arbogrunt
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Everything posted by arbogrunt
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I creak when I emerge from my 'scratcher' every morning, so I have to have a good stretch out first thing. If I've been sitting in a wagon for too long on the way to the job, I have a quick warm up/stretch before I climb. Needless to say, the pee-taking is mercy-less!
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About 15 years ago, whilst at college, I had the chance to buy one of the colleges chainsaws (which were being replaced). I asked for a Stihl 036 but the Instructor said none of the Stihls were for sale (as they didn't yet need replacing. I then found out they had been bought at the same time as the Huskys and Sachs Dolmars they were flogging. I decided to buy a new Stihl 026!. Since then I've been a dyed in the wool Stihl man...but, having bought a Husky 357XP last week, I have to say its the best felling saw I've had my mitts on yet!. I use Stihls for everyday donkey-work, snedding, crosscutting etc. I save my 357XP just for accurate, fast felling work. (and I don't let ANYONE else touch it!)
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Great stuff Monkeyd. I must get myself over to Burnam Beeches, been meaning to have a walkabout over there for years.
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So we've all agreed then, we'd rather be up on the hill in Gucci Goretex than halfway along a huge conifer hedge in the piss-sistant rain!. Unfortunately, I know were I'll be on Monday morning.....
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I've had a stretch-air jacket for about 4 or 5 years now. Its very well made, I'm on my third zip, but its wearing pretty well!. You only need a t-shirt underneath it when climbing, its not waterproof any way or form (not meant to be!). Get yourself an Army-surplus goretex for that (about £40).
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I had pretty bad whitefinger a few years ago. It seemed to be brought on by heavy use of Stihil HT75 polesaws (theres a lot of vibration from the shaft of them). Blowers are another culprit (although the new Stihl blower seems to have addressed this). The problem has improved significantly, I don't use power-poles half as much now (if I do I use AV gloves). I have also been taking Ginko Biloba (try googling zipvit, they are the cheapest and highest dose about). In the meantime, try keeping your hands and wrists warm by using gloves/wristovers or it will get much worse over the winter mate!
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I'm up at 0600 and in the yard with a stout breakfast in me by 0700. Usually home by 1700-1800...if I do a six day week thats usually a good 50-60 odd hours. I don't know what the boys in Brussels would make of that!
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Good shooting...does that make you a pussy-sniper?
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wow, that chick is awesome!. I'm sure I could smell something burning on the way down tho.....
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Years ago, I did the NAA home study course. It was pretty good. I did the basic arb but never got around to the advanced arb bit. I came to the sad conclusion that the only way I was going to earn more money was by shinning up more trees!
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I'm cracking out a six day week at the mo, so, the best thing about Sundays is...no climbing!. I do have 3 hours of martial arts training, a sunday dinner and then a good doze in front of the fire tho:001_cool:
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' Try a modified technique where you bend your knee, step into a loop in your line and stand up.' I do this when I get tired, I am very naturally un-gifted at footlocking!. I've tried and tried but I just can't do it. Best thing to do is buy a Petzl Pantine foot-clogger and get the ground to hold the line untill you get up high enough for the ropes weight to work for you.
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I'd go for a bowl of porridge with honey and bananas from my first breakfast at 0615. Then a bacon and cheese roll and a brew at 0830, sarnies at 1100 and more at 1400. In between I have fruit/nuts/cereal bars. If you've got a high metabolism like me, you need to eat little but often (every 2 - 3 hours). I then have a good dinner and a bite before I get my head down. I'm still quite a scrawny barsteward too!
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Can anyone help me out?. The Arb assoc used to have a standard format for method statements. Has anyone got a copy of it I can have please?
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2 minor cuts, about 15 years ago (when I started). first using an 020 one handed on the ground, logging up a log and holding it with the other hand (). The other (much more painfull), opened up the back of the landrover and a saw rolled out onto my hand - no guide bar cover . I feel better for getting that off my chest!
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I was on hurricane alert in Belize, they had us cutting all the coconuts off the trees!. When I saw the news I thought it must be some sort of practical joke. We never did get that hurricane out there...
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I've met a few Swiss Army blokes and we definately have more nutters in the British Army, so leave the rifles in the Armoury!!.
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Just sneak around to his gaff at midnight, in a balaclava and crimp one off on his doorstep...it won't help the situation at all....but you'll be laughing about it for years.
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Fatima Whitbread - lovely lady some bloke from Eastenders (don't watch it, wouldnt have known). A retired page 3 girl (past her shelf life but still looked like a dead heat in a Zeppelin race!)
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Smelly Helly is good stuff, I swear by anything with 'Berghaus' on it too.
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I hate working in the rain!. I do it because I can't afford not to. Having said that, I won't do Walnuts, beeches or anything smooth barked or too greasy. I just get the goretex on, slow right down and take it easy. The best thing to do of course, is jump on to a good old boring Leylandii hedge reduction!
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Another Ally scar J!, get well soon mate (I'll be using these photo's and your story on my next CS39 course!).
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I'm going down the LANTRA route at the mo mate. Its a bit of longhaul, expensive and time consuming. The good news is, you can now get your foot in the door as a CS38 assessor (you used to have to do crosscut + maintain and felling first). Have a look at http://www.lantra-awards.co.uk, they are very helpfull and will put you in the right direction
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I agree on the Army surplus waterproofs. I paid £30 for the jacket and £20 for the trousers. When they get ripped (mine have lasted a couple of years), get a new set. Make sure you wear a hi-viz on the ground though, I've nearly been run over a couple of times - no one can see you!
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I used to be stressed out pretty much all the time when I had my own company. I now work freelance and its almost stress free. Most of the guys I work with are stessed out on a daily basis, especially the ones with any managerial responsibility. My policy is, I don't earn enough money to get stressed, if I don't like it, I just don't do it!. Work to live don't live to work!.
