Mark Bolam

I totally agree Mick. It’s an unfortunate statistic, the first one.

That’s good to know mate, we’ll have to sort something out. I work with a few other owner/operators like me, we’re just trying to make a living and do the right thing. It’s a fine line sometimes! I’ve met Terry at shows a few times, he’s sound. I’m mates with Ben Rose, so could easily get in contact. We’ll sort something out, cheers for your input. I wasn’t putting any type of training down, far from it. As you say, you always learn something! I remember having to do a chipper course and was really pissed off because I thought it was a load of bollocks. How hard can it be, right? Mark Pardoe did it, mainly sat in my mates garden, drinking tea, but I learnt more about chippers that day than I’d ever thought possible.

Good to know. Could climbing be assessed the same day though? I’m not being pig headed, but I’ve been doing nothing but climbing and cutting trees for over 2 decades now. I certainly haven’t forgotten anything, you learn new stuff all the time. Anyone who thinks they know it all probably needs a LOT more training. When I first passed all my NPTC’s it was a lifetime qualification. Refreshers for ‘regular users’ smacks of goalpost moving and pocket lining to me. Surely it’s the people who haven’t used their skills for a few years who would benefit most from refresher training? My mate was going to book on a CS41 course to refresh all his tickets, but was then told that might not actually be the case? It’s all a bit of a joke tbh, especially when a huge amount of arb work in this country is done by pricks with no tickets at all (or even basic knowledge of tree biology), and it’s never enforced anyway.

That’s the thing Tom, the refresher courses are all 2 days and £500 each. That’s a lot of time and a lot of money. And yes, I know you can upskill and refresh tickets that way, but not forever. It stinks of revenue generation to me. No reason why an independent assessor couldn’t come to a site and ‘refresh’ say 4 already qualified, experienced guys for £150 each. People would buy into that, rather than the current bullshit.

Have you got a link to a one-day course to refresh all my tickets please?

I hear that mate. I did a dead one once and when I got down my groundie looked like he’d been in a fight with a lion.

Result!

If you put your fag down your cutting and holding technique would probably improve.

I would be very careful about claiming, unless everything is brand new. My mate got done for about £40k’s worth and received £8k on the payout because a lot of it was over a year old. I only insure my big kit now for this reason. Mine went up when my chipper got nicked, but not as much as I feared. I did get shorted £5k on the value on my so called ‘new for old’ policy. You need a lot more than a container for future security. The dids can open them in seconds.

Peds you’ve removed the chain brake. I’m sorry, but I’ve reported you to the HSE.

Phew! For a minute there a whole load of us were in danger of being deported to Rwanda!

That’s easy, just stick a 3t digger and attachments on a plant trailer like everyone else does. Hey presto! 4000kg trailer.

I did manage to recover a still from that event.

Why would you want to start a company in an industry you are totally clueless about?

After she got her breath back Steve, obviously….

Would an adapter bit work?

Absolutely. Did I tell you I’m getting a Kenworth 30t truck next?

I reckon a lot of the lumbersexual types driving double cab trucks wouldn’t be seen dead in any kind of van. I think it’s less about tax breaks and more about image.

Of course, but if the oak dies they’ll cop it anyway won’t they? I know they could relocate, but if OPM really gets a grip they won’t have anywhere to relocate to?

I bought that on cassette single thanks to Wrighty!

Sadly I think we’ve put ourselves in a position where that is practically impossible.

Huge loss. So many great memories.

Literally just seen it this minute Mick. Very sad, he was a big part of my life for over 40 years. 69, no age at all. RIP Steve, thanks for the tunes, the laughs and the memories.

Why on earth would you not get it sprayed?