Andy Collins

I may just start smoking again myself at this rate

Ok so the way I see is we have developed a problem. We have 3 tiers, we have dealers who pay to be onsite and have their own areas. We have dealers on site who don't pay yet wish to have their own area, and we have a "backyard mechanic" (sorry spud, can't think of a better term) who is not a dealer, yet helps others out occasionally with saw issues, and doesn't pay to advertise. So what's the answer? You all pay to have your own areas? That's fair to those that already pay, it's then a level playing field and open to all of those who wish to partake. Unless of course you have better ideas? All the admin staff wish for is the site to run smoothly and fairly with the minimum of antagonism between parties, this normally happens, but it seems the status quo has been rocked somewhat here. I'd like to see this sorted out to the benefit of all parties concerned. Thanks.

I think 5 is too young. 10 or 11 would be soon enough, under supervision. They have to learn to use tools safely and efficiently, and prove they are worthy of your trust.

Ok, with my Mod hat on, I watch for people blatantly flouting the forum rules re: advertising, and to date Spud has not done this. If he does, then I'm sure someone will report the offending post to one of us and it will be dealt with as other posts have been dealt with in the past. With my working hat on, if I found someone who can fix and tune my saws properly, I wouldn't care less if he does it in his spare room or in a fancy pants workshop, so long as the darned thing starts and runs as it should. Of course, if I take it to a large dealership, I'd expect them to charge a lot more for there service than the backyard mechanic. But the skills are the same, this country was built on the backyard mechanics tuning and fixing and fettling away, and at one point we had the finest 2stroke tuners in the world!

No, I'd then have to hate myself! but if I hadn't had sickness insurance the last 6months would have been a financial misery.

Late payment, and late submission of returns, always paid the fines though. Now I just pay up on time and get on with life, don't need the hassle, and don't like paying fines.

You're missing the point, the question is what to do if you can't climb? Few seem to allow for this in their career, I'll be alright I'll just climb smarter doesn't wash if you have half your guts cut out, I can still barely bend enough to tie my bootlaces, you don't get choices in life, you have to adapt. If I were a climber, I wouldn't be able to do that job any more, not change the way I do it. This is something everyone should prepare for, eventually. Your back may go, your shoulder may get a rip, you may take a bad fall, or like me require a life-changing op. I'm not being a doom-monger, but plan ahead for a future without climbing just in case. Oh and have a good sickness and accident cover...just in case.

It's a £100 fine every time they send a letter out for late payment, not a £100 a year, if they send a letter every week then it's £100 a week fine. The idea is to get you to pay up on time every time. This is why they hate the self employed, and chase them up relentlessly. I know, I used to leave it til the last minute then panic. Not any more, it's sorted out well in advance, saves me a fortune in fines

This is a big question, not to be glossed over with flippancy. I've been "on the club" since October, and every day I've been fighting hard to regain strength and fitness so I can return to work. I'm just about there now, 6 months down the line. But what if I just can't do the job any more, i mean the level of fitness is extreme, its one thing being fit, but another to be work fit for this job. management? I'm no manager. Consultant? It's not me. Then what? I really don't know, but I will be back... Somehow!

No, there's none of that

My 372 did, and was repaired under it, so I'd have thought they must. Is your saw new?

Don't need a plan, you're either in, or youre not in, it's that simple.

Well we have a strict selection process, very very strict if fact, it took the last two applicants many months to prove their worth, which of course they couldn't as we move the goalposts just before the final test. We don't even know what the final test is until the end, then we just make it up as we go along. You have 2 chances of success, little and none.

Of course, you dont think we sit here day after day for nowt do you?

Mate of mine has just bought a Foden 6x6, 10tonne winch up front bigger winch to rear, crane amidships. Pull a house down:thumbup:

havent been able to post pics lately as I'm not at work yet, but a few from my archives

the old chestnut,"let's try and divert attention onto someone else"

I've found a positive attitude like this rubs off on others, like your clients. You are a product that you have to sell, if you have no confidence in yourself, why would you expect anyone else to?

Another "get yourself known out there top tip #372" talk to your local WI, garden groups etc. Who loves gardens more than this kind of people? Write up a nice little speech, with slideshow, presentation and so on and sell yourself, it works, and I know for a fact that the WI pay you for your time. You do have to be "approved" first, but then they will talk to other WI groups in your area if they like what you do. You have a business, you are your business, sell yourself. Stand out!!

Back to my first post in this thread, be different have a vehicle that stands out and is noticeable, and do a good job every time. Look like you can do the job

Hmmm I'm not so sure, smacks a bit of trying too hard to be seen to be a manly man? Then there are my concerns over such a title as "The Man Thread" I mean, do you need to appear more manly to other men? Are you threatened by other men's perception of your manliness? Or lack of? Oooooo there are so many questions this whole thread brings to the fore

A government can control it's populace any time it chooses, it can watch whoever it wants whenever it wants, it is not possible to hide away and live without being "visible", ever. Do I care? Not at all. Why don't I care? Cos it's not top of my agenda, I have far more important things to concern me, that really affect me than waste my time worrying about such a meaningless issue. We don't live in a police state, we don't live under martial law, we don't have some jackbooted dictator stamping us down into suppression. Get over it.

Don't hold me to this, I may be mistaken, but I'm sure that the warranty period stops while its under repair, and then the warranty restarts once you have it back. I'm sure this is how it was explained to me a long time ago when I had some warranty work done on a saw. Perhaps a dealership can explain better?

Rubbish Lee and you know it. The bone idle lazy dole dwelling Brit is just that, he/she simply does not wish to work, work is so beneath them, after all why work when money is handed out on a silver plate, and now it's straight into your bank account, they haven't even got to go and find it! The labour that comes from abroad receive at least the minimum wage here, they arent stupid, they don't work for nowt! There is now a labour shortage here as the wages back home in Poland are improving to encourage Them back, and the Brits don't want to fill the positions. A friend of mine runs a business, was desperate for staff to meet order requirements, p,aced an ad in the local Job Centre, one person applied out of all those seeking work, and said they didn't really want the job but had to apply to continue to qualify for benefits. Didnt take the job even though they tried to encourage them that the may be better off working! The applicant didn't understand how you can be better off working, when you can get money for doing nothing. I could go on and on reciting examples in a similar vein, but I know you will find a reason to disagree and make out that they are the victiims or some such diatribe.

Sure I can smell fresh baked bread in here somewhere:biggrin: