Steven P

Doesn't mean the US chose a good man though does it. Defence by indifference - I not not think anyone would ever think that Trump didn't know Epstein was sleeping with children ('he likes them young'). The fact that he didn't speak up like any normal adult would have done, shows his indifference to mixing with criminals, particularly sex crimes, and doing what is right. Try to convince me otherwise, but Trump is not a good man. As listed above, they are only a few of his crimes. A curious thought, if Trump raped your wife, watched your daughters changing and didn't speak up knowing a neighbour of yours was abusing children, would your opinion of the man still be the same, would you still be defending him?

There is a bit of that happening more and more, home owner with a new log burner thinks they'll save a fortune or homeowner without one sees the price of seasoned / dried logs delivered and think they'll get £100 a ton bag too for fresh off the tree rounds.

I reckon it would inconceivable for there not to be other life out there (screws up the religious types though with a belief of only life on this planet). Billions of stars, 50x more planets, of a billion years and yet only 1 planet is exactly right for life to form? Nah. Problem is the billions of years part, suppose an advanced alien race developed, might have been a million years ago - long enough for them to develop, explore space, get wiped out well before we started making stone axes. Likewise we might be done for by the time the next local one develops. Then there is the billions of stars of trillions and trillions of miles of space, taking many many years to get here, probably not happening (Start of their mission - 'hey look there is a planet over there where we think in 100,000 years intelligent life will be developed... lets start a mission now and when we get there we can make contact') Life is out there but not sure we are being visited by aliens. Orbs or drones?

Did Trump partake in Americas lockdowns... a part of your perception of the problem? However I am sure there is another thread discussing the merits of the Covid measures put in place

Well known that he has a bromance for The Rapist (rapist, voyeur (adults and children), sex abuser, defender by indifference of a child sex trafficker, besties with several who are linked with child sex crimes (some he has tied to promote into government recently)... but nothing at all can be said wrong against the 'man', Trump). Still bigs him up at every opportunity, almost as if the crimes of a billionaire are acceptable as long as said billionaire can stop immigration into the US.

Making stuff... can you do it better, cheaper or more desirable than cheaper imports? Done a few things with wood selling on the 'Scottish' branding but in reality better stuff from overseas, got to be unique.

Taken at their word the current government have pledged to increase funding to the armed forces of course.

Am sure there was a thread somewhere - must be buried in time by now - a microbe, bacteria or whatever it was, escaped from a lab and caused a load of hassle worldwide, infected millions. I'll have to dig out the link.

Used to be Chinese lanterns with no terms of reference to size, closer than you think, the flame moves in the wind - appearing far away - is mistaken for great speed which suddenly vanishes... and are invisible to radar too. Reckon many will be drones too - again the perspective thing they can be massive alien warships to the right mind. I reckon in about 2 weeks, just under perhaps, there will be loads of sightings of strange flying object all over the globe.

I don't believe either shows live sole-y on what they catch, sounds fishy if they did (camera crew, 'stars', and all the people running about to make it happen arn't all going to be happy with a few mushrooms, some green stuff and a fish at the end of a day. A nice local hotel wouldn't be surprising either). Just find Ray more watcheable.

I'd go Ray Mears too, probably watched more of his stuff. Not a fan of 'celebrity' shows which Bear Grylls was doing, where Ray Mears was doing stuff that was good to watch and interesting

Have a look at the tip sites section and register on there if you haven't all ready. If you are happy to pay then click that box too. Note that the tip sites work well if your 'site' is a better option than a tree surgeons established routine. It might be a tree surgeon working nearby who would have to drive a full truck of 'waste' a distance, far easier to tip it locally, might be that a local tree surgeon has to pass your house on the way to their usual tip, any number of reasons. However the reverse can be true, someone else might be more convenient than you or there might not be many trees needing work in the area... what I am saying... don't count on a winters fuel supply just from the tip sites... though it is a nice way to get some waste... if it is convenient for the tree surgeons. You might also contact local tree surgeons (not when they are up a tree of course!), a walk around your neighbourhood might let you hear chainsaws (not lunchtime.... they'll be having lunch) and a quiet word might get good results as well.

I am so happy you brought that to the discussion, really driving it forward there. You're trying to create an argument there when you are both agreeing, and that is to the detriment of this thread to be honest.

Whoopsiedoos, typo, corrected above

Are you trying to argue with sime42 and be in agreement with him at the same time? That must be one of the weirdest things ever Sime42 "Musk is a successful business man, and will likely be in the future" JohnsonD "Ludicrous, you know he is the richest man on the planet and by inference a successful business man"

Most of European birth rates are predicted to fall in the next few years enough to lead to population decline (without immigration) I suspect there will be more news stories in the next few years "Italian village offers houses for £1 to young couples" if anyone fancies being an immigrant (and also loosing a few years in age!)

Maybe not pushing but influencing it to make money. Yes a pure business man (he didn't found Tesla, just saw the opportunity to bung in cash and take control)... but linked strongly to EVs now I am not sure he could backtrack too far to petrol vehicles.

Not at all, he is a business man, making a lot of money and actually pushing the green agenda forward with his electric cars and BESS systems. As Mark J says he has bought himself into favour with Trump with cash to his election campaign and dazzling with his business abilities (Trump craves both).. cannot fault him with that, many many others have done the same world over in the past and will do in the future... The corruption charge is levelled more at Trump for allowing himself to be bought so easily. Watch this space though, Trumps oil backers won't be happy if he pushes electric vehicles and battery storage, Musk won't be happy if he punishes electric vehicles. Trump won't be happy if Musk becomes Times Person of the Year, and vice versa. It is an unlikely pairing, be interesting to watch. But Musk, there purely for the money and business opportunities he can buy. Suspect you are assuming too much again.

Likewise, a tub in the garage with all the shoe cleaning things, Sunday night and every few Monday mornings school with polish still around the back of the hand if I was being a tit Sunday night and had to clean them Monday morning. Yup, got a box with polish, selection of brushes and cloths under the shoe rack... The Boys shoes are all cheap fabrics rather than leather, but one day it is on the list of things to teach them. However if I turn up after a shopping trip next week with various oils (where do you get mink oil from by the way?) they will think I am even odder, it will be whatever I can get at the supermarket for them.

There was a story a while ago that the were stopping making or selling in the UK (can't remember which), demand was falling - no one polishes shoes anymore apparently! I tend to use a dubbin on mine in the winter and polish over the summer... but that tin is running down. Army uses beeswax doesn't it to get a good shine? Melted as a base layer to soak in and then top layer is more of a paste to get a shine... though that was a youtube clip a few years ago

Can't burn conifer, pine or Leylandii. I am able to accept both to dispose of, just drop them off.... On a proper note, if it is dry it will all burn in a stove - the rhyme lines about smoke and sparks are a bit less relevant in a stove. Soft woods are less energy dense than hard woods (less wood in the same volume) so you need more for the same heat output (which is why oak is favoured, quite dense)... however soft woods also release the heat quicker generally. You might be filling the stove more often but it might get hotter. Last thing for wood types, nothing beats free dried wood from the garden. Just a thought, considering the forum members, where are you based roughly, someone might be able to PM you to take a look and give a price (however no pressure to do that, the advice here is great as well)

are they like cherries - if all is lost cut them down to 2 or 3' off the ground and they will regrow from there? Never been brave enough with my apples to test that fully though (The Boys was snapped off at ground level, re-growing from there, I suspect will be root stock and not Bramley? I think another year and will be big enough for fruit)

My boy has a cat allergy, shoot them all?

As far as I can tell in the video it isn't blocking the drive? So could be left in place for a week or 2 till the tree officer replies... just in case... Immediately I'd be tempted to take off the couple of m nearest the house just to give you access round the front - a bow saw (DIY warehouse £10 kind of quality if you haven't got one) or a hand saw should get through that (and with all the usual warnings to know what you are doing and anything that is supporting the rest of the tree to assess where the tree will fall, likewise anything you cut off be aware of the potential for things falling on you). Getting rid of the tree... tip is an option. If you are getting someone in to do it be aware they might be busy the next couple of weeks with other windblown trees, they might give you a price to also remove the tree. Firewood, despite what you might think it will never pay for someone to cut it up but you might reduce the cost a little selling it cut up locally.. tree surgeon who cuts it up will be able to advice how much is there... price it yourself depends how quick you want it gone (Free: Next day it's gone, £20 a car boot full might take a couple of weeks, offer to deliver all in one go saves hassle but larger loads gives less in total) Or if you are confident.. and with suitable protective equipment (helmet, gloves, chain resistant trousers, safety boots, ear defenders if using petrol machines) you could deal with it yourself - the cost of the equipment though might be more than getting a professional in (Use bow saw, takes longer, don't need the safety trousers and helmet, cut to 1m lengths - car boot width - it will still go as firewood to someone)

Trying to keep up with this - his family is rumoured to have gone to Russia without him, he'll probably wind up there with them eventually. Just now the rumour is he went to Iran. I'd be guessing that, a plane to Russia with him in would be noticed by the rebels and too much of an opportunity.