jaime bray

My post was not intended for you, and the issue you highlight was not even something I was commenting on.

What was taken off the first tree posted? Was it approximately 8-9ft? or less? Can be awkward to work out dimensions when on site, let alone on the Internet. From my iPad the view is not too clear. Is the second tree a work in progress? Is someone still up it? Looks like the right hand arm hasn't been started. Is this correct Ross? I think it's hard to comment on how 'aesthetically' pleasing the second trees shape is as the tree beyond obstructs the view of the shape being created, from my form of electronic viewing device. Lol Big old trees, and I would say that 18 is good going in four days. I'm guessing the other chap was up there with you if I understand correctly? Was always told that unless you know the full conversation that lead to the creation of the job spec,and the communication that was conveyed between that conversation and the tree team, comment should be reserved.

Its that Deep South twang that humours me too.

If this is old news then I apologise, but its hilarious. Not sure how to upload, but google it. Obviously the scenarios that some of the people find themselves in is not a laughing matter. But these two characters are very amusing in my opinion.

V.good

Im trying to get my head around this thread. So, you cleaned up some wood for him, I presume you mean logs. Unsure why you would pay someone to clean up brash/branches. The reason being you wanted the timber for some other purpose, hence why you payed for it. Ok, so was the clearance part of his job, therefore enabling him to get paid by his client? If so, he may be working on credit and was keen to get his invoice in, and was relying on your money (cash)to pay for;maybe, his truck to be welded, new set chipper blades for tomorrows job, Chains for extraction of tomorrows timber, red diesel for forwarder or mog (some places only accept cash for red diesel around coventry) You cleared the wood for him, but when it came to payment you said can i pay you tomorrow. If that was me and this was my first dealing with you, id have said to be honest mate I would appreciate the money now as I dont expect nor do credit from clients. He was given no prior warnig that you couldnt pay him till another date, it really isnt his fault that you were payed in cheques. If this situation arose again, I would recommend a phone call prior to collecting the last load and so ''bill,bob,john or joe, whatever his name was, i am going to struggle to get the money to you tonight, so if you would rather i can collect the rest tomorrow when i have had to either a. go the cash point at several opportunities withdrawing max within 24 hours then repeating till full amount obtained, or b. collect from bank direct. The likelihood being that he will say, no worries ted, thanks for the concern, come collect it and we'l sort it when we can. Its called pre-conditioning, it happens in many aspects of life, you do not realise you do it, but you do. Some would say its also downright bloody manners. but theyre being 'moody'haha... THe other twist is that he was having you at it, playing you up, incinuating that 'ooooh, im nuts i am, you dont wana be owing me' maybe it was his way of hiding a genuine feeling of being unamused that a stranger known only to him through associate thought it fine to not pay for something at the time of purchase as it was inconvenient for him to go the bank as he had expected cash from his own customers, but got cheques. If i have got this completely wrong then I apologise, but if you consider that he also is in a recession, a bit of slack his end may be warranted by you.

It would be lovely to start a study of arboricutural wages for the variety of sectors, areas, levels of; skill; experience; qualifications; desire of the employee, ability, types of work carried out over the years etc. The location within which we live will sometimes depict the type of money that A, the client earns and can therefore warrant paying and the accepted cost of a job, B, the living costs of the place of living, C, how much the company charge and how they operate. Plus many more. It would be interesting to see if people who pay 180 a day are employing people for work of say reducing 3 20ft cherries with a 15ft spread in a huge open garden and reshaping a regular pruned thuja of say 8ft high, then reshaping a privet hedge of 15ft length. Or are they reducing 60ft-90ft pops in a garden the size of a postage stamp requiring more than an ability to handle a chainsaw with 'proficiency' within the canopy, recognising the need to work the site, the tree, the saw, the ropes, the dismantling, etc. If you are self employed and your personal life etc costs you 650 a week then work out how many days a week you want to work, if it 5 then divide by 5 etc, but dont forget, you will need to replace your ppe, climbing equipment, have your kit lolered etc as and when required. So you will need to incorporate that into your figures. Basically as a self employed or freelance person I think you are runnning a business and therefore should function in the same way as company owners have to. Price your day and sell the service. I have recently been speaking to many people in the building trade and things are considerably bad in many sectors of that industry, some skilled and experienced carpenters etc are working for £90 self employed. I think its about time that people appreciated the fact that they A, have a job, B, it is an industry that they'claim to love' working in. and C, that whilst their college tutor or a colleague has told them that they are amazing, the reality is that they still have much to learn about this job and therefore should look at positives of doing this job rather than purely the negatives of wages, which to be fair as stated are either not very well explained at carreers advice office in the sense of whats required for experienced 'status' or people do not research the subject prior to choosing the career or 'vocation' as industry likes to call it. Infact shall we start a thread titled the positives of working in arboriculture. and another titled the negatives of working in arboricutlure. two seperate threads so its clearly identifiable to people where posts sit.

Probably trying to talk his way out of a vosa argument somewhere up north, over 25kms from his yard running on chip oil and with a dirty load of timber on. Just a joke by the way.

I would be far to paranoid to top up a tank with white even if 5 liters of red was in it. Rather you than me running a mog CTS, they are certainly dynamic bits of kit, but the maintenance aspect of them scares the living day lights out of me.

Rich, do you do checklist sheets for puwer to this extent? I am trying to get the Arb Assoc to do a course related to puwer, loler, coshh, all three in one day. Teaching the history behind it all and how it should be collated etc. Do you think there would be a demand for this? To be done in one day it would need to be speed briefed, but think it would benefit some people, me personally in that category.

Haha, I looked at that and started reading got to page 10 and thought this is to much for my wants. Didnt scan down that far. Thanks, think thats quite inclusive.

It was the rear light that had gone, and as we tend to not drive in the dark as we are normally finished by then, it wasnt picked up when following back to yard. Also when I ask for the trailer lights to be checked that is obviously all that is checked, whilst i flick through the different lights for the trailer.

Someone told me that red diesel dyes the filters and therefore it would be hard to argue the case if the vehicle was tested to such depths. Are you safe running white and red at certain times in this sense. I know that this is not your issue, but just a question on this particular issue.

I have recently had a couple of bulbs go on my two vehicles and it made me realise that as I am busier with other aspects of the company etc these small things are going unnoticed. A neighbour just said to me 'still not fixed that bulb yet then, thats been gone for two weeks now' Does anybody have a good daily/weekly/monthly checklist template that they wouldnt mind putting up for use by other arb companies. I am not mechanically minded and although I think that I know what to check, the trainee has little mechanical maintenance knowledge. Having searched the web, many of the sites talk about checking transmission levels and other details that go beyond what i think I am looking for. I am thinking that this isnt a bad habit to get into, and was thinking of giving the trainee some responsibilities in this aspect. I would also consider getting the Arboricultural Association to put something up on the website under help for arborists, so if this is not a problem and you do not mind your template being used by other companies then please feel free to assist. I have done a table of things, but what I have done is embarrassingly naive....I think.

I bet she can parp! The last time I saw anything that big,it was going over the sticks at cheltenham. Usually said when a larger lady bends over

Don't leave till tomorrow what you can do today. Work smart not hard(so hard to get that right). Get the hard job done first,you never know when the lord might let loose.

Drew, There is a law called the law of joint severance ownership, If i remember correctly it relates to land where by the owner of it is not known. In relation to trees, if a neighbour to that land prunes the trees it may be deemed unless they can prove otherwise that the trees are in their ownership/management, therefore rendering them liable for the safety or any consequent damage or failure/injury that may occur in the future. Im sure that someone maybe able to clarify this clearer, but just a heads up for reference if your client wishes to carryout work to the trees.

Im not a take things personally type person. I have requested from the committee an up to date briefing paper for the industry, but as significant changes have occured over the last fortnight previous papers need to be re-written, and a landing page/website is being produced as soon as possible. But as is the case with every working person these days time is short, however every effort is being made to ensure that things are done as swiftly as possible. Further information will be disseminated via the thread and other forms of media as and when it becomes available. The info will be for those that are interested in getting to know more about the scheme and therefore allowing them to make a judgement as to whether they deem the scheme may be fit for them. Those that do not deem it fit, well common sense would suggest that they do not register.

Whole new meaning to Cainsaw dogs teeth!!

Im sure someone knows the answer. Oh well. Of no importance really!

Yes I saw that, its wonderful.

With 13585 members and the favourite weather girl thread running at 51152 views it would appear that one of us is in the wrong. It must be me, sincerest apologies.

Consider it done.

Most of them views will be steering group andy, never trust statistics.lol P.S. This post is not to be taken as a real post and is not the opinoin of any R2 member. Merely an arbtalker having light humour.

Yorkshiremen, Many thanks for the constructive posts. You will regret the comment about the sounding board.haha Regards, Jaime