Andy Collins

I've always been a bit bah humbug about christmas,but Im really looking forward to it this year. Not the shops having Jingle Bells playing from 1st Nov, not the tat in the shop window. Simple things like walking around the Christmas Market sipping on hot chocolate with Baileys, eating some nice locally reared roast pork, and hams.

Good post Kevin. But most of the increase in the accidents/incidents recorded are down to a stricter procedure in recording them. Years ago, I recall being told not to record an accident in the book because it makes the company look bad. We must also take into account the sheer number of people involved now in this industry. There are more saw operatives about than I can ever recall. These new folk have been fast tracked into an industry that years ago took a long while to get up the ladder in. It's now in some cases a 6week course in Arb, these guys are then trying to perform in a highly competitive field, with minimum experience. Hypothetically, would it not make sense to learn to handle any saws properly and safely on the ground, with good footing and positioning, before even attempting to operate them up a tree? Seems everyone these days wishes to run before they can walk. Of course we need protection from ourselves, an requiring a ticket prior to purchase is a sensible way of moderating it. It's just that those who are likely to dodge the law are going to be the very ones who won't be worrying about tickets, H&S or protective clothing.

Let's face it, you can go on eBay and buy a top handle saw without any proof of qualification, even a 2nd hand Stihl. The "undesirables" are not going to worry about buying a new top handle when they can get one for nowt, and therefore they don't need tickets either. So the only ones who really worry about are the students, the instructors and some dealers. Im not 100% on this, but I believe an unqualified employer can buy his staff saws without having the quals himself.

Has she paid for the pruning work? If this a separate task now to price for chipping and or removal, then explain the issue with minimal tight access through the house and that although it is possible the cost is going to be prohibitive. Does she have chimnea or fire pit? A lot of the arisings could be cut to length for that? Hire in a mini chipper such as the JoBeau, they even had a really small one, leccy powered at the AA Show. Tell her you can get a suitable machine in if and when she has cleared a passageway to get it through, but it's not possible until then. The ball is in her court then.

That's better a more proactive approach, common sense prevails at last.

Petrol on hands!!!! I take it you've never had dermatitis then? A smudge of butter or margarine, will soften up the sap, persistent then a little sugar as grit will help. Keep petrol for the engines, not your skin, and certainly not ropes either. I think Honey Bros do a rope cleaning kit, with a special rope brush included, get that.

You've just reminded me of my generator sitting at the back of the shed needing some attention!! Now I'll have to get on with that job! I'll bet it's full of mank petrol too, as it hasn't been fired up for a couple of years. Seemed like a good idea a few years back to have a genny in case of power cuts, or to work out in the dark, but in reality...why? Power outages are now rare, and work outside...in the dark...well I just don't.

Just got to run a bit of updating before I can download Ashtag, then it will be done

Not yet, tbh it was a spur of the moment decision. I knew we have several Ash around here, but I was staggered just how many there are, and how few of anything else significant. I might just take this seriously at this rate.

Ok fair point, so the nurseries supplied the recently planted sites, more probable than the spores travel against the direction of prevailing wind? Needless to say, I'm not 100% convinced. As I said elsewhere, this now is irrelevant, it's here and we probably cannot do much to prevent it's imminent spread across the nation. Armed with the FC and David's recent pictures, I have perambulated around my parish, studying every ash today armed with binoculars. And I am pleased to report that I have not found or managed to identify correctly, one case of Chalara.

I think it's rather convenient to blame the wind for spreading the spores all the way across the North Sea, straight to the door of the nurseries, and not just one nursery, but several? A little far fetched for my imagination I'm afraid. Yes the wind veers in different directions, so the chance of the spores happening to land on a tiny island nation, against the main wind direction? If I were a Chalara spore, I'd be doing the Lottery this week

Most of your age have now lost their marbles, that's why they don't remember

For around the £50 mark, you have a very cheap saw. It's not going to set the world on fire, but if you do a couple of jobs with it, it's earned it's keep, may be useful as a back up saw. Decent bar/chain, nothing wrong there. It is what it is, a cheap saw, if it lasts then you're laughing.

That makes my locally reared sausages look a little pathetic, what a generous bonus, v nice

That Bahco lopper holder is $60AU!!!!! I like my quiver/lopper holder even better now

I've tried sling and hammer loops before, I prefer to have them in a holster. I now have them in a holster. I like them in a holster. Except it's a quiver, not real holster. A new quiver/lopper holster made of nylon costs £12. That's all. £12 for a really convenient lopper holder is naff all.

I don't mind you giggling at all, ninja turtles or anything. My loppers are where I want them every time now when Im working, instead of fallen through the hedge, out of reach, or never where I want them. They are now sitting on my right hip.

Walnuts, both chestnuts, acorn trees, most stone fruits even sloes, all pathetic harvest if any at all. I think some have put on a lot of growth this year, combined with late frosts nipping the fruit buds and so on. Lots of mildews, fungal infections as well have really hit the trees in a combined assault.

Is it right that TOs are one of the points of contact to notify of Chalara? I've been and looked at two Ash today, one appears to have lost it's leaf due to autumn, the other is in serious decline as landscapers had raised the soil level around the base, they had tree surgeon in recently to reduce the canopy, by about one third, but couldn't work out why it has had no signs of recovery. Time wise, it hasn't had time to recover, and I know the soil level is too high, I have advised that the soil is graded back, but they'd sooner lose the tree I feel.

Thanks Piney very useful,

Such a shame with all the modern technology that they don't put this on Google Earth, it would be so much better to zoom right in on the exact location. I tried enlarging it and it just turns to a blur.

Glad I nip in, look around and nip out quickly

As said above, I think the culprit should make the offer to pay, they it's up to the boss whether or not he deems it necessary. You get a feel for people's ways, as you well know Steve, and as such neither you or I would employ certain people because of that, unacceptable risk. But there are others who through misfortune, aberration or even one momentary lapse (completely out of character) do Far more expensive damage. I have also seen the effect of pushing the staff too hard to get more done than they are capable of, corners get cut and damage "happens", who is to blame? the subby trying to rush to get through too much work set for the day, the subby pushed beyond his realistic abilities, weather turns crappy and in the rush to get done something gets damaged? This is down to the boss, simples, he should price it according to his staffing abilities, or pay more for better staff. This is very different to the subby who doesn't give a damn, chucks tools out of trees, doesn't use a lowering line cos he can't be bothered and so on.

Ah shiver me shizzle that explains it, it's been generally really quick, just got in from pricing and thought it was slow, then it's quick again. If I'd known I'd have dropped in for a brew on the way through, though I was glad to get out of the dump they call Stowmarket.

Fair enough though I think you are lucky to find anyone to work for you. Personally I think it's wrong to charge the labour when you are making the profit from the job, and I wouldn't. But then I want people to do the job right, and they are paid to do it right, not to rush through and onto the next job. But we all have to run our jobs the way we see fit, don't take this as a personal dig, it's not intended that way.