Gareth Dalzell

Always remember being told this and it seems to work: "I'll help anyone do anything I can as a favour - unless it's my profession -then I charge"

Ah thanks for that, hopefully nothing to worry about for us yet

Could you expand on the website name - thanks

We currently work at several hotels ranging in size. Our work involves their construction and subsequent maintenance. From my experience you need to be well geared to service these types of contracts. If they have wedding gardens which all ours do, they need to be kept top notch for photographs. Hoteliers demand and expect service when they want it and how they want it. They don't like waiting and have small windows to get work done - some of ours have weddings 6 and 7 days a week. They are in the service sector and it's all about delivery. If they have a bride coming in at 2pm that's your deadline. So remember, top service, on demand potential extras and you'll probably need someone to give you a hand and you'll never be able to take a holiday in the growing season or get the work done quick enough. They all seem to like colourful gardens and the photographers like shade, evergreen backdrops and features to be photographed against. Working by yourself, depending on the size of the hotel may restrict you. They are a good sector to work for if you are prepared to do what they want when you want and never fail to deliver. Rates between £250-300 for a tooled up 2 man team isn't far away.

I'm not convinced on this one. I thought you could call yourself a landscape designer but no a landscape architect. A landscape architect (as an architect) is by qualification.

Get it locked-up and tagged. Sweet looking trailer, around here new trailers tend to attract the wrong type of attention. Happy towing Nearly forgot - don't go leaving the handbrake on too long or the hubs will seize up in this cold damp weather with all the salt about.

9" bucket is to small. Anyhow don't worry about getting the root ball, you'd be better digging up more root and letting it go bare root if necessary. A good wide bare root which is 12-18" across is betters than a 9" root ball.

You have got to get more pictures or the video of this bit of kit uploaded. A proper bit of forestry engineering:thumbup: I have a spare Howard Gem just waiting for this type of project.

I think you have things well sorted in your mind and you know what you have to do and what is ahead. Life is all about living but more importantly remembering we are all mortal. Plan for the future and make your mum the proudest mum in the world - and if you aren't great at talking, right her notes to hold and cherish.

I agree - except that a potential customer has only your appearance to judge you on until they contact you. There is probably middle ground here cause too shinny rings alarm bells too

"Tip of Iceberg" springs to mind. If you go onto the NI Forestery Service website you'll see it's popped up in a number of other places and that's only the ones that have been reported or they have noticed. I am guessing this is the case throughout the UK also unfortunately. This months Forestry Journal also has an excellent article on P ram. Really puts things in prospective. One to cut out an keep.

Yes, its funny that. Sage think they got the most user friendly accounting software on the market (they would) and yet everyone that uses it says the same thing - great software, very clever, frustrating to use and you need a wall to punch. I'd agree If anyone is into their spread sheets and formats, you could create a basic one in an evening.

Sounds like a fire hazard!!!!! We use a dehumidifier to dry all our gear. It's in the hall in the bothy. The rooms about 10ft x 8ft. It has one radiator in it and provided the guys hang their clothes up on the rail no matter how wet the gear, clothes, coats are they are always totally dry by morning - and I mean dry, not baked solid the way they would be if put on a radiator directly. That can be 10-12 sets of gear hanging in this small room! I got the dehumidifier from Srewfix 5 years ago for around £120 and still going strong. I got the idea from a golf course who used the same technique. The air needs to be warm for the dehumidifier to work well. Nice dry gear every morning:thumbup:

Just looked at your Wolves Trees website - plant section. A machine for every occassion - even a Green Goddess! wow

Can't comment of the other packages. I run Sage Instant accounts and Sage payroll 50 for the wages. Been using them for about 15 years now. Our training company also runs Sage accounts. They take a bit of getting used to but most accountants can use their bureau license to access them without having to print of everything at the year end. Whatever package you get make sure you can make corrections easily or "roll-back" the system and make sure you keep updates/backups often. Get a demo version sent to you first - I think Sage will do this FOC Good luck

Noticed one in the field near our yard, Must have been 200-250mm diameter at fracture point. Fairly sheltered location and it just shed this massive limb. Must see if I can get a picture this week when I'm passing. Happened Oct/Nov. It did trigger alarm bells as it is a perfectly healthy oak, no stress or interference from the surroundings it grows in. On a lighter note - everytime I see a picture of your sweet Landrover and trailer combination in shot, it makes me think if Heiniken did arb jeep combinations......

I guess as an contractor and a NPTC assessor, the bottom line when I pass someone is always "would I feel confident with them spraying for me".

I don't think there is a mandatory length for the training. I know most seem to fire through it in a day for each unit. I have spoken with some trainers and some NPTC assessors/verifiers on this. They all agree, two days for the PA6a makes all the different and when you come to assess these candidates the information is much easy to gain from them and their level of understanding of the subject generally better. I should declare a slight interest here as I am a NPTC assessor for PA's - but I don't carry out the training side normally so I have nothing to be gained on that front before someone jumps in a suggests I have a vested interest.

Wow! That's quite a short training period for a qualification that allows you to apply herbicides/pesticides and that is a mandatory legal requirement. There is a tendency to train people to get the qualification not how to be spray operators. Having said that different candidates have different levels of experience and knowledge. Its not about trainers milking it, it's often about training people how to be efficient and effective spray operatives that can save money long term by carrying out their work with an increased level of accuracy etc etc. As an employer I would prefer my staff to get a a few hours extra training and save me hundreds long term.

Excellent work as always Mr Bullman. Many thanks to those who donated my prize. I noticed a thank-you email from The Childrens Trust earlier for the support - that is a great touch. I know they do it to everyone but still really makes you feel part of the fundraising effort and reminds you why you are doing it.

Lorry Been watching this thread closely. Always smile when I see your two little ones. My twin boys are 5 now and the early years are a roller coaster. We've had a couple of scares over the years with them and each time, you're sitting in a hospital ward with them you'd do anything to make them better. There is nothing else in this world that matters like your kids. The doctor told us early on that toddlers can drop within hours and medical treatment won't wait. Spot-on for reacting as quickly as you did.

more like, lack of nuts after being in that water - you'd be lucky if they ever drop down again after being donked like that.

I stopped climbing 10+ years ago, punted the harness and ropes away and get in subbies now when I need them. Thing is, I'm getting the itch again to do a bit of climbing (43 now). Not for commercial reasons, but because I want to climb when I want to. Could be a purchase coming up from Jonies again. I wonder is it like being a "born again biker" will I be a liability in a tree?

I always find a chat with existing or old customers a good start. It's amazing how many times they'll stay "I was just thinking about calling you" when you call with them and it leads to job.

An apple iPad. Clever bit of kit, loving the touch screen format