Week Beginning Sunday 21st September 2025
This week was a real mix of graft and family time. From clearing out the chicken shed and ticking off chimney repairs to wrestling with a nightmare liner job and dodging a wasps’ nest, there was never a dull moment. And between all that, I even managed a couple of school runs and a family trip to the Southwell Ploughing Match to round things off.
Sunday – Operation Chicken Shed (with Grumps!)
I kicked things off not on a roof, but in the chicken shed. My father-in-law (aka Grumps) gave me a hand, and together we made massive strides in clearing out the place as part of my plan to move everything back home and save on rent. By the end of the day, what once felt like a daunting task suddenly felt achievable.
Monday – Tracks Off, Tools Out (Warsop Chimney)
Nothing says “welcome back to work” like unloading the cherry picker, only for a track to fall off right across the neighbour’s driveway. Half on the trailer, half on the road, and fully blocking their exit. First job of the day? Fix my own machine. Luckily I got it sorted before any awkward conversations with the neighbours.
From there, it was off to Warsop where I repointed and reflaunched a chimney. While I was up there, I spotted extra work, hips that needed rebedding and a flashing in need of replacing. That meant a trip to Key Building Supplies near Ollerton. I was genuinely impressed: racks of reclaimed tiles, stacks of lead, even hip irons. With materials in hand, I was ready for Tuesday.
Tuesday – Warsop (Round Two)
What I thought would be a half-day turned into a full one. Rebedding hips and replacing the porch flashing took longer than expected, not helped by running a metre short of lead, which meant another dash to the builder’s merchants. Still, the job was finished properly, the chimney and roofline looked the part, and the customer was so happy she left me a review on google (that makes 16 on writing this blog, I am aiming for 100). That makes the long slog worthwhile.
Wednesday – From Lamps to Liners (and a Burst Hose)
The morning started well in Ruddington with Lewis the sparky swapping a lamp post top. I met Lewis on site in Ruddinghton, and got the job done in an hour, no fuss.
Then over to Long Clawson for a chimney liner drop. This is where the day unravelled. The liner got jammed in the chimney, and what should have been simple turned into an all-afternoon battle. Eventually it went in, but just as I thought the nightmare was over, a hydraulic hose on the cherry picker burst. Gerry, my trusty mechanic, put me onto a specialist in East Bridgford. By the evening the machine was in their hands for repair. A day of rooftops and pit stops, in every sense.
Thursday – Back in Business (Mapperley Park, Wasps & All)
Picked up the cherry picker from John Clifford & Sons in East Bridgford, hose fixed, topped up with oil, and running perfectly. Big shout-out to them for the quick turnaround.
Then it was on to Mapperley Park to tackle a chimney and roof repair. Everything went smoothly, apart from two slipped slates I had to leave where they were. Why? Wasps. And not just a couple, a full nest buzzing in and out of the valley. On a warm day, they were in no mood to share the space. I decided I’d rather not test my wasp-dodging reflexes on a roof. Job otherwise completed, machine worked beautifully, and I even knocked off early to pick up my daughter Robin from school. That’s what I call a good day.
Friday – Chainsaws, Chimneys, and Calling It Quits
Headed to Two Acres Farm in Goosedale for some tree cutting. Got the cherry picker into position via a tricky, treacherous route (which took a fair bit of skill). Only to find neither of my chainsaws would start. Add in an iffy setup, and I decided to call it off. Frustrating, but also a timely reminder, don’t take on jobs I’m not properly equipped for. Stick to what I know best.
The day wasn’t wasted though, I knocked off a couple of surveys in Basford and Maythorne, which rounded out the week nicely. Best of all, I still made it home in time to pick up Robin from school again.
Saturday – Southwell Ploughing Match & Granite Workwear
No roofing today instead, a family trip to the Southwell Ploughing Match. Shindigs of Sherwood games were out on display as part of a big Thyme Events wedding package concession.
Highlight of the day? Spotting my brand-new sponsored workwear on the Granite Workwear stand. They’ve had it all embroidered and prepped for me, and I can’t wait to start wearing it next week. Big thanks to Granite Workwear for kitting me out.
⚡ Weekly Wrap-Up
It’s been a week of rooftops, pit stops, and plenty of lessons. From falling tracks and burst hoses to wasp-infested slates and chainsaws that wouldn’t start, the jobs didn’t always go to plan. But the chimneys got fixed, the surveys got done, and I even made it back to the school gates a couple of times, which is a big win in my book.
📲 Follow Me Online
Want to see more behind-the-scenes of my week, from rooftop repairs to cherry picker adventures? Follow me here:
- 🌐 Website: www.dji-uk.co.uk
- 🎥 YouTube: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 🎵 TikTok: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 📸 Instagram: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 👍 Facebook: Dan the Cherry Picker Man
Want to learn more about our giant garden games visit – www.shindigofsherwood.co.uk
Want to see what else Granite Workwear have to offer – www.graniteworkwear.com
or check out my Amazon shop to get your hands on all the tools I use day to day – Dannys shop
