monkeyboy

Hi Carlos; I've got a Fiat Doblo car/van thingy. It's ugly as sin and all my mates mock it until they actually get in it. Then their impressed with the amount of space inside. It's a 1.9 diesel,115 b.h.p. I think which would be fine for a small trailer and moves well whilst returning 55 - 60 m.p.g. average. The only downside is it gets through front tyres being front wheel drive. A handy little motor which when the rear seats are dropped can carry all my tools when I don't need to use the Land Rover. And it's great for trips to the council tip!

Never a dull moment in your part of Huddersfield Dean! I reckon you could be a Twitter sensation overnight with the situations you get into - step aside Stephen Fry.

Not good mate. Some people simply don't care about the impact of their actions. I hope - but doubt - you get your gear back.

Noticed the same last week in Mid Wales;between Landovery and Buillt Wells. Though mature specimens were also dead or dying.

I'll have to dig out the receipt for the white rhinestone jumpsuit at the back of the wardrobe.

Excellent news Steve A definitive guide to Arb fungi at last!!!

Didn't realise I was being filmed. I want my royalties!!! Great find - lovin' the "felling cut". I use that in the looses sense of the word.

Just bought a Zubat to replace a Gomtaro. I agree Chris Cnc - us left handers need a left handed scabbard!

Tony; I've always read with interest your posts and found your desire for knowledge encouraging. You have ,however, sometimes come across as frustrated with your lot. Maybe now you are finally heading in YOUR true direction and are on the road to self actualisation. Good luck! Paul.

Great pics Ben. You could've relocated the little fella to live with John Hancock's robin!

Gonna go find me a scarecrow and release the hounds!

Doh! Me and my big mouth

Hamadryad's your man! I'm sure he posted a link for a company that supplies them(If I'm wrong please accept my apologies Mr. Hama).

Loving the wigwam Kat1e Pic no. 5 - butter wouldn't melt,eh?

Ady15 - there's a kombitool blower on Fleabay at the moment. 99p when I looked earlier! It's up in Lancashire and states collection only but gotta be worth a look. You may be able to arrange a collection?

When will the police get a grip of this situation? These people can't be allowed to simply roam around the country taking what they want. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a pikie site will be full of stolen kit.

Well done for the commitment mate; well deserved. Recently had all my kit stolen and this certainly gives me a bit of belief that I may once see it again.

I've got a Fiat Doblo 1.9 diesel on a 54 plate. Cheap as chips to run - does 55 to 60 m.p.g. when driven correctly - and insure. Never had a problem with it and I've done 50k miles in 3 years in it. Service parts are cheap and because it's nice and simple there's nothing electronic to go wrong. Acres of space in the back with sliding side doors. One downside is it's pretty heavy on the front tyres.

Good question Dean. One that a lot of us self employed guys would like the answer to. There sure seems to be a lot of myths and half truths that float around when this subject is brought up in conversation. One I was recently told is you can claim for your dogs food and health care if it is used to guard your kit/machinery?!

Thanks Treebloke that very good of you to offer. May take you up on it if the insurance firm drag their feet. Telephoned around all the local tree surgeons and garden maintenance guys and the number of them with similar stories is shocking. Working blokes just waiting for the next uninvited visit. A local ground maintenance chap told me he got hit exactly the same - window removed and at 5.30 in morning - and yet the local police still can't tie these crimes in together. I know they have other issues to deal with as well but surely when there is a pattern forming and the value of goods being taken is not small it warrants some form of further investigation; not just pure luck if the goods are found. If the same culprits are responsible for the break ins then the total value of the items stolen can soon exceed a shop or post office robbery. Anyhow,Ashes to ashes is on. Gene Hunt - real policing!

Cheers for the replies people. Like those NO GO bolts; will be getting some of those on order. Whilst compiling the list of stolen items it occurred to me that even a couple of cheap Stihl plastic felling wedges had been taken from a random plastic box full of all types of odds and sods. This certainly confirms in my mind that this was not your chavvy urchin simply mooching from garden shed to garden shed and selling off anything he lays his hands on but people who knew what they were looking for. Kind of makes it even harder to deal with when others in the same profession are behind this.

Stupidly,in hindsight, not locked in a safe but was stored away in cupboards away from sight. Off to purchase a strongbox tomorrow along with iron bars for window and more heavy duty padlocks for door. Going to keep an eye on Ebay in case the local chavvy thieves put them up.

Evening everyone; Please can all you guys,particularly those around the Kidderminster and surrounding areas,keep your ears to the ground for anybody offering equipment at too good to be true prices. I had my garage/workshop broken into overnight (18/19.04.10) and my saws,hedge trimmer,backpack blower and complete climbing kits including ropes and helmets stolen. The kind folks removed the window and replaced it when they had finished - they even used a log as a step up through the opening! S.O.C.O couldn't gain any finger prints;only a trainer imprint left on the worktop. The worrying thing is they left behind a golf club they had brought with them, presumably because their hands were so full,which I assume they were prepared to use if disturbed. Machinery taken was all in nearly new condition and comprised of: 1 x MS361 16 inch bar 1 x MS200T 14 inch bar 1 x HS81 hedge trimmer 36 inch bar 1 x BR600 blower Full climbing kit including Treemagic harness and Bashlin steel spikes. I know it's a very long shot but anything's worth a try when you've had your ability to earn removed.

Returning to Mick's original post I always believed the tales of blokes from Eastern Europe grafting from first light until darkness fell but saw the exact opposite whilst subbing on a large landscape job. Basic labour was required urgently to simply tidy the site up, i.e. sweeping and barrowing , so an agency was contacted and the next day two mini bus transit vans arrived with guys of all ages from all over the Eastern Block and three teenagers from South London. The only lads to work hard all day were the Londoners who were both polite and enthusiastic. The European blokes spent the day ducking and diving any work given them, sliding off to the porta loo's and constantly making phone calls. Their attitude to work and manners were non existent with their only interest being "What time do we finish?"! I know this is only one encounter of working with foreign lads but it also highlights that all British lads aren't work shy mommy's boys.

Given the missus strict instructions to not book a holiday that clashes with the show this year. Won't be taking my dogs even if they are allowed - took my Jack Russell to Capel Manor a couple of years back and he went for another dog whilst in Treeworker's tent causing display rack mayhem! Mucho