Shane

This is so ironic. I played golf today and realised I should stick to tree work and leave golf to golfers. Why don't they do the same with us? Seriously though, he always seemed a reasonable bloke, no doubt earns a fair bit from teaching/equipment endorsement etc. Hope he can still do OK.

That's a nightmare, really feel for you. If the ####s will go to that length - what can be done? Will your insurance cover the loss? Really hope you find out who did it - good luck in grim times.

Andrew, Nice to know theres lots for everyone out there. Thanks for the suggestion of Spur - seen a few of their ads, been meaning to get over there. Shane

Smashing!

I guess this is happening to everyone, but it's strange. After the economic doom and gloom of a couple of years back it's just gone mad lately. I recon 6-7 calls a day, if they don't live within 10 miles I have to tell em we can't do it - all others we cant do till next year. Going out doing 3-4 quotes a day, even more at weekends. We are now taking bookings for January. Nice problem to have but I had one enquirer tell me 'well, that's useless' when I said we couldn't finish off someone elses job immediately. One answer would be to expand the company but I'm an old git who don't really want any more hassle now. Feeling a bit like Neil from the Young Ones Heavy man... Also trying to find a newer tipper but no bleedin time to go looking. Oh well, no pleasing some people.

My son, and main climber,became a dad two days ago, making me a grandad! Now it's Mr Tree, Mr Branch and Mr Twig. We are all walking on air - Please welcome Seth to the club!

It could have been left looking a lot better. Trees are there, (amongst other things) to look good, to create habitat and to provide oxygen. When an Audi owner wants it hacked, many will do their bidding, but hopefully advise against it. If your local tattooed mr Dick-Ed wants it mullered and all us 'professionals' refuse, then it will open the door for the aluminium club to do the work. Try taking them to court to face your barristers. As has been said on dozens of threads before (and no doubt after) this one, all WE can do is keep on doing OUR jobs in a professional manner.

Dunno if this should go on Arbtrader under wanted... but here goes. I'm looking to upgrade to a newer arbtruck. Needs to be 3.5T GVW, tool storage box, respectable high sides and at least some roof. Rear tipping box ally, towbar Budget is 5-12k, (depends on age/mileage/configuration) located in Sussex Aint seen much to appeal on arbtrader, earborist, local auctions, ebay, autotrader, gumtree, fridayscam (sorry, friday-ad) - so thought I'd just chuck my hat into the ring and see if anyone here is disposing of one soon. Or does anyone know where else I could look?

I once received one of these calls while we were having our lunch break. I had a bit of spare time so I strung him along, asking lots of easy questions like 'Will this improve my business?' and 'How would I pay for it?' Then when it got down to the acceptance bit I just told him I wasn't inetersted. When he asked me why I wasn't interested after our pleasant long discussion I just said that I wanted to waste his time in the same way that he wastes everybody elses. The guys could all see what was happening and laughed out loud, meanwhile Mr scam used a very unpleasant word and put the phone down. Yes, it wasted 5 minutes of my life, but it wound him up a treat and during that time he wasn't hassling anyone else. Only recommended if you are lucky enoughnot to be busy when they call.

Sorry if this has already been said and I missed it but it must be done.. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be.

Home A knackered old pre-fabricated bungalow near Windsor Great Park TV Tunderbirds - the first time round. The Esso blu advert -boom boom boom boom... Cigarette ads, and Bobby Moore telling you to pop into your local for a beer. Children's programs that were NOT backed up by toys in the shops Weather Proper winters (1963) All the summers were hot Holidays Camping in Cheddar Gorge Motoring My dad's TR3 and the E type Jag AA sidecars, AA patrols at Dorking to tow many cars over the 'steep' A24 hill Sport 1966 They think it's all over.. it is now! Jim Clark School If you failed a test you were told so - no such thing as 'not yet achieved' 11 plus Political correctness Not yet arrived, it was preceeded by honesty. Music See any late night music history program for details. The down side... Jimmy Tarbuck, Bruce Forsythe, Memories which left scars Moors murderers, Aberfan Work/play Parents all had jobs. We could go in the park and play all day without adult supervision probably tons more but that's a start

You should never give chewing gum to a dog, apparently it wraps itself aroung their heart and kills them. Originated in the Egham area from what I recall (cant believe I wasted any part of my life even repeating that)!

Very nice - good choice of accompanying music.

Life's strange, By the time you're old enough to have the know how - You can't, not no how! I'm 57 and my left leg is still OK apart from the tissue damage to the calf. Anyway - time for my cocoa them I'm off to bed, Nighty night.

Quote what you need to make the required money on the job. As soon as you get into haggling you are saying 'it was worth trying for more'. As has been said on here numerous times- if they are like that at quote time what will the customer be like when it comes to payment? Be confident of your quote and stick to it.

And what's wrong with Gibson?

Looks like the dealership network is a tad variable. I had an 'iffy' experience 3 years ago but after a couple of discussions with head office the local dealer was replaced quite rapidly! No probs here. Been happy with my chipper.

Based on Daniel's info could be time for a re-think. That's knackered the golf then.

Maybe a bit of welding on the van, grease up the machinery, then a few holes of golf before lunch. PM chain sharpening followed by weekly loler check then crack out a few invoices. Beers and curry in the evening. Great to have days off

I'll admit it, I can't find a decent table of unladen weights anywhere. I recall seeing a few threads about this but can't find the answers. I'm after getting a newer tipper, and like many on here I don't want to get an ops license etc... but want to continue to stay legal. In order to do that I would like to know the unladen weight of various vans with a separate toolbox, single cab and ally tipping body(nothing too specific then)- then I can work out the weight of tools/driver/crew and end up with xxx kg for chips/logs. The vehicles I am interested in (and I keep asking the sellers for the UW - mostly to no avail) are as follows SWB or MWB transit VW Crafter Mecedes sprinter Iveco 35/xxxx Canter Not interested in front wheel drive, really - slightly better payload but less grip on grass. Already got landrover with 350kg payload. Has anyone found a web-site that has such info - or has anyone on here weighed their own vehicle? I don't yet want to man up and get a unimog or Thunderbird 2 so any info relating to 3.5 ton GVW would be most welcome. My assumptions are LWB = lower payload Crew cab = lower payload Steel tipper body = lower payload Twin rear wheels = lower payload (a bit more stable) Many thanks

There's another thread on here about a wood chip fire in Essex - there you go!

Not quite as unwise as the place you left the poor chipper in your avatar:lol: Did you get the money back from Stobart's insurer for that?

Congratulations to you all. If you thought last Christmas was expensive... wait till the next one

The dad set a pretty poor example whem he marked the cutting points on the log using the tip of the bar! If someone wants to remove themselves from the gene pool so be it, but gambling with a small child is criminal. Steve - it looks like the range is geared up for youngsters - goodness knows how detailed their risk assessment must be.

I guess if it 'bushes out' in the wrong place we could always keep it South American.