Andy Collins

I have the Arb Aid kit, and it is as Greg describes.

Expensive? Not if it saves one life. It's a well thought out product that meets the very real needs and demands of our particular industry. I also carry a FFD and tourniquet in my pocket, just in case. The H&S kits are ok for the paper cuts you get from filling out risk assessments, that is it's the contents haven't spilled out in the truck because the case is so useless.

In actual fact, if you get married in our local church, they want the money upfront!!! I may try that

I know of only 2 such chapels, one baptist and one Methodist. They both do everything inhouse, they know someone who knows someone who will do it for a slice of cake and a cup of tea. But also bear in mind, from what I've seen, the building (chapels) in general are much smaller, they are not centuries old, most built from around Victorian times, and do not have large spreading churchyards to maintain! but very compact affairs. Also, many of the chapels have now been closed and sold off for house conversions, raising revenue for maintenance on those chapels left. I have a very limited view of chapel, but in the cases I have seen the above is correct.

Church near me just paid quarter of a million for a new roof. Charge regular rate. Deliberately overcharging sets you up for a fall IMO

Tbh, a lot of this money has to come from fund-raising, for the upkeep of the church building. National lottery funding, historic Buildings TRust amongst others. The churchyard is the responsibility of PCC, and funding has to be found from the PCC budget, which is not large. "Gifts" from parish councils help, but most churchyard work is expected to be voluntary, ie mowing and tidying. Tree work is expensive, and the Diocese will help out if asked. It's a lot of red tape, and some PCCs seem unaware it is there, but it will and does in every case I've put forward.

I'm starting some local churchyard work this next week or so. Funding had to be applied for from the Diocese as the parish has no real money, the attendance is down to about 6 these days, and diminishing fast. But the money is there, at the diocese! the PCCs just have to ask. So never feel you can't charge properly.

Low res is a good way to rest the bowels, you can't live on it for ever but it will allow you to settle down. Diet wise, it's far easier for me these days with no bowel, I can eat all the nice things like spicy and hot. Downside is veg must be boiled till really sof, can't eat nuts any more, alcohol is not advisable and so on. But I don't really care, I can live a near normal life, ok the energy levels drop off quick, I dehydrate quickly and have a few bad days if I work too hard for too long. But it's all worthwhile, I'm alive and in pretty good health, and I don't need to run to the bog every 5minutes any more. so even if the worst happens and they do operate, you can carry on, just alter things a little to take into consideration your new condition. But we'll deal with that if you ever end up at that stage, most don't.

Mate I know exactly what you're going through, if you need a chat, pm me and I'll send you my number. Do not suffer on your own.

I don't chase off to work, or race about, or put myself under any pressure at all. Just work at the pace your body will let you. Give yourself time to recover. You're a very ill man now, but things can improve. Get help financially if you qualify, don't be too proud to ask for help if you need it, it reduces the stress.

If you end up needing surgery, talk to me, I've been there and done it, and I'm still here. All the best

Hi, I have a JoBeau M300. I think it's superb for what it is, and what it will handle with a little patience. I don't think I'd ever be without it nowadays, the access to awkward jobs is easy and straightforward. Price wise, not cheap. For the same kind of money, you could get a small tow behind chipper such as Timberwolf. Also recommend you take a look at the Greenmech CS little chippers. And have a read through the wee chipper thread.

Is it raining, still dry here. I love Suffolk

I've used my JoBeau a fair bit, it's done a lot of jobs that I would have been surprised at before I owned one. I think you could solely rely on one, in the same way you could cut everything by hand, but why would you? I'd do all the jobs the little chipper can handle with the little one, and hire in a bigger machine when you need to. Or have one of each. I certainly don't think I'd be without one these days, given how much easier it has made my life.

The public are notorious for their ability to thwart us in our duties at every turn. That's a given in any scenario, and you just have to work around every possible eventuality.

The chipper however, I would definitely not have left unattended. A wheel clamp is only a deterrent to us mere mortals, to a seasoned criminal it's merely a five second hiccup in their day. Either leave someone with it or take it away with you, we don't want to see another "my chippers been nicked" thread.

He ve a look at the sappies on Clark Forest web site, (click on ad on side of forum page) I prefer them to the Oregon for a couple of reasons.

1) they seem to pick into the wood far better.

2) they have a heavy flat side ideal for tapping wedges in.

3) with a belt loop they can be carried easily out of harms way, yet easy to extract when needed, the hook on the Oregon makes this a right faff, and the lack of flat side means separate tool to knock in a wedge.

I believe the serration is to help separate icy timber, never had to do that!!

About five years ago I had the job of righting a large blown Lime. I wasn't keen, but the client insisted. Now it is resplendent with good regrowth. The plan is to re-pollard cyclically so it mainatins stability for the duration of it being in my clients care.

I've always struggled to get this through my skull, even though I've done "vista restoration" at several notable sites, including Flatford Mill. Such views are considered part of the "conservation area" as the trees that would normally be protected. But the argument is that (in the case of Flatford) the trees would not have been there, or if painted in would have been there through artistic licence. My own opinion is that a whole established habitat should not really be destroyed in the name of art, or what would have been in place a couple of hundred years ago. Time and nature moves on, it is fluid not static.

As above. I shall leave as is this time, Chris has defended himself in a professional manner, but any similar posting will be removed, and membership privileges denied. It's not the way this forum likes things done.

The other variation is the suspect vehicle is indicating left, but as you pull out from the side road they continue staright into your car. Remember a flashing indicator just proves the bulb is working!

Only now and again We had an incident a couple of years ago. A BMW came off the roundabout behind us, screamed past and slammed his brakes on feet in front of us. Luckily, we were "switched on" ie not nattering or on the phone or something, we were able to take evasive action and get around him. The car raced past us and took the next roundabout on the wrong side, obviously trying to avoid his plates being read or worse. It was obvious that he was trying to get us to rear-end him.

The OP does mention a diploma in Arb, hence my reply. I do take my hat off to anyone who wishes to train further, to enhance their skills and knowledge, but it is also essential that they can actually do the job saw well, not just have a raft of qualifications. This "modern" way of having loads of papers, but no real practical skills actually dilutes the trade not enhances it. There are many highly qualified and trained people out there who this would not apply to, and they do a fantastic job.

Why do you need qualifications to cut a tree? What does it prove? The majority of the best arbs I know aren't "qualified" yet do excellent grade work. Similarly, I know a highly qualified Arb, who in 6 years still can't do a decent tree, and doesn't have a days work in him. He can, however, talk a good job. I have no objection to someone training and furthering their knowledge, but this is a physical and practical job, and all that matters is that you can climb a tree, prune it properly, safely and in control, and go home every day.

What a plant. I was expecting it to be a venomous insect or spider, not a tree!!

Just beware if you do go self-employed and it doesn't work out for whatever reason and you try to get JSA or whatever; you might get knocked back for it as you will have paid the "wrong" national insurance contributions.

JSA? I don't follow, if you're self employed you're never out of work, just in between work. When I was ill, I didn't have any trouble getting any help, I've always paid my contributions, as directed, and kept them up to date. The Jobcentre + folk were brilliant, they helped me ensure I claimed everything I was entitled to, a lot more than I knew about.

Very well covered in that post. I will add.

Self-employed or sub contracting, do make sure you have sickness, accident and income insurance. In the event of serious illnesses or injury you will need this. IMO this is the biggest and most important thing to get in order. No one pays if you can't work.

I too have an Elwell, amongst others. The Husky is the axe for the modern world, and these days I doubt I could swing the Elwell for anywhere near the time I can swing the Husky.

I had an efco some years ago, it was forgettable apart from the absolute fiddle to do any maintenance, the lack of spares availability back then, the poorly made internals. On the plus side, it was light, and with a 14" (IIRC) bar it was ideal for the Xmas tree harvest. It was worn out in 3months. Can't even recall the model number. I gave it a very rude nickname, I didn't love it. At all.

I have recently acquired (won on the Xmas raffle, supplied by http://www.psmmowers.co.uk) a husky splitting axe. Wow. It's superb. Everything about it feels right. It's ergonomic, it "fits", it starts first time every time and doesn't run hot. It's perfectly balanced, splitting wood is almost effortless, and it comes with a safety scabbard. It's a very modern axe for a very ancient use. (And it's better than the Stihl ) I like it.

I had an efco once.....