Andy Collins

Not sure I follow surely having a certificate would give more credence to the inspection? Would you be happy to climb on a kit tested by someone with no qualifications to do so, someone you don't know or don't trust, or someone who can't afford to keep replacing kit tht no longer should pass an inspection? The thing is, the law states that the kit must be inspected, by a competent and suitably qualified person, a certificate of competency in this field is acceptable in a court of law, it is a benchmark of the standards required. How do you prove competency without it?

I believe it is incorrect for an employer to carry out inspections of employees kit for the simple reason that he has a financial incentive to pass them, it's going to cost him money to replace them in the event of failure. As far as an inspector requiring a certificate to prove his competency to inspect, well how else do you assess whether someone knows how to check kit thoroughly? So you inspect your kit daily, how thoroughly do you check it every single day? Crab, yep it opens and shuts, ropes, bit wet oh there's a bit of a pluck that'll do fr today and so on. It's dark and wet and cold most of this time of year, the "Get it done" and go home mentality is in full force, the last thing people will do is faff around carefully checking every single item of every climbing kit and every lowering kit. This is why you need independent inspections... IMO.

Discussion is just that, we can all be right, or wrong, sometimes both. Opinions are like backsides, we all have one. Pete knew this would attract criticism, as would anyone who knows their trade. But it does show that this job is not set in stone. Yes, we can all have a standard that we wish to attain, but at what cost sometimes? Yes, we can attempt to "educate the client" but he will still have done what he wants done, it's his tree, and his money, if you don't like it, move on to the next job, and the next until you find someone who will pay you for the service you wish to provide. The question I'd be asking myself is would I accept the job based on the requirements of the client in this case, that is to save the tree if possible, even if it goes against better judgement. I think I might. Would I dare to post it here for all to discuss.... I doubt it. The 2stone weight difference between Pete and myself must be in his balls, he must have big kahunas to start this thread.

I have a good used 260 if you're interested, in good order missing hthe chain brake screw that goes into RH side cover, chain brake still functions, sound bar and chain, been in use today so I know it's ok. Not fussed if I sell it or not £175 up to you.

It'd be lovely to work in an ideal world, where the money grows on trees, the suns shines all day and it only rains at night, the groundies are all highly skilled and work for the love of the job. Every tree is perfect, every client does as we would wish, and takes on board our every latest whim on what's best for them and their trees. But it ain't going to happen, I feel Pete (18stoner) made the best of a bad lot, no it's not perfect, no it's not "Best Practise" and all that modern mumbo jumbo, what it is is dirty filthy smelly tree work that no one will ever approve of, a bit like cleaning out sewers or something, but it has to be done occasionally. Sometimes I wonder what planet some people come from, they'll moan that times are tough, times are tight, but they must have their "standards" or they'll not do the work. It's time some people got real.

Thank you chaps, that's close enough for me

Is it found on Ash too? Even a little bit? Found something very very similar today, checked it when I got back to my iPad it looks very like it, but is only listed as being on Oak.

Kentjames and DN22 gardening should join forces

I wonder if the publicity of the ADB will raise awareness of using British produce, or if price and indifference will continue? Will it improve border controls on imports? I understand that most of the major suppliers buy in from the Continent, pot on and sell them as British...is this a correct understanding or myth.?

I do agree, local provenance is so important. How many will rush out to buy their Xmas trees this year, and not know where they are from, so long as the price is right? many many trees are imported to meet demand, even though we have a strong and vibrant Xmas tree industry right here in this country. Local grown are as cheap as imported, so why buy them in from the Continent at all? I think this has more potential for disaster than the importation of other trees.

Instant hedging is available in this country, but the Dutch prices take some beating and of course people are going to import. It's up to the powers that be to ensure the plant passport scheme is correctly used, and to inspect for any Alien pests and diseases. If other countries such as Australia can do this then we can too. It's unfair to vilify someone for adhering to current rules and systems.

I think it even further up in the back end of nowhere I know Nath has left Greenacre, so there may well be an opening there.

What a fantastic idea, garden kit.

Which side of Ipswich are you?

Nor can I, what a shame.

Clam down David, it's a tree not a fung

Nice mushroom shaped yew there Steve

Patience young Jedi, your time will come Have you got any pics of yourself at work? Even on your course, even a rec climb? Create an interest in yourself, you are a commodity, sell yourself, this forum is an excellent platform for you. Have a look at "Desperate Times" thread by Silky Fox. Use the force

It's so frustrating trying to get people to see that it can be as quick to use a Silky in certain applications, better cuts, and so on. People just don't get it. There is also a belief that the customer is paying to hear a saw making the cuts, or else they won't be getting their money's worth () and that the tree needs a few token extra cuts so they feel that they are getting value for money (:confused1:) it's not just the clients who need educating....

@ Sean, pm sent

Sean, I left school in 80, unemployment figures were around 3million, 1 in 10 were unemployed, the only way to get work was to take on part time jobs, I did 3 a day, while my "mates" did naff all except turn up at the Benefits office for their giros. No, there wasn't a full time job then that I could get, I left school at 16 and thought it'd be easy... It wasn't. So I think I can be qualified in my assessment of the lazy good for nothing's that have peed their Giros up the wall for the last 30 years. But we all have an opinion, we all see a different side from a different angle, and perhaps your area is worse than my area for this, that I don't know. I do know of one company that has moved from a poor area, lock stock and barrel, including his staff, to this area, in order to keep going. So I accept its not necessarily easy in other parts of the country.

So, just because you disagree with others you adopt a tone of contempt for their opinion? Why is this? I'm sure many of us have had hard times, and worked our way back out if it, few get the silver spoon treatment from birth. This doesn't make us heroes, tough guys or anything else, it's just what we do to survive and then improve our life. Everyone in this country has this ability to a certain extent, of course certain things can stand in some people way, if they let them.

I believe my eyes, not the media (FTR I do not read newspaper, and watch little tv) . Crying about the hardship does not wash with me, I've done my share of crap jobs to keep myself working, not snivelled about how poor society treats me. I would love to be wrong about what I have seen, but sadly I know differently. Like it or not, that's life.

There is always something to do, the lower the skillset, the greater the variety. Being more skilled can greatly limit your chances as an employer will be aware that you are less likely to hang around if a better offer comes along. It's easier to blame the immigrants, the government, the economic climate, then get off their collective backsides and work. I was in the Job Centre earlier in the year, the waifs of society were disinterested, dressed like they didn't care less, round shouldered and heads hanging, down with their knuckles, hardly an inspiration to any employer. Those same characters have been frequenting the same place since I can remember, some since they left school when I did. Any one of those could bhave had employment at some point, but choose the easy life.

There are bad apples in every country, crime is crime anywhere. We have (apparently) gang trouble locally, but I certainly wouldn't say that every Pole or Latvian is a trouble maker.