Mark Bolam

Some state schools have shite teachers mate. It’s not all about your natural intelligence. I was lucky, my state school had good ones. Some private schools clearly have poor teachers as well. A few of my posho mates were undiagnosed dyslexics pretty much until they left. A posho mate down here is currently spending £80k/year on posho education for his kids. He can well afford it, and they’re nice kids, coming along grand. Very polite, maybe a bit precocious, but in a nice way? It’s all about the connections, apparently. I just think if you’ve got that kind of dollar your kids aren’t exactly going to fail in life, are they? FWIW I very much doubt the RAF discriminate in any way on pilots jobs. Best man (or woman) for the job, simple. Ridiculous combination of brains, reflexes, vision, hand-eye coordination, mental strength, physical ability to withstand G’s, language skills etc. They will just take the best. They have to. I applied and failed because my knob was too big to fit in the cockpit of a Eurofighter. THAT’S positive discrimination Stubby!

Absolutely. Elitism has it’s place as well. If you’re bright enough and work hard Oxbridge is achievable with a state school education. Conversely I know plenty of people who had a very expensive education whose basic maths and English is shocking. They do ok though. They were born rich.

I meant McGough!

Nice one Dan. You weren’t with Liam were you?

Drew Bristow was using one on his latest rainforest expedition and said he rates it.

This just sounds better and better! My wife’s voice isn’t bluetooth enabled either….

Thanks, we’ll do that then. Do you charge them at night when you’re asleep.

The timber can have some lovely character. Turners love it. We made a few stools and bits and pieces out of the one we took down. Priced ourselves out of a takedown last year because we all wanted double money.

He has 3 Protos, but you know what they’re like.

Of course it’s Von!

Not my dollar mate, as I said. First time for me, apart from cheapo walkie talkies for roadside and crane jobs. These were really excellent though. We wore them again this morning for a dreaded hedge job and actually laughed our way through it. ’Send up two razor blades! Hahaha!’ etc. The thing is, I find my Petzl lid comfier and way cooler than the Protos. My head was hot today and it’s February .

Ask Von mate, not me. They are bloody good though. As Stevie said though, Dan and I aren’t big power rangers fans….

BROADSWORD CALLING JOHNNY BOY. ARE YOU RECEIVING? OVER. He’s not on here much now, give him a nudge if you see him can you? Thanks!

Redneck.

Un-boom! We want to attach Protos comms muffs to Petzl Mike, these let you attach Petzl compatible stuff to the Protos!

Does anyone know a way of attaching the Protos comms muffs to Petzl helmets? My mate has bought 3 pairs and they’re brilliant, but me and Danny Mac prefer our Petzl lids to the Protos.

Can’t you contact Berks Highways and ask what they would deem as acceptable TM for the job?

Sobering stuff, and a very valuable heads-up. Thank you for such a brave post. All the best for your recovery.

I got given something similar to this, thought it would be useful pulling the chipper up my sloped drive into the workshop when I’m knackered. The pull is only about 750kg, and it moves at about an inch a minute. There must be better options out there! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hilka-88992007-Vehicle-Winch-Volt/dp/B003SXGV4A/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?crid=BB0FLYG5WMER&keywords=12v+winch&qid=1675285765&sprefix=12v+winch%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-10

I did a medium sized dead one a few years back. Luckily the drop zone was kind enough I could just cut and drop nearly all of it, so I didn’t have it too bad. My groundie got savaged, though, even with Ripeur gloves on. Forearms mainly, dragging and chipping. Funnily enough chogging the stem down took me ages…. Heavy stuff as well. Definitely one to apply bastard tax to, and hope you don’t get it.

Ali should know better. If his machine shits itself it will take out half a county!

@Dan Maynard?

Danny Mac bought the Lhotse when the weather turned really wet last autumn, and really rates it. It is expensive though. I just bumble along in my rapist looking ex-army goretex dpm shell, a farmers Sealflex, and my knackered Pfanner Ventura ex-40000mm. If you’re climbing or grafting hard you’ll be wet either from rain or sweat. There’s nothing that will stop both. I prefer sweaty wet because I like being warm!

All of the specific arb jackets are overpriced shit.

What about this Doug?