arbogrunt

better off just getting a commercial I reckon mate. They come up now and again, had mine for about a year and its just right for me:thumbup1:. They are getting on now though ( last ones made in '98), so check carefully for rust!

I would say the best place to buy climbing gear, harnesses in particular, would be the place you can visit personally and get yourself on rope, in a harness. If you buy without a try, you'll spend the whole day long in a harness that is uncomfortable. If your going to spend most of your working day in one, find one that doesn't squash your family jewels!

January to march - OK March to August - the worst I've had in 16 years August to present - busy as hell, but still trying to get over the bad summer. The problem I have is, work is peaking and troughing a lot more than it did 5 years ago. Its difficult to budget for anything and putting tax money aside has been nigh on impossible. I think I may be working in another industry or going abroad for the spring/early summer and coming back later if last year is anything to go by. Go with the flow, cross your fingers and bug out when it all goes Pete Tong...my 2011 business plan!

are you sure your neighbour hasn't been doing unspeakable things to your wagon in a 'car-love' kind of way:laugh1:

I would have said double your normal dayrate. If your up all night, your not going to be working the next day. That said...I wouldn't do it anyway...I'm just not interested in doing treework in the dark, in extra-hazardous conditions..its not worth the money I'd end up with in my pocket:thumbdown:

As a freelance tree-whore myself, I can sympathise with you mate!. From what you've said there are 2 issues here; 1/ working without aerial rescue cover = it happens from time to time, its not something I'm happy with (and its not legal and on top of that, your insurance goes out of the window). Its your call, if its the only work you can get, then apply a bit of 'aerial rescue avoidance' at the very least. This fella is making money out of your climbing work, he should provide you with someone who can get you out of a tree if the brown stuff hits the fan, not stand there and watch you bleed out.... 2/ working up a tree on your own = that is a BIG no, no!. I would get out of the tree and do some other work on the ground (raking up, blowing, drinking tea...). As a freelancer, you need to pick who you work for carefully...have a word with your boss, let him know what your worried about..if he doesn't resolve it...move on!

well, having sung the praise's of Haix boots, I too have found the sole is falling away at the toe and the metal inner-plate is sticking out like a dogs tongue!. I've also worn Haix boots for years and got 2 1/2 to 3 years out of a pair..these have lasted 3 or 4 months...obviously cutting corners in quality here!..not impressed.

I agree, there are a lot of selfish, rude people about. However, they are in the minority, most people are ok. Some area's seem to be worse than others (and not always in urban locations either!). I find the older I get the less tolerent I'm becoming of these people...I just smile and keep my distance and avoid talking to them if I can, but, one of these days I'll just chin one.

agreed, tax credits are a total waste of time. They paid us a wad of money, then told us we'd been over paid and we've been paying it back ever since..another Labour paper chasing exercise

military surplus goretex - its 100% waterproof and its cheap!. If you look around you get the Royal Navy stuff, which is better than the Army gear and has the advantage that passing traffic can see you before you get run over...I paid £18 for the trousers and £28 for the top and I've been bone dry since...and never rained off.

I've used oregon chain on Stihl bar for years without any oiling issues. I won't used Stihl chain on my MS200T, I find it inferior to Oregon 91VS in every way.

I quite often come across trees with meripilus...mainly mature beech. They are most on wildlife reserves, and if they are away from paths/car parks/roads etc. I've just left them. One has been quite happy for the last 10 years!. Another, however, is in a private school, next to the playground and adjacent to the school dining room!!!....I recommended removing it about 12 years ago, the school governers said they could not afford it and the tree still stands...so far.

we're going to monolith it...its in a car park on a wildlife reserve with a footpath on either side of it!. The crown has be showing signs of stress for a year or so.

more Meripilus..this time in Havering

maybe...If we all curse them at the same time..their nads will drop off?

incidently, look at the tree I found the spider in!

Met this beastie checking out the inside of a hollow beech today!

thanks fellas:thumbup:

I'm looking for some tyres for my disco myself at the mo. I'm going for BFG mud terrains but I'm not sure what size to go for. Will prob go for R16 alloy's, I've had a 3" lift done, but don't want to trash my half-shafts, what size rubber to invest in, recommendations please?

'never going to get these features,but the last bit,couldn't you just teach your groundy new skills?!!' ...now, wouldn't that be just putting things into your employees mouths?...

...advice?....yes, the 'Sarah Siddons' is the best boozer in Brecon!. Don't over train, but get as much hill time in as you can. Get some sorbithane shock-stopper insoles, run down hill and push it out up hill....and good luck mate!

yes it is the one for sale - don't buy it, or I'll be out of a job! I had the keys of the mog in my pocket...honest! spud gun = awesome, but don't let the MoD see it, it'll be the Trident replacement!

'I was rear-gunner in a Unimog son!'

'broadsword calling danny boy, broadsword calling danny boy....over!'

Hmmm, with hindsight (at a lot of money), I'd go for a U1000/1200 Unimog with front mount chipper and chipbox and a 3 way tipping/timber trailer with a small crane on it for bigger jobs. Then either a Landrover 110 or Discovery commercial for the tools/ladder/ifor williams trailer.