Doug Blease

OK, I'll stick with that ID then. Its very common.

Hama. Is my ID wrong? Just wondering. Glad to be corrected. It was the first branch picture with the yellow lichen.

Chris, Where are you based. I immediatley recognised the garden and the tree. Although it is a common garden design!

What about a degree in Forestry?

The yellow, flat, flowery one I think is Xanthoria parientina. Waiting to be corrected!

Desperate.

mdvaden, Whats a Creek Bed? Listed on your card?

Mine has always been fine, although some groudsman have found it tricky. But suddenly after years of faithfull service, its started messing me around.

Dog eat Dog eh? Did you charge for the planning app?

Your absolutely right Paradise. But what it does do is allow the TO to control excessive reductions which had been going on in the area, claiming the "variable" 30% idea. Luckily, with a bit of experience of reducing larger trees for a variety of reasons, you can still interpret what the customer and TO have in mind and agree a consensus.

Last summer I had a lot of TPO job specs saying "reduction of total crown by no more than 2 metres." Apparently, too much over reducing going on trees in the city.

Jonathan. That fire isnt hot enough!!! Must be a great job in the depth of winter.

Looks like Towmater from the film Cars! Its a beautiful machine.

Hamad, What do you mean when you say " the boss cant do it either"? I am my boss and I intend to LOLER my on kit without fear or favour, if I ever get an assessment date.

I could tie my shoe laces with mine now. Sorry, derailed your thread. Rope geek time! Thanks for the videos mate, they are really good.

Yes, I totally agree and also have first hand experience of this. But they also will not bother to LOLER kit full stop, let alone entertain the idea of investing in their staff. This guy has a boss who spends £500 every 6 months getting kit LOLERed and is willing to think about training investment. Which doesnt sound tight fisted, or irresponsible.

Aaahh. I thought about trying the Liros equivalent because its much cheaper. But I must admit the yale is amazing. Cant afford to keep replacing every time someone cant look where he is snedding. Mine was 50m. The cut was made at 23m.......RIP

I have the same lowering rope, albeit now in two bits after an anonymous groundsman made a boo boo. Great rope considering some of those are big bits.

Nice one Rupe. I must admit, whe the first pics went up, I didnt think it looked that big and wondered how long it would take. But that is a fair sized tree and your doing a really good controlled job. I love the bit at about 3.20 where you put your toe on the butt as it breaks away. Have you also had one of those kick you in the nuts as it breaks away?!?! Just our of interest, whats the brand of lowering rope?

Why do people keep thinking that this is the case? I cannot understand why someone would put a failed piece of kit back in their climbers kit just to save a couple of quid? If you are THE responsible/competant person, i.e. the boss, then doing that would never enter your mind, surely? All harnesses should be separated from their add ons for the LOLER examination. If your LOLER guy wont do that, time for a change. Try educated arb/ LOLER UK. Sounds like a great deal.

OR you could do it and charge him to keep LOLER records for him? Plus other firms too? I did it, simply to keep my own records in the future, but with a less than 50% pass rate, its not an easy one to get. I am still waiting for a resit on the practical exam. Only one guy on our course passed, and I think he had done it before years ago. Surely, from a business perspective, it would benefit your boss to do the LOLER course himself? Dont want to sound negative, but its gonna cost him a lot to put you through it, plus your time off every six months to test all ten kits, plus, you might leave one day and take your qualification with you. It is an excellent course though.

That would have been a hilarious Police Camera Action tape, chasing down a landy stuck in low ratio! Hope you get the door sorted. Infuriating I am sure.

Interesting thread. We regularly get folk on here saying " I am just out of the forces/retired fireman etc etc. I have done my ticket and wanted to know how much I can earn. I need £400 a week just to pay the bills" The replies are always, you need experience but you should be on £60, £70, £80 a day. Now we have an educated and qualified guy. Who will have to struggle on less than £40, just for the greater good. I agree that a student placement should just cover costs really. But I can also see why this guy cannot figure out the pay scale and attitude to new guys. Good luck mate. If you have 240 hrs to do, make sure your sh%t hot, mega hard working super example of an employee. Prove the guy that you were worth twice the wage, you never know where that might take you. Or, he might take advantage of your good nature. In which case, do the hours with good grace and walk away having learnt another good lesson.

How do you get the smooth finish? Obviously a sander, but what type?

Also makes it very easy to put tension on. Obviously not as good as RC's designs, but cheap and cheerful! Groundsman says its easier on him, less rope management, less twists and no jerk/snatch. My little portawrap, part of my freelance lowering kit is rated for a tonne. Rope, with knots in is reduced I think to about 500kg. So plenty scope to lower manageable sized bits on a simple lowering system.