Steven P

Last time I was talking to a tree surgeon about biomass, he was storing it in his yard till he got a wagon or a tractor trailer full (big trailer) before he sent it for biomass. If they are out of their usual area a return to the yard and back can cost more that what they get for it, or if they don't have a suitable yard to store that quantity - he wasn't sure a biomass place would accept half a transit load at a time... so back to it being a waste product - to some - unless they spend the hours making firewood... where as the bigger money is working on the trees themselves - so in some cases the finances make sense to use a local tip site.

With the tip sites you have to be aware that anyone based locally will have arrangements generally in place to dispose of their arisings - whether it is a yard, regular tip sites, or a commercial deal (preferential tip rates, selling on for biomass) - as described above. Where they come into their own often is to anyone working outside their usual area who need somewhere handy to tip. As an example, I've seen tree surgeons around here from 10+ miles away and for them to fill a tipper truck, return to their local area, tip and back to the job for another load costs (20 miles van use, 2 hours labour costs for driving, job takes 2 hours longer - could be into a 2nd day, any tip fees) and then having a local tip site becomes a viable option. You are then competing with all other local tip sites. Point I am making is that registering on the tip sites isn't going to bring you a driveway full of logs - people will be in contact as and when it is necessary for them. Great to have an introduction though, someone might be reading this Gloucestershire way and remember seeing your post, Also to note as above, people see logs as a resource, the home owner with the tree sees 2m3 of oak, then pops into B&Q and does some sums, the oak wood will pay for the tree surgery! (yeah....) and decide to keep the wood themselves to sell on for massive profits - you are more likely to be offered softwoods and gnarly bits... I'd guess I'll get 75%+ as softwoods and only a small portion is hardwoods. (note: making a fortune from your garden tree... take away your time to log it up / pay for the tree surgeon to do so, perhaps buy a chainsaw (+ safety gear) and axe if DIY (or log splitter hire), store in the garden for 1 year+, deal with facebook ads / gumtree, the value of your time eats away any profits pretty quick - often far more profitable to do a couple of hours overtime in your regular job.. so a lot of homeowners are keeping their hardwoods with that thought process)

A photo of the full tree would help, I am suspecting that the photo shows most of the tree has broken off this morning? Most fruit trees will regrow after a lot of heavy pruning - often lots of small branches that take a few years to get under control again, but as above, a few more photos of the overall tree would help

Got to be a bit of trust in both directions, the customer has a vested interest most times to be available as agreed - they want the stuff doing and if they are out then the stuff isn't done - and the trader wants to do the job to get paid - but both sides have to trust that the other will do as expected, 90% of the time I think that happens. I expect to pay a small premium to the trader to cover their losses if a customer doesn't pay - included as a part of their rates. I'd also go that the trader has probably more experience at reclaiming fees if they arn't paid - small claims court where as the customer probably has no experience claiming for any losses (hiring someone new, taking time off to be in again and so on), the trader has more chance of getting their money back through the legal systems I reckon. Trader also knows where you live - some traders live in a van and vanish as soon as the cash is paid... so back to my first comment, I would see it as a warning that upfront payment is needed. Could build up a conversation with the trader to build your confidence that they will turn up I guess. But... it all comes down to trust.

The US is a good warning of what the UK will be doing in a few years, well worth keeping an eye on it.

Loads of warning stories about this online - trades asking for full payment upfront - conclusion is usually a red flag warning. Exceptions tend to be if they are a small outfit buying in specific stuff that their trade accounts (30 days payment terms) wouldn't cover. Inspect and test you are only paying for time, trader wouldn't have any upfront fees. Worst case I would accept is to pay cash once they do the job / get here.

The comment isn't about his family of course, it is a lot more that his hero, Trump, has a liking for the young girls. To be fair, I wouldn't be letting any daughters anywhere near Trump either.

Missing the point... under Trump... no one, legal or not... wants to go to the US.

To be honest, if you are a shining example of someone who never drinks, I am glad that there are those who do drink! You do appear particularly grumpy this week though, not sure if it is having to spend family time at home, you have popped your cork too early that your orange god is visiting, withdrawal symptoms that you are not hanging about with other men in your latex scuba gimp suit, or just PMSing. I would try a drink - might lighten you up a little

Still cannot un-see it: May I be as bold to suggest that an ex Met DCI might just have a bit more understanding of policing than an Arbtalk leotard.

Also halting the flow of 'regular' immigrants and tourists to the US... not a policy as much as no one wants to go there anymore.

Oooh, this is going to make a few heads spin: Trump - the orange god - says "Starmer is a good man"... so either Starmer is a good man or Trump is a liar. Hmmmmm

I think that is a point that many have made, Israeli military interventions into Gaza... a rip roaring success?

Taking his daughters a long long way away from Trump I notice. Not that he is a danger to young girls of course.

It would probably be OK with a trim. Like most trees though to keep it in check you will need to repeat every few years

Anyway, Trump is coming to Scotland to play golf. I reckon his golf courses could do with one of those windmills he dislikes so much. Perhaps also one of those 'P' shaped holes and a loop-the-loop one. That would make things better. Anyway, might be worth wandering along, take the family, point out to the children what most rapists in the US actually look like. Or if your point of view is the opposite to mine, take the family, point out to your children what the leader (?) of the free world looks like and pray he doesn't invite them over for a meet and greet.

Shamelessly copied: Just a reminder to the people of Scotland for when Trump arrives to pillage more of your grass lands and natural beauty spots and to lie about his Scottish roots and heritage and ramble on about his love for those proud Scots. Trump relentlessly bullied, harassed and intimidated one of your kin ! Right up until their death aged 96. A little frail 92 year old Scottish widow (Molly Forbes) who steadfastly refused to sell her farm house and small amount of land, so Trump could extend his unpopular golf course in Aberdeenshire. Trump workers set up numerous flood lights to shine 24/7 into Molly's farm house. Trump ordered loud machinery to work through the day and night and weekends. Trump cut off Molly's water supply and workers "accidently" cut through a power cable supplying Molly's home. Molly would also find Trump workmen constantly trespassing on her property. Molly said that what irked her the most ! Was that when Trump made his first approach to her. Trump was not asking if Molly would be open to consider selling her property to him! He was actually and very arrogantly telling Molly that she would be selling her property to him and at a price he would set! Molly described Trump as "Not right in the head" and a "overbearing bully" after a personal phone call from Trump. Which Molly said started off very polite but quickly turned dark and menacing, when Molly again refused to sell her home to the Trump corporation. Trump did his usual name calling and insult throwing. Describing Molly as crazy and senile and not a very nice woman. Molly never sold up or gave in to Trump, right up to her death 4 years later aged 96 ! Despite Molly's final years being filled with continual harassment and intimidation. True Scottish grit. So while Trump puts troops in full combat gear on the streets and thousands of heavily armed MAGA hat wearing lunatics to riot in the capital and B2 bomber planes in the air ! All to intimidate and do his bidding. Just one single frail little old grey haired Scottish widow stood at the front door of her family home. Wearing one of those all knowing Scottish frowns on her weathered 92 year old face! That stare that literally told Trump to.. "go **************** himself " Something that no one in America and most of the world is prepared to do at this time.

All I can think is Kylie, an Icon, la la laa, I just can't get you out of my head, boy that's all you ever think about.... Remind me where to pay the rent for your head space

Diversion.. JohnsonD, count how many posts you have made today without actually saying anything apart from distracting from the topics in hand. Only saying you weird leotard.

Talking of Thickos, hasn't this been explained about 3 or 4 times above and still they cannot understand that the Essex police were doing a standard procedure when it comes to crowd control?

This amused me: Talking about a TV show "failing TV show, the lowest ratings for years"... kind of irony since Trump is also suffering from his lowest approval ratings ever. Failing? Anyway, Epstein, Trumps first bestie. Apparently the judge looking at these things says the evidence put forward in 2007 Grand Jury cannot be released - no real justification to do so apart from appeasing Trumps baying mob. Noting that the evidence put to the Grand Jury is dwarfed by what the FBI has... and yet it is the small amount Trump was pushing to get released... which would have quietened his fans without implicating himself. So I suspect in the US the baying mob of Trump fans will be asking for snippets from the FBI... who are reputed to have all the good stuff. Suspect that Epsteins files there will be cross linked to files they have on a lot of other people, your Tangoed god no doubt has his own archive too. JD Vance being quiet this week. Hmmm. Curious.

This I reckon: If you look at any crowds the police will escort them - whether it is protestors or football fans, standard practice. So, yes, rumours to wind up the thick stirred in a big pot by Nigel (Multi-millionaire of the people)

A good work ethic, not afraid to dig in and graft, and making the most of what he can do - should be held up as an example of what we can achieve if we set our minds to it.

Do you know why it wouldn't be road legal?

I'd be guessing the first part would be to split the pipes away from the water - much like the gas and electric pipes are split out from the energy, split the companies in 2 to allow a type of competition to exist.. and be cheaper to buy back 1 part