themonkian

I've found having a seat strap more comfortable than just leg loops - but that's my personal preference. I've just bought the Willans t22/2 mentioned above for my first harness and found it to be very comfortable (I've climbed in 5 diff harnesses now- petzl seqouia, komet dragonfly and the other 2 I cannot remember) - it's also one of the cheapest too.

But, like the others have said, see if you can try a few other people's before buying... it all comes down to personal preference! for example, I hated the petzl seqouia whereas some people I've worked for find it really comfy.

If you do go for the willans though, some websites picture it with having a maillon connected to it but do not mention that you have to buy that separately (they're only a couple of quid but it would've been nice to know before ordering!)

Hi, I'm Hampshire based and interested.

I was out for a climb earlier in the woods by my house, had thrown my rope over the first anchor point, was about to put my harness on when I noticed someone was just standing there staring at me. Then I realised I was on my own in the woods with what looked like a noose hanging just above my head! I think he thought I was about to end it all!

Never seen that Mick. I can sense an Arbtalk film club coming on.....

First rule of Arbtalk Film Club is you don't talk about Arbtalk Film Club.

Second rule of Arbtalk Film Club...

Requiem for a Dream (its a bit dark but brilliant in my opinion)

Yeah everyone's impressed now but when I did that on my CS31 it was a different story!

Got to be in it to win it!

Hi Stuart

Tried to call but I couldn't get through - possibly a fault with my phone. I'll send you an email with my CV and try calling again later.

Thanks

Guy Kelly

Thanks to those who have given me a few days here and there, still looking for more ground work if anyone in Hampshire or the surrounding counties has any going

Cheers

Hello Stuart

Have emailed CV to you.

Thanks

Guy

Applied earlier in the week but the position had been filled according to the email I received on Thurs.

bugger- I applied this morning

Fill your boots from March to October and put enough money away so that ANY work during November to February is pure profit.

 

I pay myself a salary from the tree account to personal account every month and only spend the contents of the tree account on diesel, spares and other tree stuff (makes accounting nice and easy too). Come October the account is nicely flush and means if I dont want to work for 4 months then I dont have to and i will still get a monthly wage, anything I do make during that time could be either pee'd up the wall, paid to me as a bonus or spent on new kit over and above the budgeted stuff.

 

Always plan for the worst, I always budget for a few rained off days a month and a seriously quiet winter, that way if you work every day in a month you will be up and if winter is still busy you will be flush in the spring. Last January I did about £500 worth of work due to the snow which just covered expenses so without the saving I would have been living on fresh air. This year has seen £3k already this month, all profit due to saving in the summer. If this carries on it will be new car in the summer.

 

Plan properly and you don't need to be searching around for ways to make money in the winter doing things you don't really want to do.

Cheers Kev, great advice & inspiration.

I'm just starting out and want to set up my own business at some point, this has been a valuable post.

Does anybody have any other advice on starting up their own company?

Alright Mick its Guy

I'd like the security of full time employment with a firm too, until that happens I'll take anything. I've been lucky enough to get a couple of days dragging brash- I'm not really thinking about it in terms of self employed or just plain employed, just in terms of bringing money in where its available.

I know if someone offered you work for a couple of days you'd take it, so don't go doing your own head in weighing up the pros and cons of self employed

As for anyone else reading this, I did my training with Mick - he's a top bloke and like he says, he doesn't moan about a bit of graft. You'd be doing yourself & your company a favour hiring him

I don't think its just your son.... I keep coming across so many idle youngsters (slightly different to your scenario i understand given his mechanical work) who think the world owes them a living. Im getting pretty bored of it.

Im sure there are a lot of you guys out there who started on next to naff all wages (i started work at age 12 doing saturdays all day for £12). I remember being really proud and chuffed of my twelve quid every week.

 

Poor attitudes, lazyness, poor time keeping, scruffy appearances, back chat, etc all make me wonder why i bother!!

 

To those younger lads out there who do work hard, fair play to you.. keep it up and you will eventually be rewarded. Anbd if you live near Poole give me a shout!!!

I only about 45 mins away from Poole, is 28 still young? (please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...)

Hi all

I know it might be a quiet time of year for some of you but I'm a recently qualified groundsman looking for work. I have CS30/31, Lantra certs for stumpgrinders & woodchippers and PA1/6 sprayers license. I have had training for CS38/39 & am looking to take those assessments in February.

I'm based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, but will travel to surrounding counties. Will work cheap - £50 per day for example, but am open to any offer.

Please feel free to pm me or give me a call on 07956390880.

Cheers

Guy Kelly

I wish i could get a groundie for £52 a day!!!! My way its £80-100.

Shame you're about 4 hrs away from me Ian, I'd happily work for £52 a day! Not had any luck on the work front & I'm on the verge of rummaging through bins for food

Hi Big John

I'm not yet qualified as a climber yet- I have had training for CS38/39 and paid for the assessments, I just postponed taking them until I was confident I would pass. Will most likely be taking them in Feb - as I've been lucky enough to find someone with spare kit to climb with on weekends.

In the meantime, just in case you need another groundsman I have CS30/31, Lantra certs for woodchippers & stumpgrinders and PA1/6 handheld sprayer tickets. I've already emailed my CV to the recruitment email address on your website, just thought I'd say hello on here too.

Regards

Guy Kelly

Have joined the fish fight! Also, on a similar note I highly recommend the documentaries 'The Cove' and 'Sharkwater' - check them out if you get the chance

I'm spoilt for choice now - thanks again!

cheers all

Jamie: I've got a 5mm Typhoon cyclone suit prob about 20 years old - my girlfriend's dad gave it to me. I know its not advisable to have such an old suit as they dry out and lose stretchiness, but for the time being it's saved me a small fortune and still keeps me warm(ish). That o'neils one you mentioned looks good, plus if you pay more for one it might be a good incentive to use it more!

Scotty: cheers for the link to that site - looks like a very handy source of info! Will definitely get a few more lessons in, generally they're quite reasonable in terms of cost and dead handy. Just wish I lived near a decent beach! (or any beach for that matter)

Hi Jamie,

I might have to give that a go - we're planning on going down to cornwall in Feb, can't wait! Having just got into this and arb work makes me wonder what I've been doing all my life!

Cheers for the tip

Hi all, have noticed there's a few surfers on here and thought I'd pick your brains, if you'd be so kind of course!

Me and the missus have recently gotten the surfing bug and are looking to get into it a bit more. Our experience so far consists of only 2 lessons each down in Newquay (Fistral Bay/Beach I think)- and we're looking to get out there and get some more practice in.

My questions are:

Does anybody know any areas in Dorset that are good for beginners to practice? (preferably quite quiet areas)

And is there anything I should bear in mind before turning up with my wetsuit and board- such as tides etc?

Cheers in advance!

Hello mate, I was exactly the same. Because the course I did was only 5 days and we had to sned, cut and stack every tree we felled - I rushed everything and made loads of mistakes, which in turn made me feel useless at it. Like the others say, take your time, make sure you have everything ready before you cut (so you don't have to walk in danger zones to get your felling bar etc.) and above all else: don't panic! Bad decisions are made when in a panic.

As for the test itself - I made plenty of mistakes and cuts didn't go right BUT I passed because I could tell the assessor what I'd done wrong and knew how to correct my gaffes. Good luck with the assessments, I'm sure you'll do fine...

Looks like a some sort of demented helicopter! Wouldn't want to have a shave with one of those...

I'm 28, from Eastleigh, Hampshire (did live in Badger Farm too at one point - Lowden Close). I got my qualifications from Kingswood Training in Kent, where I did an intensive month long course in November 2010.

If you've any more questions feel free to fire away!

Cheers