Stephen Blair

is that a possum?:001_smile:great vid

i think since mikes guy was so good on the ground it wouldnt matter, it hardly had a chance to joult, and as mike did an upside down hinge it broke off really late. it never jumped off like a normal hinge would. i will take that idea and claim it as mine from now on:sneaky2:

i think the grants are out there, its the ability to write a business plan and do the paperwork that will trip most of us up, i would try and find the correct person to do this for you. i have always just grafted and borrowed money, but as the years go on i would much rather spend a few days with a pen and get a big pile of money through the post.

you should come over to the west coast mate, i prepare for tree work by sitting on the couch while my assistant hands me bundles of cash and hot lady customers phone numbers while browsing the aston martin brochure:001_tt1:

ha ha.good one jen

depends on your market mick, if you just give them out to folk in the street as you are working then it doesnt matter, they only want a name and number, if you are putting them on a board in a shop then it needs to stand out. i have cards for tree surgery work and different fancy ones for 'woodfuel' or as you call it, woodchip and logs. its a different target market now in the firewood front, i am not interested in guys with b+q saws looking for free stuff, i want someone who has installed a log burner so they can do their bit for the environment, and are more than willing to pay for it. And thats where the website comes into it aswell. If you are wanting every job under the sun you might aswell call yourself 'undercut tree services' and have '20% off other written quotes' ' oap discount' and spell out bargain for them. and cut them out of a4 paper. not for me, i want my customers to do a bit of research into our jobs and take an interest in the environment and work practices, then reputation will do the rest.

ditto rupe

i went to a friends funeral on friday, the saddest event i have ever been to in my life, the church was packed out and every one in the church was in bits, the service was beautiful and how his 2 brothers carried off their speeches is a tribute to allan himself, the last song was 'we are sailing' by rod stewart. Allan was a sailing instructor and lost his life last friday in a freak kite surf accident aged 47 leaving 2 young kids and wife. fingers will heal, windows can be fixed and vehicles will always break down. Dont worry about little bumps in the road, enjoy life each day, even if it is plodding around in a marsh getting eaten by midges, do everything you have always wanted to do and dont put off for tomorrow what you want to do today.

being a pole pruning legend and regular user of extended pole hedge cutter, i know exactly what its for thanks:sneaky2:

my tennis elbow wont let me one hand all the time, it is all down to strenght, i have to swipe with it so i dont, i know this wont be an issue with mike as he is a regular gym user and you can see the ease and control he has with the saw, as for cutting your kneck, one handed or 2 handed you just shouldnt put yourself in that situation, i have sunk the saw into my chainsaw trousers a couple of times, and the only one at fault was me

mr boomhowers old swamp buggy!

cool bananas

micks is for a husky and you guys dont know what a torx is for:001_tongue:

straight climb up a big rope with only your arms, no legs. stick on a ball crunching drop harness with a life line belayed attached to their back.

knowing all the possible mistakes that can happen in this job and even surviving them is what gets you to the top of your game imo, sorry about your day, and even more about your hand. it will heal and the fact that you feel terrible and embarassed means you care, i have seen guys shrug their shoulders when chippers roll down bankings, laugh when the spout unloads 2 wheel barrows full of chip onto a pavement full of kids. these guys are idiots, you obviously arent. get well soon

so from fort william to aberdeen down to dumfries and dumbar ish. wow. i yake it the 24the is the average lenght of time it will take to get to the job, it might work on paper and for the main contractor, but this will need subbed then subbed then subbed again to work. will the contractor who is awarded the area be allowed to sub it out?

can we cut bits off the tree, i aint climbing with out a saw

he lured you in the first time, everything in writing. i have been stung so many times, it made me a very stressed angry person and my family and health suffered. even if it isnt in writing, it doesnt matter. a lawyer will get you your money, they have to prove YOU wrong. even if you have let this go this time mark, go and see a lawyer and get something in place so if it does happen again you are ready for it, these folk are usually cowards and play on our good nature, its something they learn as a kid, it isnt in their nature to be nice, watch their face change when you ask for their postcode for the lawyer, smile and say have a nice day.. look at the back of comet or currys receipt,you wouldnt believe what you have signed, they are covering themselves..we can do the same. i did work for a lawyer years ago that helped me out on a few occasions and never charged me as he knew how hard working and honest i was,these type of folk are like a badly behaved kid, loads of noise and stubborness, but stand about long enough and up to them then they will crumble..tipping stuff in driveways, just breaks the law and makes you look bad, and you wont sleep with worry..but i have been so close to doing it before. it isnt your problem any more mark, lawyers are quiet just now, they dont see anything personal, business is business, whatever he owes you they will get plus the cost of the letter. go and get on with another job and put it out your mind mate

dont give in to this guy mark, lawyers letter, its up to him to prove you wrong. dont let rage get in the way, it doesnt matter if you gave a discounted price compared to usual,or if the hedge was jaggy or if the guy is a total donkey. i had this happen to me once, he paid the next day after the letter went through his letter box but did send a 10 page rant about me being terrible, who cares i got my money, he is a chancer, if you let this go it will eat you up. everytime something niggles you, you will remember this guy and go nuts, it will lead to resentment and stress. oh and he pays for the letter aswell

ditto, the info alone over the phone is worth a fortune:001_cool:

the outdoor shops are amazing, clothing and boots that will last forever mate

wot he said, welcome to the other side mate:001_cool:

lovely mate, i thought your grandad would have a steam engined one lying about:001_cool:

i think the figure of eight is by far the simplest, i have had one for years in the shed, i think i will stick it on my harness for sure, cheers john

text me your number and i will start the harasment asap:001_cool: