kevinjohnsonmbe

Seems to me there's a strange inverse definition of good manners wrt this tea/coffee/lunch scenario and I'm totally on side with your way of thinking. I wouldn't consider it 'rude' or lacking in manners if a customer didn't offer a drink. Inconsiderate / thoughtless perhaps if they stand watching the work with a brew in hand, but not rude since there is absolutely no obligation on the customer. I take everything I need to do a job with me and that includes hot & cold drinks and lunch. I'd no sooner turn out for the day without my drinks / food than I would without my saws, ropes, harnesses. It's nice sometimes when cake, lunch, drinks are offered, there's no doubt that it can create a positive reaction and a good impression which will encourage that little bit of extra effort and willingness to return to a "favoured" customer, but I wouldn't say the opposite is true when those little treats are not offered. Personally, I'd consider it to be less well mannered to ask / expect a drink than I would for customer not to have offered. It seems to me to be part of the inverse definition of manners to expect hospitality based upon what one might provide when people are working at their own home. I'll happily do pasties, cake, tea, coffee etc (at my discretion) but if the first question on arrival is "Is the kettle on" I'd quite likely find that rude and presumptuous unless they were friends, regular or on site for a longer term project where a relationship has developed. Each to their own..... Kettle's on!

Hi Paul!! All well this end!! Yes, you're absolutely right, mores the pity. So much for reducing "red tape" for small industry - bah!! It's almost enough to put me off putting the tender in. What a shambles of admin centric non-job civil servant nonsense. I asked the question, what time frame between felling and construction would qualify the felling as "associated" with the construction... 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months, a year, 10 years? No answer, apparently, it just is. A not particularly helpful helpline! Of course (in this example) if it wasn't for the planning application, there would be a requirement for a felling licence - which would make it forestry and not subject to CIS. From what I've been told, it's thanks to the construction industry for years of abusing cash casual labour that has resulted in the CIS. HMRC - putting the "great" back into Britain!

Just trying to get through to a "talking human" (and that's debatable) on the CIS Helpline is enough of a hassle! :angry:

Hearing you! I'm not "dependant" on site work, it comes along once in a while. Last time was a smaller scale scenario, 20ish houses on a plot. Developer didn't mention CIS and I didn't raise the issue. Been invited to quote for a pending development but if all gets too "grabby", "that's how we do it", "take it or leave it" type scenario, I'll be jogging on. The paperwork, hassle, waiting for payment etc, compared to domestic customers who are generally nice, appreciative and often become ongoing acquaintances = no comparison really.

Got it, thanks Bob, will give it a punt with the main contractor!

Thanks Fen! Seems a ball ache. I'm just wondering if it's even worth trying the helpline with the "tree clearance can't possibly be classed as construction" angle... I'll give it a punt and see what comes of it.

I've had a scan on the website: https://www.gov.uk/what-you-must-do-as-a-cis-contractor/who-is-covered-by-cis I'll have a go at trying the CIS helpline tomorrow to confirm but can anyone help with previous experience? So it's a site tree clearance ready for demo and reconstruction. I'm CIS registered and kind of expecting the developer to make deductions at source but do I have to do the same for the guys subbing in for me? The webpage states that: "Construction work not covered by CIS There are also certain jobs that are exempt from the scheme, including: architecture and surveying scaffolding hire (with no labour) carpet fitting delivering materials work on construction sites that is clearly not construction, eg running a canteen or site facilities" Is it plausible to suggest that tree work might be exempt from CIS since it's not construction? I'm sure I've seen this point discussed previously with the outcome that tree clearance prior to demo / building WAS treated as CIS. Any pointers or experience appreciated.

I just couldn't figure if I was reading the question right David. Happy days, stay lucky!

It's gone a bit baaaa-king now!

They must be "time rich" though? If I didn't work I wouldn't be so far behind in the veg garden! Dig for Victory!

It's got many of the key ingredients of a good book! The crime, preceded by a hint at some mystery potentially corrupt / underhand behaviour by the victim, village collusion, conspiracy of silence, the suggestion of barbaric (possibly satanic / ritualistic) slaughter. Can anyone suggest witchcraft or buggery? If so, I'll contact the publishing house first thing Monday! I'm not sure wether to feel sympathy for the victim or to suspect that there's an inflated valuation preceding a dodgy insurance claim??

Strong words Lee! Not sure if go quite that far, but fair play to you! Audience bias was obvious for a blind man to see, bit like Question Time. I've applied to be in the audience ½ dozen times previously, never had so much as a sniff. Think I'll declare myself vegetarian, multi-racial, disabled, lesbian, dwarf next time I apply. Probably get a chauffeured limo, green room pass & front row seat with opening question. Hey-ho, sucks to be white, Anglo-Saxon, fit, working, carnivorous, tax paying, home owner in the UK!!

It sounds like a straight forward question if interpreted correctly but also leaves me thinking it's such an elementary question as to suggest there might be something missing? Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you have to ask how to attach a sling/pulley, might it be better to get together with someone who can show you, or better still, get the CS 41 ticket (002109 in new speak) http://www.nptc.org.uk/assets/documents/e6c0b3d9a194410a980da36e0b36db24.pdf Maybe I've read the question wrong?

What are you doing with the Mog?? Sale arranged already??

It's an irrevocable fact that the UK is in the process of public sector retrenchment - facilities, services, capacity in decline at the same time that inwards immigration is accelerating exponentially and without any current prospect of management or control. Personally, I agree with reduced public sector (until it becomes more affordable) It has to be obvious that it is not possible to plan & resource service capacity if there is no forecast or control of demand for those services. The UK has to accept that the discussion of immigration does not automatically equate to racism, xenophobia, post colonial flagellation or any other liberal guilt trip. If I can't afford / haven't got enough diesel for the landrover, my solution is not to drive more miles?? Farage is a crack-pot at the head of a party of fairly odd balls but he appears to be the only one with the moral fibre to tackle the prickly issue of inwards immigration head on. I can't see how any party can hope to address the future challenges for UK until we know how many people we're catering for. As such, if they can't or won't accept that the challenge exists, I can't vote for them because they have no credibility.

Isn't that always the way! I had a big Lawson to remove - 2 options (1) fell (across veg plot & sacrifice £30 worth of onions) (2) climb, dismantle, rig it out avoiding veg plot. You can imagine the cost difference between (1) & (2). Customer chose (2) Madness, bless them!

Agreed, that "contenders" debate was a pantomime! Sturgeon is some operator though, pretty much out shouted the rest, if only shouting was a quality to be admired/desired in politics. The Sturgeon, Wood, Bennett trio put me directly in mind of Mussolini, Scargill and Dougal (magic roundabout) with dopey on one side (coincidentally the Left from the viewing perspective) and dodgy on the right! Heaven help us!

Missed it. Troubled times we live in...

Prescott, the pillar of socialist values.... Or perhaps a gob stick in a suit (Jag/mansion/restaurant... Select as appropriate?) But if it was a toe-to-toe, I'd say the bookies would favour 2 Jags in a slogging match with Hislop. I'd have a cheeky tenner on Hislop though, there's just a chance of a random haymaker or a sly kick in the slats to steal the deal??

Was that the Gove piece? I missed the punchline (was cooking) so didn't really get that bit??

Anyone watching HIGNFY? New term for a Labour / SNP coalition has been defined.....

The very worst part of a democracy is that every crack-pot, pencil-necked, zipper-head gets an equal opportunity to create chaos (if they can be bothered to vote) Agreed wrt (apparent) audience bias TCD! That's BBC for you! I think Clegg & Cameron were wise to extract themselves from the media circus that was wholly anticipated once the whackos were invited.

Thinking the same.....

http://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns/68

No I didn't (haven't) When I first bought the AR it was a bit of a punt to see if it would bring any benefit over potentially climbing. In reality, it was a bit of a wheeze and a laugh without spending too much £ and to provide a cheap intro into the possibilities. I'm not sure it has performed to the fullest potential in the environment where it would have been most useful for me - in canopy. I think I've spent as much on repairs as I did on the original purchase price. There's no doubt though, the tech has matured massively over the past couple of years and I'll upgrade to a more robust system at some point soon. It's been a giggle though and I'll get back into again now!