TIMON

I used to see this one regularly passing through Newcastle under Lyme Staffs on the A34. Very impressive rig. I think ALE are now building their own purpose built tractor unit similar to this Unipower.,. But bigger and more powerful.

Thanks guys, some great replies so far. Please keep them coming.

Experienced my first big pendulum swing the other day while on a reccy climb branch walking in a very big oak. I lost my footing and took a swing really quickly I must have swung about 20ft and twisted round about 6 times. I always thought I would have time to grab a branch but not this time I just wondered what others experiences of this happening were. ??

I always remind the customer that there is a possibility that there is a possibility that another "contractor"may call having scoured the applications section. It's good to let them know that "firms" who have to resort to these kinds of methods are generally not worth bothering with and worse still, you really don't know who you are opening your door to. You hear such terrible stories after all..... Usually does the trick

Doing well thanks Jamie. Likewise mate , hope things are well with you too. I'm on holiday in Spain but it's chucking down.

In that case I would be very wary. Buy the bits at the right money and hedge your bets regarding the "good will" part of the deal. Otherwise walk away.

I have heard of someone using one with a crack but I definitely wouldn't recommend it. Good news is you shouldn't have any problems getting a replacement Mk3

When I was in the commercial window cleaning game, the going rate for a round being sold was 10 to 1. (1 being what the round was worth per clean) Very often the buyer and seller would "share" the round for a month during the transition. Very important when all you are buying in real terms is. " good will". But it also helped the buyer get a feel for the round and see what he was really buying in detail. Anyone who has poured themselves into establishing a genuine, reputable business would surely hope to see it passed on into good hands. Perhaps a similar arrangement could be worked out (with in-built safety clauses) so that you could ensure that: 1. You could see that the amount of job leads are indeed genuine. 2. A smooth transition takes place while the business changes hands. If the guys reason for selling is bona fide and the business is genuinely viable as a going concern then surely he would be willing to enter into a short term "partnership" for the purposes of transition. Bear in mind that you may have some PR to do in regard to the unanswered calls / missed quotations. Just my thoughts, written on holiday in Spain sheltering from a thunderstorm

Quercus Robur if you are willing to play the long game. We live in a mature oak wood and it is wonderful on so many levels. Beauty, shade, wildlife, reccy climbs on the doorstep etc..

No worries there Jamie,,, you can get it swapped for a brand new MK 3 with the stronger top link Our Justo had the same thing happen and had a replacement straight away. I'm almost hoping the same thing happens to me so I can get a Mk 3

Nice mate. Very clean (as usual)

Congratulations Mike... (On the new born not the grounding).

Hi mate Often... On the same set up with the same knots (I'm on a zig zag most of the time now but still fond of that set up) I showed my fluffy/glazed hitch cord to another more (much more) experienced LOLER/climber and told him I had retired it and he said "why?, it's just getting nice now!" The more you turn it, twist it, re-set it and change and tweak it the longer it will last (obviously) 'cos you are spreading the friction/heat points across the surface of the cord rather than letting it glaze in the same place every time. I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer but I found that ocean polyester hitch cord is more durable than I first thought and a certain amount of SLIGHT glazing is acceptable. . Having said this, I definitely wouldn't want to give you dodgy advice that would put you in danger!! Best to ask your regular LOLER guy, that way you're covered. Hope this is in some way helpful Timon

Actually, I thought I'd better leave at least one standing!

Tough job but someone has to do it Fortnight in sunny(ish) Spain

Of course... Should have known, I watched it enough times!

It's a shame there weren't more people like you in positions of influence.

Me and the missus share our home and life with (recovering and ex)drug addicts (of which I was one) I'm not saying this for accolades or to blow my own trumpet. I just want to make the point that some of us do put our money/lives where our mouths are. My mum (A Christian) works for a refugee charity and she took in a young African Muslim lady who had fled her homeland and her kids for reasons that were truly horrific (much of her suffering was at the hands of her own family) she now, after much investigation and an uphill battle has full refugee status and is going to be reunited with her kids over here. She is very hardworking and will not be a burden to the UK. (Believe me I'm no apologist for Islam and I don't think it has brought much if any good to this country ) But there are genuine cases out there and some of them are Muslims, A lot of the addicts/alcoholics that come to our centres are foreigners that have migrated here in search of work and a better life and found that the streets of Britain aren't in fact paved with gold. If everyone was prepared to put their prejudices to one side and do just a little bit, they might just be surprised at what could be accomplished and what they would find in people who have been written off.

He might be able to supply the patent as well

Debka file very often get the scoop on Middle East stuff long before the Western press. Don't know about this though.

Yeah.. What a blessing that has been.

What we need is a balanced immigration policy. My wife is American and works here in the UK for the same charity I do. (Helping people to break free from addiction and dependent lifestyles) She doesn't claim benefits. she has generated her own support base in the US to finance the work she does here. Most drug rehabs in the UK that rely on government funding are closing because the funding is being cut. (Itself another topic) We have been married for 4 years but she can't get a spousal visa for the UK. Being volunteers we don't earn enough to qualify. Surely such a contribution to society would qualify her for a visa. But seeings as the visa process is a purely box ticking exercise there is no weighing of merit in individual cases. It really seems unfair when I consider the recent situations where people who have been involved in terrorism etc.. are not only allowed to stay in the UK but treated like VIP's along with their families. It seems like we swallow a camel and strain at a gnat.

Well said.

Thanks for this Kevin, very interesting.

The question is.. What are our governments doing to help refugees in Syria? It's very easy to sit back in our comfortable safe European homes and pass judgement. I went to Bodrum in Turkey (where those photos were taken) on holiday a few years ago. It's given me a different perspective on the whole refugee/migrant situation. It would be nice to see the UN and Europe do a LOT more to help.