Taupotreeman

You have to move on quickly mate. I have mates that I can't work with because of their egos at work. I keep my good customers but don't entertain arsehole customers. To be fair, Im happier to do nnothing than work for or with someone that's just going to pull my chains. I have a couple of good contractors and we make the jobs fun. Same with friends and family. I stay out of the dramas and away from the egos.

They will. I've learned to treat people how I want to be treated, money isn't the B all and end all. I've figured to enjoy the days as they come, not worry about how much money I earn, to not got involved with other people's ego's etc. Some of my past mistakes still haunt me and I'll hold those regrets for ever but, I try and be a GC these days. Being nice to someone or doing the odd charity job just because I can,ental brown points.

Sooooo, Ive been off the forum for a good few years, mainly battling my own depression, anger and anxiety, going through a breakdown for the 2nd or 3rd time etc etc and then finding friends and colleagues in and out of the industry that never made it through. From my own struggles and, if I can, I'll just pass on what Ive learned. In 2016, I was sleeping less than 2 hours a day, a million thoughts rushing through my head but unable to focus on any particular one, feeling the worst about myself, what people thought of me and where the hell my life was going. Psychological bullying at my workplace of the time was making matters worse to the point I knew I needed help, and quickly. Walked into my doctor and told him I needed help, how I was feeling etc and, fortunately, he got me a psyche consult. Anyway, shrink 1 immediately diagnosed me with borderline personality disorder with comorbidities of major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder and a few others just to get the royal flush. Immediately prescribed a battery of blood tests, put me on sertraline 150mg and got me set up with a psychologist. Once the sertraline kicked in, I had enough clarity of thought to leave my job. I was also able to work through a lifetime of issues, research the disorder and begin to understand triggers etc. It also made me realize what an absolute arsehole I'd been to some people and Ive since tried to make amends. SSRI's have a downside in that, if you take a high enough dose (like me) they can have the affect of emotional numbing. This means all of your other emotions, happiness, excitement etc are muted. It can be hard but, they do help get you through those patches where you really feel like life is getting away from you. You need time for them to work though so don't dismiss them after a month or two because you don't feel they work. I've managed to reduce mine to 75mg a day but i'll be on them for life most likely and that's OK with me, they allow me to function somewhere resembling a normal human being. It's hard work to keep myself balanced but that dose seems to be a happy medium between being a zombie and being almost schizophrenic. My advise, if it's worth anything at all, is to take the hints that the depression is giving you and seek professional help, even if it means going private. Depression is hard to fight at times, especially on your own so make sure you take your loved ones along "the journey" as they will be your help and support. They can't help if they don't know. Sorry for the waffle but, I'm very much for raising awareness of mental disorders, depression etc. As men, we don't speak out about it, we act staunch, we bottle it up, we think we are a weaker person if we admit it. Don't be one of those people.

Yes, I know the bar is upside down for some but it screws with their OCD.

Looking at buying a new saw, 50-55cc and not from the Husky or Stihl stables. Will get moderate use as a smaller ground/bucking/felling saw and I have the choice of Makita (not Dolmar), Echo and Shindaiwa. Have had the Makita 5600 on trial and its actually really nice but am aware it's not a fully commercial saw. Suggestions, real world experiences etc. please and thanks.

Unfortunately, over here in NZ the vehicles fetch silly money. The diesels, by the time you factor in our “road user charges” become almost as expensive as the petrols.

OK guys, I have sold my business and am in the market for either a RR, RRS or LR3, all around the 2005-06 Mark. Don't need to tow anything heavy and it's not a work vehicle, it will definitely be a V8 and it's all about the ride. No kids so 5 or 7 seats, doesn't matter. Thoughts?

Saw these on a dead limb on a protected Quercus rubra.

Spring in Turangi against the back drop of a leaden sky. This is actually a Willow I worked on a year or two ago. Absolutely chocca with deadwood and rot. So thick you couldn't see through it so we dead wooded it, very minor reduction, weight reduction and general tidy up.

Summer Willow, Loughborough Grand Union Canal.

Old stump. Got a little bit of everything going on.

Well, it's on a Nothifagus. I've been asked by one of my NZ friends for close up shots so I'll pop back maybe Monday and get some more photos. Nice to see the epiphytes colonising the fungi.

That's very impressive.

Thanks for the advice mate. Think I learnt my lesson from carpal tunnel but always worth a timely reminder.