Ty Korrigan

So why do humans use antisceptiques instead of leaving to nature...? Just a question, don't shoot me for it! Ty

Scarifying a lawn this summer and got a call from the client to say well done, nice job BUT... His patios door had a wee hole, so wee yet so expensive as it turns out... 600euros for ONE double glazed unit! France can be expensive... Ty

I guess I'd better pay Predator tomorrow... Ty

Morning. I'm just off out to grind a couple of stumps after signing at the bank for a business loan. For 2 weeks now I have been fretting about whether I want to get in any deeper with my business associate. As I write, I have mild anxiety that is manifesting itself as butterflies in the stomach, shakey hands, a feeling I want to cry but can't and sleepiness. This is all down to an accumulation of events that have nibbled away at my self esteem recently. I'm fine generally when I'm fully occupied but the moment I stop down it comes like grey blanket. At time I feel truly frightened like a cornered animal that just wants to run. Last week my business partner shouted and put me down in front of his family over a trivial matter. Not the first time and it won't be the last I'm sure. I delayed the signing of the loan until this morning to give myself time for reflection. This only made my business partner more angry as he had to fend off the Solicitor and seller. The more angry he becomes the more reticent I. Anyway...that's all for now. I had to get it off my chest. Ty

Took these near Redon. It is a local tradition to use upright slate flags as boundary markers and low walls around gardens etc.

I will correct you there Sir. There can be no more WELCOME sight... After a long hot day, to relax with a cold drink beneath their shade and watch the world go by...

I've found that Autumn sown lawns generally have fewer weeds in than Spring/summer lawns. I have had the odd client complain about the 'salad' I appear to have sown:confused1: The weeds all go with mowing of course but short term it does look like poor work. I can't however help it when we clear a mess of brambles, nettles and docks in order to sow a lawn that plants others than fescues and bents pop their cotyledons up first! Ty

Sorry, no shots, it didn't cross my mind until later as I had forgot about this thread. I'll try harder next time... The limb came down during a heavy thunderstorm and violent gusts. Regards

Hello, I've just come in from an emergency branch removal in the grounds of a chateau in Basse Normandy who is having an open gardens this weekend. A HUGE oak standing alone in pastureland, quite the biggest tree in terms of mass I have ever climbed. I had a scan around the other limbs and found many had signs of torsion and buckling. Most of the lower limbs where 'hyper extended'. The limb that fell and got hung up had been fractured internally near the butt some time in the past but the bark had 'occluded..?' over the wound. Never the less no real decay was present although moisture and beasties where. One thing about this oak was the hardness of the wood which was almost all heartwood. It just laughed my efforts to clean up the wound and my groundy was snarling at my sharpening skills and even changed chains to no avail. The wood near the butt when cut produced dust instead of chips. The wood further along the branch proved no problem for the saws. I will meet again with the 'Countess' owner of the chateau to chat about the steps we may take to reduce the risk of future breakouts but I fear they are short of cash and also afraid of touching such a remarkable specimen. Whilst they may be happy for me to remove and make good damage it is quiet another prospect to let some-one loose who may in their eyes further damage the trees character. I would need to have a proven history working for Parisian parks to satisfy my ladyship...

I just wanted to say that there is a tree surgery business up for sale in the Dordogne region. The owner is also a member on here. You may be able to sniff him out yourself or I can direct you via email as I don't want to cross swords with the Mods on advertising. Still no news from the pensions people...

I'd think about earning your coin via many routes other than just by stumps. Ex-pats with larger gardens here and limited pensions are not too worried about an awkward stump but urban French with small gardens can be sold the idea IF you take the tree down or they will not go looking for a stump buster agency as here grinding is not a separate stand alone trade. Regardless of this, before you buy here, rent for a year. Do not sell up in the U.K if you can avoid doing so. Come here with 3 years living money. It's not a French Dream, it's the same old daily grind in another language:001_rolleyes: Regards Ty

What are you moving on to Mark? Every Arb needs another string to his bow and a future plan that doesn't make you ache so much...hhh! I wouldn't rush too much to sell, my garden round (client list only) was snapped up back in 2006 and has again recently been sold for far more again. Equipment will go for a good price here and there are arbs hoping to make a life here and looking for a way in. Best of luck with it all friend! Ty

Tres cher...

Just a few ideas so don't shoot me down! A flap for cleaning out behind the cutter wheel when grinding in damp clay. I find the wheel can get blocked and need cleaning out with a point thing. Hydraulic driven wheel...? Optional double wheels to help grinding on slopes (or am I being mad here) More positions on the handle bar and maybe longer/adjustable for extra leverage. Single common grease point for the purge bearings to encourage people to grease more often. Regards Ty

Hello AGAIN... Welcome to the most complicated and yet also simple world of French business administration. If you are just doing grinding you can register as an Auto Entreprenure online. You will pay your 'cotisations' (taxes effectively) at a flat rate of 26.5% of your turnover. So for every euro you get to keep 73.5cents Earnings ceiling limit is around 33k It would cost you around 450euros for insurance. It is a pay as you go scheme with little admin other than a basic account book of debits and credits and all can be done online. You may register for several occupations to broaden your earnings scope. However, you cannot register to be an arborist under this scheme or even a full time gardener although a small amount of gardening is permitted. This is a peculiarity of the French system where you must stay in you chosen occupation and not encroach on others. Land based workers pay their taxes into a different pot than the rest of France and this includes gardeners to farmers to oyster men. If you jump into this pool you will likely drown so lets get you treading water first eh? Later Friend!

Hello, Bring it all friend! You need all the kit you can muster to turn a coin here believe me. However, you are unlikely to earn enough to live on purely from ex-pats so be prepared to learn French and have a crack at making headway with adverts on the Pages Jaune and Le Bon Coin for Dessouchage and offering your services to other companies large and small. Here, there are almost no companies who purely do stumps so you may do very well or you may fall flat on your face. It's up to how well you can 'integrate' and learn the lingo really. I wrote some rot about working in France based on my trials and tribulations to have a read and digest. There are several others on here in France who may wish to share their thoughts on this. Best of luck to you. Where are you planning on moving too? Regards Ty

Cripes! That looks just like German flak which happened to my Grandad in 1943 but he was bombing Hanover in Germany at the time not chipping up willow...

And what's this company and who are these chaps then? You going global and breaking out of the Cotentan Peninsula just like the Yanks did in 1944? I wouldn't blow too much money on any corporate image kit. A decent t'shirt and signwriting on the truck will serve you well enough.

Get a chipper before you get a T'shirt... Ty

Dean, Are there any future developments for the HB20? It's just earned me another 420euros in 5 hours today....Kching!

Just the ticket, many thanks! Regards Ty

Hello Mark, Keep it going though, those figures will remain important to help justify the price. I've often thought about the long term future and tried to divorce myself from being the personality behind the business so that it stands alone. I would consider tuning your web site prior to any sale to take the importance of YOU away from the business and make it seem more independent. Best of luck with it. Chat soon Regards Ty

Hello, Can any-one point me to a link that shows statistics concerning which trades have the most work based accidents? I've tried searching myself but haven't found what I want as yet. Kind regards Ty

Tomorrow (almost today it being 23:15hrs) We will fell a Lawson hedge 35m long 9m high, never cut so not thick. All arising's removed plus the 35 stumps. It's a fell into a clear lawn area for 1200euros It was 1100but the client asked for it to be done the day after I did the quote so I asked for another 100euros as a joke and got it! If you don't ask...

We've all got chippers after all... And I like some of you have friends with pig farms. BLERK but it would work! Ty