RobRainford

I've bought some poison ivy for a lanyard and prefer it. It's a good intermediate from 16 strand and 11mm. I prefer it and it works on a short VT better

So is ash a good firewood then? I just remembered we have about 5 ton of beech to get through from last November. Should come up good in winter!

Don't worry Hama. I'm glad you mentioned it tbh. I've given them a price and I said I'll inspect it then I'll let them know what I find. I'm hoping there's nothing. As I could do with the funds as much as the next guy. The people I'm dealing with are mediating for the actual customer. They had another guy in who noticed nothing but it seems promising that I'll be getting the work. Touch wood!

that too. Theres no way i can work on the tree at all then if there is? animals cause aggro ahhhh. especially those protected ones

That was discussed, even if the bat was there, i would just take away as much of the tree as possible but leave the bat roost completely alone. However, in the area there is a small woodland and a lake area which is less than 50 yards from this, so that could be where the bats are. the woodpecker hasnt been there in a long time so could this pose more of a probablility for bats?

dammit but at least youd have some sort of income for a while! it would work out at 7 years to pay it back at that price! ah well. how about that, my soul, all my posessions that are wortth anything, and a bag of your favourite crisps?

Ive just had a massive thing with a sycamore which is growing at the edge of one garden, the fence is built up to the tree and then starts ont he other side, overhangs the rear garden, one either side at the rear, and one either side next to the owners house, the neightbour to the rear and to the right of the owners property was giving all sorts of grief, the prevailing wind would blow the leaves into her garden int he autumn, and when it was sunny, there wouldnt be much light at the bottom of her garden. She was causing all sorts of aggro, the neighbours at the back who kindly allowed us to use theirs for access werent even bothered that the works were being done, they had a disabled daughter who loved to make a game out of picking up the leaves, and the woman next door was complaining about them in front of this family. Making the disabled girl feel embarassed and hide behind her mother. It was completely pathetic in my eyes, it was 3.30pm on a friday and i was still climbing, with an argument going on below me, i came down and started packing up, i wasnt having it. I did what the customer wanted. The compalining neighbour did come out to me again ont he monday i was there finishing the job and said they had taken legal advice, and int he winter they will be getting all what overhangs their garden taken off the tree. and if i dont want the work they will give it to someone else. i think id rather let someone else have the work, as im not being piggy in the middle over that tree! i was aware there was a form of dispute over this tree, but i did not know how far it extended. All i can do is be calm and advise about whats best to do, the customer was happy with the work carried out and i was glad to see the back of the job. On a side note, the complaining neighbours husband was a H&S manager, yet decided it was fine to walk right under the tree as i was climbing and dropping stuff out. Mad eh?

if its anything like the 039 where there is a lot of plastic covering the spikes, i used a dremel with a grinding wheel and just ground the plastic away to reveal more of the cutter, works so much better now with more than 3 times the dogs showing.

i did a mod like that to an 039, it used to struggle on its 16" bar, opened up the exhaust and did it well, it now screams on an 18" bar and you would think theres a scally on a motorbike going round near you!

ive been in contact with the customer, they want the tree out, i did offer management as an option which would be better for the tree but finances wouldnt be on their side in the years after so they want the long term financial option. Unfourtunately they want it out, i said i would have a look for bats or anything after im back in work. They said they have had another person in to look at the tree who also recommended a prune, but didnt notice anything that i did regarding the split in the limb or the hole above the partial failure. So i need to speak to a bat guy now.

ill have it if i can pay you back in £250/month! and you can have my student loan this year haha. do you mind if i come round and kick the tyres and generally take my time? i would sure love a mog

I look normal now. Got no bandages on or anything. Just more of an ache in my nose where they had a dig around. All I've been doing is sitting on the couch playing on the ps3!

Yeah I've basically had a nose job courtesy of the nhs. I've been at home. It's not serious enough to warrant staying in hospital. I was able to talk and get up so they let me go. Why people put themselves through this type of thing for vanity is beyond me!

You are excused It's to treat a deviated septum. Which is the middle bit on your nose. I had a sinus infection going on for a while and the op was to clear that out and they noticed my septum was bent too. So they cut a slice out of that to even it out with the other. It's a pretty simple surgery. I should be all recovered in 7-10 days. But right now I feel absolutely fine. Been given painkillers to take as and when needed. It feels like I have a blocked nose more than anything.

I've been off here for the past two days. On Tuesday I had my long awaited septoplasty operation. Got into the hospital at 11.15 got put under at 3.30! Was glad to have my own room in the hospital anyway. A newly built one too so everything was clean and comfy. Came out from the anaesthetic around 5.15pm and took an hour before I could think properly as I was drifting off every few minutes! I've been told to take two weeks off and to take it easy after that. The surgeon asked me what I do for work and I said I'm a surgeon too. But for trees! He didn't know what one is so I managed to teach him something! Got the lovely gf looking after me as both parents are overseas till at least next week! Had the packings removed from my nose yesterday. If anyone has had them before you know the feeling of having them removed. Imagine a pillow stuffed up your nose and when it's pulled out imagine someone tugging at your eyes and your brain! If you want to see An example look on youtube! That's been the worst part so far. Other than that I've had no other issues. Slept ok both nights so far. Looking forward to a nice two weeks off though! I've attached a pic I took about an hour after I came out from the anaesthetic. Was half conscious at the time!

I have the stein lid with peltor defenders and a mesh visor. Prefer the mesh to the solid one any day. Could never get used to them. I have used both the petzl and stein. Although I've used the petzl hardly as much. I prefer the stein as it's really comfy

i want some of those white stretch airs that the twig has! they look super cool!

ill look into that one, with my two weeks off coming up in the next few days ill have plenty of time to do looking up, feeling sorry for myself and looking daft covered in bandages. IT definately seems like a possibility, the client he had been watching a woodpecker make his way into the tree over the previous weeks and said he has gone since, i said there could be a chance for bats in there now then. Surely a little extra outlay for this job would save a lot of legal headache in time to come?

I'm gutted I missed this. Will hopefully make next years. Will meet up with a few of you at the apf! I have to witness mr bolams dancing skills!

I did mention the possibility of wildlife including bats which would find a home in such holes. The client didn't believe it but said there were bats in the area and could see them pottering round at night. I would do a severe drop crotch on the limb, leaving the hole and any potential critters well alone. Would a survey climb be a good idea to check it over? Go up with a torch and a camera and take a good peek around? They said they would get other quotes. But I said see if they notice what I notice. I'll push for this work as I think it would be a good management process to go through. Do you mean by this to reduce the weight over two years?

Another comment passed by the client was that it creaks in the wind, but that could be any reason, i would imagine it comes fom the hazard beam, but trees have flexibility so it oculd be from the whole thing. Thanks again for you comments hama. I can understand what you mean, with all the load on the tree and its still standing, taking it off will surely make it easier to cope with the load.

Ive just had a thought, along a dual carrigeway near me there were some willows that had been felled and left at stumps from 1-2ft high, all of them have lots of whippy growths and are almost as big again now. Would a a prune back to major limbs be a good option? leaving a few climber supports for later work? I think a management plan would be a good option here. I was thinking removal of the whole hazard beam and then almost a complete removal of foliage and it should see it right?

THanks for that hama, great bit of advice there. I was thinking it must be doing alright despite the obvious problems, would i need to get the tree surveyed because of the hole on the hazard beam? Would it be a possibility to completly remove the whole limb, therefore reducing lever arm and removing a hazard?

I was thinking that too, i was thinking about a seriously hard prune back, but then i could just fell it too. THey are after the long term solution, but a serious pruning would be better for myself in the long run.

few other pics