Zenfordinner

I prefer a belt, although I am constantly pullling my trousers up, and have had to patch up the bottom numerous times, as always tearing them by squatting. Finally had a seamstress put a lovely stretchy patch acros the arse so I can bend properly. Perfect! I found the metal band bits on braces lay on my clavicle bones, most uncomfortable; and too much trouble when spending a penny, especially in the winter. Nicholas always wears brace, Matt.

Just taking off my hat for that one.

Hah hah! I was just thinking the same when I scrolled down to your quote! Coal! He had coal? You had a cardboard box in which to live, and glass to eat? You lucky buggers! When I was litle my family lived in a puddle, all ten of us, and for supper we ate each others fingernails.

Belated Birthday Greetings!

Decent of you to correct your mistake and apologise, Pecontools.

Thank you. I am pleased to report that the Beloved has put on nearly a stone (bringing him to ten stone), and we walked about a mile around the fields yesterday evening- the first proper walk he has managed since the surgery almost a month ago. Made my heart swell

Thank you. Things are already looking up, thankfully. It has been a long haul, but as the Russians say, 'what does not kill you makes you stronger, what does not make you stronger, kills you'!

I wore out my Lavarro Hydrafells (the orange and black ones), which were extremely comfortable but a bit wide. I replaced them with Hiax Protectors,which fit like a dream. They are as nimble as you like: I can balance on my tip toes on the top of a fence without falling because they have a lovely bend at the top of the toes.

This is so true - I've been saying it for years. Last year I took a friend of mine to chaemo 1 day every month for 6 months - and you should have seen the state of some of the visitors that came into that hospital - cant believe that any of them actually stuck to the infection control procedures i.e. hand washing / disinfection e.t.c. - No wonder we have issues with these infections- Whilst I concur that people with cold and 'flu or other contagious ailments would be sensible to stay away from visiting people in hospitals, and that visitors should adhere to rigourous handwashing, I think that visitors can be beneficial to inpatients. Since the begining of last December I have spent much time in the local hospital, with my Beloved as a patient. I saw dying men who will never return home, men suffering the aftermath of serious surgery, who without visitors would have languished alone. If I never again had to go to a hospital I would not fret, but when needs must, someone needs to look out for loved ones, as doctors and nurses do not always have the time to fully care for ill people. Also they are subject to that balance of working a job in which all the people they attend are quite ill, which can bring about a discompassion, or a cavalier attitude with regard to patients. Just as if one works at an old peoples home, one must get used to death eventually, which changes one. However slightly. That said, sometimes a patient needs more than an injection, or bloodwork, or a catheter check. Sometimes they need reassurance, someone who will attend to them as a unique individual. Loved ones can provide this, visiting hours permit this. I have gone through two sets of intestinal surgery with my companion, both times he suffered from neglect. The first of which left him without any pain relief for fifteen hours, when this was remedied he was turned over three times, without anyone considering that an injection of morphine might prevent him screaming like a mortally wounded animal. He awoke in recovery after the second operation feeling half the surgery site. He had to go barnyard to prevent them from turning him over to put in a second epidural, despite it being on the anethetists file to give him a morphine pump should the epidural fail to work. That night, he remained unattended by any nurse, as verified by the lack of a single observation noted on his chart (there were entries for following days and nights), my own observation over a four hour period on the mobile with him, and the state in which I found him the following day. I won't go into details about the dread of that night, or the following three days. I do not exaggerate when I say it was a horrendous affair but it saved his life, for which I am immensely relieved. I am truly grateful that he did not have to go through it entirely on his own.

Steve, why don't you buy red diesel by the barrel?

I would not buy a second hand harness. Some things are worth buying new, ropes and harnesses are two of them.

We use Yale for climbing (13mm with an eye at one end) and Marlow for lowering.

Best before full leaf, leaving enough slack to accomodate the weight of leaf, wind movement, growth etc. Cobra bracing is non invasive, and for contigency under duress. My not-quite-better-half says best to consult with someone if inexperienced.

There is a man 'round these parts who calls himself the Leylandii Tamer! Funnily enough though he passed some large Leylandii on to us as he could not reach the tops without a ladder. . Years ago, had a client called Mrs. Whore. Went to a restaurant in USA called Wankers Corner. Not one in sight though, glad to say!

We use Cobra cable braces, which appear well thought out and sensible. The key, I think, is to ensure installation is appropriate and well placed, allowing enough slack for the limbs to move (and for continued growth) with the wind; not to set up a dependency where the limbs become weakened and unable to support themselves.

I passed a firm called Tree Menders today, they were working on the verge along the A1. The same thought went through my mind, as I glimpsed the trees they had felled.

I like it!

I concur,a good time to purchase equipment if you have the money, and want to reduce or keep down the tax bill

Request a receipt from the client, you can offset the payment under repairs and breakages, under expenses/or overheads; or credit the amount to them, which reduces the clients' bill on your accounts, and your turnover, ergo tax bill. Every little helps. The damage was a consequence of your business activities, for which the business is responsible.

It is very important not to scratch the ladder. A scratched ladder is a blight on tree work, said scratching should be penalised.

Please do.

I have split many a knotted log with an axe, all depends of extent of knots and type of wood, and finding a weak spot. Not to say that I have not been defeated and ended up with many to fuel the fire pit for barbeques.

Wish you were closer, as there are a number of Oaks where I live, many of which are suffering from the impact of horses. I adore one of them, fills me with great pleasure to see it year round.

A beautiful sculpture.