Mr. Squirrel

Come along now, you must be pulling our legs? Isn't that just silly? I lived in Germany until pretty recently and its certainly not common practice...

Yeah a friend of mine figured a snappy gate would be ok, until it unclipped itself and his saw feel out a tree. So long as it locks yer good.

Haha, thought given climbing out of the mewp and into the tree is a strict h&s no no I'd leave that out of this thread. However the only reason I've been in mewps is when the operator couldn't reach the backside/internals and have given me a lift to the upper crown to give them a hand.

Well now that is a sticky wicket. I guess all you can do is try and reason with them that mewps aren't the be all and end all, or start getting very imaginative with reasons as to why they are unsuitable for the job in hand. For every job. They might be great for wee trees, hedges and reductions but reaching the internals of a tree from a mewp is another matter. And the quality of work suffers I'd say. And mewps are girly.

Every tool has its advantages, drawbacks and place. Mewps are no different I'd say. Comparing them as being faster/slower safe/dangerous is totally subjective to the climber or mewp operator on the job, and pretty pointless. I've subbed for a few firms who use primarily mewps and while they certainly have strengths they also have disadvantages. Far from being a 'macho climber', I simply see a climber as a far more versatile way of completing a job.

I'd do exactly what the surgeon says, and nothing more. If they're vague see a physiotherapist, delivery but stages on the internet. I had keyhole shoulder surgery and was told not to even think about climbing for 6 months. Seriously mentally challenging actually taking that time out but it beats damaging the work done and having to go under the knife again. That might not even be practical...

Great posts and thread, the stigma some people associate with mental health issues is probably one of the greatest barriers to healing. Personally I think the complete opposite, some of the people I respect most in this world are people who've been pretty brutally honest with what they're dealing with. And those are generally also the ones who seem ultimately seem to cope the best. I've had at taste of 'mental illness', through certain events initially I developed anxiety problems. I was fine so long as I was climbing, but otherwise I sucked at life. That anxiety merged into depression until I hit what I'm going to call rock bottom. Certainly for me. I was referred to a mental health outpatient hospital by my gp and after seeing (and rejecting) a few psychologists found a woman who seemed to get me. It took time but I'm better off now than ever before, I'd say. Massive respect to mental health workers, and everyone who has the courage to accept their help. Meditation, or mindfulness, sounds a bit 'hairy fairy' but it certainly helped me cope when I was at my lowest. I'm not sure where I'd be today without that. Regular meditation actually physically changes your brain over time, which Ihad no idea of. It's a small act but it can have enormous benefits. Some doctors will throw a whole manner of pills about all willy nilly, and they certainly have a place but I wasn't going to go down that route. Meditation was my medication, is not a quick fix but it's a step in a positive direction, I feel. I'd recommend 'mindfulness, a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny penman' even if you don't follow the whole books programme (I didn't) the CD and some of the advice is invaluable. Just my 2 cent. All the best fellas.

I dunno, they're definitely easier on the body, but then they're faster too. So instead of spending half, even a whole day on a tree you can probably do 5, 10, more even. I reckon it'll balance out in the end.

Looks like a satisfying job!

I was climbing a larch when I was a kid and all four branches I was on snapped simultaneously. Took out a few below me as I fell but stopped myself with one very desperate hug. Stem is strong enough though. Similar thing with Douglas fir.

Problem there is there aren't any truly remote areas in the uk... sure they've done it in some national parks in the states, but those parks alone are probably the size of Scotland. Won't happen.

Too true, I think any tree surgeon worth his salt can probably cobble together something like good sewing. As for cleaning, brush, shovel, blower. Easy, no? I am good at doing a huge pan of spaghetti, turning it into chilli the next day and then having burritos for a couple days afterwards. Also do a man shepherds pie, Thai curry and a perfect steak. Meat and potatoes are definitely the most important part of any diet... for me.

+2 for throw line. Would never leave my rope on the job over night.

Agree on all points. It's knowing when you're not just a wee bit nervous and when it's a legitimate concern though I suppose. I remember subbing for a guy, being sent to a big oak. Half the crown had broken out at the first fork and there was a big split right down to the ground. The wind was howling and I was quite happy to walk away from that till a calmer day. Two days before I finished a contract for him while getting pulled off branches and thrown about by the wind, so I think it was fairly clear that my internal danger barometer wasn't set to 'pansy'. Moving root plate, water logged soil & wind seems a legitimate reason to walk, but principals won't pay the bills sadly...

I use a ~5m strop, too long most of the time but for the odd bit of tricky positioning in single line mode it's well worth it.

If the van's cold too I stuff my gloves down my trousers while I'm getting a line set, sorting out the site etc Maintains their warmth till I'm climbing and gives me a chance for some sneaky male private exercises... or just to creep people out.

My circulation is pretty pants too, I've used the showa thermal gives and had some success so long as I've a dry pair spare. Generally I just spend winter climbing bare handed with a pile of frozen gloves in the van though. Which I find a little miserable. Will have to try out some of these ideas.

I was just looking at the protos after reading this thread, and not to be a nit picker but it actually appears to be rated at 26db. I'm still stunned that for all that incredible impact protection, which will hopefully never need to be depended upon; the hearing protection, which definitely will be, is inadequate. Where's the sense in that

The joy of being a freelance/contract climber.

I dunno, freelancing I worked for a lot of guys in arb who's idea of a good sharp chain was terrible. All the foresters I've worked with seemed to regard it as of the highest importance and it definitely shows.

Pixa lights are decent, not ridiculously bright but more than enough to work by when called for, alright battery life and they're very durable. For the money I doubt they can be beat.

That's pretty creepy. Seems a break in is inevitable at some point though, where does the law stand on booby traps?

Aye, pretty much as max says. I used to average three months working followed by a month of travel/holiday time. I spent most of that time trekking/rock climbing so didn't lose too much fitness but the first morning back at it was always a little intimidating. As soon as all the nonsense on the ground was sorted and I got back up a tree it was bliss though. I wouldn't say my ability ever really suffered, and you won't forget 3 years of experience in 6 weeks so don't sweat it. Be straight with them by all means but holiday or not you're flying to the other side of the world, it's understandable if it takes some time to settle in, let alone the jet lag...

Sounds like a dedicated employee to me. If I'd had the cost of a saw, blower, flip line and chipper repair taken from my wages, and THEN my employer started accusing me of gross negligence and calling me dopey on a public internet forum it'd take a great deal of restraint not throw the rest if his kit in the chipper and find a new job. It's a pain in the ass, sure, but there are appropriate ways to publicly ridicule your boys, don't ya know? Interesting pictures though. How long did it take you to pick all that it of the chip?

Give it time, I had a shoulder op two months ago and definitely know the feeling. I'm still not allowed to lift the kettle with my right arm and won't be climbing again until April, best thing you can do is just take it easy and make sure it heals properly first time. I never want to see another tv once I'm done with this recovery! All the best with it though, hope it goes well for you!