Ty Korrigan

Hell I sell it like this, I tell them I have a minimum forfait of 1h (min charge 1h) If the job doesn't justify 75euros then I nudge nudge wink wink the price down in exchange for sexual favours or cash, with which I buy sexual favours... Ty (You'll never know just how serious I am...)

There is a French proverb: "Achete un Renault, toujour en velo" Nuts... Ty

Hello again, Just as well, perhaps all VTS has are buttons with which to pay:001_tt2: So, yesterday I told the garage that they are responsible for the cost of repairing the injector issue. I have an ex-pat mobile mechanic all lined up who will do the work for half the price and with no serious markup on parts. I'm not going to tell this Renault pirate that though... Ty

I'm a Lemon, proper Lemon but I won't that Frenchy garagiste pull my pants down further than my buttocks I'll tell ye. I've been in your old banger when you drove home on 3 tyres after lunch in Domagne:001_tt2: Ty

I can't sleep... Garage extracted and replaced the glow plug only to damage an injector doing so. Now they want...wait for it. 1500euros for replacing the injector, cam belt, water pump and I imagine any other stuff they can make up as they go along. Tomorrow, I go back to the garage and in my best French try to negotiate on this. For those who don't already live here in Frenchy land a word of warning. The French have a very poor reputation for customer service. This will be my second run in with a French garage and the first was very unpleasant indeed. My usual ex-pat mechanic is telling me that there may be a real chance of debris left in the cylinder which is causing the engine to run badly. Now I'm going to try to get some sleep. Night...er Morning! Ty

Just done a 3 day job with a team of 3. Other than knocking the head off a lamp post it went very well indeed. The client (French of course I being in Frenchy-ville) thrust a cheque into my associates hand he turned off the blower. French Connection U.K ME! Thats rare! Normally they ask you to send the bill. When do I get time for typing up bills? Thank you Monsewer Tomas Ty

Maybe the one who turns up in a modest sign written van, clean shaven, and dressed...well perhaps in company embroidered clothing. Some-one who comes across well, professional, who sells the service on offer. This isn't just tree surgery, this is Waitrose Arboriculture... I aim high and win 70% of my quotes. There is an element of the population who shop at Lidl and Aldi and those who believe that M+S give value. I try to come across as a not to posh yet quality service that has a brand and a following reputation. 70%, not to high, not too low... Flirt with your client, offer bags of advice and be their friend. Ty 300euros tops by the way x

If its one tree you don't price the same for 3 in the same property surely? Well, I don't and I'm in profit! I don't scratch around lowering rates. My prefer to work less for more not more for less. Any-one can be a busy fool. Going rate to slightly cheeky is my price band. I kick saw dust in the face of the ten euro daves of this world ha ha ha! Ty

Hello, Just done a very similar Birch for 240 euros or 190 squids and with the stump I got 300euros in all. The wood I gave to the poor and the chips to a gardener. I'm loved for my generosity x Ty

Yup, thats me. Happy to change chipper blades, change oil, air filters blah blah but for bigger stuff I use a mechanic. Except today when I thought that changing the glow plugs on my kangoo would be a breeze... The last one, the one by the fuel pump snapped off! Now, the van starts but if I am to get this fixed it will cost a minimum of 200euros+vat and possibly a great deal more... I'm betting a great deal more. So now I am resolved to let garages do what they are best because today I lost money due to not letting a pro' do it for me. I lost the mornings work, must rent a van, pay for a repair, stress and time wasted all because of something so small. Still, its a chance to catch up on maintenance of saws and paperwork so not all bad eh? Ty

Ha! Just done one that I verbally quoted for after dark and yup, it was very much wider in places than I had thought with access issues due to the client not moving firewood stacks and garden waste. Also the client and family were to clear up as part of the deal. As the day wore on they sloped off and left it to us to do which was a time and therefore a COST IMPLICATION! This is typical of your ex-pat to want to lower your quote by offering to clear up and then finding excuses not to. The client had also left stacks of firewood and building+garden waste unmoved which slowed us further. I challenged them at the end of the day and they are refusing to budge on paying extra which I shall take on the chin with professional good grace and learn not to let clients in on a job to save cash. They have even moaned about the finish of the hedge which we did with a chainsaw even though we explained that hedge cutters don't do wood. I may have them yet though. After I had quoted for the hedge I also quoted for clearing the phone lines of a few Macro carpa branches, this I shall do. I do however know that the official letter, in French from the council, which they showed me AFTER I had quoted talks not of lines at all but of clearing the route for high vehicles H.G.Vs and loaded tractors. I shall clear the lines and if they want any more branches removed then they will have to pay for. Yes, these hedges are good earners but are often larger than they look access issues and brambles too. Still, another reason for a bigger chipper! Ty

Hello, What is it about Macrocarpa trees in N.Z? They are HUGE! When I was traveling around I saw many with giant circumferences yet they are only less than 150 years old or less. Ideal growing conditions perhaps...? Ty

Hello, I have family in Melbourne who I use as a base for my cycling trips. I've never worked there but spent many months now intimately in touch with the place as only cycling can bring you so close to a place as a tourist whilst covering amazing distances. The thing that strikes me is that Oz life is either one of a highly suburban life, malls and air-con or bush living, 4x4s, air-con, dust and flies. I loved the cities, they are really alive, multi-cultural and very clean. The bush, well its an adventure all right. Alice is a dirty dusty dangerous hole full of drunken natives, white and black. Yet after being offered a job (not in arb work) with the family firm I declined. Oz lacks the intimacy and compactness of Europe. I'm no beach bum, I like to ride a bike through hills and dales, cool leafy lanes and enjoy country pubs, tea rooms, country walks and a European climate. I could have done a short stint, a year or two but to live there...? I'll keep Oz for the holidays. Now N.Z...thats a different bush kettle of tea! I say go for it though whilst you can:thumbup1: Ty

Har Har Har... I say. Do a Landy one! That should hit a few raw nerves on here! Ty

You could re-re-invent a trolley for carrying brash and logs just to start a fight on arbtalk, would pass the time... Ty

Andy, Are you not a wiz at web sites? Many Arbs out there would appreciate a real Arb creating their site for them. Also, what about grinding? You could use a young spotty for any grunty stuff. I also never knew rectal haemorrhoids could be so debilitating:001_tt2: Get weller sooner! Ty

Yeh, I was wondering about that... I've been saving my Greenteef up for simply ages now hoping to get them sharpened locally. Seems the cut off point is around 100 teeth. I'm sure as hell not grinding that poisonous lot in my shed! The point about the nut wearing is a good one...I may just bin 'em all. Ty

Handy hint, "Avoid bad starts to the year by taking the first week off on holiday" (Also works for bad weeks, taking Monday off) Cheers Ty:001_tt2:

Gosh, I bet that smarts worse than a 'Thomas Tank' after a chilli cutting session:blushing: Come on, we've all done it...haven't we...? I don't envy you Friend. Get back in profit soon! Ty

I have a fair few Jersey clients on my books and am often over for a decent pint and to re-stock on dairy milk and ginger biscuits. I should call in one day and deprive you of milk 3 sugars:biggrin:

Huh, the M.S.A who are the government body land based workers pay their 'taxes' to are well under financed. M.S.A are responsible for tax gathering, health care and pensions for farmers. Too many retirees and too few paying workers. They have no specific catagory for arborists... Landscapers yes, Lumberjacks yes but arborists...no. They actually inspect new startups to see how serious you are. If they decide you don't cut the mustard and are not likely to pay enough into the system they will try to oppose your business and put obstacles in your way. I have been wrestling with them for 2 years now and it seems that they will only take me seriously once I am a limited company. To start up all did was register at the Chamber of commerce. To be a tree surgeon you don't need to prove any qualifications or experience to any-one. However, if you approach the Chamber of Trades or go via an accountant first then you may be put through a merry go round of non-sense and find your self being pushed from one office to another. Getting taken seriously as a micro entreprise is difficult. Ty

Mucolloch and McAlister and all the cheap nasty makes seem to be yellow and black or yellow and blue... Castorama were selling a McAlister top handle for 109euros last winter. It took 2 men to lift and lasted a day before breaking. Identified the problem as the colour scheme. It just wasn't orange... Ty

OUCH! Ty