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Mark Bolam

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Everything posted by Mark Bolam

  1. Mark Bolam
    Has anyone on this thread wildly exaggerated a day rate to bamboozle any competition who may be reading?.....
  2. Mark Bolam
    Can you be struck by forked lightning and live? Without being messed up?
  3. Mark Bolam
  4. Mark Bolam
    Swine flu?
  5. Mark Bolam

    Ash reduction

    Mark Bolam replied to Marc's topic in Video forum

    I mean why not just fell it rather than do that? It looked to be in the middle of nowhere. Confusing. Maybe he was entering a 'biggest top' competition.
  6. Mark Bolam
    It's a good job it's on Sky (which I refuse to have), or I would be taking too many 'office' days! Come on lads!
  7. Mark Bolam

    Ash reduction

    Mark Bolam replied to Marc's topic in Video forum

    I'm not sure about the technique, but I am interested to learn what he was trying to achieve?
  8. Mark Bolam
    That was a big wound to leave on a Beech. They don't like it up 'em IMO.
  9. Mark Bolam
    Used to do a lot of telecomms work with MEWPs. One peal of thunder and the operators used to drop them smartish and wouldn't go back up for 2 hours after last rumble. Maybe because I wore a pointy copper hard hat.
  10. Mark Bolam
    Subbing today repollarding a fairly big pop. Ground was a bit full (nightmare drop zone and drag), so I came down at a suitable point for a brew and a tidy up. About 5 mins later a real squall blew up. Within 10 minutes there was lightning flashing everywhere with thunder right on top of it. Started lashing down to cap it off. Early finish - good. Leaving my climbing and lowering systems overnight - not so good. Back tomorrow. How dangerous is it up a tree in these conditions with all the bling we carry, and has anyone got any good lightning tales? I am fascinated by the stuff.
  11. Mark Bolam
    2-3 tangs thing here as well, but also depends on bar size. Tighter for 12" than 36". Check the whole chain moves freely round the bar tip, not just one section. If it flys off and hits you in the nackers - it was probably too slack.
  12. Mark Bolam
    Nah, I'm with you Stevie. Leave it or beast it. Thinning and light reductions are great. For rich people! I bet it would make a cracking bench....
  13. Mark Bolam
    Think they cope alright if done between about now - mid November. Just a question of aesthetics really what you think of the regrowth. You are the customer this time mate, it's your tree - you decide!
  14. Mark Bolam
    More Chinese copies Dean? Does seem a bit too keen.
  15. Mark Bolam
    Turnover is vanity. Profit is sanity. But cash is king!
  16. Mark Bolam
    Right Blair - OUTSIDE NOW!
  17. Mark Bolam
    Mmmmmmm. In a previous life I was owed a lot of money by a company working for one of the big mobile phone companies. And I mean a lot of money. Because I'd submitted invoices, the VAT man asked for the money. I explained I hadn't had a penny of it because the subby company hadn't been paid by the big boys. Not interested, just pay up or we will crush you basically. I was less than a week away from going under when I got paid and was able to get them off my case. The Inland Revenue are fine as long as you talk to them, pay them later with a bit of interest, payment plans etc. HM Customs and Excise have more powers than the police. Fact. It is also a fact that they are a totally inflexible vindictive group of bullies. Contracting swine flu and dying horribly would be far too good for them.
  18. Mark Bolam
    Fell. Replant. Seriously you would struggle to get it looking as good as it does now. I doubt the tree itself would submit a request to be reduced!
  19. Mark Bolam
    Glucosamine Sulphate tablets here. Them and the VT have sorted my chronic tennis elbows out. Heard cod liver oil is good as well. My mam used to give us a big spoonfull of cod liver oil and malt before we left the house in the winter. No joint problems back then. I was about 10, mind.
  20. Mark Bolam
    And me please RT, size S. I'm trying to limp my Hiflex's along till your show in August Justin, but I am starting to look a bit raggy and I keep burning the bloody things! Hope SA's are a bit more resistant to hot exhausts and bonfire sparks!
  21. Mark Bolam
    I think everyone in our industry should earn about double what they do now, from groundies right up to really efficient contract climbers. BUT we won't because some (defo not all) of the work is simply too enjoyable. You know that feeling you get when you've just knocked a big top out and it's landed perfectly? How much is that worth? As an old foreman used to say to us youngsters - 'the crack is worth ten grand a year!' And that was in '93! I say that to my lads now!
  22. Mark Bolam
    Busted! You wouldn't consider swapping your Mog for a fleet of pristine Suzuki Swifts would you mate?
  23. Mark Bolam
    Well said mate. What's the point? Another technique I use is when the customer is really old I quote say £150. Then when I have done the job I tell them that it is actually £15000 and they must have misheard because they are going a bit deaf. How I chuckle to myself as I give them a lift down to the building society!
  24. Mark Bolam
    Yes mate, I always enquire about other prices, usually after my quote has been accepted or during the job. There have been major discrepancies! Most of my work is word of mouth now, so if I price fairly I normally get the job without anyone else being asked. There are people out there who think 2 blokes and £35k will work for £50/day!
  25. Mark Bolam
    SWB I know exactly where you are coming from. A lot of our stuff now is really basic clearance etc. Been great wearing shorts recently! I haven't got the kit you have, but the more kit I buy the less hard I have to work for the same money. My current project is building my own hedgecutting MEWP using a 20' ladder and an old skateboard.

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