Big J

If it's an option, I find that a very windy position on any site will result in the wind reducing the moisture at a more rapid rate than the rain will soak it. There are exceptions of course (heavy downpours, times of low wind) but I just stack the crates 4m high an exposed corner of the yard and they dry quickly, even at this time of year. Not quite ready to burn dry, but nothing that a few weeks in a well ventilated wood store won't sort. Firewood is such a low value product (for the amount of space it occupies) that it's not really economical to store under cover on a commercial scale (in my opinion). If you use the example of a mid sized firewood business, selling perhaps 2000 cube a year, you've got enough to fill a 20x25m shed 4m high without any ventilation channels. Who can afford that? As I've said before, my feeling is that first priority that customers should season their own firewood. Failing that, they should accept that it's not economical to keep firewood bone dry on a commercial basis over winter. If they don't have space to dry or adequately store their own firewood, they shouldn't bother with a stove. It's not an cost effective way of heating a house if the only way you can take it is a cubic metre at a time and you expect to burn it that night. Stuff 'em, basically!

I used to really enjoy much of my work, but fairly tired of it now. I've milled a lot of wood now, thousands of tonnes personally, and it becomes quite routine. That I can handle, but I find the interpersonal business/contractor relationships can be testing at times. It's sad how often people just don't hold up their end of the deal, or just quite simply don't understand the situation. Don't misunderstand - I'm not perfect, but I do generally try to work well and produce a good product. Either way, work is work and when you've a family to provide for, you cannot be rash in making major changes. Planning and forethought are required.

Winter tyres will do you almost anywhere in Scotland. Four wheel drive is nice to have in muddy fields, but I think largely unnecessary for roads, irrespective of snow and ice. We've have 4 season tyres on our Disco 4 and the Citroen Relay van and grip is never an issue.

Don't get a Navara unless you like dreadful build quality and reliability. That is the D40 model - I can't comment on the D22.

Had an acquaintance request some 10" logs, but split smaller than usual. Didn't have space for a full builders bag, so could he just pick them up in dribs and drabs? I said no! I have a stove like this: Infact, the larger one might actually be the stove I have. The point is, you load the logs in front to back rather than side to side and you get a much much longer log in for the same rated heat output. Even the 7kw model will take a 48cm log. Mine will do 68cm. If there were more of these Jotul style stoves around, perhaps we wouldn't have to cut our logs so small!

Patience my good man.

This year I'm releasing a Christmas record called Duvet Know it's Christmas? It's a cover version.

After seven years of medical training and hard work, my very good friend has been struck off after one minor indiscretion. He slept with one of his patients and now can no longer work in the profession. What a waste of time, training and money. A genuinely nice guy and a brilliant vet.

Interesting reading. Big variations in chassis and tipper body weight, even if the bodies are mostly made by the same company. No surprise that the Transit was last. I do think that they have been trading on their past reputation for too long. Overpriced and unreliable, I am told.

I have my second Citroen relay (van, not tipper) and it's superb. Given that with all the bells and whistles (and I mean so many options that once it started being built at the factory they took it off the production line as there were 2 more options than the computer could process, or so I'm told) it only cost £18500, I can't see past them to recommend anything else. With the 160PS engine in mine and heavy duty rear suspension, you scarcely notice a 2.5t trailer and 1t in the back. It just pulls hard. They must do a tipper for reasonable money.

I must admit that I'm not much of a fan of rustic furniture any more. I prefer pieces where the character of the wood influences the design, but does not define it.

As nice as lawsons cypress is, the market for it in the UK is quite limited and I would surprised if you got much more than £50 for it.

You're not getting the issues the scale of sawdust produced and the issues with disposal. This year along, I'd say we've produced over 150 cubic metres of sawdust. It can't be used for briquettes in it's current state because it's wet. However it has to be dry stored otherwise it becomes waterlogged and is no used to anyone. So faced with increasingly massive piles of the stuff, you look for the quickest, simplest way of getting rid of it. What constitutes best use of it doesn't really come into it!

Hehe! Tom, can you get any more of the Petzl Naos for £60? Could do with one myself.

There is no such thing as an ideal vehicle. Not suitable for you as you need proper off road capability, but I love my van for towing. I'd not go back to a 4x4. Much more stable, comfortable and I can still put a tracked chipper in the back of the van. Also quite a bit cheaper than a 4x4.

We used to give it away (occasionally sell it) in builders bags to horsey types. Assuming you can get a fiver a bag for it, consider the time it takes to load the bags, store the bags, handle the bags and market the sawdust compared to just sticking it in a massive pile and they shovel loading it into a grain trailer for a farmer. It's just not worth the time or effort. Regard it as a waste product. If you can get rid of it efficiently for free, great. If you can burn it yourself to create heat, even better.

Quite possibly! We've a 2009 Discovery 4 which we've had a year now. Touching wood, it's only needed front wheel bearings, discs and new tyres in that time. About £1440 all in, so not breaking the bank. It's not used for work though. It's effing fast and comfortable though.

After espousing the virtues of a larger displacement engine, I just checked and my Citroen Relay is only a 2 litre! Inbetween me ordering it and it finally turning up, they dropped the displacement 200 or 300cc and upped the power 10bhp to 160bhp. It is very quick though and on a 30 mile tow the other day with 2.5t behind me and 1 tonne in the back, it did not struggle at all. The idea of an older RR is probably not a bad one Matthew. Comfort and power. Just put £50 in the bank each week for the first repair bill!

There is no going rate. It's a waste product. If you can get rid of it for free, in a hassle free and efficient manner, you are doing well. The farm come every month or two for mine with the grain trailer.

Kevin and Huck - there is nothing wrong with being mindlessly optimistic in the face of adversity (or, to put it more accurately, national economic suicide). I am certain that if the vote were held again tomorrow, Leave would take it with a fair margin. The aftermath of the leave vote has exposed the governments total lack of any clue about what Brexit means, or indeed the implications for Britain.

I disagree. Zac Goldsmith resigned from the Conservatives in protest to the Heathrow expansion plans. The Lib Dems fought an anti Brexit campaign and it seemed to be rather effective. Perhaps we're not doomed yet.

Hehe!

I was under the impression that a 2007 plate Hilux was plated to 2250kg?

Not especially. It's not in the way.

Not legal though, surely?