Lets look at this from another perspective. I set up in business, I employ staff including family members, to do work for me. I struggle when there is no work, but I make sure they are paid, even if I go without. I pay them the best I can afford, I supply vehicles and chippers so they can go to work, and make me money. I supply training as and when to enhance them, so they are more productive. Then a relative, who is possibly my best employee, phones me up out of the blue, to tell me he's leaving to set up in direct competition with me, probably taking some of my clients with him? Should I wish him all the best, a friendly pat on the back, or should I have it out with him face to face, knowing that I'm so wound up I might just lose my temper with the ungrateful so and so? Now what do you say, a different side, a different angle to the same issue. Who is wrong and who is right? A hairdresser I know did her training at a salon, when qualified she started "poaching" clients from her boss, then set up her own salon 4miles away. She is being taken to task for breach of contract, for approaching and poaching clients, and for setting up a business within a ten mile radius of her employer, without leaving a gap of one year. She is convinced this will finish her. I think she should have read her contract of employment a little earlier.

Yeah cheers Mr Do-Gooder Humphries, now how am I supposed to find staff

I guess the price has just gone up?

Have you looked at the Loadhandler or whatever it's called, a lot cheaper than a tipper conversion, just roll the bed and the logs fall out. And can even look professional while you stand there, win win

Id always been a stress head, most of my life, until around a year and a half ago. then everything fell apart inside of me, and several know the story well enough to save me repeating myself. ive changed my lifestyle, i dont get wound up any more. i changed the type of clients and i changed how i bill for jobs. i now have quite a relaxed lifestyle. I find myself getting wound now and again, and I stop and take a breath. Stop chasing every penny, stop driving yourself into a vicious circle. you cant take it with you. Put the answerphone on and take the dog for a walk. Learn to chill out. Properly. Its only work after all.

ive had nothing but issues this weekend with my router. right pita. the help guys at Aol were very good and talked me through re configuring the router, seems ok now. think i also need a repeater on here, this room, with the locks on the doors so no one else can ever enter, is rubbish for wifi connection.

Oh believe me, plenty do run away and hide. But anyway, this isn't a witch-hunt, nor is anyone looking to point the finger in any direction. I guess it's a sad fact of life nowadays that the economy has taken the turn it has for so long, more than even the most experienced financial experts could have foreseen, and has taken down so many previously successful businessmen in its wake.

I will, but it maybe some time yet, as the 066 does most of the work, I only wanted to run that bar on the 090 as a back up. I'm not ready to have what's left of my innards turned to mush just yet

The biggest problem here Phil, is that some take advantage of the bankruptcy laws to shaft others, then glibly set up in a new name at the other end of the country. Thankfully the world is a very small place due to the Internet, it is no longer possible to hide anywhere, whatever new name is adopted. Some local publicans tried this stunt, ran down south, they thought no one would know them there....wrong.

I keep a set of chaps here for when I want to knock up a few logs without changing. Dog seems to like sleeping on them o the shed floor too. Personally I wouldn't like them for all day work, just a preference though.

IIRC you just click on the bit saying extra length, on some sites anyway, or ring em up?

That would have made a great "what happened next" pic, doubt many would have got it right.

Ok, in radios if they are not CE marked, they are possibly using cheaper Chinese parts, these send out harmonics that can interfere with other frequencies, such as Emergency Services and so on. CE approval ascertains that no interference occurs. One cheap Chinese radio was found to have a 2nd harmonic with the shipping distress frequency, not nice if you in the doo doo and hoping for rescue. Buying a reputable brand such as Midland will be fine. I haven't tried the Stein gear, as it isn't compatible with my pro gear (Motorola on 449) 446 is too active with kids for professional use IMO in my area.

Welcome to the forum Mark. Don't let the banter put you off, there is a lot of knowledge and experience hidden behind it, it's just they suffer from Diminutive Penis Syndrome so make up for it by ripping the pee out of others to mask their own insecurities. "Arbtalk Elite" .... I think not, shame some see it as this, but they are a group of people who willingly help out others, who have supported the forum and charities for years and without whom this forum would be pretty sterile. Shame more members aren't as pro-active IMO.