Rich Rule

Oh, the arrest wasn't actually an arrest. So maybe it should be 4 Massive drunken fight outside a pizza shop one night about 3 in the morning. Riot vans turned up and we were bundled in by police... Luckily a few people spoke to the police and we were just defending our friend who had about 6 lads jump him. They took the others and let us go. Nothing spectacular, just and average night out in the North East of England during the 90's.

I got three. I have never ridden a horse, had a piercing or skydived.

I often wonder how many of the lads I went to Capel Manor with are still in.

Tweed Pfanners Steve? You trying to elevate yourself to upper-middle?

Swazi Karina Anorak. Better than the cut and climb as it has a hood and skirt on it. Might be a bit overkill for your son.

I heard a grunting over the weekend. I went out with a big torch and straight away a set of eyes and antlers in my garden. It trotted off into the forest after about 40s.

I guess for the same reason we use trucks instead of horse and cart. Technology has advanced to the point of making everyday life somewhat easier. If you have to do multiple trees in a day it isn’t economical to stack brash piles. Yes, for the odd job or some woodland work, but 2 or 3 different job sites in a day, 5 or 6 days a week... it is much easier to dispose of the arising with a chipper. The customers pay me to remove the tree, not to rearrange it in a pile in a corner of the garden or land. Even the major forestry contractors here in Norway, will separate millable logs from pulp logs and then get a giant chipper in and chip the brash... or they will transport is somewhere and chip there. Usually for biomass, but usually a chipper is involved somewhere down the line.

Joe, the term Subby climber (to me) is something a 22 year old with 2 years climbing experience calls themselves. They do it because they have the perceived notion it makes them look ‘grown up’ Contract climber makes you sound at least 30... surely that is reason enough to use the term?

You almost sound professional Joe... apart from referring to yourself as a Subby Climber. I do wish people would stop using that term... causes no end of problems when the excrement gets sucked into the AC. I have the Courant bag as well and it is pretty good. I also have a DMM Porter which is a bit old now. As for ropes, I have a rope bag for each one. I just grab whatever I need from the master-bag AKA Hilux and I am good to go.

I use a Toyota Hilux. I take whatever I need from the back. It even fits saws and a couple of rakes and clear up kit in there.

Did anyone see the Scouse gym owner hold out against the authorities? 7 Armed police turned up at his gym. Issues a 1000gbp fine if he didn’t close. Refusing to kick members out, the fines increased. A go fund me page was setup to help with the fines. The local mayor, councillors, and the police were supporting him. The fines were dropped last I heard. Interesting comments about the Environmental Health Agency. https://www.facebook.com/ItsGoneViralOfficial/videos/402598474236307/?vh=e https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=402598474236307

We spoke to the tree officer who gave the work to the company I was helping. It was agreed all round that the safety of the public over the festive period was of paramount importance. Tops snapped out of mature oaks, limbs broken and hung up due to snow damage etc etc. A few spike marks in the tree was the trade off, as opposed to a potential death in their hands... public or the climbers. Plus plus was that if the climber survived the climb he was still alive to do the next tree.

I was always under the impression PPE was inadequate either way. Climbing trousers were 22m/s and an MS200t was 24m/s. So even if you had the correctly advised PPE it still would not be rated to the smallest climbing saw we used to use. Best PPE is correct technique.

As Pete and Ian said. Aim for the cheapest direction. I did 3 weeks in woodlands once after a freak storm came through and the snow snapped lotsof tops and limbs. It was in the run up to Chrimbo and Bexley Council wanted it all cleared before the Xmas break as dog walkers galore would be in the woods over the Xmas period. Slightly different scenario to the one you find yourself in, but the lack of anchors and some creative use of spikes we got it done. It certainly made you scratch the head a bit and definitely they were challenging climbs.

I hear you and admire your passion. I think someone else touched on it, but having all the paper qualifications in the world of Arb, is one thing. Having the experience of a working Arb will give your qualifications more credibility. Qualification prove that you can pass a test or follow a course and submit the required information. Just because you pass your driving test doesn’t make you Lewis Hamilton. Likewise, imagine if you had just passed your driving theory and then start giving advice to HGV Drivers or even Lewis Hamilton, they are gonna think who is this? all the paper looks ok but they can’t even drive. Same situation. Nothing worse than trying to meet a spec laid out by a tree officer when they have little to zero practical experience of how to achieve said goal. It won’t be easy, but if you want to go for it, then what’s stopping you? Your body will adapt, some can hack it many can’t. I would suggest dipping your ‘toe in’. Try and get some work to see if you like it rather than shell out for the courses. Good luck.

If you are good you will have work. Simple. I contract climbed for about 14 years before I left the UK.

@ArborOdyssey Hello mate. Yes I splice myself. Not for a while though. I don’t tend to do the splices any differently from climbing lines to Rigging. BUT then again I don't tend to follow factory instructions. I have never had any splices break tested but have discussed it at length with people who have. A friend in the UK has slightly modified DB splices and had them tested, when I say modified I mean simplified. Certain steps make the process of the taper and bury easier to pull and finish. The new measurements are far greater than the normal recommended fid length. eg, 12mm climb line - 12 inch fid length. 16mm rigging line - 16 inch fid length. As for the taper I would have to dig out my splicing book for the strand pattern for removal. Used rope with a tight cover are a pain in the rear end. I don’t splice hitch cord as it isn’t worth it IME, it makes the hitch cord a bit too stiff at the eye and affects the function of the hitch. A couple of my splices. I tend to do rigging splices with larger eyes, apart from the one in the picture as It was a request for a friend. The theory being a bit more rope in the eye with allow a bit more loading than a tight eye. (int the event of shock loading, but we all know and never do it ;)) Interested in hearing your thoughts on that.

Track and Trace - Whats to worry about. FML. Cant even answer a simple question.

No problem bud.

Single layer. I only really wear it when it is winter and I have a fleece on so want it warm. It doesn’t have vents so you do get a bit hot I guess, but I would rather be wet and warm than shivering and wet.

You will more than likely have an n107 towing restriction in their now. So 7.5tbut not to exceed Max train weight of 8.25t. So you could go 5.5t truck and 2ton trailer. 4x4 with 3.5t towing and 3.5t trailer. Etc etc, providing it doesn’t exceed 8.25t. Mine used to be 7.5t vehicle and trailer. Not to exceed 12t Max train weight.

I have used one with a 20 and yessir it does Growl!

Swazi Karona Anorak for me. Bought from the NZ website just before I move to Norway, it arrived in 6 days. Hivis and has a skirt to keep the butt dry. Surprisingly the skirt doesn’t get in the way of a climbing harness. High-Visibility WWW.SWAZI.CO.NZ Productivity stays high when your warm, dry and safe. When getting the job done is a given, and health... I went XL so I have space for a fleece and whotnot as it gets pretty harsh sometimes here.

Good to hear. Yeah been here over 3 years now. Kids have settled well and doing well at school. Work is busy, so can’t complain. Say hello to your brother and climb safe.

Cheers mate. How are things with you? Keeping busy and out of trouble