Stumpy Grinder

Doubt what? We took Paludrine daily and Nivaquine weekly. Other stuff was available if you couldn't take those. SG

There's a new trap that has just been cleared for use on Squirrels and they are devastating! Designed for use on possums I think? They do not need re-setting and use a scent lure as bait. A gas powered multi-catch which doesn't need to be re-set or baited! Sits in the wood killing squizzer after squizzer with a counter on the side to register kills. Dead bodies get predated - job done! Goodnature traps: https://goodnaturetraps.co.uk/ SG

Looks like a Pedretti? I use the same for humane dispatch of deer at the roadside. SG

This is an interesting point! Although I wouldn't claim to have PTSD. I believe I may have been affected in other ways. Having served in both Gulf wars, I was given a huge cocktail of drugs including such delights as Anthrax and NAPS (Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Set) plus others! As many as 5 different types in one session as well as antimalarials! Anyway, Gulf war syndrome, (which according to our government doesn't exist), includes such symptoms as Thyroid problems. By strange coincidence my Thyroid gland is not as it should be and I have to take Thyroxine every day for the rest of my life! Maybe just a coincidence? SG

This post clearly shows that you have no idea what you are talking about! We are all wired up differently, and you cannot determine how an individual will react in a particular situation until they actually encounter it! The Army is full of supposedly hard blokes that come mainly from broken families and have bags of confidence in everyday life..... I remember an occasion in the first gulf war where I had to put a huge black American soldiers face back on which had been severed just in front of one ear and pushed completely across to his other ear. Once back on, I had to poke my finger into the various holes to align them so he could breath and see. I then had to treat his broken femur and other injuries. I expected help from my mates, but most of them couldn't help as they were being physically sick at the sight. The only person that actually helped was my OC, Maj Pat Lawless who was an awesome bloke that went on to become a Brigadier, but then resigned over Gays being allowed in the Army! I actually enjoyed being able to help someone that I hope survived that day and have no emotional scars, just a positive memory. However, some of those that were sick may still bear the emotional scars to this day. We are all different! Vespasian, you would do well not have such strong opinions on a very emotive subject of which you clearly have no understanding. SG

Of course it is, and you don't have to be a serving soldier to encounter PTSD. At the end of the day, we no longer have conscription, so it is effectively a lifestyle choice. Much the same as the fire fighters that tackled Grenfell and probably encountered more trauma in one night than most service personnel see in an entire career. What is good, is that it is being recognised in its various forms which is clearly the first requirement before any treatment can take place.

When you compare the amount of traumatic stress suffered by a modern day soldier, compared to that of a first or second world war soldier, they are a quantum leap apart! Back then, many suffering from true stress were even shot for desertion! I think it is fair to say that our elder generations were hard as nails compared to their modern day counterparts, as life in general was much harder then. It's all too easy nowadays to just give up and blame society which will then provide a solution. Many servicemen and women join up because it is an easy solution to sort their lives out. They then become institutionalised and then face the same problems when they leave. Continual postings and relatively cheap rental married quarters or single accommodation do not encourage house purchase. Many don't learn a trade as such and therefore have no real skill set when they leave. Resettlement training is very good, but you can't just do a course in Plumbing/Electrics/ Tree surgery/etc...... and then miraculously become one the next day after you leave the forces! Unfortunately, most think you can as they don't know any different. They then become unemployed and sometimes homeless where many are adapted to as they are taught to survive. Those that serve long enough will have a bloody good pension which they can draw upon on leaving. It is those that serve only a few years that tend to suffer. Retention is a major issue in the armed forces due to relatively poor pay and a very poor quality of life. If you work on those, the forces would be a happier place and less would leave to become unemployed and homeless. It's a job at the end of the day and you are not owed a living at the end of it. SG

To the man in the wheelchair that stole my combat jacket, you can hide, but you can’t run! ??

I wonder what the Scandinavians that invented wood burners and burn mostly pine and birch would have to say about that? Most kindling is soft wood by nature. If it is dry, then it burns well. If you keep your flue swept, how exactly are deposits harmful? SG

I don't use saws every day, but I have 7 now in case 6 break!

I have a Husky 560XP which is an absolute beast, but I love my little Husky 346XP more! SG

Widescreens are great as they can take longer logs and give out loads of aesthetic flames! Smaller stoves burnt hot give out a shit load of heat and require less cleaning. Better for the atmosphere too! SG

If I had the perceived powers of God for the day, I would firstly answer the prayers of everyone that prayed to god that day for help. Most of the world's problems would then be sorted that day, but it would then bring into question why god himself didn't bother his arse to sort them out in a single day? Is he just lazy, or maybe he doesn't actually exist? I'd end the day with a massive Euro Lottery win as we shut the door on Europe with a solid pro UK Brexit. SG

Any idea what this is? Taken in march several years ago. Pink and spongy. Looks like a muntjac has had a taste!

'Grease' the movie !!

Husky 346xp.

Has anyone tried the cast iron potato baker thingies that you can get to go on top of the stove? https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cast+iron+potato+cooker&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju8c6zy5LdAhWMAcAKHTwnC5AQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=878 I reckon it would smell lovely! SG

You're not wrong there! The back of this church had been cleared and all the old headstones are now just lined up along a fence. No way of telling where any of the old graves are. This is the second one I've done now. SG

Yeah, 6ft may be pushing it a bit! Some of these graves though have coffins on top of coffins, so although the original maybe 6ft down, how deep were the next ones? Those machines also have an oil level restriction when worked too steep. Apart from starving the upmost cylinder of oil, the engine cuts out when the pump becomes starved of oil. Easily achieved if the oil level is low and you are working it too steep. It pays to level the machine occasionally to get the oil up around both cylinders. I don't think I woke the dead, but I did find myself chatting to the occupants in what was a very old and deserted graveyard which seemed like the right thing to do at the time! None of them answered - thankfully! SG

Wouldn't normally use a small machine on a job like that, but I'd been out on a very narrow access job prior to that one. That's still a very capable machine though at 20hp. At low revs and with the hand brake applied it is going nowhere I don't want it to. It was actually the better machine for the job as there were little blue bamboo canes marking small stumps (mainly elder) all over the place! Much quicker to whip around with that one than a bigger machine.

You could use one in conjunction with a pillar drill. Have a look at Greenteeth sharpening set-ups on Youtube.

Some jobs you just don't really want to go too deep?!

Excellent David! Try and get the steel off the back with the standard carbide wheel and save the diamonds for the Tungsten! Wear a mask too as the dust is not good for you!

Great! I now have a rather disturbing image of your activity in front of your wood burner! SG

One of the main reasons I went for a Heta Inspire 45 was because it had a huge window! One of the best bits of having a woodburner is being able to sit and watch the flames dancing! I'd rather watch that than most of the shite on the telly. SG