Doug Tait

Very nice, bingo prizes got a lot better than when my old ma used to go. She used to be so chuffed with her collection of dodgy looking pound shop dolls she 'won'!

I'm surprised you've not seen a pigeon, thought there were as many pigeons as people in NYC. I suspect they're all over here nesting in the hedges we aren't cutting just now!

I just heard the breaking news story of the day. Andy took a big purse at the rig bingo last night. Wearing his lucky tux he took 3 individual line wins at £6.50 each, and finished with the last house call of the night for a staggering £20. Congrats Andy!

Got no finance, I buy all my stuff cash. I'll do yer job but half the cash up front. Can take the loppings away with me horse. 30% discount on the price if you sign this waiver. I'm thinking the driver might be Shurb Mong (hedgy's cousin'ish).

Would you believe I was stood outside the Asda store entrance when I took pic, with my back to a row of cashlines! No customers with the guy though, just kids, in for a huge LCD TV.

If I hadn't been wearing work stuff when I saw them I'd have been tempted to ask driver why they only do lopping and not any topping... Can't be doing proper tree work if you don't top 'em!

Had a giggle today when I saw this, felling must be dangerous given where they are parked...

We're quite rural here so can be anything from 5 to 30 miles to get on site, sometimes up to 50 or 60. Work tends to be arranged by area so we avoid travelling distances between jobs where possible. Before when I was freelance 60 mile plus each way was usual. Biggest commute I've done regularly was around 600 mile return to Gloucestershire every week but I wouldn't do that these days, life's too short to bookend a weeks work with that journey, and as Blackbriarwoods mentioned, the temptation when you finish on a Friday to leave straight away and get home is strong but I've often regretted that in the early hours once off the motorway doing the last hour on crappy little local roads.

The greenkeepers lunge.

Regarding the original question. I really don't think the convicted should have a say in what they do, where they go, or what they are told/not told. Let the judge decide what's happening and then make it happen. The judge can take into consideration what the victims families want and how the prisoner is expected to react and decide what the best course of action is in any particular case. If they've acted in contempt during the trial and are expected to use a sentencing appearance to cause more disturbance the judge can leave them in their cell alone, a solicitor can tell them what happened at a later date. Conversely, if the families are determined to have them in court then make it happen and control them whilst there in public. In Letby's case, she's a mouse that wants to avoid the sentencing appearance but the families want to see her face when she's sent down, bring her to court, in the front door for a press parade and make her face it/them.

Just realised that's why I failed mine, I felled the actual crayon rather than drawing with it. Easy mistake to make.

I think this time (username is gone), hedgy has left the building.

Lovely spud, be good to see Isla's progress.

Wanted to like and laugh at that post in equal measure!

No, you must have missed it earlier when I told you I don't have insurance, I don't require it in any way. Would you post a picture of your roadside stump grinding jobs so I can see how you differ pls.

It's the OH that requires the screen to be erected, she's worried about competition from the general public if they see how good I look grinding!

I disagree hedgy. Our customers would laugh us off the property if we said we're cheaper because we're uninsured, now sign this bit of paper I've written words on to prove you're responsible for our actions and work site!

Well I guess the comment must be aimed at me but I'm not sure whether it's a statement or question. In case it is a question, I don't bother with insurance because it'd be pointless, the business I represent is fully insured, they'd be mad not to.

Had a similar discussion with a customer yesterday. Last week we removed a fairly standard connie hedge, I went back to grind stumps for replant of beech hedge. He was surprised the stumps weren't part of the removal quote as in his opinion, the hedge comprises of everything from trunks, branches and roots, even the dead leaf litter left on the ground inside the hedge over the years. I think you can manage people's expectations when quoting by the wording you use. For example "removal of hedge to ground level". The actual clear up should be spotless though IMO, you can do the actual tree work very professionally but it's the spotless site you leave that customers usually find memorable.

Not what I'd usually be interested in but I like. Think Mark J posted the one I've quoted here a while back.

I don't doubt that lockdown would've been a negative influence for some kids but I'd think that for others it could be a positive. There are a lot of individuals that don't derive great mental health from 'normal' childhood life, and being away from school, socialising and other pressures of living in society might have been a happier time. They could have struggled just as much with lockdown ending, but the headlines wouldn't focus on that. Personally, I thought much of the restrictions imposed did go too far, but lockdown itself was not a negative experience for me as an individual. In the longer term I suspect some kids will have issues because of it but the majority will learn from the experience at an emotional level and may gain some resilience. I can't think of a generational event before that caused ongoing, widespread mental health problems for kids that experienced it. A lot of kids had WW2 in their childhood and it didn't lead to a generation of fuddled adults. Social media and junk food too, like most things in life have good and bad points, depends what you take from them. I wonder how many young girls will be unhappy in their bedroom this weekend due to their use of social media, and how many will be excited and dreaming for the future following The Lionesses on social media instead.

Apparently calling someone the c word isn't acceptable, who'd have thought. I don't know much about trolling but as far as the arbtalk league table of trolls goes I reckon hedgy ranks low, second division or pub league. Steve's report card to Mr and Mrs Mong should read needs to concentrate, must try harder.

You're at the forefront of this industry down there Will, we're still taking a fistful of 'concealer' up in our pocket, or if we're really lucky and see a squirrel go up it lets us know which is the back side!

L and R is the only marking on mine, no brand or anything.