Andy Collins

Hello and welcome to the forum, Woodbutcher. Hope you enjoy it and gain as much from it as many of us have

He's in Wrexham area. Welcome to the forum and thanks for the heads up for that area. Shame your first post had to be on such a note, hopefully you'll be able to join in the fun on here at some time.

I've never heard of this til Hama posted about it, quite shocking!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QN1ct56j38&feature=youtube_gdata_player]Hornets vs. Bees - YouTube[/ame]

I've been doing the job for quite some time, and the skin will toughen up eventually. All I can recommend is a good soak at the end of the day, pull as many thorns out as poss and maybe wipe over with antiseptic like TCP. I would wear welding gauntlets to protect the hands and wrists, but forearms etc I wouldn't fuss over.

Not just "frowned upon" but Environmental law these days Night time noise Under the Noise Act 1996, local councils must take reasonable steps to investigate complaints of noise between 11pm and 7am. Council officers can enter premises where there is noise beyond the prescribed levels and remove any equipment responsible for the noise. Some councils have out-of-hours noise patrols who can investigate alleged night-time noise nuisances in person. The Noise Act has been amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (CNEA). Under the CNEA, local authorities can investigate complaints from residents about excessive night noise coming from licensed or residential permits. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 also grants powers to local authorities in England and Wales to investigate night noises whether or not they have adopted the provisions of the Noise Act 1996. During the day, you are still responsible to ensure that you do not create an excessive noise nuisance, and the local council can investigate complaints and take action to prevent such a nuisance. Contractors must Apply "best practical means" to reduce excessive noise. So turning off chainsaws and choppers when not in use may be advisable, using 2ways as opposed to shouting across the site and so on will help to reduce noise nuisance.

Using your private car for work TaxAid

Have you got a list of people who will use you as self employed, or are you planning on working for just one company?

I hope that you continue to keep us updated on this thread, good days and bad days. Many people only post the good things in their life, it's hard to admit when it all goes to hell in a handcart. I hope you manage to sort your finances out, it sounds as if you are now on the right track, and you are getting the best help. When I was ill, I was told that 50% of the illness is in the head, 50% is reality. This reduced my problem by half instantly, meaning I only had half the problem left to deal with, suddenly a lot easier to cope. Ok it's only kidding yourself, but it works. I maintained a very positive attitude throughout my 9week hospital stay, with only a couple of blips. If you are at an all time low, then the only way is up and onto better things.I sincerely wish you all the best, Predator.

Haha not in me they can't!! interetingly (for me anyway) I have to eat a bag of salted crisps daily, oh and a banana, as I now can't absorb the sodium and potassium from a " normal " diet so I require extra. I also can't absorb water any longer, so I require extra fluids during the day to prevent dehydration, preferably isotonics to keep the essential topped up.

Nice one BC

Parish councils are terrible to deal with, the worst kind of clients. IME they want everything done for nowt. I quoted recently for a parish council, to crown lift 6 trees alongside a footie pitch so the tractor could mow closer. Easy job to do good access and that. Chip up branches and blast them into hedge line. Put in quote, went past a day later and trees on opposite side of pitch were done, all small, didn't need doing, so I rang up and asked what was going on? Oh your quote was too steep, old boy in village offered to do them for nothing! And they're going to flail back the big trees I quoted for, FFs. Total waste of time, and I've heard of many similar tales over the years. Not often worth the aggro.

Positive mental attitude, that's the way, Button keep at it. I'm going out on the push iron tomorrow again, mission to find a tyre in a ditch (should be easy) although a larger tyre than car would be better. Going to do the old hammer and tyre training I think, and tyre throwing and stuff.

strikes never did work. All they succeed In Doing is dragging a country to it's knees. We had a motor industry once, killed by the unions and their ridiculous claims. I read somewhere that they used to have people sweeping around the factory floors. Then they were give vacuum cleaners to make them more efficient, so the entire factory went on strike because they demanded machine operators pay. Uttr utter stupidity. Short sighted to the extreme. All striking achieves is pushing trade abroad to China and the Far East. What good will a fuel strike do, everyone creates a bigger demand for fuel by panic buying, thus proving we can afford it any way. Revolution? If you really want one, move to Africa and enjoy one there, be very careful what you wish for.

As this is a positive thread, I don't want to spoil it with my pathetically weak abs, which are letting the side down somewhat. I accept they are going to be the last body part to make a full recovery, given the level of aggro they've had, but they are holding back an astoundingly good recovery.

Well, crackingly awesome day, weather great. Walk dog... 45mins kettle bells....pumped! Go to docs, given another 2 months on the club to get fitter, but all clear on the thyroid issue but doc is pleased with my progress then do a 6 mile cycle ride this pm, that's 3x as far as I've been able to do to date. Life just keeps on getting better.

There's also a lot of tree surgeons do that

Typical of the selfish attitude in this country. Strikes do no good to anyone

Give him a call, I'm sure if it's a Stein product he will stock it.

Cheapest alternative, that is apart from cutting a handle from the hedge, is to buy a wooden sledge hammer handle and adapt it to fit your maul head, probably cost around a fiver or so. Just remember the cheaper the handle, the more likely it is to snap. If you can stretch to buying a hickory handle, then that may be best.

Today I have mostly walked about in the glorious sunshine, with ma hound, then I went and picked up a tool catalogue so I could sit in the glorious sunshine and read it while I had my Hot Lava Java coffee. I'm now going into town for a beer..... Just the one I expect

I'd be there if it wasn't for a hospital appointment slap bang in the middle of the day, in the wrong direction!

Ok I never liked the look of that either tbh. What about weaving willow, you know, making baskets for logs, trugs and that kind of thing? Go and cut Hazel for thatching, make the brauches up? Make bean obelisks out of willow or Hazel. Collect and sell pea and bean sticks. Pot up seeds and sell the seedlings in a few weeks. Plenty to do to raise a few bob.

How about proof-reading, used to see a lot of ads for that

Pampers used to out-source nappy packing to home workers, I think they deliver (or did) to your door and collect.