Mick Dempsey

No I mean you should close the ratchet handle up to the mechanism for safety reasons, lock them by closing them, otherwise they can slip. Can someone explain it better?

Result, thanks for the update. Lock those ratchet straps shut though.

Good one Ian!

I’d be looking to get 6.5k absolute minimum, even in the current climate. I don’t blame them for offering 4K, because they need to make a profit, but that’s crazy low. Old as the hills 150s are still fetching 4.5k from sellers so a decent low hours one like yours should fetch a good price. I am aware that it is a less powerful engine than the 150 in case someone points that out.

I thought it, but he’s just doing his job.

The worst was after numerous interviews at the entrance to the tip, the ‘gatekeeper’ asked where the stuff was coming from, I explained that my father was moving into sheltered accommodation and we were emptying the tied cottage on the farm where he worked, he looked at his clipboard with its list of questions and said “how exactly is he related to you?” I stared at him for about 20 seconds, just to let it sink in, then said “he’s my dad” We didn’t get any questions after that. I love England, but sometimes the pressure of population means that stuff gets a little nuts over there.

It was honestly one of the most traumatic things I’ve ever done, load after load of worthless rubbish to the tip, where I was interrogated every time like a criminal. The worst of it was my elderly father seeing everything disappearing and saying “that’s worth money, don’t chuck that away” He was moving into sheltered accommodation and needed 5% of the stuff in the house. I promised to myself never to subject any of my nephews to that.

Let he who without sin cast the the first stone and all that. Gave a few of us a happy childhood memory anyway.

We had to clear our parental home a few years ago. It has made me messianic about getting rid of stuff you don’t need.

The Cummings thing will blow over. The media have it in for him, and this was their best opportunity to do him in, it didn’t work

Reminds me of when you’re really young and you hear talk of Guérilla warfare on the news, and you think they’re talking about Gorilla warfare, which sounds epic.

Thanks for the update, looks better.

When I first ‘qualified’ I had to use the firms 020s but I bought one as soon as I could. I have met and worked with a few that sound a lot like the ones Bob describes.

I always kind of thought climbers would have their own toppers. A bit like mechanics own their own tools.

Must be an interesting procurement process.

Interesting, what do they use mostly now?

Fair point! Maybe some was saved for a repeat performance the next day.

Literally 2 minutes ago I heard a commotion and the little bastard had got a baby hog, I was in there in a flash and picked up the dog, no damage to the little one.

As long as he makes a genuine commitment to leave the hedgehogs in peace.

Why not put a nice flowering cherry there? Planted this one in 2007 I think. Gives me a lot of pleasure.

Done! Much better.

Precisely, it may never happen again.

I may well have been, at 57 this year I’m just pleased to be called young.

I saw this on Forst’s FB site, thought it was a bit twee and wholesome, I decided against entering my own version up there, but borrowing from people I’ve known through the years (and a bit of me truth be told a long time ago) I had a crack. 6.30. Get up after a tormented night of sweats and bad dreams, take paracetamol or ibuprofen to counter last nights excesses. 7.30. Try and get some toast down with some tea, watch telly, think about Naga Munchetty and how disgusted she’d be with your lifestyle, you experience brief feelings of remorse. 8.00. Meet at the yard, fresh air and some banter raises the spirits a bit, go to work, stomach kicks in and the prospect of a shit behind a hedge, a Mac-shit or the shame of a garage toilet looms. 12.30 Lunch, more painkillers and some sandwiches. 3.30 Job done, so anyone for a couple of cold ones down the pub? Just to smooth the edges off a bit. 6.00 The rest of the gang have drifted off, leaving you to meet some of your office worker mates who persuade you to stay for a couple more.. 8.00 Who should walk in just as you were leaving? None other than Columbian Pete! What luck! you persuade him to give you a gramme on tick, which you hoover up with a little help from some others. 11.30 Pubs closing, suddenly realise the truck is outside, you’ll need it for the morning so you chance it, leave it on the front lawn with the door open all night. 12.00 Brush your teeth and convince yourself you’re not too bad, get into bed.