TIMON

Thanks skyhuck, i think our mog has heavy duty springs on the front as well so it should work well. Does it alter the handling much ?

Hi Gaz, I've just done the LOLER exams ticket so I'm very new to it. There are guys on here who are much more knowledgeable. The key here is the manufacturers recommendations. Most state 5 years . Textiles degrade. To go against the manufacturers recommendations is putting his backside on the line (and yours!) I know that during the NPTC exam if you passed a peice of kit that was past it's date you would fail the exam. If you did the same thing out in the field and something failed and you had passed it when it was out of date..... It would all come back to you. Your professional indemnity insurance wouldn't cover you because you had stepped outside the guidelines. I could pass say, a rope that was slightly out of date and know that it would most likely be fine for another 6 months... But if something went wrong.....,,, The question to ask here is really to the manufacturer . What do the dates cover... Manufacture date or first use? To step outside the dates is asking your LOLER guy to gamble. Hope this helps Timon

Hey Jon I know there's a few on here that have done it. I'm up in Hexham in the North East today. A good mate passed away before Christmas. It's his funeral today. He was only 44. Sad day. Thanks mate. Timon

Hi Jon, -1c. Up in Hexham in the N. East. Going to a mates funeral in the morning. All the best mate. Timon

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of mounting a chipper on the front of a mog . Our green mech 220 is currently mounted on the rear 3pt link. We're about to switch it to the front and mount it on a plate using a reverse box. New chip box etc. and eventually a hiab trailer. Any thoughts, tips, advice would be very welcome.... Thanks Timon

Hi Jon , we looked into having a biomass system put in our main house.... Quoted £120K. Pellets £240+vat per tonne... Not viable. Timon

Hi Jon , They don't look good mate, I agree. We're going to get them sorted before the spring. Thanks Timon

Agreed, but some people arrive at a position of faith based on evidence that points in a certain direction. "Blind" faith never made any sense to me.. We're all on a journey of understanding. I guess it all comes down to choices at the end of the day.

But surely current scientific understanding is incomplete.. So to say that you believe in either view point requires application of faith.

I watched a documentary recently where university lecturers and professors in the US who expressed their belief in intelligent design had been sacked from their positions. It doesn't matter whether you believe in an intelligent designer or whether you believe we are here by accident, both viewpoints require "faith" by virtue of the fact that no one has been able to scientifically prove where and how "life"in its essence started. I watched a debate where Richard Dawkins when pressed hard offered the possible explanation that life on planet Earth could have been started by aliens!! (Intelligent design) I can't put much faith in his explanations.

I seem to remember writing an answer to a similar thread earlier this year.... At that time we had doubled our profits for the first half of the year, started a second team, work was flooding in, etc..etc.. Since then we've had to invest more money in bigger better kit etc.. Had personnel issues, suffered setbacks in different areas. (Same as any business) had to compete in a market where there are more and more firms out there (some working with no insurance, paying their teams pittance cos they are already on benefits etc..) There are so many variables to consider that I am coming to realise that quoting for jobs is more of an art than a science..... Thankfully we're in a strong position and have been able to navigate through the storms... I wonder how many second hand chippers will be up for sale in the new year??

Here's a couple of examples. Personally I'm leaning towards removal... As you can see we're not short of habitat. I know there are differing opinions on what is best for the environment as a whole, but I think the trees, their appearance and well being are the priority here. I still welcome your views and advice Thanks Timon

I saw a programme on corruption in Mexico some time ago, it was to do with the drug wars.... Lots of nasty stuff going on and people in positions of authority making a killing (literally) When I read about this practice happening over here I realise that Britain has been in the corruption business a lot longer than places like Mexico ... Africa etc.. After all it was Europe that exported corruption to the developing world in the first place. What this very depressing thread tells me is that over here we're much better at it than the Mexicans etc.. Much more subtle.. Much more protected... Whatever happened to ethics?? Whatever happened to integrity?? Did we ever have it in the first place? Very sad to read that this is happening.... I hope the people involved get called to account for it.

I agree, Billy. Stinking stuff I'll post some tomorrow when I get home Thanks

I hope so too... At 49 I'm at the start of a great career

Hi Jon. It's still wet in S Wales but driving up to the Midlands later where it's snowing. Glad I got new tyres on Timon

We've found Ian Morgan Arb to be excellent. He's just outside Stafford.

It's on our own property so the work would have to be done "out of work hours" might be a good training project for some of our guys who are keen to learn to climb.

The objective is to maintain healthy oak trees. We don't want to lose any more. While we don't want to destroy wildlife habitat, the trees are the priority. Thanks

Forgot to mention.., on quite a few it has completely dominated the stem and canopy. One tree was removed last year. It was completely covered and had died. Can anyone tell me how long it takes ivy to kill an oak once it has covered it?

Nice one Jon ... We've got loads here. Timon

Thanks.. Looks like I'll have both kinds to work with

We have several mature oak trees on our property. Quite a few of them are covered with ivy. A couple of them have had the lower ivy growth cut and removed leaving a 4ft gap. Obviously, the ivy above has died and should be easy to remove. Other trees are covered with live ivy. Can anyone give me their thoughts and advice on how to manage these trees. Thanks Timon

Agreed, from what I've heard while doing quotes round our way. There aren't many firms doing £550+ for a two man team on every job.. I'm not saying that you can't get that but that there are loads of "firms" out there devaluing the work available.

Cold and wet in S Wales Jon .., Timon