Rich Rule

I would like to see common sense used to be honest. If you can prove you have been actively participating at the sharp end of the Industry... why the need for the refresher? your suggestion posted above is pretty much what we went through. In order to tick the boxes he reassessed us on small fells... or in other words he watched whilst we knocked over a few shitty small fells using different techniques and we chatted why we used a particular method over another. Then he wrote us certs from his company stating we had completed refresher training. It was the cheapest option as the guy going for the contract had to put 5 of us through it. The training company made a day's money, we rattled through it and although go it cost a bit it was a damn site cheaper for the guy paying than forking out 5 individual refresher courses at each of our highest ticket. Thankfully though, I know longer reside in the UK. So hopefully, until Norway becomes a nanny state... I shouldn't need refresher training for a while.

Unfortunately that hasn't been the case for a few years mate. now you have to do a ROLO course. Costs a packet and then you have to have In date training or otherwise refreshers to apply for a CsCs card. Before you even choose which card or skill set to apply for.

I had to do refresher a course last year for a ROLO/BALI thing as a prerequisite to CSCS. They said that refreshing my rigging ticket wouldn't be acceptable for ground based refresher training. I had to do the refresher on small fells. I can understand the need for casual users but I am on the tools between 4 and 6 days a week and have been for about 15 years... it was a waste of money but the guy going for the contract paid for the training for us. I must admit, it did feel like a large money making exercise for everyone else apart from the people forking out for it.

Leave. In a nutshell. You current boss either doesn't know what he is doing with regards to using you full time on SE basis. If he did then doing the sums would answer his questions. or he is a ..... (fill in the blank) and narrow minded to boot. You need to be asking for 140-150 per day to be on the same standards as you currently are. if he is forcing you to go SE? Then he is the second option.

Or you could send an email as it states in the post.

Who has Jamie got working for him now?

Nice one Jay. Norway is going well thanks. The kids have settled and work is pretty busy. Are you working for Steve now?

Hi Jay. Did I do them for Jamie or SL? They look like the ones at the school in Sidcup, am I right? Don't know about light reduction. If they are the ones I am thinking of... Launchbury belted them and I followed suit! Nice pictures mate.

Yes mate, a new blade on the silky flew through the limes. Long days though. 8 hours the first and 9 the second with two 20-30 minute breaks each day.

Large alley of Lime tree to repollard. The trees were planted circa 1750 and have been managed as pollards since the . 1 guy in Mewp doing leaders over the avenue and 2 to 3 climbers. All had to be done with handsaws. 2 days to complete.

Yes Joe. I have spliced up about 4 lanyards over the years. Easy to splice if new.

I use a piece of blaze with my art positioner. fluffy as hell but works a treat. Before that I used the cinch religiously for about 4 years. Both great but I fancied a change. i am not sure which I prefer tbh.

Over here I had to go Vat reg at 50000NOK. I did the work billed them the normal rate. Once you hit 50K you request VAT registration and send copies of the invoices. It took about 4 weeks, to come through. All that time I was still invoicing without VAT, but explained the situation. Both private and contract climbing customers said no bother, just send the invoice for the VAT when the registration is complete. I don't think it could have been any smoother, apart from dealing with my accountant. (That is another note, but I am sure accountants overcomplicate things to make you feel dependent on using their services)

Surely it would be easier if everyone had to be Vat Reg from about 5k. It is what happens over here and keeps the playing field level. Everyone is used to it and no one I have met complains.

Rupe, the Alimbo is great as long as you have a dry, new rope and dry conditions. It is still a work in progress, at least the version I have is. I am sure the official version will have these nuances ironed out. The BDB is a great bit of kit and works very well. But I believe it is like everything, getting used to it is very important.

Not that I know of mate. You can still get one directly from Gordon. They have changed a bit these days.

Bull dog bone Rupe. Here is one in action.

Most of my work is contract climbing. having a couple of ropes in the truck is never a bad idea. sometimes if I have a number of trees to do I preset lines in the second and third trees. Makes getting the job done easier IMO.

It is a daily occurence over here at the moment. one of the guys I work for carries a blow torch to thaw stuff out before he climbs.

200t. spud rebuilt it a few years ago and it is still used on occasion.

I am sure it failed the moose test at first but then they changed some aspect and it faired somewhat better. thankfully I haven't seen a moose out here yet so not had to test it.

Most of my saws are spud ported. I used to use them in Benzine and mix as do most in the uk. most people used aspen or ready mix here. After a couple of weeks my saws started acting up. New carb kit and replaced the fuel hoses etc and they are as good as they were. they seem to run well, but thinking about it, I haven't set anything to cold on them. The main problem for me is as I explained earlier. I melted the bina on my flip line, spiked a silver Birch tree and tried to do a changeover and my climbing line was frozen. In the end I overcame that issue and when done, I spoke down and the. Couldnt get off the tree as the flip line had refrozen.

Samson is great Matty. Has a wee bit more bounce than the cougars, but no where near as much as Kern or something like that. I quite like it. It is pretty supple, so it's easy to tie knots in.

Generally I find the less bounce the better. i have accumulated quite a few ropes over the years. I still have a few lengths of tachyon for the really sappy pine and fir trees out here. i have a few 60m ropes. Htp Sterling, pretty much like climbing wire. Cougar orange and the most recent is Samson Voyager. it is handy having a few of the same length out in Norway. Sometimes the weather is so terrible your kit is frozen solid from the previous climb. i had to use nearly half my flask of premium PG tips the other day just to be able to open my binas. Obviously a bad move as they froze solid again about 5 minutes later.

I have to laugh at that. The auto breaking system disabled itself in the savage weather... sleet or rain. I would bet good money you are more than likely to require that type of service in those weather conditions. mine is literally 2 months old. I'll keep an eye on the underside.