TIMON

Dean, Never run a 360/flail set up but getting rid of our Scagg was a big mistake. I don't know any other machine that can cut chest high brambles etc.. and mow a lawn to a reasonable standard (and leave stripes!) Timon

Fair play to you Sean, you are a great example of true courage. I've been trying to encourage one of our guys who's been in recovery (heroin) for two years and is going through some tough stuff at the moment. He told me he feels like throwing the towel in and going back to it. I'm going to get him to read your posts... I think it will give him some perspective. Keep up the good work mate!! Timon

Another one here on Yale lime lite11.7mm I've only ever used this so I can't make any comparisons. Once you're up in the tree it seems to tend well. I'll probably try blue tongue next as I've heard really good things about it.

If anyone needs their belt loops LOLER'ing I'd be happy to oblige!

So we are... Sunny Worcestershire Although I live closer to Coventry.

Which, presumably is why they "didn't know" We split our custom between them and Global in Kings Heath. Both are great to deal with. Mark, if you happen to be reading this.......... Where are you????

Nice...

Hi Richie, Yes mate, Mark. Seems to have fallen off the face of the earth....,?? Not got a clue where he has gone. Shame he went, he's a top bloke.

Hi Jon , I got mine at Buxtons. I'll try and get you a pair when I'm next up that way. I'll have to do some digging 'cos the chap that got them for me doesn't work there anymore. I'll PM you when I know Thanks

3M's. Very Tough, Cheap, good quality, stay on your head when you need them to and a detachable neck strap when you don't. Had mine 3 years now.

VOSA are very obliging when it comes to weighing trucks. They have a weigh in motion scale fitted on the M6 near us but for some obscure reason we never seem to drive past it in our Tranny and chipper.

I stopped giving an hourly/day rate with my quotes some time ago. I always price the job not the time where possible. Also I try to avoid getting into that discussion with the customer. If they ask how long it is going to take I will usually say it depends: On how many of the team will be available on that particular day and which vehicle/chipper we bring, weather conditions etc.. If you estimate a day and it only takes you half a day then the customer can feel like they have been short changed. Plus the fact that the working day isn't all spent at the job site. Some really good points raised on this thread... It's interesting to hear others take on this subject.

Cool vid , Reg. Hope you had a good Easter. I take it that was the same winch you demo'd at the APF last year ?

Very true... I spent some time with the organisation I work for on a massive rubbish dump on the outskirts of Madrid where hundreds of addicts live. Betel has an outreach programme there and helps those who are desperate to escape that particular hellhole. None of the addicts are born there, most of them have jobs and cars and "normal" stuff going on when they first drive over there to score. A couple of years later many have been reduced to living on the dump itself scratching a living and being at the mercy of the gypsy drug gangs that control the flow of drugs to the "Vertidero" It's quite an eye opener and surprising that that sort of thing exists in Europe. Normally you would only expect to see this sort of thing in South America. In this country we have all kinds of safety nets and benefits available to "help" addicts. I know people who can control their occasional "recreational" drug taking but I also know that every heroin or crack addict has to start somewhere and very few (I've only ever met one) ever start by sticking a syringe of heroin in their arm. The vast majority start with a recreational spliff. Of course not everyone who has a smoke will end up with a smack habit but just about everyone with a smack habit will have started with a spliff.

I liked the Gill fingerless leather gloves but once the leather on the palm smoothes off they don't grip the rope so well. Just bought a pile of Pffanner disposables which are pretty good.

Nice looking set up there, Reg. That looks like a serious chipper. Decent sized engine on the ford as well. Truck manufacturers over here seem to put the bare minimum in everything.

Has anyone tried the TM shoulder straps? I think they would be essential for hanging a big saw off

Miller and Carter do good steaks Jon. And TGI Friday's do a good ribeye. Happy Easter, mate Timon

I find it very hard to make my mind up....,,I think the House of Commons party will get in again.....,,

Yeah, I find myself going to the lower D 's a lot they are really useful. I'm going to take off some of the plastic loops 'cos I think I've made mine too busy. I used my hitchclimber (normally on a zigzag) the other day with my strop in the spare eye on the pulley. That is when the range of movement and work positioning of the TM really came into its own. I started to appreciate the lower fit for the first time. I normally tighten the upper part of the harness really tight and leave the loops quite loose wearing it probably higher than I should. I've had it about 6 months now. I used to have a stein vega before that.

Same here with the TM as well. Love it and hate it at the same time. I think it's designed to sit low which means if you hang a saw off it, it tends to pull down. I liked the Buckingham ergo lite. Really comfy and supportive but I really didn't like the "blue" rope on the bridge being exposed at either end and so I got a treemotion. Having said that the TM has some great features that seem to outweigh the niggles with it.

Lavazza beans, freshly ground. Lots of in a big mug. Black with no sugar. My only remaining vice......

Sean, Don't know you but I've been following your progress on this thread. Your positive attitude and outlook are very humbling to say the least. What an incredible example of strength in adversity you are..,, You're in our thoughts and prayers. Timon and Lynne

My Rolex "ticks" has done ever since I bought on the beach at Alicante.,,, The nice African lad I bought it off said the the same as you, Mark.....