Mark Bolam

You win.

Carlos Fandango would be turning in his grave.

Saw his 'ginger' song recently. Class.

Aye, saw that Eggs. RIP Cheggers, you cheeky chirpy annoying bugger.

You're obviously a good operator Matthew, and that takes a while. Yeti it's always good to have someone come on hear looking for advice who's actually prepared to listen to it! I'm off on a piss-up tonight with a load of other arbs in Canterbury, and a few of the Thanet boys will be there. I'll see what they think and get back to you.

I'd look at mini-loaders as well Yeti. Possibly a bigger client base than chippers - landscapers and builders as well as arbs.

I too am normally on the cops side, and I appreciate we don't know the context, but whatever it was, how that could ever be justified is totally beyond me. Sickening.

Chris ribs are a bastard, the pain actually increases before it gets better.

I find it very disturbing, because he's a murderer.

I blame the stunt fell thread.

You'd get odd days at best. You also need to think about the type of people who would be taking on proper tree work who don't have their own truck and chipper, and what sort of insurance etc. they would have.

I know I'm going to lose, And gambling's for fools. But that's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live forever.

Also, you do know that when you start that it will most likely blow up and kill you dead?

I'm well impressed with this Dan. What are the instructions actually like? They have been the weak link on nearly everything I've built since Airfix kits. Even instructions on adjusting harness straps are crap these days.

Errrrr...... I can't remember really.

More pics needed Dan. Crown and targets in context. Good pull back distance shot.

As above. Try Nod at Treeworker for the full fat non-CE stuff.

I went for this one Gary. 10 minutes and I was sorted.

No one likes a smartarse Al!

Even for non-SRT fans Ty, the benefits of it are obvious in those situations.

'Mullered/retrenched depending on your viewpoint' is pure gold! I'm nicking that one Mick! The access thing I keep banging on about really is key. I'm throttling right back now, not moving forward, but I'm still interested. Every job we've had any machinery on just opens up new possibilities. Mick's job is a classic example. Sometimes as a climber you just want to wreck the tree and get down, but that means coming down to a big pile of misery and pissed off groundies. Not with that set-up. Big investment for sure, but as others have said it's a years wages for one bloke. No holidays, pension, sickness, overtime blah blah blah. I want the smallest articulated wheeled loader that will fit up a ginnel, with a grapple. And any kind of 'cab' would be a plus. That would save me £300/year on 'waterproof' jackets. The big plus for me would be sitting on my arse, which, let's face it, isn't real work (I make no apologies to professional drivers, it just isn't). I've probably humped hundreds of tonnes of timber around, on my shoulder, under my arm or in a barrow. If I'm totally honest I'm feeling it now, hence the throttling back. Arb is a tough game. No one will feel sorry for you because you're a physical wreck and need two days to do a one day job. Ben, I totally hear your comments about a good man would have that done just as quick. It's like watching a civilian hire a mini-digger to dig a trench you would have dug before 9 without taking your shirt off. But.... Hydraulic power is the future. I'd be very interested to hear comments from people who've gone down the mini-loader route and regretted it. Not so much skidsteers, I'm talking wheeled, articulated.

Here are the money shots....

1. Yes. CT foot ascender, HAAS (clipped on to 4SRT footloop), chester 2. Undo shackle, take off RW and clip in spare oval biner It's a bit of a faff, but doesn't take long. Most of the time these days I'll work SRT, but sometimes Ddrt just suits me better so I'll switch. It is worth remembering that the foot ascender/HAAS works fine Ddrt, it's just half the speed!

I remember that, I saw you.

You can have my stupid long spliced eye if you want, I hate it as well.