Billhook

Just found this advertisement. Spalding is only 40 miles away but in those days that was a big deal . At the age of 13 parents were still very much in charge and the idea of letting your adolescent kid go to a hippy festival with many things to lead him astray was out of the question. Too far to bike with my knackered single speed cycle. I would be surprised if any of you lot made it. Stubby perhaps?? Just look at the line up, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Pink Floyd were way down the order!

Thanks for the replies The wood came from some large trees and had been seasoned for about three years so there was less resin but it was still quite heavy. Little bark and quite stringy on the outside of each log. I felt that this stringy layer burnt fiercely and may have coated the remaining log with a black ash which subdued the fire The air vents were fully open, normally half shut down for Ash and Sycamore once the fire is going I think it is good advice to mix it with the Ash and Sycamore

I know this topic has been on the forum several times but just wanted to share my experience and wondered if any of you had the same We took down some very large old trees with 20-30 inch diameter logs that we split into firewood before Covid (New date term. “BC” so 2018 BC!). So very dry and very stringy after splitting and a mountain of bits which are useful kindling. Been burning them on our Aarrow Stratford boiler. Normally we use Ash and Sycamore which both produce plenty of ash in the ash tray and both burn hot However we were surprised to find the Leylandii only produced about 3/4 of the heat of the others in spite of seeming to burn well initially. However after a period of time they became very blackened and I suspect that this coating slowed the burn. Amazingly there was no ash at all left after a whole day and night, with the Ash and Sycamore we usually fill a bucket I thought there would be enough resin in the wood to make it burn hotter but perhaps this had disappeared over time Anyone had a similar experience?

Too right (left). Cobber!

The main point as Peds will agree, and not about measles is that left handers are dominant in the right hemisphere of the brain , so left handers are the only ones in their right mind!

Blimey, is that the current price of wheat? I blame the Russians!

In a huge generalisation if you are in a crowd and shout out “Everyone here, follow me out the door “ most right handed people will just follow whereas a lot of left handers will say “hang on a minute why?” All through history as soon as armies were formed you needed conformity of weapons, bows and swords and shields had to be right handed and you could not have an ordered line of troops standing to attention with Peds and Billhook poking our neighbours eyes out with our weapons. Same goes for muskets and rifles all right handed. The way we write from left to right, the way pens are made And so left handed children were forced to be right handed which caused a lot of stammering which I do not hear these days in more violent times people were put to death or burnt at the stake for being witches. Even today half the world condemn the left hand to wipe the bum and not bring food to the mouth or shake another’s hand So we are where we are because of war I think What has all this to do with measles!!!

You leave us lefties out of it! when they studied flint tools they found it was nearly 50/50 left and right handed. Only when the Romans and other war like people started to call us sinister just because we would not obey orders or follow the crowd!

Did not know that, perhaps more kids parties are the answer?

Seems to be a lot of talk about it at the moment and the reluctance of people taking the jab I am three score years and ten now and when I was young instead of jabs we were sent to children’s parties and caught most diseases like mumps, German measles and chickenpox when we were about six or seven years old . Unfortunately I never caught measles at that age but succumbed at the age of twenty with a very high temperature and much discomfort. Luckily I was very strong and fit so no lasting effects but I would caution those with children to have the vaccinated. It is a shame but understandable that people have lost their trust in vaccines due to the Covid jab, but i would feel much more confident with a well tested vaccine My father took this photo of me!

Wonderful Woodchuck log roller behind!

Just been testing my new MS251C with easy start to relieve my poor arthritic wrists. Game changer for me. 16 inch bar made light work of this Ash ready now to be split with the “Lockdown home built processor “ still going strong after several mods

It would lift one this size but I only have a photo using forks

I bought a clapped out Sanderson muck grab and fitted some cone adapters for the Matbro. It has been much abused and much welded on the grab but the tines are strong. It is really useful for picking up large heaps of brash by tilting it forwards and dropping it down vertically on the heap with the grab wide open before grabbing at ground level

Anyone had the misfortune to sit on one of these? London on red fire ant alert after deadly species found in Europe WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK Entomologists warn invasive species which has killed 80 people in US could enter UK through ports

Just sitting here by the lake and there is another big black cloud heading this way……. I’m off!

Just had the mother of all thunderstorms last evening in mid Lincolnshire. In all my seventy years I have not witnessed the like. First one came with usual black cloud and that feeling you have with the pressure change. It was quite severe then the skies cleared to reveal blue sky and powder puff clouds so I thought I would venture down to the lake with the Matbro to do a bit of brash clearing with the muck fork. As I went down the track there was a line of silvery cloud in the South with a lot of vertical lines, but since it was fine where I was I continue on…… big mistake! I thought for a moment Putin must have launched a new secret weapon and the thunder and lightning were continuous for about half an hour and I felt very vulnerable in the middle of the farm so I turned for home in the middle of a load of crash bangs. I thought that I am sure I am ok as I am in a Faraday cage but it did not feel very safe and then the torrential rain was so much the wipers couldn’t cope then the hail started! Made it to the barn and sat there until it dispersed. So into the car and back home and another black cloud on the horizon , surely there cannot be three but sure enough bang crash again. Anyway good test for leaks in the roof Just going round now to check for tree damage

Never watched that film. Are there a lot of pigeons in it ? We walked along the High Line old railway today where they have done a fabulous job of both preserving the old line, creating a peaceful walk with great views and resting places as well as planting up the edges with interesting trees and plants that are not just plonked there but well tended In the Uk I would expect to see squirrels and pigeons and sparrows particularly hanging around places where people are eating but nothing today. Perhaps they are all following Tom Lehrer’s advice

Been walking around New York since Wednesday and have not seen a single butterfly or moth! Also no pigeons or any birds really but going into Central Park today and then Coney Island so May at least see a rabbit there!

I am also a very good butterfly photographer, but only when they are all dead and pinned to a box!

You really are a fantastic photographer AJ!

Are they good to eat?

Also we came across this big boy, a Signal Crayfish, again not that welcome but perhaps the Mink was after them That one was more than the width of my outstretched hand at about 9 inches. Would one that big be able to fend off a Mink with its huge pincers or are Mink too fearless and strong?

Since we stopped people and their dogs coming down to the lake , the wildlife seems to have returned. Some welcome others less so. I was walking quietly around the lake when I saw this movement in the pool where the water exits the lake and enters the chalk stream. The wind was blowing in his direction (sorry if I misgendered him!) but he did not seem that bothered by me. https://youtu.be/qVn13qunuwQ

What is really great for us here is that they are very friendly and in the Spring dive at us and fly very close just to tell us they are pleased to be back and just now as they sit on the roof and the barn they do not move when I go near them. I wish them safe passage and to avoid Malta where they may be eaten!