andythesquirel

I've just had some heating oil delivered today. Price is now unbelievable. Over past 4 years, price has tripled. I have a oil fueled Aga, running a pressure jet burner. I already close it down when i can to save money. The way prices are going, i have serious concerns about being able to continue running it. But, what's the alternative? I could change to gas, but the price of that is predicted to rise as well. Is everyone else starting to worry about the necessities at home? I have bigger concerns for my parents if we have a cold winter, as i know they will just turn the heating off.

Careful Dean. You'll put people off attending the climbing get together.

Good on ya mate for posting the vid. As already said, it takes a lot of balls to post something onto a site where there are so many experienced professionals. But, by posting the vid, and by the responses from other members, it helps educate people such as myself who also have very little experience. Keep on posting.

Dean, regarding the ID parade if you have to do one. Don't discount the worth of it because you think you can't id them. Years ago i was in a pub when my mate got glassed in the face in the toilets. Only saw the lad who had done it briefly as he walked out of the pub, and that was before i knew what had happened. When i was asked by police to descibe him I couldn't. The next day i was asked to do an ID parade for a possible suspect. I almost didn't go as i was sure i wouldn't be able to pick him out. As soon as i walked into the ID room i spotted him. 3 witnesses all picked him out among 14 others. YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.

Well done Dean for the actions you took. Society is selfish today, and the majority of people are too afraid to intervene due to the consequences, often hyped by the media. It is in these type of situations that shows the character of the individual. You do not have time to think, you just act according to your character. I have seen crimes where people try to ignore what's going on, and also seen accidents where people are in need of help, where people freeze or refuse to help. Hearing accounts by people here gives me hope that society is not at an end, and there are still decent people out there. As regards the two scrotes, what hope is there for them when they are prepared to attack an elderly person. - - BRING BACK NATIONAL SERVICE and teach them some discipline and respect. Hope the old boy recovers fully, and does not suffer from the incident and be afraid to go out in the future.

These remind me of an old stihl contra chainsaw. Lots of parts appear the same. Coincidence?

Small town life, GREAT:001_smile: I wouldn't mind having a go.

I agree with the previous posts. I have only once found a tradesman who i was happy with their work and would recommend. Like Dean, I have been burnt in the past and so now do everything i can myself. However, i do feel that this might be because most of us here have pride in our work and so are as near perfectionists as we can. Whereas, as previously stated, most "builders" (jack of all trades) are in it for the money and any standard will do. The comments about the single professional are IMO correct. The lads I mentioned are plasterers only. I was recommended them by the most analy retentive person I know, who's house is like a showhouse. (He places three seperate mats down before putting a coffee cup on a table, and as soon as you finish its washed!) However, i knew that if he was satisfied with the plasterers i would be. They worked flat out all day, did an excelent job, even help with some lifting for me whilst there, and popped in a few weeks later whilst passing to see if i was happy with their work. VERY HARD TO FIND NOWADAYS!

Dean, we appear to have a similar nature. Finding good help or companies that you trust is very hard nowadays. Too many large firms with no pride in their work.

What about that old one of "I can't give you much for it, as it might have nails in it, and so sawing it is a problem"!

Good to see people in the industry assisting in real on the job type training. Well done to you Pete. Looks like everyone had a good time, and no doubt learnt a lot. Training as it should be!

Nice work Dean. I know what you mean about the cost saving. I was quoted for having 2 velux's in my roof. After seeing the quote I put them in myself. Saved an absolute fortune, and not that hard to do in the end. I'll have a go at doing anything except when it's obvious that it won't be cost effective due to the time it would take me. I don't like paying anyone to do anything i can do myself. It's good to see there are still people around who have some manual skills. Nowadays, the general public are afraid / incapable of doing anything themselves. However, I suppose that keeps tradesmen in a job!

As i reply on my Macbook pro, i have to go with MAC. I have used pc's and windows at work for years and used them at home. I am basically computer illiterate and have difficulty doing anything new on them. I was suffering lots of virus attacks, kept messing up settings, and had problems with speed processing etc on the pc, and so switched to a Mac. Mac seems to me to be more simple to operate at a basic level, and so you can't mess it up by simple mistakes as on a PC. Also, as stated before, no virus problems. I am sure that a good user with knowledge on a pc would not have the problems i have had, but we cannot all be geniuses on conputers (and my son isn't old enoght yet to tutor me:001_smile: So as I said, for basic me, the Mac wins hands down. When i used Pc's i was constantly hating every minute of using them, but since i have got a Mac, the simplicity makes me want to learn more on it. Might even create my own web page:001_tt1:

Cheers Dean, have to see how it pans out.

Sorry Dean, Just confirmed that I am working, and there is no chance of getting the day off. What time will people be their climbing till? I may be able to finish at 15:00hrs on 16th, and I am probably only an hour away. If possible I'd like to go and maybe camp the night. (Not back at work till 1500hrs on 17th). If everyone will have packed up for the day by 16:00 then i'll have to catch the next one, if i'm still invited!

I'm a part time beginner! If I am not working and can make it, I'd be interested in going. It would be nice to meet up and see how the professionals do it.

Just a note to anyone looking at buying a second hand Ifor Williams trailer. These are one of the most common stolen trailers, but one check you can easily carry out is to get the serial number and phone a main dealer. Ifor Williams hold serial numbers of trailers reported stolen to them. If the serial number flags up stolen, the police will be contacted, and you know not to buy it! No data protection issues at all. Its only one check, as the owner might not have reported it to Ifor Williams, but its better than nothing.

Charlie, glad to hear its working and looking promising. I have to agree with you, that if the bolts were loose, the seller's knew it was seized. Good for you that you are clearly a better mechanic. I think i'd still give em a piece of my mind though!

Sorry to hear about this mate. It appears you have been well and truly conned. It's a shame because e-bay is generally very good to use. Just a small minority using it to make a quick profit can ruin it for the rest of us. As I also buy quite a lot of equipment of e-bay, I fear its only a matter of time before I get Burnt. Let us know how you get on with the so called sellers!

You can never have too much info about firewood:001_tongue:

In England there is a catchall offence of "MPV - MECHANICAL PROPELLED VEHICLE". This can encompass many forms of transport, and ultimately means the riders can commit criminal offences. This is rarely used by the Police, because lets face it, it doesn't look good taking kids to court for riding a mower on grass!! Also don't be too hard on the Bobbie. Not all of them are ****-*****. Over the past few years the government have removed any discretion from the bobbie and so when the local problem neighbour rings in to complain, he can no longer be told to "FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH HIS TIME" a speedy and justifiable response is required. IMO as long as the kids aren't mowing anyone down, let them have some fun for a change.

I kind of like it. It's so unusual its cool! If it was outside a pub in a small village it would be love by the locals and indoctrinated into local folk-law. Lets lighten up. The tree is loved by the owner, cared for in the best way he knows how, and appears to be healthy. Lets just enjoy the tree.

Large crane like that. Thought I was watching NOSAK RAW. Except the climber climbed the tree rather than was lifted into it. Nice to watch as always Reg. Like to see you climbing and fixing lines. Gives the tree more scale, and shows the effort of the job. Team was working well, good traffic control, etc. A special mention for the crane operator, nice control, and clearly watching your signals whist a lift is in operation. Good to see one who knows what he is doing! All you need now Reg is a groundie cam, and you can have your own SKY show:001_smile:

I'm a little computer illiterate. Can anyone tell me how to attach a photo to this thread? Also, what size does it need to be, and how can I alter the photo to fit?

I remember that winter well. Seven years old living in a village in Staffordshire. Walking through snow with my wellies chaffing my legs because we had to wear shorts at school. Freezing at school because heating was poor (no sending home in them days), and then returning home and going to bed early in the dark due to the power going down every night! However, give me a hard winter any day. I wonder how people would cope with a winter like that nowerdays. With the majority relying on electricity to heat their homes, majority of drivers never having driven in snow, and few people work or shop near to their homes. A recipe for chaos:scared1: Maybe a good idea for a new thread?