Rich Rule

That was in Eltham, I remember it well. We were getting phone calls to take out shrubs after that.

I would say the non ce cougar ropes are pretty hard wearing. I have been on Samson Velocity 12mm for a few years now. It is a nice rope and easy in the hand. I also have cougar orange and that is a few years old, plus some sterling 11mm but hardly climbed on. Also a couple of others including courant, it that is still in the box. I will say though, I tend to chop and change ropes depending hon if they are wet. Having more than one 60m rope suit me.

I was gonna suggest similar. only if it is a damage free zone. Would be interesting to see the result.

My apologies, it was just the fact you were unaware that in CA you don’t apply to do work, you notify the LA that you are planning to do the work and they have a specific time frame to respond. That may be a notification to crack on or may be a notification that they have slapped a TPO on said tree(s). Either way I think you have handled it correctly. You have stated you will do it correctly or walk away. That means if he says go ahead, you contact the LA. Kevin touched in this in an earlier post. If he wants to still do it on the quiet, walk away. Who cares if he takes on someone else and in a months time the job is done. And as someone suggested contact the LA to effectively grass your client up. That could damage your reputation as well. Just remember ‘snitches get stitches’ (Joke). Off course I am not suggesting someone with stripe you, just that if you are professional and give him the option to do it your way. If he is in disagreement they politely decline this job and walk away. that way no harm is done.

Swerve. Some people have money and have made it by hanging little guys out to dry. You sound quite new to the industry and I think he knows it and may take advantage of your naivety. As I said, ‘Swerve’ with a capital ‘S’.

Looks like you might have just got away with that with only minor damage Rich, did you? Zero damage. The loading ramps on the plant trailer had made contact with about 4, 2-3 inch wide small trees in the wooded area. Totally missed the trailer lights and I couldn't have parked it better between the two bigger trees. The snowbank stopped my hilux going down sideways. The black bit at the end of the side bar had almost popped off, popped it back on and good to go. Very lucky really as the truck was flung around 130 degrees. Till it hit the bank and stopped.

The whole thing was quite surreal, slow motion unfolding type event. We got it sorted no problem and zero damage to trailer, chipper and truck. Could have been so much worse. Tried initially to get it out with my mates ranger then after no joy. We tracked the chipper off using the winch for support. Pulled the trailer out no worries after that. We we’re back felling and winching trees 45 mins later. IMG_2710.MOV

You don’t fancy going fully electric?

I filled up my Audi A6 last week and it was almost 1300 Nok - 109 Uk quids. I’ve just gone electric. Based on that and a couple of other factors, such as Diesels looking to be charged and eventually banned in Oslo centre. My Hilix is similar price to brim, but gets half the km for the same value.

I have a Hilix with an auto gear box. I live in Norway and as the rumour goes, it does snow and get cold here. I tow chippers and trailers with a tracked chipper on quite a fair bit. The only problem I’ve had was losing it on sheet ice one day, trying to get up a long incline. Ended up about 40 metres back down the hill, jackknifed and the trailer/chipper combo down an embankment and the hilix stuck in a snow bank. Going down hill, either click the gearbox into semi and keep to 1 or 2 gear. Or even easier hit the DAC button (Downhill Assist Control) and let the engine do the work for you.

@Mick Dempsey Who knows? She was about to lift the lid on a paedophile ring for the program Panorama. Which apparently stretched through the UK High Society and included the members of the BBC. Before the program went to air she was shot in the head on her doorstep in West London. Since then, Jimmy Saville, Dave Lee Travis, that twat from ‘it’s a knockout’ and many others, yet not one person knew? Just look at some of the old footage of Sir Jimmy. Fuck me, he was a right nonce trying to kiss young kids on the lips in the Hospice.

The same could be said for people with the polar opposite views. The media have lied to us and twisted facts for years, and now we are suddenly supposed to believe everything they say? Jimmy Saville wasn’t a nonce then and not one person in the BBC knew about him? Apart from Jill Dando.

My friend had a pair a while ago and went back to them et eying a couple of other brands. Not sure of the longevity though.

Not having a go personally William, but I had to highlight the above bit about heavy. People pay 100’s or 1000’s a year to train in a gym. PT training costs more. One of the best overall workouts is Tabata training. Tabata being the schedule, different exercises can use the same principle. One of the more popular ones is Hammer training. Big Sledge hammer on a tractor tire. Gives some of the best S&C results as well as increasing VO2 max and Anaerobic thresholds. It will benefit powerlifters, sprinters, team sports, fighting sports and even long distance runners. I guess the point I am trying to make is, if everyone changed their outlook on hand splitting wood and think of it as an exercise and not a chore. If professional athletes can get such remarkable results from this type of training, imagine what the average Joe can gain. Whenever we had to split wood, I would go like a loon and get the other guys to keep racking the rounds up. Disclaimer: as with any exercise make sure you are fit for purpose first. The Tabata workout and in particular the hammer/tyre splitting by hand is pretty hard. But you will definitely get fitter.

This was the Helko Splitting Maul I have. I won it at an Axe throwing competition at Jones show years ago. Strangely enough it is made in Germany but I can only find US based sites selling it. Vario 2000 Splitting Axe WWW.HELKONORTHAMERICA.COM Quality hand crafted German axes made by one of Europe's oldest axe...

The Heilko is up the yard but from memory it is a bit longer. One of the bolts sheared off after about about 10 years usage. I need to retap the head. The guy I lent it to broke it and replaced it with the GB. The Heilko definitely handles the tough, gnarly bigger rounds a bit better, but it is heavier. Here is a picture of the GB. Tape measure for scale. The GB has been great this year splitting whatever I needed… (so far).

I have the Gransfor Large splitting axe and a Heilko Splitting maul. They are both great but I guess a bit more expensive than the Fiskars range.

I’ll second that. The Schultz Effect is well worth the money.

Try and stay as upright as possible and keep you feet under your arse. Imagine pedalling a bike backwards. That should keep it efficient with the foot and knee ascender and it helps to keep the force downward and you ascending upward.

Matty, are they just for pruning work? A friend in the UK had his kit knicked and was chatting to him the other day. He has just got these, went back to them after trying most other pruning type boots. Available from Treekit.

Cant help with the last question but can you contact the solicitors dealing with the estate? I am currently going through my old mans estate and it is in the hands of the solicitors. It can take time even for a task that seems simple. They have rules to follow. Call them up and explain the situation, good luck.

Maybe I am just a bit stubborn, but I go for a large splitting maul and elbow grease on most occasions. If I am still blowing after 20 odd hits then I get the saw out. I look at it as a work out as well as actually doing a job.

Jay, Who are you working for these days mate? Still at SL?

Although the ferry trip is probably more popular going Helsinki to Riga or Talin. Booze is a lot cheaper in international waters and cheaper countries. Especially when Finland is expensive and their national sport is being an alcoholic 😁