muppetlab

Not sure how relevant this is to stealth cameras but we have cctv at my yard. When we had breakins and fuel being nicked we had crystal clear images of the gits in logo'd fleeces (which you could read). Apparently the cctv was not able to be used as evidence as you had to get the person in the pics permission, something under data protection. We also had to put up signs telling people they were being watched. The gypo's never paid any attention to all the cameras, the only way thefts stopped was when we kipped in the cab of the trucks overnight and surprised a few fence jumpers one night, that and the pallets that were left laying around near a known fence break point, with 6" nails sticking up. And yes someone did land on them, ha not sure id do it these days though as the buggers are just as likely to sue for damages. Still did not stop them nicking an 18 tonner and driving through the gates "A" team style though, shame the old cameras were such poor quality as it would have made a great you tube clip these days. Best defence, dogs. I've a springer whos soft as taters but shes got a gruff bark and is quite terrortorial, never seen a gypo move so fast as when they walk in my office and she leaps up barking. They don't know she only wants to lick them but they do respect dogs.

I'm looking to start climbing in the next year and i'm not a youf. I'm more into conservation and management but have got grounds experience and held tickets for over 10 years although i don't currently earn a living from tree work. The way i see it is that the arb industry has done itself no favours. Climbing has to be one of the most dangerous jobs and people are getting paid peanuts. Granted people are undercutting but i can't understand why people are happy to work for nothing. My brother did his climbing ticket (cs38) a few years back to help out as a second climber for safety. Hes now a landscape gardener and does some quotes for the odd big tree job to his existing clients. For the big stuff he gets his mate who is the qualified climber etc and subs the job. Now heres the rub, My bro quotes a job at say £5-600, his mate who does the work tells him if he was quoting he'd have done it for less than £150. This i think is due to his skill as a salesman/businessman. People don't mind paying for a decent job. They know his work is good and therefore don't feel the need to question his rates and find someone to undercut him. Those of you running your own businesses need to look at why you charge such low rates. Its business after all and if you aint making money then why are you doing it. Its an expensive hobby and those people quoting ridiculously low prices are doing as much damage as the perceived oversupply of those retraining. I fully agree there needs to be more planting but the only way that there will be less tree workers around is if its economically unviable, which i guess is the way its heading with rates. When i did my training years ago there were few places to get your training and maybe a couple of unis in scotland and wales doing forestry degrees etc. Now theres tree courses everywhere. All industries are the same all these graduates and no jobs. We are just an overpopulated island with too many IT geeks.

Nice little Makita dcs5000, wouldnt start for love nor money. Pulled the cylinder and looks like the piston ring had caught the exhaust port, saw had done little/no work so cleaned up the cylinder with some acid and sanded some rough spots to see if it would make the effort. Been on the bench for a few weeks with the odd 15mins tinkering in the eves. even the ole gypsy's breathe wouldn't get it to fire so tried a bit of oil last week and it did make an attempt. Was going to bung it on the bay, as a spares or repair and write it off but thought i'd give it a last pull today. Blow me if it didn't start!!! half hr adjusting the idle and mixture and shes a good un. Not sure how long it'll go for with the scored bore/piston but its saved from fleabay for the time being. Starts 3rd pull every time now. Good times :biggrin:

I can remember a few years back we had to update all our risk assessments and procedures for the few hgv drivers we employed. By the end of the week they were wearing full protective gear and face shields to wash the trucks, cockpit shine was banned as it was to dangerous to risk assess due to some of the data sheet material, climbing into the back of a lorry was forbidden, and i had to demonstrate and sign off that drivers who had been driving hgv's for the best part of 40 years knew how to correctly enter and exit the cab. The new CPC is just a another nail in the coffin of small haulage firms. I'm still debating whether to bother doing mine, but its handy to have the licences to fall back on.

Hi. not sure which online course you're doing but i'm currently going through mine online. Found it really hard to get back into studying after over 10 years away. And juggling a full time job and evrything else means its hard to get motivated. I found the first few units about cellular structure and biology hard going, but the proper tree id, and management side is must more interesting to me. I hope to finish this year and chuck in my day job to try and do tree work for a living. Did my cs30, 31 years ago and hope to try and get cs38 and maybe 39 under my belt before i take the big step. I'm clockin on a bit now at 36 years young and most probably think i'm too old but its what i have wanted to do for years but could never financially make the jump. Good luck with your study, what ever you decide

+1 for terrafirma here. Just fitted some +3" pro sport shocks and heavy duty coils to my d2. Far better ride than the bearmach blues that were on it even though they are supposed to be a heavier spring. They were actually shorter then the bearmach ones but gave more lift when settled. And they are handed like proper springs should be so a bit longer on the drivers side. Very good on price too, i found electric winch shop and LR direct to be most competitive for various TF bits.

That'll teach me to listen to my 75yr old neighbour. Had a look at the tree, only way it could have damaged the main is if a large enough impact caused it, theres no root ball ripped up etc. Silly ole fool. I'm nr snettisham.

Anyone on here want to own up to why i have no water this evening?? Seems during the day a large horse chestnut was being felled. I did not see it but it looks like its gone over and the whole root ball has ripped up across a road and pulled up the water mains as well. I assume this was not planned. Interested to know what happened and whether it was a proper job or cowboys having a go. Going to investigate and maybe take some pics tomorrow if i get chance. Always good to learn something even if its from others mistakes. I;m in west norfolk,

Just a quick hello. Been doing odd bits of tree work for about ten years for conservation charities and friends. Decided to aim to do it as a full time job and am currently studying for the rfs cert arb, with a view to starting my own company in a few years. Am i too old at 35? I am relatively fit and have been described as a racing snake so the trees should not be too much of a problem:001_smile: A big thanks in advance for all the answers to the many questions i shall no doubt be posting in future. cheers jez