Doug Tait

To be fair the tree surgeon didn't say who the money in the tree would go to, I imagine them rubbing their hands together when they said it.

Doesn't look bad from the photos. We use tractor chipper and trailer so there's usually a cloud of mess around us but only had one complaint from a neighbour. I offered to blow the dust off the car but I was banned from going near it and no more was said. More often I've warned neighbours about clothes on the washing line which seems to be good for PR.

And sticks. I had a GSD when I was young that needed emergency surgery to remove a bit of the stick I'd been throwing from blocking its gut. Vet said it was quite common. Ironically the next dog was a Terrier and I vowed it would only play with a ball, until a tennis ball ricochet hit her square in the eye and she went a bit loopy. Even when I took the ball away she kept chasing a phantom ball until the vet put drops in which calmed her until the swelling went down and she could see properly again. No more ball. Haven't had an incident with rope toys yet.

I'm sure we're all aware that a dogs best sense is smell, but sometimes something happens that lets you see just how remarkable their sense of smell is. Last Thursday there was four of us working in a little woodland adjacent to a local primary school. Spec was take down anything dead or dodgy to make safe for the kids as they regularly use the woods. All arisings were to be cut and stacked in the wood so the kids can make habitat piles with it. I mentioned to the OH we were working in the woods, no more was said. This morning she's at home so ended up walking little Cassie through the wood. She sent me a message with pictures of every stack I did saying "did you do these?". Yes, that's exactly what I did! How did you know? Apparently Cassie ignored all the stacks except the ones I'd done which she sniffed around and pee'd at. Can only think that after 4 days with rain every day she could still smell my scent on the wood I'd touched... Amazing, but how she can put up with my feet I'll never know!

I think lurch said that ironically John, due to the Council saying they'd leave looking at it until Monday as it's not an emergency.

Maybe you could post some pictures so we can see what you've got. That said, I don't know where you'd get official certification but it doesn't sound like it's likely to cause damage. If it's padded enough you can punch it without hurting yourself then I'd think the tree is much less fragile than knuckles, and you won't push a healthy tree over very easily at all. When climbing a tree to work I'll anchor my body weight from a branch as small as 10-15cm diameter if needed. Any damage you could possibly cause I'd say would be rubbing the bark away to leave the cambium exposed but that would take a lot of rubbing.

If the Wagner troops and Russian pilots weren't party themselves to a masterplan then any engagement between them wasn't necessarily intended. Fog of war stuff.

If you haven't looked already it'd be worth checking on find a freelancer. https://arbtalk.co.uk/find-a-freelancer/

Selfcare, lesson, rim, love. My mantra means it's gonna be an interesting summer.

3 miles is admirable in my book, I never enjoyed running unless there was a ball involved.

Reminded me of this guy who did a marathon every day in 2022 for charity. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/31/cumbrian-man-gary-mckee-completes-mission-of-running-marathon-every-day-in-2022

Well it was coffee and a scone but yes, of course. Then straight back to base for medals!

Why thank you kind sir!

You missed one up Ettrick J but don't worry, I laid it down for you with a mighty 261 when I was passing, save you going back!

It'll be them weeping when the hernia pops!

And at the risk of getting in bother with the dad joke police. Why didn't the terminator upgrade to Windows 10? He still love vista baby.

Been pretty poor here. 10c with 30-40mph gusting wind and heavy rain. Went up to a reservoir for the day and the only time I wasn't shivering was in the water out of the wind. Beautiful none the less but not feeling very summer!

Hire a van for a few hrs and save all the heartache.

I'm not sure if 'congratulations' is the right word, but congratulations Peasgood!

T in the park. Reminds me of the stereophonics headlining Saturday night. I was at the back somewhere and my mate had headed off to get closer. What a buzz, crowd was alive when they finished the last song, I watched on the screen as Kelly Jones played the last chord, took off the guitar and smashed it front of stage, the body fell in two and he was left holding part of the neck which he launched into the crowd. I looked at the screen as the camera followed it in flight and as it came down amongst people I could see my mate right in the mix. Yes I thought, grab it! He just stood there, smashed and looking particularly thick. Was gutted. Few nights later I saw an interview with the band and Jones said he really regretted doing it. Thought not half as much as I regretted not going up front with my mate. All I've seen of Glastonbury this year was Manic Street Preachers who were okay, seen them be a lot better.

Saw a very relaxed deer on the walk tonight not far off the path. And the OH found a little shrew hanging around in the sun on the patio today, she gave it some strawberry and popped it into a hole in the stone wall but it must have been poorly, no longer with us.

In case you haven't looked here... https://arbtalk.co.uk/find-a-freelancer/

Mine is just left to nature mostly, nettles etc. Whatever is there, weeds and overgrown mixed field hedging, I've a lot of nature using it. Apart from cutting back hard occasionally then the front driveway and paved bits are all I tend, should really try your boiling water suggestion.

I don't spray for work but for my own stuff when I have to I'll use glyphosate spray although it doesn't feel the happiest choice to make. For a while I used an old parafin flame gun, liked it a lot but it was thirsty for parafin and often quite dramatic. Best thing about it was it killed seeds in gravel as well. Was at its best doing an open area like an overgrown vegetable garden or driveway. Was a lot more expensive than the sixpence youths to run though!

Been a long running issue it seems. I'm fairly surprised he physically threatened them with a gun 3yrs ago and was allowed to keep the weapons and his licence to hunt.