Week beginning 19.01.26
Some weeks glide by smoothly. Others involve squeezing machines through impossible gaps, fixing leaks caused by questionable workmanship, losing a track (again), and finishing the week with Chinese food and a slightly aching back.
This was very much one of those weeks.
Here’s a light-hearted look at a week spent bouncing between rooftops, surveys, school runs, Cubs, and the odd mechanical hiccup all part of life as the Cherry Picker Man.
Monday – Tight Access, Chimney Cowls & One Very Wrong Postcode
The week began on Orlando Drive in Gedling, where the first challenge arrived immediately: getting the spider cherry picker through an 800mm gap to reach the back garden. Jobs like this are exactly where proper access using a cherry picker comes into its own, especially when ladders simply wouldn’t cut it.
Once in position, I removed two old, leaky chimney cowls and replaced them with new metal ones to stop rainwater getting down the flues and birds turning the chimney into a nesting site. Everything went smoothly, and the customer was so impressed with the spider’s capabilities that he documented most of the job on his phone.
From there, it was off to Shobnall Road Derbyshire for a chimney liner installation. Parking on the busy road took a bit of thought, but once tracked onto the drive, the liner dropped in nicely and the cowl went on cleanly. I did spot a few areas of the chimney that will need attention in the future a classic example of why ongoing chimney maintenance and repair matters.
The day finished with surveys in Broxtowe and Newstead Abbey, followed by an accidental trip to NG24 Newark, Nottinghamshire instead of Kirkby in Ashfield. A polite reminder that postcodes are always helpful.
Back at base, I fitted protective sleeves to some hydraulic hoses after advice from the On The Boom community a bit of preventative maintenance to avoid future headaches.
The “On The Boom” community is a small Facebook group where powered access operators and enthusiasts share tips, advice, problem-solving, and real-world experiences with cherry pickers and other boom lifts — it’s a great place to tap into practical insight from people in the industry.
👉 Here’s the link you can use: https://www.facebook.com/groups/966997256710279/
The evening ended on the school run, picking Robyn up while little Wren was unwell. Still one of my favourite jobs of the day.
Tuesday – Flats, Long Drives & Fixing Other People’s Problems
Tuesday started with a leak investigation on a tall block of flats, which involved tracking the spider through paths, gardens, and tight residential access routes in Cotgrave Nottinghamshire. Jobs like this highlight why specialist access equipment is often the safest and most efficient solution.
Next came a long drive to Swadlincote, Derbyshire for a verge-end pointing repair. Forty minutes of driving for twenty minutes of work, but sometimes that’s just how the day plays out.
From there, it was back to Daybrook to sort out a flue pipe flashing that had been installed poorly. Broken tiles (plastic Cambrian tiles, unfortunately), badly secured flashing, and rushed workmanship turned what should have been a simple fix into a more involved bit of roof repair work. These are the jobs where you’re not just fixing wear and tear you’re undoing previous mistakes.
The day wrapped up back at the yard with more cherry picker maintenance before heading off to Cubs, where organisation is optional and noise is guaranteed.
Wednesday – Asbestos, Lost Tracks & Making the Best of It
Wednesday began early in Radcliffe-on-Trent, meeting an asbestos removal contractor to safely remove a suspect roof tile. Access was tight again, requiring tracking up a narrow lane and temporarily removing a fence panel.
During positioning, one of the spider’s tracks popped off. Not ideal, but not entirely unexpected either. With a long-term fix planned at the next LOLER inspection, we carried on to avoid delays. The tile was removed safely, replaced with a suitable alternative, and the roof made good.
Once the job was done, I refitted the track and filmed a how-to video on replacing a spider cherry picker track. If a problem’s going to happen, it might as well become useful content.
With rain setting in, I postponed planned chimney work in Bilsthorpe and headed back to DJI HQ, spending the afternoon fixing garage lighting, adding sockets, and installing charging points. Not glamorous, but very satisfying.
The day finished with the school run and a swimming lesson proving that logistics don’t stop when the tools go away.
Thursday – Changed Plans, Small Fixes & Big Helmets
Thursday was meant to involve testing a cherry picker that had really caught my eye at Vertical Days. Unfortunately, plans changed.
Rather than waste the day, I pivoted. After taking Robyn to school, I headed to Bobbers Mill, where a damaged air-vent tile was allowing water to track into a bathroom extractor fan. A straightforward fix: old vent out, new vent in, tiles and felt checked, and everything left watertight.
Next stop was Windmill Lane in Sneinton, where a roof leak turned out to be two slipped slates. A simple repair using K-clips designed and manufactured here in the UK secured the slates properly. I filmed a short video to give the product some exposure.
The immediate leak was resolved, although the roof itself is nearing the end of its working life. Sometimes you stop the water even when the roof is quietly asking for retirement.
From there, it was off to Newark for a chimney survey for Louise, who had recently moved into the property and was trying to get to the bottom of ongoing issues another reminder of the value of proper inspection and maintenance.
The evening involved helmet shopping in Mansfield for Summer after a recent icy-weather tumble, followed by a well-earned visit to the Golden Phoenix all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet in Daybrook.
Friday – Chimney Liners, Rosemary Tiles & a Sensible Finish
Friday began with another trip to Swadlincote for a chimney liner installation, this time with a twist. The chimney had no pot, so the job involved breaking out part of the flaunching, installing a new pot, securing it properly, dropping the liner, and fitting the cowl.
From there, it was a long run over to Worksop to assist roofers replacing rosemary tiles, providing safe access and helping the job move along efficiently.
By the time that was finished, it was time to head home at a reasonable hour, exactly how a Friday should end.
Final Thoughts
This week was a proper mix: tight access, long drives, unexpected complications, machine maintenance, surveys, content creation, and plenty of family life in between. Not every plan went to plan but that’s life working at height.
Same again next week.
Keep Up to Date with Me Online
- 🌐 Website: www.dji-uk.co.uk
- 🎥 YouTube: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 🎵 TikTok: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 📸 Instagram: @dan_cherrypicker_man
- 👍 Facebook: Dan the Cherry Picker Man
- Google Business page: dji high access services – Google Search
- Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/danthecherrypickerman?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_0H3MM4YGDVAPRTXQJAYV_1
Big shout-out to Granite Workwear (https://www.graniteworkwear.com/?afid=danny) the folks who sell gear tough enough to survive a week in my boots (and knees, elbows, and thankfully only one dropped hammer so far). When you’re crawling over roofs, squeezing through gaps, and waving goodbye to dignity at awkward angles, you want workwear that doesn’t quit before you do. Granite’s kit is built seriously tough, comfortable when you need it, and rugged where it counts, exactly what you need when your day involves more ladders than sense.
If you want workwear that’s as reliable as your coffee on a Monday morning, give them a look you’ll thank yourself later.
