Linda

I might come along, me and my crutches. Although I don't think it's really a get together for the Southerners, so far North of London...!!

Ah, I see what you're saying now. I'm on painkillers that make me a bit dizzy so I tend to speed read. Hope it heals well and don't give you any trouble.

Perhaps he was just very tiny when he started out?!

So, will you keep using the chainsaw one-handed after your accident? Just curious...

I agree with this. A lot of time and effort is put into planning these get-togethers, and we meet people all the time who say it would be cool to come to the next meet, but then never even reply to emails. You ladies out there, why do you think this is? Are we too busy at home? Too lazy to drive? Too skint? Too scared?

This is what I was thinking while reading through the thread (I've been "indisposed" for a bit so have loads of catching up to do!). Tree work can never be equal to gym work; our work is excellent for not putting on fat, but for building up durable, long, flexible muscle tissue it's rubbish. Most of us are probably not thinking in ergonomic terms every minute of the day either. What you have to remember is that your body has to be strong enough to cope with strain that is much heavier than your hardest work, if that makes sense. Otherwise you will constantly work your body to its limit which will inevitably lead to damage/injury/pain. I think it's foolish to be in this industry and not work out in one form or another. Yes, we've all met the industry elders who managed without the gym, but just look at them, they're bodies are spent at 35-ish, ready for retirement (I'm generalising slightly here, obviously). If you want to enjoy your work long-term you need to look after your body. I myself prefer the gym because it's a controlled environment and for me it's easier to measure my progress in such a place. Before I started going to the gym, about 13 years ago, I used to think that I wouldn't have the energy after work to go at all, but I quickly found out that the workout will give you more energy, so that you can actually do something in the evenings, instead of just collapsing on the couch, as I normally did coming home from work. I wouldn't say cycling is good allround exercise as it mostly involves abs, legs and heart, but not shoulders/upper body which is so important to a tree worker. But in combination with some free weights or cable machine it would work fine. Swimming is quite good except if you've got neck or knee problems (or, like me, get spots from the chlorine...!)

Could you post the photos in this thread please, or we'll have to log onto facebook for access. Thanks

Pseudomonas is water-bourne so there's no stopping it now!

I'd lengthen the vt...

Laz, As well as a climber, I am also a scientist and an academic, and I am well aware of the dangers of misinterpreting or misapplying research results. I would not mention research on this site that was not of relevance to a particular thread or our line of work. Central to these particular research projects were not momentary forces exceeding x KN, but pressure as a constant upon bones/ligaments/muscles/nerves. Furthermore, the articles discussed several applications, including the work positioning area, which led me to believe it was highly relevant to our industry. Misinformation you say, I say it’s important to look at issues from as many angles as possible. Why should I only look at information that is being fed to me through advertising where the male body is the norm? As we’ve agreed, in the end you are responsible for your own well-being and where you spend your money is your business. I would be interested in reading the research behind TreeFlex, has it been peer reviewed and published anywhere? Or could you pm it to me please? I agree with you Laz that assumptions are bad. The design of many so-called unisex harnesses available on the market today are based on the assumption that what works for men’s bodies will work just fine for women’s bodies as well. Now for the first time we are seeing some changes to that mentality, largely thanks to the rising number of women involved in tree climbing competitions, both on and off stage, giving women in the industry a higher profile, making them “worth investing in”. The TreeFlex is part of this “new era” as well, although I myself am not sure you can actually have a harness that fits both men and women.

Always considered that the rookie thing...!

Hey Laz No point in getting all defensive. As Tony pointed out I use the term "may", but if you want facts then you might wanna check out research done on pelvices of American female drag racing drivers for example, as well as French marine parachuting women, to name but a few. Not the same industry but same principle, where there is weight imposed on top of or on the sides of the pelvis. I also sense a bit of defensiveness to my remark that it might be tricky to ask men for advise in some cases, which is a shame. I do not wish to exclude anybody or create a schism between males and females, this is not on my agenda ever, but in this particular case/thread I am saying: take advise from ladies first, because of anatomical differences. Would you ask someone with a square shaped head for advise on a helmet for your round shaped head? Probably not. Would I personally ask a woman with very narrow hips about advise on harnesses? Not likely. That's just the way it goes, but I apologise if you took offense. I am however not sad that I brought the issue up. I believe there are a lot of things many climbers do not know about their own anatomy, and as such are perhaps mistreating their bodies in ways that are not necessary for carrying out the job effectively and efficiently. If your TreeFlex harness is designed not to generally obstruct female pelvic flexibility then you might benefit from saying so (backing it up with scientific data abviously) in your ad material. You make a choice when you buy a certain harness, and the more information out there to form the basis of your decision, the better obviously. In the end, it's up to each and every one to make their own choices. Cheers

I have some serious issues with this draft and have been trying to put my concerns into writing (only because you begged me, Tony!), but failing miserably because of other commitments overtaking brain activity... Here's a link to Chris Hastie's comments about the draft, with which I mostly say "hear, hear"... http://tinyurl.com/5sv424 So, here you go Tone, some long awaited feedback to your initial post!

Ha! I wish I could take such a large truck for all my belongings...!

Still in outer space awaiting landing approval

So, the baobab has reached it's new home. Someone on the UKTC forum mentioned that the climate at the new location is distinctly different from where the tree grew up, which I suppose only adds to the bad odds of this tree surviving the move. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/20/2308771.htm?section=justin

Hm...this seems to be some kinda contest... I didn't get paid at all for the first six months of my first arb job!

I'm not that clued up on baobabs, but I just had this brainwave that maybe because baobabs store much of their water/nutrients in the trunk, then there is less need for an extensive root system? Please correct me if you think I'm away with the fairies here... But yeah, look closer at the pic and you will see some large root cuts.

What do you carry with you then?

Thought this might be of interest: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24015919-2761,00.html

Ha!

Are you trying to figure out my age? Don't you know that's considered a bit rude?! (the days= late 90s)

You'd be jumping down the wrong throat mate!

When I did my first chainsaw course back in the days, with the Swedish Forestry Commission, a prerequisite was to have recently passed a one-day first aid at work course. Not a bad idea perhaps? Or, to get your tickets, as part of the assessment, you need to have attended a faaw course? I attended one at Capel Manor last year, it was £25, and well worth the cost!

Ever thought about teaching? Colleges are dying for people with up to date industry experience.