Bald Monkey

Well, I managed to get through it unscathed. I just took my time and nibbled away at it. My way probably wasn't the best way but I've learned from it. I have also had a word with the estate manager telling him that I don't feel up to doing these type of trees and he sort of said OK. So we will see. Cheers everyone for the posts, I'm definitely going to look at doing the windblown course as a matter of urgency. My other half has given me strict instructions not to do anymore, and she is the boss

Cheers mate, don't worry I'm not going to attempt anything that I don't feel 100% confident in

I know what you are saying. The majority of the work is clearing up large branches and medium trees that have been blown over and are easy to do however there are a few of these that have the root plates still attached. The two I did today I was confident on taking on and I took my time and was expecting the plate to sit back up. The other one that I need to do tomorrow looks a bit dodgy so I might leave it. I don't have my windblown ticket but know I need to get it. I'm just conscious that I've only just started on this estate, the manager knows my experience but I don't want to start turning down work. However, it's better not earning money than getting seriously injured.

Just started doing some work on an estate and have had to deal with some windblown trees with the root plate still attached. I haven't dealt with this type of tree before (don't laugh!!). Anyway managed to deal with two 18 - 20" dbh size beech today, they were both over at about a 45 degree angle and I could tell that once I'd cut through the stem the root plate would sit back up. So I did a gob cut on the bottom side, then bored in to give me my hinge and then finished the cut through the top whilst anticipating the root plate and remaining stem to sit back up. I was amazed at how fast it shot back up. Anyway did I do the right (safest) thing?? Any input welcome. Also, I've got another to do tomorrow about 24" dbh but this one the main stem is on the ground so I can't really get in to do a gob cut as I did with the other trees. Also the root plate is a lot larger and it also looks as though it will sit back. What do you think would be the best method. Cheers guys/girls, be kind

Great news, all the best for a speedy recovery

I wear contact lenses all the time for work (daily disposables). I actually think they help protect the eye as I don't seem to get dust in the eye half as much as I used to wearing glasses. I even had a fly land in my eye once, I could see the bloody thing but couldn't feel it because it was stuck to the contact lens, weird!!

So sorry for you both, I'm dreading that day. We had the results of the biopsy back today and its not good. The tumour is quite large (about half the size of his bladder). Apparently he's not suffering at the moment and the vet has prescribed some sort of chemo that is in liquid form that goes on his food nightly and this also contains pain relief. The vets best estimate is 3 - 6 months, but as he says he cannot guarantee anything and it could be anything from 2 - 12 months you just don't know. To look at him at the moment you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him he's still bounding around like a lunatic!! Take it easy guys and girls

Sorry to hear about your wife, hope she is OK. It makes me feel a bit silly posting this about a dog when I think what your family must be going through. I know what you are saying about the chemo but he is normally fit and healthy and enjoys life so I want to give him a chance, if he goes down hill then of course I wouldn't want him to suffer. Cheers for the advice and all the best

cheers guys for the replies, a total shock for us as he is normally very fit and healthy.

Had some bad news yesterday about the dog. On sunday he started passing blood and after taking him in for tests yesterday they found a tumour on his bladder,not the best of news 5 days before we move to scotland. Still got to wait for the results of the biopsy that were taken to see how aggressive it is but the vet has basically said there are two options. The first being surgery that will remove half of the bladder but is very invasive and risky for a dog that is nearly 14, or the second option a course of chemotherapy. The wife is in bits, we are thinking the second option because there are less immediate risks and it could give a decent quality of life for a few more months whereas with the surgery there is the risk of him just dying on the operating table. This has totally put a damper on our last week and to top all the bad luck the wife failed her driving test today! Sorry if I'm going on but he is a member of our family and can't even bare to think of life without him :thumb down:

I'm hoping after the wife has done a few easy ones she will get the bug and want to continue. Failing that me and the dog will do them on our own. Cheers for the recommendations the views look amazing.

Cheers Easylift, it's not a live in position at the moment but who knows if I make a good impression. We have planned to be up there for a year to start with to make sure it is financially viable for the both of us to earn enough money through all of the year. It it works we stay if not we move on but at least we can say we tried it.

Thats the plan timber bear, start small and work our way up to the bigger ones. Think I'll have to brush up on the navigations skills as its been a while since I've done any. Looks nice on those photos so I'm definitely getting lots on inspiration. Cheers

NFU for me, about £480 on a 57 reg ranger thunder. This includes business use and breakdown service and home start.

looks amazing, defo will have to head over that way at some point. The whisky will be an added bonus.

Cheers mate, good luck with your job hunting. I'm sure you'll find something soon.

think I'll have to work my way up to that one

Was thinking this area may be a good place to start.

I'm sure there are lots of you that have climbed some of the munros in scotland? When I move there I want to start ticking them off if possible. Does anyone have any experience they want to share and which ones are the best for beginners (i'm trying to pursuade the wife that hills are good!! ), I'd prefer to do the ones closest first in the argyll area. I've bought a book which lists them all but just wanted opinions from people that have actually been up them. Cheers, Gaz

Not done much forestry work before but I have spent the last year working at a well known nature reserve. This involved all kinds of work from fencing, woodland work, animal management, pathway/bird hide maintenance, bird surveys and monitering breeding ospreys. I led groups of volunteers on a daily basis in conservation tasks. To be honest I don't think I will be doing the woodland work day in day out. The estate has holiday cottages and animals and my main role will be assisting the estate manager in the day to day maintenance of the estate. I had a meeting with the owners late last year and they know what I''m all about and what experience I have. They were impressed that I'd had the initiative to contact them and also put forward some ideas for the estate that could generate further income. Of course it's a big risk but I'm determined to make it a success as I really want this part of the world to become my home. My wife has also given up her half decent paid job in accounts for the move, she has got some work lined up in a local hotel. As long as we earn enough money to pay for the bills etc we will be happy, we don't want loads of money just enough to enable us to stay in the area.

Do you use your own equipment??

I realise that if I want this move to work I've got to put the extra effort in so I'm prepared for unsociable hours especially with the sort of storms they get up there. Like you say 'give it a year', this is exactly what we will be doing. We have rented a place for a year and will take it from there. Cheers

Thats a really good point mate about the hourly rate, I've got a feeling some days won't be the full 8 or 9hrs so it would make sense to have an hourly rate in place, cheers

A place called tighnabruaich on the kyles of bute.

Cheers for the replies so far, I was thinking the £100 mark was the sensible figure, It gives me a good starting point for negotiating. Sam, I have done a lot of the other work before. Last year I had a years contract working at a nature reserve and this involved looking after sheep/cattle, repairing paths, building bird hides, fencing etc etc!!