Mark Bolam
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Everything posted by Mark Bolam
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I agree with Eggs, it's one step up from gambling. I'd do it again, like, it's quite exciting, but as others have said, only with money I'm prepared to lose. Insider trading is still illegal. Do those rich city boys really not tip their mates the wink over a cheeky Prosecco in a wine bar?
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I'm on it, but can you define 'good' red wine please? I'd class any 75cl bottle as 'good' as long as it's 11.5%abv minimum. 2 bottles as 'great'. 3 as Christmas.
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I made a few quid in the '90's. It seemed then that any shares made money. Built a conservatory out of profit on Man. U shares (it hurt to buy them!). I thought buying shares was like backing a horse that never stopped running till it won. Buy a grands worth. One day they'll be worth more than a grand, right? Don't sell them until they are. Oh dear, what a naive Northumbrian lad I am. It doesn't work like that. I did alright, but I was lucky. It's a bit gutting to receive a cheque for £40 for shares that were once valued at £2k, and you have no say in the matter.
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Haha! I had visions of you rigging big tops in Korea or Ecuador or somewhere crazy.
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It's amazing to me that people fanny on with the most important part of a machine that costs £10k minimum. But a few sets of blades, swap them regularly, sharpen them properly. Cheapest money you'll ever spend.
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Hi Mat, where are you mate? I use zip lines whenever possible, but sadly that isn't often in the smallish trees that are our normal daily work. Never needed more than one man tension, maybe with a wrap round a prized ornamental now and then. Never had any success with a haul back system, plenty of crabs, plenty of slings has always worked better for me. I am a bit simple, mind.
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That's where I'm at Matty. I don't mind base anchors for initial ascent, but don't like working off one. When you've reached your TIP it doesn't take long to set the pinto/butterfly and route it for retrieval correctly.
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4 sets for my TW, always send them off for hollow grind, I agree with Hodge. I use Orange Plant.
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I'm after another set for my Carlton 900, pretty sure they're the little 500 series. I also have a couple of sets that could probably be sharpened. Where's the best place to go for both?
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I'm not interested in the money involved GG, but (example only), I'd have priced the fells at £100 and the head height bollocks at £400. They'd have gone for the fells then, and planted a decent hedge. Which that wasn't. And isn't. Nor will ever be.
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Breaking news. Sent the saw up to Skyland in the end. The problem was the plug, semi stripped the thread in the pot after having it in and out so many times, it was working loose. Threads sorted, new plug, new oil filter. Saw was fantastic today. Big thanks to Mark at Skyland.
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I also thought the prices were a bit high, but I'm now wondering if I economised too much?
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Sorry Ian, pruning spikes only, of course.
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Remember to only ever spike the back of the tree.
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You don't need to be insured to use a chainsaw.
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It is funny. To be fair, he's probably hard as nails.
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I'm surprised. I thought he would have gone to Arrrrrrrr-gos.
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Poncy Ecig still going well for me after 2 1/2 years. Toffee apple flavour chasing down a bottle of Shiraz tonight.
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Reg can you put up some windfirming footage with a brief intro/explanation commentary if you get the chance when you do it? I can't imagine climbing some of those trees without spikes, although I'm pretty sure I've seen you do it before (it was lashing down). Is it basically thinning single stem connies, or do the tops go as well?
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It certainly would for me Andy.
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I stay as local as possible. It's the pricing that kills it. If someone I have no contact with finds me on the Internet to price a job 30 miles away that could kill the best part of a Saturday morning. Only to hear 'sorry, the local guy was a bit cheaper'. Really? I wonder why? As said, multiple chip and log runs play a part as well. I actually do enjoy the occasional away trip though, as I price them high and enjoy the drive back knowing I'm temporarily rich beyond my wildest dreams.
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Did you sell the other one to a pirate?
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Nice vid mate, some cracking angles.
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I've taken stuff back to b&q and they've said it's not their problem, send it back to the manufacturer, they guaranteed it, not b&q.
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Changed slightly to fit in with my method....
