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Hey, Really enjoying this conversation. I have been debating this my self as I have a late 1800s stone built Irish farmhouse. Its south facing and the conclusion Im coming to is that insulating it will be a challenge. Heating wise Im wondering about trying to plan for a few input routes so that I can vary what Im using at different times of the day/different seasons. I was looking at a largish thermal store with infeed for solar hot water and then either a back boiler range (there are a few continental ones that have a bias control between heating water and cooking) and then a back boiler stove. The house is in Ireland so RHI isnt a option but also I have a limited budget. If i dig up the floor, Im then looking at putting down very rudimentary underfloor that if I go away I can then get the solar to heat either rads or the underfloor if fitted to keep a low heat flowing through it. Ive found having lived in a number of old houses over the years, the biggest thing is to keep some sort of heat flowing through regardless of whether you are there or not as the cold and damp can take a while to shift otherwise. H

Here are my pictures of the other carvings. H

Both the tools and the record/Coronet lathe are good recommendations. Also be sure to budget for a bench grinder and jog for sharpening. H

Ive fitted Super-pro bushes recently to my defender as I wanted something softer than the standard polybush. I havn't had much luck with the current OEM/ genuine replacements available (only got 12 months out of the last front radius arm bushes). Keith Gott has a decent discount if you are able to get over to them. thanks, H

What about a Lucas/Peterson? They very very occasionally come up second-hand. They-re portable, have a decent log capacity and are accurate. H

Hi Cutter Sy if Dent doesnt want it could I have it? thanks, H

Id be checking the ignition switch. If you pull the steering colomn shroud off, and take the instrument panel to one side you can usually see the back of the switch. Often when they fail, they will short across the terminals. A quick test would be to run a 12v feed from the battery to the solonoid, and if when you break the wire, she stops, theres your problem. If you are replacing it, definately dont buy a aftermarket. They are known for leaving the starter engaged! bye bye £150 odd starter from a £10 switch!

I thought that standard forestry would be to thin 1 in 4 (every 4th row), just to allow a machine down it. If you dont want to row thin, randomly taking out trees in a matrix pattern, just taking out enough to open the canopy a very small bit, would allow the greatest growth increment as trees thrive and fill in available space. Doing this every couple of years will provide you with timber but also keep the crop growing. Being where you are though and as you have said the wind is probabily going to be the biggest problem. If you are getting wind-throw, you might already be hitting critical height and there is not alot you can do except plan for the next crop. Taking advantage of sheltered parts of the site and doing more thinning/management there can extend the life of the trees before they fall over. Are you looking at planting just native broadleaves such as oak/beech? I initially thought of those on my place on the west of Ireland but have since come back around to planting with Douglas and WRC as Id like trees not bushes! ta, H

Ebay is probabily your best bet. H

I was deeply shocked to hear of your news. I often think that as people we are guilty of becoming hardened to bad news, but in this case it effected me as its so obvious the here today and gone tomorrow that the whole incident had. You have lost so much. Im much earlier than you were, on a similar journey towards a simplier life, but I do hope that you manage to get sorted and manage to find the strength to start again. All the best, Hugh.

Haha, I was out working on a cattle station. The family I worked for had about 4 million acres.

The UK is just soft . There is little true wilderness. I remember my most humbling occasion when in outback Australia. I was dropped out in a helicopter to fix a 4x4 that had broken down and it wasnt until I had it running (always the absolute first priority before even going to the toilet!) that I sat down and realised that I was at least 100 km or 60 miles if not 150km from another living soul...... Im not sure if there are many other places in the world (on land anyway) that thats the case. H

Hi mate, I was wondering if you ever had a chance to do a video of you retipping the blade? Im very interested, either that or if you were able to show me? Im just starting out and will probabily make a jig myself. Dont get me started on the price of the other bits too! THanks, Hugh

Id look at a TDv8 range rover. The LR3 TDv6 are not proving to be great long term reliable engines. H

Thanks for that What sort of money am i looking at? H

Hi, I was wondering would anyone have any recommendations on where I could get the circular blade off my 6" Peterson retipped? I discovered today how much they dislike cutting steel so need to replace the lot! Either that or tell me how I could do it myself! Im based near Cirencester but travel lots with work. thanks, Hugh.

I half looked for a engine of similiar sized honda and I was getting prices of over 2k for a 20hp with electric start! Scary. H

Books collected. Very grateful! H

Many thanks Paul, I'll try them. thanks, Hugh

Hi there, I have recently repaired and started using a somewhat old Wolseley chain swipe behind my MF 65. While the machine is great, unfortunately one of the link chains/holders has worn and cracked. I was wondering has anyine got one of these/know where I can get spare parts for them? Here is a link to a old advert to show what it is! https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwirkPDjq7vUAhXnCMAKHemZBx8QtwIIKTAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSPapg870XYs&usg=AFQjCNHm9Z2T_GLlTu8W_gztCCkas8cMLA&cad=rja Thanks, Hugh.

Are you heading to Elmia wood in a month or sos time? Might be a good chance to buy. H

Very good post Timon and raises a number of points that are often overlooked. H

Fabulous knife!

Im sorry, but Id be another saying rack thin it, with a selective thin between the racks. Then you can skidd/forward it out quickly with the least damage to the remaining crop. Once at roadside you can then decide to either sell it whole tree for chipping or cut products out of it. Id be suggesting either a 360 or a small harvester. With doing a entirely matrix thin you will damage the remaining crop badly from all the knocks and scrapes. H

Im looking at trying to get a 3-5t forwarding trailer back to Ireland in the next few months. I have a Defender and a class 1 licence. Looking at this it certainly looks possible. The nose weight might be interesting if I leave the craine on but not impossible. Might want to not go over 20mph though. H