maybelateron

There is a thread running at present: Consensus seems to be MSA220 better bet than 300. I am very happy with the performance of the 220, and the run time on an AP300 battery. Once the wood gets bigger I go for the MS261 or 462.

I have a MSA 220, with 14 inch bar. It is our saw of choice these days until we need a bit more power. I have felled a 14 inch basal diameter ash with it when we did an early morning start. Chain was sharp and coped, but I would not want to do this regularly. Ideal saw for snedding and smaller fells. No experience of the 300 version myself.

Morning all, 6 degrees and dry here. Sun trying to burn off the mist. Good weather for walking rehab.

I recently changed my phone, something I don't do often. I am now on my second iphone, currently a 15. Not long ago I was paying with applepay in a shop with my previous phone, an iphone7. The shopkeeper could not believe my phone was so old as it still looked like new. Simple really, I kept in in a neoprene pouch, never took it up the tree etc. Only changed as the speaker was failing (not just fluff blocking it), and was nearing the time of no more security updates. My younger son is a software developer and always preferred android. Once he changed jobs and the new firm used apple he quickly concluded he preferred it and felt the hardware was better quality.

I used to have a grounds maintenance contract at a large local housing estate on the site of the former "county asylum". During our fortnightly mowing we would regularly have to pick up a collection of, yes you've guessed it, carling beer cans. Same place every time. This was always half way along the 600 metre road into the estate. I have no idea what the dynamic was with this. On a different note, back in the late seventies/early eighties I was with one of my university friends in a multi storey car park one day. As we were exiting the car park he furtively screwed up the parking ticket and dropped it out of the window, thinking I did not notice. I called him out on this. He went on to become a professor of paediatric haematology. Just shows that litterrbugs come from all sectors of society. Grrrrrrr

Morning all, Just waiting to make sure no frost left before going out to start rehab walking. Saw physio yesterday who was very pleased with my knee's progress. Then gave me a target of 10,000 steps per day by end of first week January. He didn't seem to understand when I asked if I should be using just Castrol LM or a lithium containing grease. I thought it was a logical question. Have a good week all.

It's what highways dept call give and take measures on a quiet road, although maybe not exactly.

Morning all, Trip to Tower of London today for me. Nah, I meant out patient physio torture session. Anyone else found the phone has gone quiet again in recent weeks?

Belated morning all, Daughter, son in law, and his parents down for the weekend from Glasgow. Delicious brunch is simmering in the oven. What's not to like? If this crazy weather carries on I'll need a forage harvester by March to cut the lawns!

Morning all, Dry and fine here. Happy Birthday Doug, enjoy your youth while you still have it! I turned 65 two days ago, still looking forward to getting back outside and working. The weekend approacheth.

As Mick Dempsey said early in the thread the neighbour's big cedar looks like it needs to go. I would really struggle to take them seriously if they think the cedar can stay but your trees need to go. Also, later comment of asking them to get a structural engineer survey and to show it to you, is the least they should be prepared to do. Unless, of course, you are happy for them to just get on and pay for your trees to be removed. They do sound like awkward neighbours to me.

Morning all, Nice heavy frost and clear blue sky. Think I'll wait till all frost gone before doing my walking up and down the drive. Stay safe, don't slip.

A late good morning all, Lovely blue sky here. Off to outpatients this afternoon for dressing removal. Doing my research on best option to replace the hydraulic tip power barrow with. So many options to consider. Then need to find a machine that fits the criteria but is also covered by a good dealer. For example Honda high lift tracked dumper is excellent quality, good dealer, but not the ideal tool. Stay warm, dry and safe.

Morning all, Mild calm day here. I mowed our lawns on 11/11, and they have now grown so much that I would be doing them again if I was able to. However, methinks orthopaedic surgeon would not be impressed if tried that, even though it is ride on machinery! Managed an easy 180 metre walk round our garden on the drive yesterday, and that was a lot easier than some of the physio exercises. The boss (wife) is taking me out for lunch today, yippee. Have a good day all.

F--- off, this is the Protection front for Arborists.

Indeed mine did. Gave him the time of day, then said no thanks once I could see what a con it was. Same bloke contacted me a year later and seemed put out when my reply began with "I remember you from a year ago".

Yep, been through all that crap. In 2013 I landed a decent grounds maintenance contract for grass mowing/hedges/shrubs and tree maintenance. It was 2 miles form home and on the site of the former "county asylum" with shed loads of mature trees and woodland, as well as lawns and borders. A few months after getting the contract the external management company decided all their contractors needed to be Safecontractor registered. As it was a worthwhile contract I ran it for 3 years, and left when I got too irritated by it. I jumped through the hoops like a performing seal. Near the end of my accreditation period I had an enthusiastic phone call from a young sounding man at Safecontractor: "We are ready to sign you off now, but we just need one more document sending. Oh, what's that, I said. Your scaffolding erector's certificate he replied, for when you are working on trees". I had to explain that we don't use scaffolding to work on trees, and he accepted my explanation. And these people can say if we are safe on not?! I kept my accreditation for some years after this, but as we do minimal commercial work I just got to the point where I had to tell them where to go. Felt good taking the stickers off the van. They chased me for a year or so trying to lure me back with ever cheaper membership. When I get the occasional cold call trying sell me whatever it is for quality assurance certification, if I have time I let them go on a bit, then say I am not not interested. "But why not, good sir?" "Cos we're a small firm and I am on site for every job and that is my quality control" Rant over.

I am finding Rough Cutter's post are attracting my interest.

Slight derail, but not really. Years ago I felled a couple of small trees in an old woman's back garden. Quote made no mention of dealing with stumps in any way. Soon after, she rang me to say one of the stumps had a horrible smell from some decomposing material on top of it, and that she had nearly tripped and broken her neck on the other stump. I politely explained I had fulfilled the terms of my quote, but she kept on hassling me and threatening small claims court etc. This was in 2006, and the invoice for the work had been £50. I went and looked at things. The offensive "decay" was fox or badger poo; wish it had been on her carpet. The dangerous stump was in the corner of the garden where you would have no reason to be walking, let alone breaking your neck. I told her it was not my responsibility to clear up the poo. We went back with the grinder to shut her up, but had fun doing so. Made laminated notices about trip hazards for the steps in her garden etc, and kept knocking on the door to warn her of these hazards. She told the young lad with me she thought I was being silly - you just can't win. I think was a tight old sod who didn't like the look of the stump and wished she'd asked to have it ground out. From that point on every quote for tree felling from me includes "cutting stump close to ground, or higher if requested on the day". For stump grinding I again specify the depth I will grind to, and that this does not include chasing roots, unless customer wants to pay more for that. Rant over, but often we learn from these really annoying customers how to prevent a recurrence.

Agree in principle. However, the local skip and recycling firm (quite a large set up) charge me £70 + VAT per ton for unchipped greenwaste. They are happy to take stumps in the load, but so far I have only had stuff I can lift with my little Bobcat E10Z. I did also have a customer who wanted some stumps to build her stumpery border with.

Morning all, More time by the stove today with a good book. Hope the patients do well with Nurse Ped’s care. Have a good weekend all.

Morning all, This is how winter is/was meant to be. Blows away the cobwebs etc. Any of you over 40 out there be careful not to slip over. HSE think climbing trees is dangerous, but it's when you've just come down, unclipped from the harness, and tripped on some brash that is more likely to get you. My main man and I have decided that any customer with a really slippery path we have to use for the job will have to get it pressure washed, or pay us to do so, prior to work. Stay safe all.

Morning all, Lovely cold blue sky day here. So far my plan of having surgery in winter to fit round the weather is proving valid. Bet you we have some dry warm weather soon, and a sodden spring😂 Have a good day y'all.

Day 6 post op and turning the corner I think, thanks. Now able to do straight leg raise and fully weight bear.

Hope he makes a good recovery without too much pain.