Squaredy

Fair point, but life isn't always plain sailing. When the country is struggling maybe now is not the time for good pay rises. At least these workers are in the fortunate position (in many cases) of having a job for life. They say there is no such thing (as a job for life) anymore, but whoever heard of a nurse or teacher being sacked? OK, I know sometimes schools make redundancies among older teachers as they are earning so much to bring in newer cheaper staff.

I can't help noticing the people who are striking in the hope of getting more pay are generally the better off in their profession. I was chatting with a teacher friend of mine who feels she has to strike due to pressure from her colleagues, and she pointed out it is the teaching assistants who could really do with a pay rise - apparently most of them are more or less on minimum wage and yet often have to stand in for a teacher for many lessons. Similar to the NHS. OK, the managers and doctors earn the most, but what about all the NAs, care workers, cleaners, catering staff - they don't get starting salary of £27K with guaranteed rises to £32K after four years and a job for life, and lots of opportunities for extra pay and career advancement. In fact, thinking about it most of the groups striking are the people in the middle, who probably can make ends meet if they budget sensibly. And as for when the union reps come on the radio and say it is not all about pay, yet seem oblivious to the fact that more pay for nurses and teachers means less budget for the rest of the NHS/education system etc. My teacher friend says she is concerned that a good pay rise threatens the provision of teaching assistants for kids with special needs in her school.

Today the lights were actually doing something. The contractors working in the adjacent field were using it to park their lorry. On the opposite side of the road is a huge lay-by. Perhaps with some joined up thinking the council could have authorised the lay-by be closed so they don’t need to park in the road with traffic lights. The lay-by is closed by the way, but empty.

And slightly further along the same stretch of road a new set of lights appeared yesterday. They are to protect a hole in the pavement it seems. I see the logic but was it really necessary?

As has already been said assuming the holly survives it could cause ongoing problems being so close to a new building. Have you thought about taking cuttings of it to grow in your garden but in a more suitable place? Alternatively, is it feasible to have a specialist actually dig up the whole rootball and relocate it? I suspect this is possible, and usually would not be considered due to cost; but as the tree clearly has a very high emotional value to you perhaps it is worth looking into? Other Arbtalk members would have a better idea than me if this is likely to be feasible.

Yeah I am confident some are oak and some ash. The logs with a rotten area around the edge only are oak. Sapwood rots quickly; heartwood very slowly. The slice just below your feet in the first batch of photos is ash, no differentiation between heartwood and sapwood. Also no medullary rays visible.

Getting confusing now. I see ash and oak. Is it possible there are two species here?

Yeah foxes are usually very adaptable and seem to thrive in all types of environment.

How odd. Do the locals know? Could it be related to naturally forming spinning ice disks that occur in certain parts?

I can’t believe they have put a hearth on top of a carpet. What a bodge.

Concrete paving slabs and I have tried bleach, which works, and pressure washing which also works. But in both instances they green up again really quickly. I appreciate your help with this.

Yeah it does look as if beaupre is a pop hybrid. Thank you guys for your help with this.

Where does one get the decent Patio sealer? My patio comes up lovely and clean, but within a week or two it is green again.

Ah but I guess you are talking from an arborist perspective? I only have to worry about milling. And drying. And selling.

I have been offered a supply of poplar/willow hybrid ‘beaupre’. This is a new one to me - can anyone shed any light on what this timber is like? I must confess I didn’t know poplar and willow hybridise - is this a common plantation tree?

Good shout. Maybe they are trying to keep it quiet - scared of losing street cred?

I am aware that firewood logs have sky rocketed in price. But I am after poplar - not ash or beech. And of course a lot of the logs I would buy are too big for a lot of processors. My last load had plenty at about 2 foot diameter

I had a load of poplar from an arbtalker last year, but that is all gone, and I need more. My spec is decent straight logs either 2.4m or 4.8m or a mixture. Diameter at least a foot please. I will pay around £80 per ton delivered. Exact species doesn't matter as long as they are not lombardy. Actually, one or two lombardy would be OK. Also I can take a mixed load - most other hardwoods and softwoods purchased except spruce, hemlock, willow. Message me and let me know what you have. I am based near Newport South Wales so within an hour or so is preferred.

I no longer use my kiln as it is simply too big and expensive. But I have used it many times over the years to dry all sorts of species. Larch I have successfully dried from green - but it took about 6 weeks and cost an arm and a leg. Oak at say one inch thick I would estimate would take three or four months from green, and even then you might find it is ruined by internal honeycombing. And I suspect the cost would be greater than the timber is worth. I have kilned air dried oak an inch thick and this took a week or so - no problem at all. Unless it is very thin oak I wouldn't bother. Other species may respond much better - ash, poplar maybe and softwoods, but not oak.

Can you not right click on the chain pitch and scroll down to properties. That always used to tell you the file size…

Just once I milled a MP log, it had been dead standing. What a nightmare - those knots are incredibly hard. I try to avoid them now.

And do you find that operating the touch screen is convenient and easy whilst driving?

All looks very Elmy!

He was not VAT registered. Also not organised. Did not know how to lay concrete level. Also as I found out two years later has no idea how to lay flat GRP roofs properly.

Human nature. I had a builder doing some work for me a few years ago and he told me in November he would never be able to submit his return in time for the end of January.