aspenarb

Chaps are ok if you are doing a bit of chainsaw maintenance and need to bury a saw into a log to check it out , other than that it has to be trousers. Bob

Not sure whether Hombase are in trouble but they are selling off tools quite cheap. Bought the two measuring wheels and two big tapes for a tenner each, seem to be good quality. Best to reserve them on line and check out availability before trudging down there. Tools | Power Tools, Hand Tools & Tool Storage Clearance | Homebase WWW.HOMEBASE.CO.UK Find great deals in our Tools clearance event. Available online and in store. Bob

Someone must have bought the munter some new batteries for her calculator. Bob

TIME. Been so busy in the last few years I have not had a chance to do anything for myself. The Christmas and the new year are definitely going to be different, think there may well be a grandson about to be thrown in the mix Bob

Yes the field to the left of the track is raised about a foot and is being sold off, anyone digging in a threshold to their plot will be digging that 300mm off and more to allow for hardcore/surface, hence the depth. We would normally but being in chalk and trackside its full of gurt flints/rubble. Bob

Just started this job digging in a mile ( literally) of 32mm poly watermain, 4" duct and leccy cable, all to go in at a depth of 1200mm.

I was thinking the same, you can’t really lump on the price of a mog and chipper or any big kit if the job does not warrant it. Bob

Not sure what deal my nipper got from Ford , he put 2k down and pays £300 a month for a brand new Transit van. He went in there to discuss the deal and in less than a week he was driving it. Bob

Here are some figures Andy, North sea oil and gas netted the uk gov £I.2billion ( all in) last year and from what I have read its one of the most difficult in the world to extract. I have no clue why Norway is more successful, need to be mindful that its not governments or the Scottish people that drill for oil so I can only assume its more viable from the Norwegian waters. • North Sea revenue UK 2008-2019 | Statista WWW.STATISTA.COM This statistic shows the United Kingdom's North Sea revenue from 2008/09 to 2018/19. That £1.2billion is completely dwarfed by the £27.9billion the UK government milked out of us in fuel duty, Vat also goes on top of that which not everyone claims back. As I said that figure wont change because its whacked on no matter who supplies it. • HMRC fuel duty receipts 2019 | Statista WWW.STATISTA.COM This statistic shows the total United Kingdom (UK) HMRC fuel duty receipts from fiscal year 2000/01 to fiscal year 2018/19. Personally I think SNP are playing a dangerous game , they are prepared to risk losing the confidence of UK investors which may have serious repercussions on £50billion worth of trade we do with Scotland. I know its not all about the money. Bob

Merely pointing out that revenue from scotch is way down on the list and is not without some serious competition from the Japs. Take a squint. The Growth of Global Demand for Japanese Whisky | Market Research Blog BLOG.EUROMONITOR.COM Though demand growth of Japanese whisky remains strong in Japan, interest is quickly building elsewhere, rising at an... The company my friend works for had done their sums and pressed the go button at a time when crude was on a high, its only a few million of investors money, probably some poor sods pension fund. Norway has a different agenda Andy, they hold over a $trillion in a sovereign wealth fund and have $37 billion tied up in oil company shares. Norway is an oil company , they are saving for the inevitable rainy day. Also worth noting that most of the UK governments revenue from oil is from fuel duty, that wont change no matter who supplies it. Bob

My assessment of Scotch whiskey is based on what it brings in, it only accounts for £4.3billion out of Scotlands £80billion gdp, the revenue from the governments perspective will be a lot less than that. Most Scotsman will have you believe that the revenue from Scotch is propping up the uk economy. As for the oil I think we.can agree to disagree, my friends company has now closed it’s Aberdeen office along with many others and the won’t be coming back anytime soon. Bob

Not sure about the oil Andy, I do know that the oil has no future all the time the hayrabs keep the barrel price where it is and by the time that changes world oil consumption will be virtually nil, they are determined sell all they can before the party is over. Investment packages in North Sea oil were established when the barrel price was through the roof , a lot of companies involved are there now making massive losses but committed to produce. A friend of mine who is at the sharp end reckons they are finding huge land based reserves of gas and oil around the world on a daily basis. Don’t think Scotland should hinge its future on oil,I don’t think whiskey is all that clever now. Bob

I am struggling to understand why the SNP are so keen to part company from the UK, something like 75% of all investments in Scottish industry have come from south of the border. We are by far their biggest trading partner and the UK last year alone topped up the Scottish tax revenue shortfall of £941m with £737m of our hard earned. From where I am sat all this uncertainty alone could have a damaging effect on future investment in Scotland and a potentially massive threat with industry relocation . Am I missing something or are they just hell bent financial suicide Bob

By far the quickest way to check out problems like this is with a tester like the one below. It will indicated whether on a + or - and with the rocker switch can supply both +or- . I would start at the solenoids on the engine just to make sure the hydraulics are actually working, work your way back from there. Bob

I was fannying about trying to decide on whether to get mobile units or static, mobile for sure on jobs that only run for a few weeks but for long running contracts static makes a bit more sense so I bought these. Nice to be able to leave dry clothes/boots and some kit on site and not have to crap behind a bush. Bob

Ruben I use Clear in Cranliegh , they seem to be able to place anything including the boat stuff. Bob

You will need to go through a decent broker Stephen, it will need to be put to them as the base vehicle whatever that is and then the body type. A few pics will be needed and they will send it off to the underwriter, our broker has managed to place all the oddball vehicles I have built over the years so yours should be straight forward. Bob

Mine turned up mid week Andy, need to check and see if the deal still runs.?

I bought a cheapy for smaller drills from screwfix and its pants, way to much slop it to accurately sharpen a drill. Bob

Don’t read too far into Hp figures with trucks Richy, they make gobs of torque which is what’s needed. Any modern 7.5 tonner will pull a 3.5 ton trailer while fully freighted as if it’s not on there. Bob.

Very nice crane but I dont think I would have mounted it on an 8x2 chassis, with a tag axle rear and all that weight over the steer axles that is going to be a pig for traction on anything other than dead level tarmac. If I was throwing north of 300k at a truck/crane combination for tree work I think it would have to go on an ex army 8x8 which would have the advantage of being a heavier base unit , a lot shorter and able to get closer to a tree off the road. It would probably spend less time parked up if it could get about off road. Bob

Mr Fancier I dont think you need to worry about that crane truck poaching domestic work, it wont fit in Mrs Miggings drive and outside with all the legs out would probably need a road closure. It will no doubt be a success but it wont be off the back of domestic arb, its only a tool for lowering sticks at the end of the day and at 850kg`s a pop not very big ones. Bob

Thanks for the heads up Andy, seemed rude not to take advantage of that one Bought four lots, I will be equally amazed if it turns up Bob

The ram on the RSL thumb decided to fall apart, not too bad considering its been in daily use for yonks. Could have done without the hydraulic oil spill though Upside is RSL sent out a new one on the overnight

Make a complaint, I always judge a supplier by the way they deal with issues and react to complaints. Its possible they have had problems but if they make amends you cant really ask for more. Bob