nepia

Trying to reassure the owner with the news that this is saprophytic. On a small hazel that she's been pulling the regrowth off for the last couple of years. Using the Directory my best guess is Hypholoma fasciculare Any other suggestions? For now I've told the lady not to worry and to enjoy the fung. Thanks, Jon

Too right. Just where do they get their information? I used to assume they all got it form the Met Office but plainly not unless they're each employing fiction writers.

No apology needed; all part of the rich tapestry! Thanks - a true Ulmus then. Beautiful.

Darn! Pat, it went into a large garden machinery place a couple of years ago and they fobbed me off. Apparently it needs points and condenser but they didn't know which ones to get as there was no number on the B&S engine! The machine's from the 80s but the engine is a year 2000 replacement. Jon

A long shot but I have a non-running Sisis Trio Rotorake in my shed. Free to anyone who wants it. Be aware though that it's a lump and is not self-propelled. TCD: a bit of a hijack - apologies - but if you know anyone your way I could deliver next time I visit Devon. Jon

Wouldn't have a clue but those are intriguing trees: what's their Latin name? The names you have for your trees over there are like a foreign language to us. Cheers.

Putting the rest of us to shame there; good effort. If you ever get any catalpa keep it; it's little known for turning in this country but it's popular in the States as it's iridiscent when polished.

Wow - gosh - flippin' 'eck; you've got me beat there guv'nor n no mistake. Or maybe just time for another Fursty Ferret (not you Pat).

Agreed but he ain't the only one y'know! JLA, good attitude but I come up against two major hurdles as well as a myriad of lesser, logistical ones. First, the size of timber. Either it's too small to make anything from or it's too big for most lathes! Second, few turners seem prepared to buy green wood; they want it seasoned. But that is unfair to some turners, who divide into two major groups, professionals and hobbyists. If you can involve yourself with professional turners such as 7thdevil you'll be fine; they will consider green wood, they know the material and they understand that everything in life doesn't come free. Dealing with hobbyists is usually very different to the above. I'll say no more except that I deal with both camps but I'm spoilt in having a very helpful contact on the hobby side of things. As for what to do with the timber... I split down the middle usually to release tension and stop cracking. Sealing the ends is good and I get it in the shade, just off the ground, usually covered. In short try to slow the drying process to a trickle without putting the wood in stagnant air (> mould).

Fiskars X27 for bigger stuff and a Gransfors hatchet for the smaller; the hatchet is impressive in what it can do.

Exactly. Stacking/handling small logs is a pain so I have cradles for cutting billets into 9", 10" or 12" logs. Works for me.

£18.70ish though my nearest dealer charges £20; strangely I only bought there the once.

Stop thinking about it and get on with it! All my 2-stroke machines are Aspenated now and there's no grief with it; you'll never look back. As GTR says old rubber bits may need replacing after a bit but that's not the Aspen's fault, it's down to some of the - er - stuff they put in petrol. One day after using Aspen for a while you'll smell someone else's machine and feel almost physically sick at it!

You did very well then; loads of light getting into it now.

Lovely trees. Good to see you've been gentle with her as they lollipop horribly from big cuts.

Aspen - more poplar every day. Sorry.

I'm going to show my age here but the best times were Dr Feelgood, The Pirates and exceptionally the genius that is Peter Gabriel. Crap bands live were the incredibly well named DIRE Straits and The Tourists/Eurythmics. Now how long ago was all that...?

Almost every other species of moth caterpillar can live on that stuff; it's a favourite so don't be surprised to find it nibbled. For every leaf chewed the tree should be growing 10!

Could you contact the local paper about that? The publicity (with pics of course) would make the head a liability to the tealeaf. Or perhaps no-one except the exclusive world of Arbtalk knows it was you in the first place!

Thanks Barrie. What I actually paid yesterday for 5L of Aspen 2 was £18.69; last time I was there it was £18.51. I'm not beefing about the rise, I just hadn't heard anything about yet more fuel duty and, as I said, pump prices don't seem to have taken a sudden hit. Jon

Thanks TGB but each dealer sets their own price; the one nearest me charges a flat £20 for 5L of 2T. I don't buy mine there. Jon

Bought some 2T yesterday and the price has gone up due to an increase in fuel duty I was told. Is this true and has it applied to all fuel? The petrol pumps haven't gone up recently.

Softwood but I'd never supply a softwood load of 100% cedar - it's too good for that! Yew goes in hardwood log supplies though.

Try this Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership - Education - Summary Of National Speed Limits and scroll down a bit; there's a box that mentions specifically DPVs. Assuming that 'dual purpose vehicle' = pickup the limits are 60, 70, 70 when not towing and 50, 60, 60 when towing.

There are entire books given to the subject and you've covered it on one brief paragraph; brilliant. No sarcasm there -that really does just about cover it; thanks.