Inoff the Red

There is no such thing as a self employed employee. You are either self employed or employed. If you are working for a company on a day rate basis, you are effectively a sub contractor. As others have said, HMRC take a dim view of companies that disguise employment by making people go self employed (although the BBC seem to get away with it with their presenters). Anyone starting a business will inevitably start off with a small customer base and if you are looking for work from other sources you can justify self employed status. The bigger question to ask yourself is whether you should be trading as a limited company or as a sole trader. Feel free to send me a PM with your email address if you want to discuss it further

If you have a mac, then before committing to Quick books have a look at Mamut Account Edge (formerly MYOB). That way you can keep your financial records on your own computer. IMHO Account Edge is one of the best and easiest to use accounting packages on the market.

No, with a blunt one!

I tend to use a few coats of cheap PVA glue to seal the ends

PM sent

Will, Shame you couldn't get to Download it really is a brilliant festival and the line ups are usually brill. It's almost on my doorstep so i have been to a few Memorable moments from recent Downloads Billy Talent (they were so good I saw them again in Rock City shortly afterwards...one of the best live acts i have seen) AC DC Black Sabbath Metallica Tenacious D Iron Maiden Pendulum Korn Biffy Clyro I saw BMTH at Download a few years ago when they were a support band (on the second stage I think.) Download attracts a lot of up and coming bands.

The lawyers need to do their job! I have never yet met a conveyancing solicitor that could not advise on the location of a boundary and the strategy depends on the result. If the tree is on your clients side, they can do as they wish. If it lies on the side of the "big" house, they need to be appraised of the structural problems caused by their tree and advised (in the nicest possible way) that if they fail to deal with it, they will be held liable for any losses or damage suffered as a consequence. (The prospect of being on the wrong end of a claim usually brings folk to their senses) If the tree lies on the boundary, then in the same way that the instigator of remedial work on the tree may become liable for any subsequent damage the tree causes, so the "big" house owners may be liable for damage caused by their wilful refusal to remedy a problem caused by a tree growing on the boundary line. The trick is to avoid this becoming the dreaded "point of principle" that sees some folk go to court for the most stupid reasons. The solution is to find a lawyer that can solve problems, not the sort that can cope with a bog standard conveyancing job and nothing else.