David Cropper

This is spot on, mate. Well written, and from the heart.

I was beginning to warm to you recently as I found you amusing. You are talking the biggest load of crap ever. You know sod all what ex forces go through. To say, in your own opinionated, totally ignorant way, that most young men won't fit into civilian life and are left with the option of going into the Forces because they can't do anything else, shows what a complete arse you are. Lots of employers take on ex forces because they will do most things required of them. I can't carry on this rant because I'm getting so wound up. You really are a complete tosser.

Don't you sometimes yearn for the simplistic days of Jon Plogs, Steve?

It was a big deal for me and my wife, Mick. Daughter's finished her radiation treatment and is doing well, thanks. Things are going ok, apart from the fact it looks like I wrote my van off on Thursday, clipped an artic near Chalus. Waiting for the Assessor to see if it can be repaired or scrapped.

Mick Demsey came good for me a couple of months ago. We'd found out that our daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer, so we had been running backwards and forwards to her place, 90 minutes away. My stump grinder had gone down, I had a long standing job for which I'd given a stupidly cheap quote, rang Mick up, explained what was going on in our lives, told him my quoted price, without any moaning he agreed to do the job for me. Bearing in mind I'd never met Mick in person, never spoke on the phone, but he came through for me. Forum whore he may be, Mull, but when I needed a helping hand, he was there. Thank you again Mick.

I can't think offhand of any nation in the UK who actually likes the English. Look back at history, because the rest of the other countries of Britain do, and they don't forget. The average Jock makes an elephant look forgetful. My first wife was Irish Catholic, that was exciting as I was a squaddy who'd just come back from Ulster, second one Scots Protestant, so I can speak with some authority on the subject. It annoys the present Mrs Cropper when meeting the French for the first time and they ask if we are English. I always reply that we are British, myself English and the wife Scottish. Stilhmadasever is correct when he says that the Scots are welcomed with a smile, especially over here, the Auld Alliance. My French friends always include my wife in any joking anti English banter. When we did the National Census 15 years ago over here, my neighbour's daughter was collating the info. When she wrote English for our nationality, we explained the difference, she replied that "Don't worry, it's all the same thing". That went down well with Jolly Jock. As has been said, there's good and bad in every nationality, people are just people, but we are all different. Thank goodness for that.

One theory according to the book was that partisans blew a local bridge and the SS Tank Regiment decided enough was enough and took action to punish the village. They rounded everyone up including waiting for the commuters to arrive home, then the massacre started. Horrible place. I was working in the village, about 500 metres from the site, last month. It's a very sobering place to visit.

What about using a farm jack, Utube it. Bit of chain attached to the post after drilling a hole for a long bolt, build an A frame of 4x2 timber for leverage.

I remember about 30 odd years ago seeing something very similar for Landrovers. I thought about getting one as I was always getting bogged in on Lulworth Ranges when I did the deer management.

How do you get on with thorns deflating the tyres, or do you use runflats? I used to use an old Turner flail mower for bramble, it went through tyres for a past time, I was forever having to change them.

I think a visit to my doctor is in order. I'm finding Vespasian entertaining in a bizarre, unsettling way, I now look forward to his rants. Am I mentally incompetent and need treatment, or has my wife been slipping me mind altering drugs again?

Sorry for the late reply but I've just got out of A and E. I always assumed my wife being a Jock, had a sense of humour. Wrong yet again. I'm hoping she may well come around to my suggestion.

I didn't think of that. Mind you, my wife's got some cracking sisters, I may put your theory to her now.

Two wives equals two mother in laws. Are you insane?

Got to be easier doing Greenteeth as they're round as opposed to yellow jacket which are oblong and double edged. As Stumpygrinder says, look at U tube, the bloke uses a pillar drill for accuracy but I saw one video where someone puts the tooth into a battery drill then lowers it onto the wheel.

Always wear a mask Mike with anything giving off dust. Great piece of gear, paid for itself already.

Bought one of these set ups a fortnight ago, brilliant bit of kit. I've got the knack of it now, even sharpening ones in the scrap bucket I thought were too rounded. It really does get the edge on the teeth, you get a bit of dust but nothing like off the green wheels. Wish I'd bought one years ago, so easy, even for me, a bloke who has difficulty sharpening a pencil!

My discreet incontinence garments are the height of fashion in some quarters I'll have you know. Advanced age also comes in to it to be fair.

Oldham

You messy little sod! Stick to tree work, birds are only trouble at your time of life. Disgraceful.

Morning Mick. Just off to do about 50 small(ish) acacia , should be fun! I did find the diamond disc a bit difficult at first but now I've got it sussed. Ive ordered another couple which should arrive today. They do last a fair bit, unlike the green wheel. Thanks for helping me out the other week, much appreciated.

Should have said I use the diamond disc in the angle grinder.

I tried the green wheel, didn't really find it economical, plus all the dust. I now have gone back to an angle grinder but instead of using it free hand with the teeth in a vice, I now put the grinder in the vice with the disc horizontally, then grind the tooth. I've done around 50 in the past week or so, ones I would usually sling. The yellow jacket teeth are fine to do as they are flat, lot easier than trying to sharpen multi tip. I can now change the teeth over much more frequently rather than hanging on getting as much possible use out of brand new ones. Definitely worth a go.

I've just been quoted €27600 including VAT for the zt1844 38hp by the Bandit dealer over here. That's about £24000! Ok, he offered me between €8000 and €10000 part ex for my Vermeer SC30tx, but how can there be such a difference in price?

There seems to be a lot of over thinking on this subject, I thought it was about fat birds. I like fat birds.