kevinjohnsonmbe

I spent my last day (Friday gone, and Saturday, and Sunday) blowing fluids out of both ends at 100psi!

To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't had many good leads on your job offer, sounds like a good deal for the right candidate. I hate to say it, but if I were faced with a similar problem I'd probably think about an Aussie/Kiwi on a work visa - there I've said it - now I'm kicking myself! May be up that way in the New Year (closing a house sale Nr Abingdon), what's your neck of the woods??

You're just waiting to see who's mad, sad or bad enough to ask.....! Is it a simple google job or are you offering a link??

Yes, sorry about that, I should have been clearer. I wasn't suggesting that VAT is an assumed 'increase' in cost overheads to the VAT registered company but rather that, in the domestic domain, that a VAT reg company may be required to present a 20% higher quote to the domestic customer than the non VAT reg operator. That was the point I was, rather poorly, trying to articulate. :thumbup1:

ELG - it's Ted isn't it? I think I've picked that up in other threads. You're bang on mate, be nice to meet you one day, maybe APF or if you're in UK at some point! Hopefully, if they come home today, the last in the series from this mornings fresh air walk after keeping the night shift in the ward. Sadly, another area, another set of trees. These, like the Beech by the salt pile are all tagged, wether that denotes a former management plan or existing TPO status I'll leave to Plymouth city council to determine:

Hope that doesn't come across as adversarial, it's not meant that way. It's just that I think 'the little guy' is often under represented given that there are so many small outfits in the sector. There was a thread a while back blaming small outfits for driving price down and whilst I only speak for myself, I can assure that I don't work hard for no return - and I can make enough in 3 days Mon-Weds so that I stay home with the little one Thu/Fri, and I have no problem passing up a job that either doesn't appeal or doesn't pay. Isn't it a classic business dilemma - finding your 'stop' point? Maybe the larger the company becomes, the less able it is to compete for domestic work? I'd be interested to hear if you've considered outsourcing some of your operation either through using subbies on a regular basis or by taking the best part of the team and giving that gang boss an assistant manager type function and cutting loose to explore his own lines of development. Difficult to discuss in a forum format, would be a good discussion over a beer.

Good on ya! Well done!! Play safe!

Glad you highlighted that, going to cross check my EPC measurements!

Quite right, don't forget though, current fire service conditions of service allow for a lot of study/leisure/sport activity within the work schedule AND enough time off for a second job! Just in case that offends anyone, just to qualify my point, how do you think military personnel felt back filling for striking fire service using WW2 equipment, sleeping on the floor in TA centres and watching "on watch" fire crews using service sports facilities during work time, oh by the way, that would be the same military staff that have already endured pension changes, pay freeze, redundancy AND early retirement - which is kind of what the fire service strikes are about. (Now THAT IS a derail! So I'll shut up now ):0). )

Yes mate, was just typing up, you couldn't make it up!

Here (above) are some pics of landscaping in progress today and of what I presume is this winters rock salt stockpile in the root zone of a pair of pretty distressed Beech, new road one side, construction spoil the other and rock salt on top. No wonder there are fruiting bodies....

No argument from me on that score, I'm a very grateful parent of a poorly child and we have nothing but the highest praise for all the staff we've met on the numerous visits we've had to children's HDU. I have to get out and have a walk around the grounds when possible. Yes, the money absolutely should be spent on medical services but there is money being spent on landscaping and poor practice now, which will cost even more later! I really hope it falls to Vinci car parks not to the NHS. [ ATTACH]172623[/ATTACH]

I guess the architectural beauty is in the eye of the beholder (probably only the contractor and his architect in this case and they must be viewing it through the bottom of empty champagne bottles!) The only possible saving grace would be if the costs are laid to the carpark facility provider rather than the NHS. If it is the carpark operator, it's just possible they will have a QA department or someone with budgetary responsibility that will reject the works. If it's being costed to the NHS it's unlikely the expertise or interest exists to catch this before bill payment. There's actually zero mm of black top on the base/sub base in some areas and it's not like it can be excused as not yet finished otherwise why do the white lines and open the carpark? Truly shocking! I'm going to raise through patient feedback and see what happens - will keep you posted!

Paul, have you seen the "What is a foreman worth" thread? Might be worth a look??

Interesting ebb & flow of opinions and regional perspectives and even comparisons with totally unrelated industries. Can't really see what it matters what a nuclear physicist might think their professional worth is, if there are too many, they'll come cheap, if there are too few, the price goes up! That's market forces. Maybe a relocation package would get you the candidate you're after but who isn't currently in your area. I guess it's a bit of a gamble on the upfront cost? Have you seen Silky Foxs' thread? There's a man that will get to where the work is and it sounds like just the job for him? (Have you seen this thread Paul?? Got yr voicemail yesterday! Answer phone is slow to pick up on the mobile sometimes, great to meet you fella!)

And then there are the 5837 issues: And high value assets semi permanently located under potential hazard beams: I'll have to try and find out from the NHS Trust who has this contract, I really hope it's not an AA approved outfit!

And whoever had the contract for topping the new carpark needs a serious talking to, I think the WIND blew the blacktop off:

Despite our best efforts, we've crashed into Christmas like a runaway freight train on a collision course with a fuel depot (I think the film I'm thinking of might be runaway?) 72 hours of adult D&V and now back in DERRIFORD with the little one. That's my 2 days emergency Christmas shopping blown again! A set of wiper blades from Morrisons garage for the wife again this year! At least I've got a reasonable excuse this year!! So, had a walk around the estate to get some air and thought I'd have a look see how the plantings from earlier in the year were doing: Pretty much as expected, lashings are bar taught, chafing, breaking and pulling the supports out: !

Try Lynher training: http://lynhertraining.co.uk/course/

The really worrying thing (I think) is the acceleration in rates of registered disabled in the UK. I did have a quick look to see if I could find the figures to compare '70s. '80s, '90s, '00s. Couldn't find what I was after but I recall looking it up a while back and finding an exponential increase. So what does that tell us? As a nation we're getting sick real quick and in ever increasing numbers? If so, what is the government doing about it? If not, what is the government doing about it? I still believe the greatest crime is being committed by those that have the choice and they choose to deprive those that don't have the choice.

1100 lots for auction tomorrow morning! http://www.kivells.com/agricultural/sale_details.asp?ID=3924 I'll be in early to get a couple of Horace's 15 pounders!

Tough break there Andy. I'd lose one of the big pleasures in my life if I lost the enjoyment of cooking & eating.

I've had an enforced abstinence (from food) since Friday tea time. It's been like an ebola reception centre here since the D&V started at some point Friday night. Wife says she's lost 4lb, I don't know what I've lost (apart from a lot of dignity) since I can't remember last time I weighed myself. Please let this pass before Christmas! Whilst I haven't done any exercise to burn calories, I am already feeling the effects of food deprivation - muddled thoughts, a bit of mild confusion and absent mindedness.

Will you be carving a similar piece to commemorate the 2 NYPD officers that were assassinated?

If it were me I'd: (1) not take his word over ownership but check who has registered title to the land, (2) read https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adverse-possession-of-registered-land (3) forget about trying to bill for previous work, (4) be prepared for disappointment, if he knows what he's doing he's already pre-empted your aspiration and positioned himself so as take advantage - that's probably how he got rich in the first place! Good luck!