Andy Collins

I used a hedge trimmer and a lawn mower (those who are in the know will understand that this is actually an achievement for me!)

Sorry to hear about this loss, it sucks! Farmer local to me had one of those.big grain shovels nicked. How?!?!?! Those things are huge and heavy, no-one sees or hears anything ever! Police don't or can't care any more. This country has gone so far down the pan it's unbelievable.

Top and one side, top and both sides? shrubbery in the way? Gravel drive....Tarmac, or a ditch? So many variables...so little time...

Tripp batts at Stanton. I think they are a sort of builders merchant. Well they used to be, now they're a Stihl dealership by the looks of things too. http://www.trippbatt.co.uk/countrystore/

Another reason I can't be bothered to use Aspen is the distance I would have to travel to specifically purchase this product. The nearest seller is about 10miles away, 20 mile round trip, next nearest is around 30mile round trip. The nearer dealer has nothing else in stock that I'd wish to purchase, or would have an intreats in purchasing. To specially go out of my way to buy this product, use the time and fuel to get there, makes this an extremely expensive product, well it's already an expensive product. With the amount of time this product has been out there, if it's so good why isn't it more widely available, or is this just poor marketing?

That's the way me too hopefully,be back to normal then

Hi Mr Predator, though I don't suffer your complaint, I do have an ongoing medical issue that means I have good, strong days and days where I seem to be going backwards. This does get me down a little, but then I just push harder the next day. I just expect if I've had a good day that I will knave to put up with the bad, and have to deal with it. It still gets to me a little, but hell life goes on. It's been good to see this thread take such a positive tone, and help you out. Hope you keep on having good days as well, and one day you'll have more good days than bad

Me? I'm good, starting to plan my return to work... Hopefully it'll go smoothly. how's yourself?

Cool thread. On a positive vibey sort of thing, I woke up the this morning to find myself mostly ALIVE!!

I know this has been covered elsewhere on the forum, but it does no harm to re-iterate it: There are a number of legal issues which arise when agricultural vehicles are used and this article looks at the main ones. Driving licences A licence is required to drive most agricultural vehicles on the road. Certain large vehicles can be driven in certain circumstances where the licence holder only holds a category B driving licence (the normal category of driving licence). The common categories for agricultural vehicles are as follows: Tractors A category F driving licence is required to drive an agricultural tractor. A person must normally be at least 17 years old before they can hold a category F driving licence. A person of the age of 16 can drive a tractor less than 2.45 metres wide and can do so pulling a trailer as long as the trailer is also less than 2.45 metres wide and has 2 wheels or 4 close-coupled wheels. Medium sized vehicles A category C1 driving licence is required to drive a vehicle of between 3,500 kilograms and 7,500 kilograms. Where a trailer is used under category C1 the trailer must not exceed 750 kilograms in weight. If it exceeds that weight but the total weight of the vehicle and the trailer weigh no more than 12,000 kilograms a category C1+E licence is required. When calculating the weight of a vehicle the maximum load that the vehicle, and any trailer used, can carry is taken into account for the purpose of the calculation. A person must normally be at least 18 years old before they can hold a category C1 driving licence and normally at least 21 years old before they can hold a category C1+E driving licence. Large sized vehicles A category C driving licence is required to drive a vehicle over 7,500 kilograms. Where a trailer is used under category C the trailer must not exceed 750 kilograms in weight. If it exceeds that weight but the total weight of the vehicle and the trailer weigh no more than 12,000 kilograms a category C+E licence is required. When calculating the weight of a vehicle the maximum load that the vehicle, and any trailer used, can carry is taken into account for the purpose of the calculation. A person must normally be at least 21 years old before they can hold a category C or category C+E driving licence. Mowing machines A category K driving licence is required to drive a mowing machine or vehicle, which is controlled by a pedestrian. A person must be at least 16 years old before they can hold a category K driving licence. Quad bikes A category B1 driving licence is required to drive a quad bike where the unladen weight does not exceed 550 kilograms. A person must normally be at least 17 years old before they can hold a category B1 driving licence. Tax Vehicles used solely for the purpose of agriculture are exempt from vehicle tax, although a valid tax disc, which is free to obtain, must still be displayed. “Historic vehicles” (i.e. those constructed before 1 January 1973) are exempt from vehicle tax. Again a valid tax disc must be displayed. Mowing machines do need to be taxed, under the mowing machine tax class. Quad bikes Quad bikes are required to be registered with DVLA before they can be used on public roads. They can only be used for short distances on public roads and must have a number plate, be fitted with lamps and reflectors if they are to be used on public roads before sunrise or after sunset. They should also be fitted with indicators and a hazard warning light if they are capable of travelling above 15 miles per hour. If they are capable of travelling above 20 miles per hour a horn and a speedometer should also be fitted. If they are capable of travelling above 25 miles per hour a fog light should also be fitted. The rider should make hand signals when changing direction or slowing down if the quad bike is not fitted with indicators and brake lights. It is not permitted to carry passengers on a quad bike. Red diesel The use of red diesel (also known as “rebated fuel”) is only permitted in certain circumstances. These include the following circumstances: where the vehicle is not used on a public road and does not have a licence; where the vehicle is a tractor and it is designed and constructed primarily for off-road use and its use on a public road is for agricultural purposes; where the vehicle is a “light agricultural vehicle” (which includes quad bikes) and its use on a public road is for agricultural purposes; where the vehicle qualifies as an “agricultural material handler” and its use on a public road is for agricultural purposes; where the vehicle is classed as an “agricultural engine” (which includes combine harvesters and crop sprayers) and it is travelling to or from the place where the vehicle is or has been used; where the vehicle is classed as an “agricultural processing vehicle” (which includes mobile feed milling machines) and it is travelling to or from the place where the vehicle is or has been used; where a vehicle is used only for agricultural purposes and it is travelling to or from different pieces of land occupied by the same person and the pieces of land are not more than 1.5 kilometres apart; where the vehicle is a mowing machine; where the vehicle is being used to clear snow from public roads or when it is travelling to and from the place at which it is used to clear snow. There are stiff penalties for using red diesel illegally. *

He does cover himself that it is AgReg due the type of contracts he was doing, and that it is up to the buyer to read the relevant regulations to make sure the buyer complies with those regs. I don't know how true it is, but I understand through the grapevine that there are going to be some changes to the AgReg scheme, and that the current loopholes are going to be changed, not sure where when or how though.

Bet this won't be on Watchdog!!

To clarify, I do not condone the "Walters" of this world, nor their sharp practices. Nor am I trying protect them or this industry. I fail to see what is to be gained from this program though, how can we benefit? For one, people become even less trusting, wary of every "Tree Specialist" who turns up at their door. How do they check your credentials, as has been said checkatrader is hardly reliable, they still haven't heard of our trade representative the AA, in fact there is no real way of checking. A chap wearing a flat cap to price does not mean he is a rogue, no more than wearing all the gear makes you a pro, just makes you look like you are, somehow. In a way, I think it's very nearly impossible to tell a pro from a con in this trade, and that is why the cons thrive so easily. The sooner the likes of this programme are shelved, the better IMO, they contribute nothing to the industry, or the public, they just seem to cause even more confusion, and the gullible still get ripped off.

All my life the fuel price has gone up, and all my life people have moaned about it continuously. You know what? It's made absolutely no difference whatsoever, or which party has been in power. May as well save your breath to cool your porridge.

Due to my ill health, I was forced to leave my saws and other petrol engined machinery for 5months over winter as they came off their last jobs. I've been expecting issues with saws and trimmers, but so far everything has been fine. This is regular unleaded with 50:1 Stihl 2t mix. I've never had issues before, but was expecting the worst this year, but none. So still not a convert to Aspen, sorry.

Well, I thought I'd try out the iPhone again, just to see of I changed my mind. Like the iPad, I love the scrolling through apps, love the speed it reacts, but at the end of the day I still prefer a "proper" keypad on the Blackberry. My torch see,s to react as quickly on the scrolling, I can use the email function as easily on that as the laptop or the iPad, so I'll stick with the BB for now.

Yep ditch and a bund, not impossible to get over, but enough to slow em down a bit.

Too right Dean, and many many people and trades are equally guilty of bulling the job up to make a day of it, to make the weeks money.in fact I'd go as far as to say that the majority of trades do this, and it is morally wrong. Back to my point earlier in the thread... "would your business stand up to such scrutiny?"

I've heard fully trained, but new out of college types make a complete hash of explaining jobs to a client, stumbling over words, trying to over complicate what is a simple task just to sound good. Doesn't work. Not everyone is fluent in the way of talking to people, it can be almost an art form in itself. On the other hand, I've known real professionals say next to nothing, just look make a note, and leave, sending the quote and job description in writing. everyone has their own techniques, and "Walters" technique usually seems to work for him.

I found "NO!" worked quite well on most occasions, what wrong with people, scared of their ow kids these days

It's always that time these days:thumbup:

Hmmm I seem to be having mood swings, reading through my earlier posts from this morning.

Had an iPod once and found it too fiddly to use , couldn't get on with the txt, although I could see the advantage of the apps, just!!! Now then, they got sorted and made the iPad, I have the best of all worlds, Blackberry for phone and general emailing and txting duties, but the iPad is king for everything else, and the keypad is big enough to keep me happy. Sort of a decent compromise for me.

Convinced, thanks Yeti

aha knew I wasn't losing it