Rich Rule

First two pics is the oak tree. If you look closely you may see the tear out. Third is the limb.

Ben, Yeah it was SRT with a base tie off. The line went into the canopy and secured at the base. The line stuck on a piece of epi about 8-10 inches from the crotch I was aiming for. It also ran through other forks within the crown. I couldn't manage to flick it over the epi but as the limb was 6" plus diameter and Oak I presumed it would be ok. The top snapped out due to side loading or the bounce effect of SRT ascending. The line fell into the next crotch which was about 10 foot below. Meaning about 20 foot of slack line. I was only 12 feet up and I hit the deck before the line caught in the nex crotch. Then the top came down on me and the groundie but luckily missed us both.

Yeah mate it's all good, I anchored into fresh air on the way up. If I hadn't I would have hit the deck much quicker, eh?

Had the top snap out of a woodland oak last year. I was ascending with the rope wrench, the top snapped about 50 odd foot. Luckily I was only about 12 feet up and came down feet first. Could have been a lot worse but I still buggered my ankle.

Seems everyone keeps missing the bit in bold. I have seen one guy climb large trees like that. I didn't see a lot of him as he was sent off site the next day. I used to work at the council and one of the old boys would just free climb most things, unless he was over about 40 odd foot then the rope came out for safety.

I think from an employees perspective it can be a strange one. Day after day after day of the same underpriced overworked jobs can really demoralize the team. I appreciate that it isn't the easiest of economic times atm. Do you think the boss has not allocated enough time because he has forgotten how long jobs actually take? Or has he gone in with a price that is keen as! to win the work and keep you guys working and thus wages going in your bank and food on your families table? Either one can result in the same, staff feeling under pressure to complete a job on time. Life isn't easy and maybe the boss is having a hard time getting work in hence the timings and prices. FTR, I am a freelance climber and if looks like it will run over for whatever reason, I will try to work my utmost and will have a minimal break to try and get the jobs done. If it is running over by only a small fraction then I would try and knuckle down and get finished. If it has been monumentally messed up and will need at least half a day or a day to finish... then I usually get on the blower. I am only human, not super human, my conscience is clear that I have done my utmost to complete the job in the quoted time frame. The different scenarios are in relation to the company you work for. If it was a street contract type company in London, then it is par for the course and will be the same pretty much most days, hence the quite high turnover in staff. If it is a domestic or smaller company doing commercial work then can you have a word? I have had one guy come up to me explaining the difficulties of winning work etc and point blank said it will be tight. Honesty imo is the best policy and I appreciated the heads up so would try and get it sorted for him. Sometimes that is easier said than done though... motivating his staff etc. If it is just through shear greed for the quantity of work or a major error. I would deal with it on a case by case basis. In the past I have asked someone if they thought I was superhuman, they were just takin' the pee. I invoiced them and never worked for them again.

I have my opinions on this... firstly though I need to know where your coming from? i.e. Are you freelance, on the books as an employee or are you the boss? Different perspectives for each role.

How much for the Audi Ka?

Nice mate, I quite liked that.

Its ok, noone saw it!

Hello mate there is a signwriters and vinyl wrap company in Welling. Next door to Forsey Guns. They have a M L200 real tree camo vinyl wrap.

Hi Adam, I tried calling the mobile number you posted and left a message this afternoon. Hopefully here from you soon, Rich.

PM Sent.

Well according to the reported outcome of that thread he didn't have to sell his Navara to pay up.

I thought you had a Navara, what is wrong with that?

Worked for me Adam. Looks like you had a fun day. Good stuff.

Save your money Paul. No matter how technical they say they are or who else has them, they won't last long in this game. Just get some cheap grippers... Eko grip. Less than a quid a pair and last me a week climbing.

Received my Oregon duds and multi tool yesterday. Thanks to everyone involved in the raffle. Cheers.

Tommy will tell you that you need bleached blonde hair and a sausage dog to be a successful spliced...

Tie it off to an anchor. I use the tow hitch on my truck. Get a decent length of rope and then attach the fid to that. Shock the bugger by whipping it up and then pulling with momentum and body weight and it should pop out. I have caught strands before and still got the fid out. I did pull about 3-4 strands out and had to mik them back in but it is doeable. If your hands are sore, wait till the morning hen you are fresh. I also wear gripper gloves for this.

Do you srt or access to the mines? I have always had a fascination with disused buildings. Probably from seeing an old odeon cinema that closed in my home town when I was about 12 or 13. Didn't fancy entering then though as it was full of gluey's in those days. There is a nuclear bunker in south east London nr crystal palace. It was the Lambeth and south easy crisis centre if it ever kicked off. My mate lived about 5 doors up from Pear Tree House.

Might have to pop up to Northhamptonshire for a meet up... I remember once going into a disused Nuclear Bunker facility left from the cold war paranoia. about 300 foot down IIRC in Kent. We were down there officially but I loved it, all the unused dumb terminal still there and the power gennies. They were the size of Locomotive engines and there was about 8 of them...

Quality. Love this sort of stuff. Have done since I was a kid. I have only recently had my eyes opened to this sort of community. Thanks.

Come to think of it ... it may have been Sherry not Cherry. Ooops! What in a letter anyway... HIC!

I also seem to recall from the Whiskey Trail that the casks were made from Oak or Cherry. The longer the liqueur is stored the darker it gets due to the tannins. They poured 1 year old single malt and it was almost water like in colour.