daveindales

I like to read but I don't think I'd get past the first page on that one.

Come on, who still reads a good old book? Have just finished reading 'Our Kid' by billy Hopkins, the autobiography of a young lad growing up in 1930's and 1940's Lancashire. Very good, If you have read The Road to Nab End then you'll like this one.

Iv'e an 04 l200 club cab and have had it about 5 years. I'm happy with it and will buy another. Only problem Iv'e had is heater plugs (about 3 sets). Apart from that it's been great. Gets loads of 4x4 use all year round. Not great on fuel, but no worse that my old hilux. And a hell of a lot more comfortable than a landrover.

Years ago I once bought an arboreater 140. It broke down 3 times in 15 hours. It was the worst piece of equipment I ever bought. Not sure what they are like nowadays though.

Iv'e mentioned the dangers of using glyphosate as a root treatment in a previous post. It works well, but can translocate to adjacent trees of the same species. It's happened to me once before. Not sure about different species.

I love a great guitarist, so Ritchie Blackmore, Neil Schon and Toni Iommi produce my sort of music. I also think that Ronnie James Dio had the perfect heavy metal voice. So here's a few on my list black sabbath (with Ronnie james Dio, vocals), Rainbow (again with Dio) Journey (seen them a few times) Iron Maiden, UFo, Y&T. But I also used to listen to Level 42 (1980's), Abba (still great) etc.

I was just about to post a thread reminding people about the poppy appeal and the two minute silence. Well done to LYN ED for reminding us all.

I agree

I voted for the referendum party years ago. Both the last two governments have promised us one. GIVE US A REFERENDUM NOW.

oil caps, my 346xp will never open without a spanner. My ms200 sometimes opens on it's own and deposits oil all over the place. yorkshire water: the dug a hole repaired a water leak and damaged our waste pipe in the process. Will they admit to it: What do you think???. Now we get blockages and have to rod the drain till it's sorted.

Corylus, I knew I would not get a simple yes or no answer. It was meant to make people think. On a similar thread, Do you know the arkhimedes screw that has been installed in Bainbridge? (not far from you) Next time you pass there take a look. It supplies electric for 40 homes, and without thinking too much about it seems a great idea. However, the more I think about it, the more I have my doubts. (you can probable tell I do a lot of thinking and have a lot of doubts, Maybe I'm a pessimest) Anyway, the screw took months to be installed. An excavator with pecker was onsite for weeks. The amount of concrete used must have gone into the hunereds, perhaps thousands of tons. The contractors were travelling down from North Cumbria every day. The steel screw was made in Germany and imported over here. And more often than not the screw does not appear to be going round. All this for 40 homes. Now, I know that local people invested in shares in the scheme, and I realy hope it works, but like my post about tree planting, I still have my doubts about it's sucess and it's environmental impact (or if I'm wrong, it's lack of environmental impact)

Hi onfoot, Fencing was part of the contract spec. Yes was stock fence to keep sheep and cattle out. To be honest, the old fence did need replacing. Rabbit netting would have been no good as the whole planting area was full of burrows

Last year I got a contract to plant 2000 trees to create a new woodland. First I had to remove off site all the old stock fence (600m of it) This went in a skip which a lorry had to come out drop off go away come and collect and dump the old fence. Then I had to spend 3 days cutting back the overgrown old hedge and chipping the branches. Then I had to erect 600m of stock fence. The posts were obviously treated with chemicals to stop rot. Someone must have processed the timber, taken it to the sawmill, then I took it on to the site. The wire obviousley had to be manufactured and transported to the agricultural merchants, where I picked it up and transported it on site. I had to buy the 1.2m stakes (again they must have been processed somewhere, treated etc). The 1.2m tubex guards are manufactured (I think in S Wales), transported to greentech in Yorkshire, then transported to me as well. I sprayed (twice) the trees over the year. Now I'm no eco-warrier, but there's a hell of a lot of transportation, chemical and industrial processes to go through, just to get those trees planted. It was in a National Park and grant aided. I benefited financially, and the client got their trees, but after thinking about it for a while I still can't see them trees offsetting all the emissions produced in their planting. What do others think?

don't plant it with broadleaved trees, unless your doing it for pleasure. I'd rent it out like others have said. looks ideal for horses. Saying that, If it were mine, i'd consider planting it with xmas trees, but this would be purely a profit based option.

I find that if I have a slack time it's usually around June. I think it's because most peoples gardens are looking at their best and nobody wants sawdust etc all over the place. Autumn is my busiest time of year

To be honest paying cash is the worst thing I could do. He's not going to pay any tax, if payed up to £7400. The more wages I pay him, the less tax I pay.

as the title says. Has anyone had experience of spraying grasses with glyphosate in winter. Yes, I know there are other alternatives such as kerb, but does glyphosate work in winter. Iv'e used hundereds of gallons in summer and it's never not worked.

He's under 16. The accountant provided me with a student working form, said fill it in and they would be no problem. However, I did'nt tell the accountant he'd be making £7400 in a year. Not sure about National Insurance, but the accountant will sort that out. He will just be dragging branches about and carrying posts as I'm tree planing at the moment. does anyone elso employ their school age children. Would be interested in their experiences.

my son is still at school but is now legally allowed to work. I know everyone, including him can earn about £7400 before paying any tax. Can I give him a salary of £7400 a year without this looking too suspicious? He would be working for me most weekends and holidays. I'd rather him have this in a salary and pay him over the normal rate, than pay the tax myself. I know there are rules about hours allowed to work etc. I would make sure we obayed these rules. This is a way for my son to have a good wage and me to reduce tax. Would the tax man see anything wrong in what I intend to do?

Further to my original post. A few years ago me and my mate parked up next to the clients porsche. anyway we were just about to get the ladders of the pickup and the lady was talking to me. she had just said watch the porsche and went inside. as soon as the door shut, my mate accidently let go of the bungee and it shot off the ladders and clattered into the car. Thank god she didn't hear the bang or the swearing directed at my mate. The only harm done was a little dint that we kept quite about. Have had a few laugh's about that since. I still keep working for her, so she can't of noticed. I wish I'd thrown the bloody things away after that episode.

I aslways thought a felling licence wan not needed if the trees were in a garden. Least thats what someone from FC once told me.

do you only work about 5 hours a day down south:001_tt2:

depends on size of tubes, but a couple of hundered each man should easily be attainable

invest in a good quality unbreakable flask. stick your tea bags in and let it stew all day. That's what I do.

For years Iv'e used bungee straps for tying ladders on and strapping things down. Anyway this morning I was tying down something on the pickup and must have pulled too hard on the bungee. It shot off the other side of the pickup and hit me on the bridge of nose. A trip to docs was called for. Hence I'm writing this at home with a bad head and a deep gash on a very bloody nose. Iv'e had a near do or two before, so now I'm going back to using rope. Very lucky it hit my nose and not an eye. be careful out there.