S Fry

Don't know if anyone is interested, but I have a pair of the low cut Aku cresta gtx in black -size eu 45, that I am looking to sell for £60 + postage. Bought them last year, wore them a few times out and about, but not quite the right size. They are in perfect condition but without the original Aku box. Cheers Gents

Well done to everyone involved! Big congratulations to Alastair! Wish I could have made the day.

Clear difference, nice job. Would it really make any difference to the chimney though? I doubt doubt it!

Speak more of this fabled zk2!

I got the same thing on one of my HC. It's one of the older versions (24kn mbs) and its only on the one side. Yours the same? It doesn't look like a crack to me though, more like slight cosmetic defect maybe. Either way I recon it's always been there and only noticed it cos of this thread and that the adonised coating has been worn away. Be interested to find out what DMM say. Im not worried and will still use it cos everything else is perfect with it.

I'm on board! I'll get involved when I'm back. Definately keep me posted bud. Hope your safe and well too btw x

Nah, I found the Samson instructions not half as easy to follow as the NE version. Actually having the coloured photo of the NE rope being spliced is way more helpful IMO, than the Samson drawn ones. Each to their own though

The finished article! Lookin very nice bud. Great work for your first go too. You get on much better using the piano wire and new england instuctions this time? I finished me 10mm OP lanyard last night so we shall have to have a climb soon boyo!

Very nice climb Rupe, lovely and smooth. Was there there a decent turn out for the 3ATC comp on the saturday?

What time are things kicking off on the friday? I understand there aint no comp events until the saturday morning, but is there any time to have a look at the trees etc before hand?

I'm competing in the ISA UK TCC this month for the first time ever. To be honest I'm pretty nervous and not really sure what to expect, apart from that its going to be a bloody awesome weekend! For those of you with some experience in competitions, are there any words of wisdom, tips or advice you could offer to myself and any other first timers out there? I think I've got my climbing kit sorted, but I was'nt sure if there was any specific minimum recommended kit list (not seen anything on ISA website)? Also, do I need it all LOLER recorded before I turn up or will it be cleared in the pre-comp kit check? Thank you in advance guys, and best of luck to everyone taking part

@ stephenblair: I never said anything about the customers being uneducated. Some of the people I work for live in million pound houses and have made much money using their intelligence, others are retired OAP's with a lifetimes worth of knowledge and wisdom behind them. However, when it comes to trees and looking after them, they are more often than not fairly ignorant and uneducated in terms of the best pratices of tree work and on how trees as organsims live and die. If I come accross a dangerous tree that needs to come out for the safety reasons, I am not so ignorant and naive to turn a blind eye and advise otherwise. But I will fight the corner of a tree when a customer wants it topped, felled or generally hacked to pieces where a thin, reduction or any other number of possibilties would be better for the customer and the tree! If you think myself, or any other person who lives in the modern age, yet at the same time can understand and appreciate sustainability and living in harmony with our planet as best we can in modern circumstances is a hypocrite, then your just another one of the narrow minded and ignorant modern humans who thinks the world is there for their sole use and exploitation. The greatest gift we humans have been granted over every other organism on this planet, is that we ourselves have the ability to care for others and at least try to look after those plants and animals that are unable to do so themselves.

The Tree every time without fail. Being a humble student of conservation I have brought my core roots of training and education into my Arboricultural practices. Like Hama, I feel a strong spiritual bond with nature, and I love working with it. In fact, my Arb training is just a means to an end in a way, until I can be a full time Conservation Ecologist. Only this week I told a customer that I would not do what he wanted, but I would do what was the best for the tree in the situation. I took time to explain why and argued my case for a good few minutes. At the end of the day, the customer was ok with what I had done, even if it was not what he actually wanted, win win. Although my boss doesnt always see it that way!! I think that taking time to educate the average joe public can really have a result when it comes to advocating the best practice for the trees themselves.

Thanks very much guys. I'm suitably reassured that I will prevail now! Just ordered me some piano wire. Ill give it another go and let you know the results asap.

Thanks Ben. I made my fids out of some 2mm wire. I thought they would be ideal but seems to be too thick still. What guage wire is best? Did you purchase one of the treeworker wire fids or make your own?