Gnome

Took me a little longer than I anticipated. Just really getting back into the swing of studying. was probably doing a couple of hours a night with a day at the weekends. Doing the soil tests took more time as I was pretty busy at work and had to squeeze digging soil pits and taking cores when I could and when the weather was suitable. I had planned to blast through it myself but with the time taken so far to wait for results and next question paper I don't think 6 months is achievable for me. I paid for the full course at once so got the full course sent in one big folder so I can go onto read the next section at least. Once I get the first feedback though I will have a better idea and hopefully work a bit smarter. I also paid for an ABC registration as well with the HCC and they only get the external verifiers in twice a year so when I find out when that is I can work to that deadline. I'm up for discussing any questions, problems etc. either here or PM chaps. Best of luck.

Took me about a month or so for the first unit on soils. The next one should be through the door any day now, fingers crossed.

I would like to thank all the chaps who have given me encouragement to go for the CS38 and pass it. It's been a long time coming due to changed course dates and lots of months saving for the gear and course but i've got there. The suppliers on here have been great too and the service and delivery is as good as it gets. So thanks to Steve and the team for the great resources on here. I'm in my mid 30's and not as fit as I once was so I would encourage anyone who is undecided/unsure about doing the course to go for it. Need to get a pic for my avatar with me doing a lunge in the tree now Good end to a busy year. Thanks

Templates made out of hardboard, perspex or similar material should be ideal to get the desired shapes and alignment.

Dust the meat with seasoned flour before browning, helps thicken the sauce. I like to add fruit jams, preserves for the final half hour before serving. Apricot in a beef stew is nice and works well with half a bottle of red wine. Redcurrent jelly with lamb shanks is a nice change from rosemary and garlic. If you are finding you have a lot of watery gravy, I laddle out the gravy and place in a big flat frying pan to reduce quickly and add a knob of butter to make it glossy and stir in the fruit jam of choice then back in the pot and mix. I don't bother grinding spices like cumin seeds or coriander as they are in there for so long. Slow cooked lamb curry is one to try. I put my main veg in for just the last 30mins or so as they will go to mush. Any veg put in at the start is also browned for extra flavour. If i'm making a chicken dish like spanish chicken, chicken fajitas, chicken casserole, curry I cook the sauce for hours to release all the flavour and add large chunks of chicken breast that have been poached just before serving. For an oriental twist I put big slices of braising steak in with soy sauce, fish sauce, five spice, leek, chillies, ginger and garlic and leave it for the afternoon. great with rice or noodles. (good with pork too. marinade the pork in pineapple juice over night first) I like my italian bolognaise type sauce as well in the slow cooker diced venison or wild boar good alternative to best butchers steak mince. Also try BIG meatballs with plenty of parmessan, herbs, diced smoked bacon, pork mince and beef mince, breadcrumbs and eggs to bind. Remember and brown those balls. I read somewhere about doing a sticky toffee pudding in the slow cooker and a cheesecake but never tried it yet.

mahonia

30 seconds to fill in and you don't have to even grow a bloody tache. Not used aspen due to price, availability but can see the benefits and always happy to support chaps and chapesses on here so fingers oot.

Done

One on ebay for about 1000 euro. I just get a bottle of whisky now and then. Luck chap!!! just checked. old listing...

Anybody read the books? Love this kind of thing.

Hi Eileen If you can get a few pictures of the tree, one with the whole tree showing where it is situated e.g. next to a wall or tarmac round it etc. and one with the said nail in it and a close up of the needles left on the tree. I'm sure there are people on here who will be able to give you a definitive answer. Good Luck.

Think you need one of those petrol driven mountain goat thingys. Might be better looking for something older. they don't make em like they used to. Petrol flymo and leaf blower not an option?

Been using a HRX476CQXE this year and happy with the performance. Got a HRD536 QXE as well and had to replace the gearbox and new axle which was pretty sore on the budget. The HRX is much lighter and manoeuvrable but the HRD is superior on longer wetter grass. I also use the leaf blower to remove some of the water. Both Hondas are better for working on than my Hayters which have been relegated to backups now. As the weather hasn't been great for cutting the last few weeks I am also using the ride on to lift some of the longer grass prior to finishing with the pedestrian mowers. Just got to watch I don't go into the softer areas. As for using the drive on hard surfaces, for me this is a no no. I just lift the back roller slightly and push to the next lawn.

Couple of wraps of gaffer tape if it is a problem.

Baswood last guess

Laburnum

Horse Chestnut

Ordered a couple of times with them. Quick delivery and parts did the job. Got one of the 372 big bore kits as well off them and still works although I don't use the saw daily. Quality seemed better than other parts I have ordered from other online wee stores. Will be using them again if they have any parts I am needing.

I use the Fs3protect stihl trousers, don't have the protection pads for them yet but have been impressed with them this year. Quite easy to keep clean at the front and they have a wee stretchy bit in the ball region. they have a clip to attach them at the bottom to your boots but I often just put my husky wellies on. Got those oregon shinguards but used them only a couple of times for some really rough stuff. make your shins sweat pretty bad but better than having shrapnel in them.

Home and Away

You forgot trainspotting....

IPAF's every 5 years.

Do you need any more pics of this. Was looking at my monkey today and it's brown top to bottom. Very disheartened.

Found me a new house!! the light in the mornings at the moment has been great in the woods.

Don't know if this is the same fungi on another of the butresses of the same tree and not noticed the creamy ooze before. The tree has rapidly went brown this year.