JON.C

I was at the Nothern AGM too where it was discussed, still sounds like a great idea. If you want to get plenty of climbing arbs etc I think you need a fairly equal mix of hands-on stuff that climbers know they're interested in (climbing and rigging latest techniques etc), and more 'academic' stuff (such as fungi and ecology, legal issues, veteran hazard management etc). The idea of seminars on business and advertising etc is also good, but I think the people involved must have a god grasp of the arb industry - I studied a business module at Myerscough and it bore no relevance whatsoever to arboriculture and has hardly helped me at all. I think there needs to be an equal balance of these different types of workshop/seminar and probably just running one at a time (not clashing) - otherwise all the climbers will just got to the climbing demos and bar (like at the Arb Show), rather than learning new stuff (which seems to be the aim of the do). As I'm self-employed Friday/Saturday works fine for me, especially if the cost's kept low.

Cheers for that guys. Someone told me they thought the exploding flies had been fixed, but they're hellishly expensive otherwise. Mind you, they've lasted twice as long as any other trouser i've had.

My Stretch-Air trousers have finally disintegrated after 3 years. I loved them, apart from the fact that the flies kept falling apart which apparently happened to everyone - does anyone know if they've sorted that out on the current trousers? Also I need some new boots. But i've got a bunyan on my little toe that i really don't want to aggravate. Anyone got any recommendations for boots that are particularly roomy in the toe area. Preferably waterproof and inexpensive too! Cheers

That's really helpful thanks, I shall do that in the morning Cheers

- Yes, it's definitely a chain brake. I've tried emailing Husqvarna with the model number so will hopefully hear something from them. If it was Stihl I'd be pretty sure I could get the part from Charles Hills' in Lincolnshire, but I don't know much about Husqvarnas or the best stockists for old spares etc. Thanks for your thoughts.

Hi folks, My Dad's been given quite an old Husqvarna. It's a perfect little firewood processing saw for him, the engine seems great and it's all in good running order, apart from the chain brake which isn't working. Seems like it's probably missing a rod and spring, or something like that, from the chain brake mechanism. He's taken it to a couple of Husky dealers in Surrey and they reckon they can't get the parts any more (don't know if they're very good dealers). Anyway, here's some pics of the saw, has anyone got any idea how I can get it sorted for him? Like does anyone have a knackered one for parts, or know of an exceptionally useful Husky dealer (not too far from Sheffield ideally). Cheers, Jon.C