Jason James Gairn

You should have said man, here's a few I have lying around. thank me later with some !'s ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I've always run a couple of tanks through a new saw on idle, with a few blips. But I know of people who think differently. Thoughts?

You said they were used in a comp? where? you holding out on us too?

So Stevie, you know where they are. was it the thousands of spikes that caused the regrowth pattern? Tim! where and what are they. Suspenders? YES!

What are you doing? There's workers out there who have to put food on the table for their families. Don't sell your self cheap matey, even a drag rat is worth more than £free.

Experience isn't a ticket to knowledge of course, I know of climbers like arbtalk member Softbankhawks, who has been climbing for 3/4 years but already knows more than most about technique, tree biology and rigging. I also know many guys who have been in the game 25 years plus who know nothing or next to nothing with the remainder being firmly anchored in the industrial revolution. There are some really top chaps out there, we all know the sort, who's knowledge is wide and deep, their manner is conducive to the flow of knowledge, but they're few and far between. I don't count myself as one of those guys, If i was still climbing, I would certainly try to work for them or at least shadow them. Many are very evident on this forum. None of us are at the helm. The destiny of the industry lies in the hands of `them'. So I think there is room for some depression and despair.

Asking questions all the time is great Al, just remember not everyone with a big mouth knows what they're talking about. When I first started I climbed everything I could find from trees to cliffs to buildings to electricity pylons to PA systems and girls legs. It defined me on every level, that's what I was, a climber. I was able to show confidence in the tree to my first boss (Hammersmith Council Tree gang). By the end of the week I was climbing Limes with a silky. I never looked back, and never was a full time groundie ever again. It's possible to circumvent the traditional path to enlightenment via some shrewd investments in ones ability to climb well. Its a personal thing I guess Al, but without the climbing It's tedious. I retired from climbing for money last year, couldn't stand the idea of being a groundie or a tree officer. I'm a purist I guess, and probably an elitist snob too.

I can't go into detail Andy, but that's my understanding of how college and NPTC works. I believe in a training and assessing environment, but both of these existing paths are flawed. I think in house has the potential for greater corruption, that would not always be the case, but the potential is massive. I know that most experienced guys have a lot to offer the rookie, and I think mentoring goes on unofficially anyway which is how it should be. Unfortunately there are experienced yet incompetent guys out there who will want to do their own mentoring too, based on years of ignoring industry developments and best practice. Kev used to do in house training in Southend, I wonder if he's still loitering around this thread if he has any insights. Kev?

Rather than fixating on qualifications which are easy to come by, or working for pocket money, try just climbing trees every day, climb climb climb. Its the skill that earns the top money so go and practice it in downtime. Plus its fun and free. I'm not impressed by the theory that a worker has to work from the chipper up.

Back when I was in Mexico......... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJI7GziR4qI[/ame]

I agree with Andy about the emphasis on training, but only because it's so weak, I mean no disrespect to any training providers when I say that. The NPTC training is pathetic, CS38/9 is a farce. Both are way too easy. Giving the impression that anyone who has passed is of any value to the industry is harmful in my opinion. Maybe we could adopt a similar testing process as seen with the modern motorcycle license? A CBT which would be the CS39 and then a proper test of ones worth within two years, showing the ability to assimilate ones experiences in the field as opposed to the classroom and tiny oak tree. This would not be refresher every 5 years affair, more of a license to practice and then a a license to operate. For every non ticketed pro grandfather out there, theres a non ticketed injured ex pro sitting at home, equally there are guys coming off the NPTC/College production line who are instinctive masters of the game already. Refresher courses are based on a desire to keep the industry professional and safe. That's not a bad thing really (the desire that is) But it should be freely available and shed loads more consultation is required before such a thing is implemented. There's too many of us about. A Cull is required.

Embedding disabled by request. I dont know what this means but it's happening all the time now.

Spot on. You can tell a lot about someone from that sort of knowledge.

Anyone ID this?

And dont forget Vincey and Vinnie, the two Italian hoodlums up the road. They'll pulvarize you with a copy of Beans trees and shrubs.

Pests and diseases was taught by Elfrida Savagia. Elf for short. She's a Vicar now. I hated soils, not the material, the lectures you understand. So tedious. Hymenoptera always with the visual clues to Latin names. Loads had sexual double meanings. I only know trees now. Thankfully. My wife thinks I can speak Latin when I run a few off in secession.

I'm back there again with my son. Chieftan tank that fires matches against the german army under the sofa.

I don't know about the toy collecting world, but i wonder if it's worth anything. I too had one in about 1974. and the joe 90 thing.

Mogs sure are pretty. Remind me of gerry andersons creations in the 70's. Anyone else remember UFO? Top show. And Joe 90 of course.