Ty Korrigan

It also looks like poor colour resolution from the camera...perhaps. Ty

How rude! Ty:001_tt2:

Really? We pick up plenty of jobs BECAUSE we can grind stumps too. Personally, I have no interest in spending every working day in the trees and as I am have a decent team behind me I can take time out from climbing and rest my weary bones on the comfy handlebars of a money generating grinder. I find your post smacks of purist arrogance:sneaky2: Frankly all I care about is making a decent living and I find grinding to be rather profitable and fully intend to develop this side of the business. Perhaps if YOU spent less time on arbtalk and more time climbing...hhhh:001_tt2: Regards Ty

Ah, I really get confused with serial numbers at times... The OTHER Bandit that is 27hp I meant to refer too, sorry! Ty

Ah... We invested in a pedestrian grinder in order to offer the stump as a 'Bolt On'... It works for us. We win jobs as we can offer a complete package and I'll ask the client if they want us to grind just below soil level or really clear the stump area for replanting later. I take photos to show whats what as you never know... In my opinion, every Arb should have a wee grinder for well...pocket money really. You can buy one cash and take cash with it (not that I'm advocating such...) Look, no-one works a full years potential and stumps can generally wait until convenient eh? Good for slack days, rainy days and Saturdays. Ty

Some days are like this. A recorded delivery chitty in the box so off to La Poste passport in hand and an EDF bill to collect whatever the lazy postie couldn't deliver. (we saw her, she saw us but she still couldn't be bothered because it would have delayed her round by 3 min 33seconds) At La Poste I queued like an Olympian queuer until my turn where I produced the 'chitty' at the counter. "But monsewer, this is for 'Le Jardinier Anglais' "That's right, that's me" But...how do I know you are in fact 'Le Jardinier Anglais'...? "Oh come on Madame, I'm the only Anglais in town and my van is parked outside of your window, look, THERE!" "Ah, but I require proof that you are 'Le Jardinier Anglais' Proof...? "Yes, an extract of your business registration for example less than 3 months old" "Well, I replied, pointing at the envelope Madame clutched in her sweaty paw, that there envelope contains such a document as I can read from here it is from the Chambre du Commerce and likely contains the new registration documents as we are now a limited company." "Ah Monsewer, you will need to apply for a copy of the old documents so they are less than 3 months old before I can release you the copy of the new ones you merely 'think' are in this envelope" " Is this because we won more gold medals than you?" I braved the question... It went right over her head BUT...in light of the ever increasing queue behind me finally gave in when the mother of the Mayor who was standing behind me (bless her 80year old socks) came forward and just stared very hard through the glass and muttered "My son will hear of this..." Within seconds I had my precious envelope thrust into my hand and the new registration documents for... Le Jardinier Anglais "Society Anonym Responsibilitie Limitie" (or some such spelling) Phew! Ty

Hello, I have an HB20 Sidewinder powered by the same 27hp Kohler as the 2250XP The 2250Xp has far larger wheel with double the teeth (at least 16?) How does that translate in terms of performance against the 8 teeth of the HB20? Also, how do you drive such a machine if the controls are on the side? I imagine narrow passages and gateways must be...interesting... Ty

Hello, From new I fitted a 'tiny tach' Very easy to install and cost about £20...? I'm up to 220hours now. Blades, well, be very fussy about hygiene, no rakings ever! and wipe dirt off branches that fall butt first and you may get +30hours if lucky but I find changing them 20-25hours before the blades get dull and heat up which glues the torx in place! I had terrible trouble getting them out so I use a blowtorch to loosen the resin/sap that glues them down and copper grease on the threads. One other thing, sounds daft but always run the machine until it clears before turning it off as even the smallest twig can stop it from starting. Also, don't feed too much dead lawson/thuyia in at once as this can really choke it by wrapping around the drum and is a bind to release. Check the feed chute before starting always as comedians, children and staff tend to chuck empty tins of beer, balls and dead birds down the thing... Got to say, its a great machine and G.M give great backup. Ty

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Gosh! Some-times I drive several kms between clients so if I did a 1000m2 lawn I'd earn a tenner then...? Thats nuts! I found Spons as tough as Arabic to understand so I just calculated my costs including wages then added my profit margin of 20%. Ty

Hello, My groundy is either my business partner who is also the second climber or our arb consultant a 63year old retired London Borough tree officer who grafts better than most 25 year olds. Either way, around 150euros is our rate regardless if they are self employed or not. This person gets charged out at up to 300euros per day if I can get away with it. See here in Le Merde profond (the deep ****) we pay 19.6% t.v.a then 62.5% social charges then tax then we get to keep a coin for ourselves. To employ someone on the minimum wage of approx 9.50 euros costs us a further 15euros 'approx' So having filled Sarkosy's coffers we are now filling Monsewer Hollands to an even deeper extent which is why I have removed the hour counters on certain machines because I like to earn my holiday money tax free....hhhhh:001_rolleyes: Ty:001_rolleyes:

Hmmmn... If I was really risking my life every day doing tree work then I'd pack up and join the French army on its peace keeping duties instead. They are never near danger as far as I can read from the Daily Mail:biggrin: Ty

As General Melchet once said in Blackadder goes forth. " Security is not a dirty word...Crevice is!" Ty

So rude and on a public forum! Ty

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Hello, This is a dream job for many... However, its full of obstacles unseen. Your tax residency is determined by how many days you live in France, a mere 180 days but you will certainly get away with longer...much longer. Be aware though. Your health care, insurance in case of accident etc all depend on your residency status. In the case of an accident (who is to say...?) the Gendarmes are involved always and awkward questions will be asked and your and your employer may be hauled through the coals in a way that makes the British HSE and the East German Stazi look like a village knitting circle. You should still be paying you N.I stamp in the U.K and being taxed either in the U.K or in France. If there is no tax being payed during your 180days then you are in the mire. After that the tax is due to France and if they get wind of this then every-one is in out of the more and into the foresty shredder. U.K companies often offer to pay guardians of properties overseas duping the guardian into a position of false financial security. Take this position at your own risk, your employer is not telling you the whole story. You would be working 'on the black' as they say here. I'm not telling fibs, just ask at your local tax office first. Ty p.s Its like being in a prison, on call 24/7 for spoilt rich people who have the power to defaecate on you then terminate your non existant contract overnight, so go legal, get paid in Euros and get a Contract Duree Indetermine. or unlimited contract. Best of luck Ty

For your information... This climbing of trees with no PPE and one handing top handles is perfectly normal here in France. Farmers, landscapers, any-one with balls and a love of the land at some point climbs a ladder sits in the crown and at the age of 74 does stuff that scares me witless. I can understand the reason for rules but the punishment was in excess of the crime in my opinion. A bit like overstaying a minute on your parking and getting a clamp and a £100 fine. Not 'pro-rata' really is it...? Tomorrow I will climb with only lightweight outdoor trousers under my harness due to the heat. Go on...tell my Mum why not... Ty

Hello, Where are you off too in France? We are near Rennes in Brittany. Ty

Yes, we aim for a 75% acceptance rate. We could drop our rates and win a higher percentage but then I'd just become what I'd hate to be and thats a busy fool. Having said that, there are times like recently when we had only 3 weeks work ahead of us and it seemed every quote was lost to others. Now I offer a free Lime flavour lolly and a ball point pen with each quote and it's all go go go again! Ty

Hi, We use a Lider flat bed trailer that has removable sides AND grills. It is very low and tips to allow loading of mowers and small plant. To load our CS100 we take a short run up. It isn't hard to load and the advantage is that we can take alot of waste home as well after we have loaded the chipper of course! Regards Ty

Personally, I just rub them on my wifes unshaven thighs, that hones a real edge, she does her bread knife this way too... Ty Oh smile...it is Friday!

Hello there, We are often around Josselin and would be happy to drop in for a tea 2 sugars please! In October there is a one day expo of English speaking businesses in Josselin at the salle de fete. Maybe see you there? Regards Ty

Hello, I don't know the scale of your garden so this may not be good for you. Much as above really except here in France I often use a compact tracked digger to rag out all the roots after I've cut and cleared then use it to decompact the soil by turning it over. This also turns in alot of the surface weed seeds I find and gives a better result for sowing lawns. Easier on the rota and wrists after too! I find lawns sown late in the year (up to December) have fewer weeds than spring sown lawns. Regards Ty