will.morris

Just wondered if anyone here plays any instruments either in bands or just for leisure I played trumpet from the age of 5 until I was 17 and have sat on various seats from solo down to fourth in various jazz, brass bands and orchestras. I got a brace fitted and it messed up my mouth structure, which disheartened me so I stopped. I'm now 22, not far off 23 and have been playing alto sax for about 2 1/2 years. Have played trombone, piano, guitar (electric and accoustic), cornet, flugal horn but never really got on with them that much, loving alto sax now though and am thinking about getting a soprano sax when I'm a bit more experienced (notoriously hard to play in tune). Don't be fooled though I'm also a metal head and love heavy bands such as lamb of god, slayer, metallica, napalm death etc. Currently staying up late listening to and wishing I had this mans sound! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex19QquuUfw]Kenny G - Alone - YouTube[/ame]

Kool vids I do kickboxing but we do various MMA and MT techniques in pad sessions.

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Driving prices up at a time when competition is so great is a dangerous method though. You might make more on the jobs you get but could be losing out overall from jobs you don't get. As much as I'd like it to work as we'd all get paid more, I think it would do the opposite and give more work to the cowboys. Fools are cheap, good businessman are competitive ... expensive limits you to number of willing customers.

On my ND we started with about 32 ... now 3 monthes from the end we have about 15 still enrolled. Only myself and 2 others work as climbers though outside of college. The standard of this years first years is very good though, 2 of them are already on VTs after 6 monthes of climbing and they keep me on my toes.

Would like to hear more about the karabiner issue? I always leave mine on when throwing. The cambium saver point is interesting as well . How would you go about getting one down without dropping it?

Firstly welcome to the forum, a very welcoming and useful place for new and experienced arborists alike Good attitude, especially if your courses are being paid for you. Put in the effort to really learn the job and don't run before you can walk. Learn your knots and when starting to climbing or using a new climbing system practice low and slow before going up high. Don't be put off when things go wrong, we all have bad days and moments when the boss shouts at you. Take it on the chin and learn from it. Likewise you will have the odd scary moment, focus on the next part of the job and what you have to do, not where you are and push yourself. Ask if your not sure about something and have fun!

Got a pair of glasses now and for climbing the mesh will stay off the helmet Don't think its been mentioned but another danger in tree climbing is getting poked in the eye by attached branches. My dad nearly lost his eye years ago going under a tree on a lawn mower. Having glasses on stops this but with a visor unless your cutting you won't have it down. Defo converted to glasses now for climbing

I paid £27 for my hitch climber ... is a saving of less than £20 really worth it for piece of mind :confused1 We pay a fortune for our gear and the piece of equipment that keeps you in the tree is'nt worth messing around with for the sake of a bit of beer money.

Never really thought about it, as long as they are tied down sufficiently can't see what difference it would make.

At the risk of a silly question, by self tending does this mean the ability in how the slack slips through the knot as you ascend rather than manually pulling it through? I have been using a VT for about a month now after using mainly a BH but sometimes a prussik for 18monthes and am fully aware of how it has to be closely monitored to make sure its gripping. I use 4 turns and 2 crosses and I'm happy with it . Though I feel it would have scared me before I was comfortable in a tree when I first started. Just have to remember not to go too far each time as you can bust your back from falling only a meter.

Yeh I noticed he didn't have it on when I popped in on Wednesday with Pete

I put fuel in 3 times yesterday because i drove down the country (not because I was panic buying lol). Once just North of Newcastle at a Shell £1.41pl, no problems, then topped up about 80 miles into the journey on the basis that I thought it would get me home £1.39pl ... then was taken on a massive diversion on the A1 which took about 45mins maybe a bit more so I had to put another tenner in at a shell garage just before Cambridge services ... this last stop was the only station that seemed to have a problem as only about 3 pumps had standard unleaded and was I hell putting vpower in my knackered rover 200, so I queued for about 15mins for the standard stuff. On a more positive note though I have been offered the job I applied for as a climber over in Canada, so fingers crossed I can sort my visa and get out there

I know of 2 at college and I have several good female friends that have all had a go at climbing recreationally with me Would post some pics but I'm not too sure how on here

"Sorry to stereotype, but I'd have found an excuse to go back to the van and got out of there! Even if they don't nick your gear, good luck getting money out of them, and mentioning court only puts you/your business in danger." I wrote that before realising it was a 5 page thread so I read it all before posting. It is good that you've had a good experience on this occasion but my personal viewpoint is I still would'nt risk it. Had too many experiences on site when you see one drive past, straight on the blower, 2mins later 2 more vans drive past ... all the tools spent the remainder of that job locked up in the cab until needed and then put back. Too many stories of tree surgeons gear going missing and when it does happen its very rarely recovered.

I have seen this being discussed from time to time and there could be a thread that I've missed about one I'm not sure. (Feel free Steve/mods to delete this thread if its me being blind) I'm not sure how organising a location would work, mainly permission wise more than anything else but was wondering whilst I'm down from college until the 17th April if anything could happen in that time? I know its pretty short notice for you guys that work full time and I should have made this thread before I came down here. Any interest speak up

Most of my climbing kit has come from Gustharts but I've also used the other major sponsors on this forum, never been anything but a first class service from all ... Gustharts is dangerously close (10mins) to where I live as well so there has been many a time where I've lived on porridge and pasta as my 'student budget' has resulted in a shiny accessory on my harness P.s Phil has Chris decided what colour to paint his nails yet? haha

As a college arb student I've never understood why the hiflex's are so popular other than for the reason that the equine girls like them I swear you could give them an evil look and they would rip, IMO they are poo and cost a lot of money for the stihl name!

It's not your full certificate though is it? I remember when i did my 30/31 I got a slip of paper as a temporary certificate then my proper one a week or 2 later.

I'm entering for Northumberland College up at Cragside. Based on what you've just said does this mean providing one of my college instructors is present that I can also enter in the open class? Also is'nt the open class the same points but different in that you start on the ground and have to put your line in? Cheers

My blackberry won't do video calling but lets see an iphone survive from being dropped off a desk let alone out of a tree haha

Lucky escape, glad your ok

Immigration is often over hyped though. Half the time they are far more motivated and put in the long hours doing rubbish jobs that our born and bred citizens don't want to. Fair enough we need to work our way out of it but I don't want to live through my 20's working my butt off earning less than someone on benefits purly on the assumption that it will pick up as I get older ... There is an entrance and an exit, immigration works both ways

I'm sure if i searched I would find info, but fresh comments never hurt Was wondering what people know about going to Canada to work in tree surgery. I've been looking at the DAVY company who seem massive over there and America. But don't really know much about the logistics of actually taking the plunge, how it differs to getting into NZ/Oz etc. This is all stuff i can research and figure out myself though. The real query I was wondering is what standard do you have to be to consider going to work out there as a climber. I've been climbing for 18monthes and would be living/climbing here for at least another year before i even considered moving. Would this amount of experience be enough to get going or would I be way out of my comfort zone out there? Sounds silly but I've lived 300 miles away from home up in Newcastle for the past 2 years so I've convinced myself that moving away would be something I'd be comfortable with. All comments would be useful

Heard on the radio the other day that the govenment were talking about a new scheme that makes it illegal for new drivers to drive at certain times (something like 11pm-5am). I just caught the end of it so didn't pick up any details. I paid £1.37 pl tonight at that was at a tesco! Got a 600mile round trip to do in a weeks time to see my family for 2 weeks ... wonder how many benefit sponges my work in the tree tops will be providing for