Gaynor

Hey. Sorry if I'm being a bit niave. But can you explain this to the new girl? I'm guessing it's to make it seem more like a natural break? (please have patience...)

I love reading your threads. You make me laugh out loud!! You can't beat that Yorkshire sense of humour

Wow. I've read about burnham beeches and wanted to go for so long. Thanks for the pics. Windsor Great Park, on the trail of Herne's Oak. Probably after reading the first of Thomas Packenham's (is that right?) 'Meetings with Remarkable Trees' books. The start of a tremendous journey that I feel I've still barely started.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!! I haven't laughed so much in ages!!! They were hideous!! No offence meant. I think the sentiment was beautiful. £30/£40 should've been plenty. Always go for the independant, arty florists rather than some run of the mill interflora, IMO. But then, I'm only a girl! Why did you tell her how much they were? IF there's a next time, get one of your mates wives to order it. they'll know. Sounds like she's a lucky lady. You did good.

Ok. Went and knocked on said door. No one home so I went and had a little look-see. No obvious signs of fungus or pests. And from what I could see of the needles, no red band. Compaction definately an issue as both the large driveway and the neighbours wall are right up against the trunk. If it's any further use, it's losing the needles from the bottom up.

I went to one of the shows last year with college and was told, in all seriousness by my tutor, that if I wanted to 'look the part' and 'be taken seriously' I should were my chainsaw trousers and boots! I'm not about to try and impress anyone

Ok. I'll be brave and go and see. I'll let you know...

Thanks guys. I wish I had more details for you, but as I said, it's not accessible to me. I realise there could possibly be hundreds of reasons, I just wondered if there was anything obvious. I'll let you know if I find out anymore. Ta, G

I'll see if I can get a look at the needles and let you know what i think...

Cheers. Looks interesting. I'll give it a thorough chewing over later...

I drive past a wonderfully majestic Cedar most days and over the course of the year it has lost, I'd say a good 50% of it's needles. It's Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' and unfortunately, it's in someone's garden so I can't get in to have a closer look and because I seem to have misplaced my camera for the time being, I have no pics either. Sorry. Any ideas as to why? I've seen other Cedars do this and has resulted in them coming down.

I like your thinking!!!

Shame it didn't fall on said parked cars. Would've made the day worse I s'pose but oh, the joy!!!

Wow!! Awesome stuff! Nice bit of handy work and the shots with the fire are just brilliant! Surely that's an image you could make money from...?

Interesting shots. Cheers for sharing

There... Sorry it took so long. Maybe I should change my user name too (again) to techno-thickie!

After you...

Mine's working fine. Although I thought we'd agreed lilac? Very nice Mr Bullman

Hey, there's no ranting going on here! Merely rather tepid debate!!

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach" Isn't that how it goes?...

So just out of interest, when someone applies to any of you guys for a job, do you not bother asking for references from any previous employers? Do you just take their word for it that they're the 'cat's pyjama's'? Surely some onus has to be on you as an employer to ensure you're not being ripped off before you even get to the first day. Even give them a days trial to suss them out? I can't speak for other newbies, but I wouldn't expect to be earning too much to start with. I think it is partly the trainers fault as, certainly at the college I attended, you are lead to believe that you earn a lot as a tree surgeon. And have you ever thought... if you've ever been employed in some dead end shop job (which I have, no offence meant) or dull office job where you get paid diddly, is it not fair to expect that, considering the amount of risk involved in arb, you might get paid a bit more? Obviously not as much as an experienced climber, but you know what I mean. Just adding to the debate... Maybe I was just older (yes) and wiser (hmmm) than the rest of the guys on my course.

I pulled mine trying to start a ridiculously troublesome mower a couple of years back and occasionally it still gives me trouble, I guess coz I wasn't able to rest it. (the mower got kicked by the way- it wasn't mine. Not nearly as stressy now as I was back then).