Mark Bolam

That’s a pull-off rope, not a rigging line.

It was ambitious Khriss. It was tied to his harness.

I was an apprentice for 46 years.

Human rights, HSE, Fairtrade and whatever have ruined it all now. Back in the day we used to get the new apprentice drunk then bugger him senseless. Fun times.

The shed guy? Ebay couldn’t afford him Khriss.

Thanks Mick, I assume your exclamation mark was a typo. We had barely even started wrestling. They are truly mental, aren’t they? Top shots Mike and Rich, keep them coming. Redwood shot of Mike with a tab in his mouth is a Beranesque-style classic, piss-pot lid as well.

We had it this Thursday Mick. Shutdown and line drop booked with UKPN 2 months ago. Biblical rain and wind, I normally wouldn’t have walked my dogs in it. 4 of us on a biggish euc ‘pollard’. The boys stepped up to the plate for me, Danny Mac climbing. Massive row with Ruth when she came into the workshop at 3pm to basically find us boozing while thawing out in our pants. Snow on Friday morning didn’t help, but it faired up and we had cracked it by dark o’clock on Friday. 4 loads of chip and 2 seriously illegal loads of heavy and rakings.

Stuff like this used to bother me when I first started up, but I quickly realised that the sort of people who would even think about engaging the services of half-price Harry aren't the sort of people I want as customers.

As Red Adair said ‘If you think it’s expensive hiring a professional you should see the cost of hiring an amateur’.

Aye, sad to hear. I remember him as the Green Cross Code guy as well. Good age, mind. RIP

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Unfortunately a lot of people can’t. Pikeys and Asians are the obvious examples.

Said what I was thinking mate. I don’t get what a full wrap does what I couldn’t achieve myself with a bit of effort (which would explain the fat Yank thing), and would certainty hamper fells where every inch counts? I’m waiting to be corrected. Ive used all my saws on pulling and pushing chain upside, inside, offside, outside, downside, BLMside, C19side and Westside over the the years. I’ll be gutted if I’ve missed something that isn’t just a status symbol in the UK.

It doesn’t compute though, Craig. If I did that it would ruin me, but I know of loads of times dids have walked away. I was chatting to Rich Rule (won’t let me tag him) earlier, and over there it’s all on the client. Whoever you contract in are YOUR responsibility. Sounds a better system to me, sick of sobbing Doris from Dorchester saying ‘Well when they knocked on my door they said they were tree experts’ etc.

Sounds tricky. I’d go for cash up front.

Not sure mate, it’s second hand. There is a garden shed, of absolutely pisspotical quality.

Arb and forestry are two different beasts. If we’re doing a ‘big’ tree, let’s say 3’ dia, we’ll have the big saw in, so why not use it? If I had to hump the 660 500m across a windblow site it might be a bit different! As for felling high, we do it whenever the situation dictates. Let’s face it, most big trees in arb are compromised in some way. I don’t see the point in fannying on with a 3’ dia flared mushbag pop or willow butt if there is 2’ dia of sounder, straight grained timber above it. Flop the stick, flush the stump, all the timber is being diced up and carried out of the garden anyway. This attracts the ‘have you got a bad back?’ comments from a few heroes, as if we’re production felling mahogany! Generally cut low if we can, like, and sometimes you need the buttresses to help you. Situations can and do vary.

It is on a brick gable end wall mate, so maybe they have taken that into account? They’re a pro company, they did our last install.

Tbh, that’s my take on it as well - how can it possibly? Unless the design is different somehow?

I’m thinking of the kids mate.

We bought a newish Redrow house last year simply because it ticked the boxes on size and location. There is currently a gas fire in the living room which we want to swap out for a wood burner. We have had a decent quote to supply and fit a Stovax Riva, but because of the existing fireplace (which is actually limestone, not Chinese plastic), the company have suggested a ‘cassette’ stove is the way forward (this is basically a stove set into the fireplace, so there’s no sides or top). I’m happy enough with the look of it all, but they have suggested a 7kw stove? The room is approx 4m x 5m with a bay window and the house is basically built out of Celotex. Am I going to be sat around in my skidders when the fire is on? I have no experience of cassette stoves whatsoever. Our 5kw Chesney in the old house could pretty much heat the whole place, and the living room was bigger. Thanks for any input. It’s Saturday, I’ve popped my first can, so please feel free to stray completely off topic.

Day 2 on the summer house ash’s. I priced and got consent to take these down 9 years ago for the previous owners, who said I was too expensive. They have a history of shitting limbs. Current owners wanted them gone as soon as they moved in, but were more concerned with trees closer to the house, and wanted to keep the TO onside. They are dream customers who I have worked for for 7 years. Behind them is a scruffy little copse with laurel understory for my best dream client who I have worked for for 15 years. This is what it can be like when neighbours get on. ”Bill (my nickname), you can bend the laurels a bit if it helps you, they’ll grow back”. Danny Mac doesn’t miss a chance like that. Head out and stem in 3 bits. A spoonful of chip and 4 loads of heavy, tinnies round the fire at the yard by 3pm. B29E9230-4CA2-4608-BE56-0F2974601A87.MP4 B29E9230-4CA2-4608-BE56-0F2974601A87.MP4

@JoshArb is this a similar rig that you used a couple of years ago? Tree beside a house. Seem to remember he stuffed it in his own bin, though. I’m probably wrong, I’m on Shiraz.

FFS Don that’s as bad as it gets, truly horrible tree. Nice work Lux, work mechanical, work smart!

More zip line action today over an ornate summer house. Previous brash left to semi-protect the lawn. 931E4EE5-D558-4775-864D-AC2F80CC5EDB.MOV