Dean Lofthouse

Its not their Sycamore though Mike nor their river I have emailed the fishing club to tell them the error of their ways, blood sports are under fire, this sort of thing doesn't help anyone

I just think its no different from sealed envelope bidding Simon, where you dont get a chance to explain yourself and you can usually tell they are not interested in anything else but price. On the same token, I am not purely money orientated, I also like to get some job satisfaction as well as pay my overheads

In the last week I have turned away two people who have phoned for a quote and expressed they are after the cheapest quote. Not because I dont want to be wasting my time, but because it goes against my own ethics. I dont know about everyone else but I never ever go with the cheapest quote A. Are they using cheap materials to get the quote down B. Do they have the right qualification or professionalism. c. If the job doesn't go right, will they cut corners or rush to make it pay One of the reasons I told them I wouldn't quote is that they wouldn't be there either to hear what they will be getting for their money If it's just a tree they want taking down for the cheapest price with no regard for how it's done, how clean the site will be left or how their flower beds will lokk after nor what happens to the waste then I'm not interested to be honest If I get three builders in to quote I want to hear what they have to say, I want to see how they present themselves and hear how they will carry out the job with what materials. I personally win a lot of jobs on how I carry out and explain the quote not on price. How many of you just go out and price a job to win it ??

My usual jaunt along the canal with the dogs turned up this. There must have been a fishing comp recently and pegs place out and cleared. This was peg 13, with rips, tears and brash dumped in the water

Ford need to get their act together and bring out a new 4x4 5 tonne gross Transit with low box capability. There is a huge demand for 4x4 for transits, why they shy away from them I dont know

Yes Lee, I noticed many months ago, sadly the sprogg is not mine so she has not been faithful, I am finding it hard to forgive just at the moment and may be seeking professional help to get me over the trauma

He had rope guys on it all ways has it was being winched up, so a well calculated and carried out job.

Piece of pee, I stunt fell like that all the time..

Rather you than me Jon

It was mate

Used the mewp to do the outer crown round the side then I jumped out of the mewp and got into the top of the crown on rope and harness. Even with the mewp they took two days

As promised before and after pics of Horsechestnut and Lime reduction at Wentworth Castle, Barnsley. Lime is on the left in the first and second pic, Reason for reductions is in photo 3 and a long shot of both in 4 The idea was to reduce weight loading by reduction of some of the larger weakened limbs after being heavily pruned years ago, to try and retain the trees for a good few years yet

Hucks house is bigger

Only got a before at the moment James, will get the "after" and post for you tomorrow. Got quite a bit of weight off it whilst still retaining a good shape, a lot of the heavier stuff we took off had stress fractures cross ways. We've just to take the "nipple" off the top tomorrow (ask Adam )and clean up the inner crown. You'll be pleased with the results I reckon

The statue is not a true likeness, when I posed for it I didn't do the gay pose with my hand on my hip, the sculptor carved it like that to my disapproval

I am going to have to get a newer landrover, it's becoming a bit of an eyesore on the drive now

I take it it is the wood with the lake at (google earth): lat : 54.251830 long: -2.674979

Nice Rupe, I dont mind jobs like that provided you dont have to rush to make a good day rate.

I like how you shaped the right hand one, kinda reminds me of the baby in the simpsons hair do

This is what I meant about a sag in the rope, by letting it sag in the middle it makes the angles reduce and also lateral forces turn more into vertical forces which the stems will stand I'll give it a go just for the hell of it but I'll set it up with the mewp because of all the faffing about, thats if I can get the mewp close enough

Some food for thought there chaps thanks. Mark, it has crossed my mind to use the mewp as a crane mate As long as I cut the pieces into 100kg lumps, no more and no shock loading, it would perform well. Disclaimer: In no way do I condone the use of a mewp as a crane

chop chop loppety lop

Exactly Peter... I'm actually wanting the middle section of the line to droop in the so the angle of force is better and the pulley will naturally fall in the middle There will be absolutely no shock loading and loads will be around the weight of my groundy, to lift off and slowly lower the rings. Theres a stone monumental gate underneath and all sorts of walls with stuck on pottery and new tarmac. I have though about dumpy bag Stevie but there is no room at all for any bounce

Thats my option robert if this wont work Peter, what I was intending to do was choke the skyline where it runs through the fork in the supporting trees, then tension from both anchor points so in effect, I will be pulling the trees apart, if you get my drift. Then whatever droop there will be in the middle of the line once loaded will help the angles to get the loading straight down the stems of the two supporting trees

Haha, that would be a good solution to the problem, the tree is next door and is a freebie (parents)