TGB

The most boring Christmas lunch I ever had, was a bowl of oxtail soup. There was enough for 2 1/2 bowls, I had a bowl and my friend had a bowl. As if working with someone who hadn't noticed it was Christmas wasn't bad enough, when I went for seconds, I found he'd chucked the rest away.

You can demand what like for a job. But maybe the filter isn't great, as it makes your voice sound horse.

I know someone who has a Stihl polesaw and a Stihl strimmer on long-term hire with HSS Hire. I don't know the full terms but sounds like the deal with Hilti. I know if there's any problems, he just rings HSS Hire, they come make an exchange and the repair/exchange is part of the deal, with no extra costs. Just had a look on their website. It appears amongst others, they hire shredders, chippers, chainsaws, polesaws, both short & long reach hedge-trimmers, mowers & blowers. But the chainsaws, short reach hedge-trimmers & shredders are electric. While the chippers, polesaws, long reach hedge-trimmers, mowers & blowers, are petrol.

Not used one but if you can afford it and it's going to be used more often than not, get the 560XP. I don't use my 545 every day, though it'll cut through anything I've asked of it, (mainly hardwood). I considered getting the 555 but that was overkill for my needs.

MS 170 D has a cat' fitted and they run hot, (hotter than standard MS 170).

Slitting axe and hatchet for kindling. If it won't split with an axe, then it getting saved for sitting round an outdoor fire. I'm only splitting for personal use, so I can be fussy. Besides, interesting shapes give something to gaze at between chat and sipping.

Ah, I was referring to him having said, "... under the rear wheels". But if you happened to have four handy shovels...

My kind of dog that; looks real but you don't have to feed it, don't have to clear up its mess, don't have to walk it, don't need to feed it and its bark has gone. Not really a dog person.

Have you sliced it yet - does the flesh turn yellow or blue after a minute or so Turns blue_ a definite no no. Turns a lemon yellow_ probable no no. If in doubt, just don't eat it.

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Helly Hansen Lifa tops - short sleeve or long sleeve. Warms when cold and wicks well, so just right in summer too. But if you want to save 2/3s on the price, 'Trespass' base-layers are good too.

I like that but one wonders, how many intricate bits snapped off at inopportune moments. I only know one Chinese swear phrase but it covers a great many situations.

A tad chilly at between 1°C to 3°C. The tops had a dusting three days ago. But thankfully now gone. On Tue. it was 0°C when I got up. But the coppice where I was processing is 340m lower and it had had some sun, so a balmy 3°C.

I wouldn't leave my car in a dumb place. But a shovel under my rear wheels would get you nowhere, as I always leave vehicles in gear. Comes of learning to drive/park in mountainous terrain. And my present car is front wheel drive.

That's interesting; what is low temp. bar oil? I gather it's less viscous, does the can state for use in low operating temps. or is it just less viscous than other bar oils; any particular recommended brands?

That sounds like a 'Friday night, Monday morning, Christmas party and New Year's Eve' vehicle.

You're definitely not going to be paid a bonus on this job. And you may not get to keep any of the wood either, unless expressly stated in the contract.

It's how the queen has her cakes presented.

Forecast freeze but throughout day, it was drying and now with a full moon, it cold but no ice. Should be good for the morrow.

nipski - that shouldn't have made me chuckle too but it did. Thanks for link.

Jasper Fforde, Terry Pratchett, Stephen Donaldson and Bill Birkett. Though Bill's books are more guides, they give a real sense of being.

Aye, I wonder about that too. My brother had two diesel 'Golfs' in ten years. Both were reliable but no more than a reliable car should be. But when they needed repair, the cost was significant. He now drives an diesel Astra. But back to the original question. The Outlander will be expensive to shoe, big wheels... If they roll as much as the 'Shogan' does, they'll have a bouncy ride. Freelanders are comfy and not bad for towing. Not good on mpg. The one thing you don't want to do in one, as my neighbour once did; is hit the a Jag at 90mph. Tends to knacker the Jag and shifted the Freelander's engine & front wheels into the footwell. She survived, her 'Crufts' winner did not. Before the smash, I think the dog was worth more than the vehicles.

Early this year, a small woodland group and registered charity, had two years cuttings of seasoned timber, (30% of which was processed) stolen from one of its private coppiced woods. And the miscreant was a local narrowboat holiday hire company. Everybody in that area knows he, (the company owner) stole the timber. He even bragged about having so much, his 'friends' had four full boats. Ah, but proving the stacked wood in his boatyard is stolen. None of it has 'property of' stamped on it. Two years of volunteer labour, two years of bringing back overgrown woodland to productive coppice. The only payment for the volunteers, was the promise of a share of the wood fuel. But now out of that woodland, there's no payment for the volunteers. And the thieving narrowboat company sells the wood at inflated prices to its clientele. I feel I can't name and shame the thieving company, as I couldn't prove in a court of law, that his stash of booty was actually stolen. Though it actually is!

I like AYAs, particularly side-by-sides. Light, nice feel, good range of models.

Dumb and Dumber The fool with a chainsaw and another fool with a boat.