silky fox

The Maple has given up it,s wonderful foliage and as a bonus you get a funky Autumnal design on your car for a while before the wind blows them off.I like that.?

My preference and something I have done unofficially in the past would be to take complete novices and teach them Throwline techniques,how to access the tree using rope and harness,tree climbing,work positioning,aerial rescue,safe use of the chainsaw in a tree from a working rope,free fall cuts,directional cuts,hand held sections.Tree felling of small/medium trees.Snedding and cross-cutting.Basic chainsaw maintenance.Safe use of a Chipper and Stumpgrinder.No idea what the numbers of the units are They keep changing but you get the picture.Basically all the things I love doing and have been trained,re-trained and refreshed many times over the years.Got some great leads from Paul yesterday.I find it very easy to engage with people and enthuse them which results in getting the best out of people.My favourite thing to do.

Give me a heads up when this is and I,ll pop down.Last time was excellent and I can take you round the Cathedral again.Its had some extensive modernisation within.Thanks again for the positivity Ian.

They say,"It,s not what you know...but who you know." Spend time with like minded folk.

Brilliant end to week.Although our paths have crossed within the Industry it was my first real chance to properly catch up with Paul Elcoat for over 20 years.We talked Trees and Treework.That,s my favourite kind of meeting.Top bloke who has done very well for himself within consultancy and the HSE.Something close to my heart.

People on the same wavelength[emoji2][emoji106][emoji123] No Dad bod for me?...or Grandad bod for that matter!! Gonna get lean,ripped and shredded for 2020! [emoji3][emoji471]Now that,s what I call relevant[emoji846] Have an amazing weekend Arbtalkers!

Brilliant advice Arbtalkers! and I take it all on board.I hear what you,re saying.I don,t fight or have any fancy to compete although I have always watched boxing (Nigel Benn was my favourite boxer) and there is a boxing class in the Gym.??

Great to hear from you Ian.Harry Potter?? Never heard of her....bit after my time mate?... Lord of the rings is more my era ? I am actually rather pleased you have responded and are keen to hear my plans.Not only do I consider you one of my best Arboricultural buddies and I am a great Fan of Target Trees but you have a connection with the place in which it all started for me,Houghal College.That is where I first decided that training was where I set my sights (and that was even before I had my blue book). I just can,t seem to get in there.I,ve even just missed another chance as they were after an instructor and the deadline ended last week I believe.Didn,t see the advert till it was too late.Been concentrating on helping my friends Company get off the ground so I,ve been climbing through the summer which has been great fun...There isn't much else up here.South has always been where the work is at and after my five years in London I told myself that I would stay in the North to be with my Grandchildren and Family(and Tree work) However.......Yesterday I recieved a message from a friend from a long way back.....right to the beginning.Houghal in fact.He has done rather well for himself since we met at college and we are meeting this morning for Coffee and a wander around the City.He is my go to for advice.Some people may know in the Arb world.I shall post my day with him later.So on this rainy morning I shall dash down to train for an hour then catch up with my good friend Paul Elcoat ??

Thanks Wes...? It,s an Onion of a thread? and I,m not your average Tree loving Quinquagenarian???

No filters,light or colour adjustment,just Natures own Breathtaking palette

And another.....This is my favouriteTree in the street

Woke up with my feet firmly on the ground after what was a massive high to see yet another marvelous natural sight over the neighbourhood...

I was in awe of this sight.....and humbled.

Yesterday was a massive high for me and i ended the day with a ride up to my favourite hideout up in the Penines,Fox Cottage where I witnessed a spectacular sunset...

That,s a wonderful looking crowd Khriss.

I am enjoying climbing so much at the moment that I am happy being a Tree Surgeon. ??? P.S I,m 51? and 50 is the new 40....and I quite like the idea doing an Iron man challenge!

I have lost this much weight.Thanks to all the advice on Nutrition and diet from the Team here and discipline from myself.They reckon I,ll have a six pack by Xmas! (My intention was only ever to replace the pub with something and get in shape) But now I,m about 95% where I need to be.Ok I shall speak no more about this but I,m on such a Buzz rightnow[emoji16][emoji219]

Don,t want to bore folk with loads of posts on how great I feel because of my Fitness journey so this WILL be the last but I have to share this as it is a great day for me...Just over three years ago I was having my HAVS check up at the doctors which incidentally showed great improvement after using the 160T as my primary saw.Anyhoo I asked him on a separate issue how I could lose the 35 year old Beer belly.My metabolism and testosterone level were right down and I was drinking heavily so these factors were not doing me any favours."Get in the gym and lift weight" he said.As you all know I have been Teetotal almost three years now which has changed my life completely and I would say I,m at least twice as strong as I used to be,maybe a lot more but I still couldn't,t shift the last bit of timber around my waist.when I joined the Gym I noticed that I could see Gregg's Bakers from the window.At that moment i knew this was the gym for me.I used to eat far too much from that place.So the last several weeks I have added "Calorific defecit" to my routine (use up more than you put in) in a bid to get 100% in shape.I,d rather be lean that big.As it happens my upper body strength and muscularity is increasing whereas......

The stylus/S-pen is one of many things that make this such an incredible device.Take it out you can scribble what you like on the screen without opening you mobile.It will be a couple of years before I upgrade again.

Indeed.Great profile picture by the way.Trees,Windmills and bicycles are my favourite things.

I have had a mobile phone since around the year 2000.As a kid I was fascinated with futuristic gadgets that I saw on Blake's 7 or Space 1999.I would dream about having a communicator which had a screen and sure enough we have reached that stage...and beyond.I have bought the latest mobile device as they were developed.Couldn,t help myself.Most of them on pay as you go up until the time I began this thread.Then I got a contract and over the last six years I have gone from Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and upgraded every two years until now.I finally am completely satisfied with the capability of my Note 8 which is two years old now.The case is wearing away but the device is like new still and i keep it in my pocket whenever I climb...or chip.It,s great to be on a monthly tariff of about £15.I,ve learned to use WiFi hotspots and I use very little data.It still takes a fantastic picture and has a powerful brain.It,s years since I used a computer.

The sight of this Tree has just made my day...I will never tire of looking at Trees especially at this time of year. Nature is perfect in every way.

After a warm up in the Gym I witness my world warming up.What a great way to start the week.Have a productive week Arbtalkland.

Had the whole place to myself (almost) first time doing dips.what a great way to start the week

I am back into the swing of things nutrition and training wise.I had six months to a year where I didn't, go often mainly due to the fact that after climbing or a heavy day cutting and moving timber I was tired.But I have had a second wind.Three years ago when I was contemplating giving up alcohol I needed a replacement for the pub.On my first day going up the staircase towards this gym I looked at this poster and thought one day I will realise I have become a new and improved me.I only ever wanted to lose weight and take my mind off drinking.Had a great two weeks back at it.Down to 98 kg now and getting stronger and stronger.Sleep improves...Tree climbing is easier than ever and groundwork just like Cardio .....I was always into Fitness as a kid and it has come full circle.Going to take the dog out now then get an hour in at the gym before a couple of small tree jobs.Happy days indeed.