Mark Bolam

The asbestosis thing is a bit harsh Mick, my Grandad died of it.

Say nowt. I reckon he’s an HSE spy.

Good point Al. The acronyms do get a bit blurred. I’ve climbed on two lines about twice in my entire career. Anyone else?

That’s the way I see it Khriss. I demonstrated it to my boss years ago, and the miserable old bastard eventually agreed. I’m self-employed.

Just mentioning in my RA that I don’t want my elbows to fall apart again does it for me.

Nice one bumble B. I wonder if anyone from HSE has read the tennis elbow threads in here?

While you're on, ask them if they will pay for the physio and cortisone jabs when your elbows are totally shot from yarking your way up a rope at half the speed.

It is twice as dangerous, obviously.

Stick your pic up from the Today’s Job thread Mike. That should grab some attention!

I guessed it wasn’t on an estate just outside Ashford! I was just about to ask where, cheers.

Wow! Beats my Christmas lights Mike!

I disagree Matelot. I saw a party political broadcast by the Labour Party last night and I was pissing myself.

But you didn’t have to deal with Christmas lights?

Also looked at a very messy cabbage palm to take down. I’ve had no joy chipping them in the past, and I’m struggling to back the truck right up to the fire because it’s so wet. Any tips?

Cedar, sorry.

This morning’s fun. Spruce takedown festooned with years and years worth of Christmas lights. Spot the bolt croppers.

I discuss it at quote stage Bob, it’s often part of when domestics want the job doing. The only thing I get on credit is my mortgage, it’s pay on the day for me for everything else. Seems to work well for most people. I’m not selling an overpriced settee in a ‘biggest sale ever’.

Appearance obviously isn’t deceptive then Mick.

Before anyone jumps on this, the man is basically stating a fact, however distasteful you may find it. The question is, how can we best help?

I am mate, I’ll have a look. Thanks.

Unless I’m very, very drunk.

Alive and well mate. She tried to go out the other week in slightly mismatched tall brown leather boots, I had to point it out. I’ve tried to tell her to at least pair them in the same wing of our house. I never go out wearing a chainsaw boot and a slipper.

Thanks Eggs. I don’t know where I’d be without your life tips.

Had a couple of pensioners hand me a sizeable Nationwide cheque last Thursday. I’m Nationwide as well. Cushty. Paid in first thing Friday (after a massive fuck-on to get to the bank). Found out it won’t clear till Thursday! WTF! No more Mr. Nice Guy. 20% surcharge on cheques as of now. My wife has had to go nearly a week without new shoes.

Matelot is getting a kicking here, but he’s spoken a lot of sense. Neither I, and I’m sure he, don’t want to see anyone starve to death, but you need to look at the facts. 1984 Band Aid released ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’. I know that because I can still hear David Bowie on the B-side - ‘It’s Christmas 1984, and there are more starving people on our planet than ever before’. I was 16, bought the single, helped organise fundraisers, really thought I could make a difference. That was 2 generations ago! Charity as we know it has possibly killed more people than it’s helped. Education HAS to be key. When your crops have failed for the 4th decade on the bounce, it’s probably not a great time to start a family. Especially to have 8 kids because 6 of them will probably die. The Catholic Church and other so called ‘pro-life’ organisations are totally incapable of grasping their own hypocrisy. I haven’t got the answers, if I had I’d start my own charity. I do know the definition of a fool is making the same mistakes again and again but expecting a different outcome. Sending out ‘aid’ that sits in a compound protected by armed militia while ‘General’ Bigboss cruises by in his gold plated Limo doesn’t work. Time for Plan B. I wish I knew what it was.