Week beginning – 26th January 2026
Some weeks start with a bang. Others start with a school run and a windscreen wiper disaster. This one was firmly in the second category.
Here’s a light-hearted look at a full working week in the life of the Cherry Picker Man from surveys and stormy weather to emergency roof bodges and business coaching.
Monday – Surveys, School Runs & a Murdered Windscreen Wiper
Monday kicked off gently, starting with the rare luxury of taking Robin to school before heading off for a full day of surveys. The route took me through Worksop, Mansfield, and Linby, hopping between properties and making notes on everything from roof access to future repair work.
Somewhere between survey number three and optimism, I remembered the Hilux needed an MOT. That led to a dash back to Mansfield to pick up a new windscreen wiper… which I then promptly destroyed while trying to fit it back at base.
Cue another trip this time to Halfords where I successfully installed a second wiper (lesson learned) and got the Hilux through its MOT. A small victory, neatly timed to get back and collect Robin from school. Not glamorous, but a solid start.
Tuesday – Wind, Rain, Chimneys & a Fresh Trim
Tuesday arrived with strong winds and heavy rain, which always limits what makes sense to do at height. Still, after another school run, I headed over to Walesby to help Village Stoves with a chimney job. The task was to drop a chimney liner and install a cowl a tidy, well-coordinated job despite the weather.
Back at base, I grabbed paperwork that needed delivering to the accountants and headed over to Mansfield. While there, I made the most efficient pit stop of the week: a haircut at Gould’s Barbers inside Tesco on Oak Tree Lane. Multitasking at its finest.
The rest of the afternoon was spent back at base, writing roof reports the unseen side of the job that keeps everything moving.
The evening rounded off nicely at Cubs, where we played various games and learned about sports. A good night, good energy, and a decent reminder that not all lessons happen on rooftops.
Wednesday – Gutter Clearance, Machine Checks & Business Brains On
Wednesday was a long but productive one, starting in Loughborough with a large residential apartment block. The job involved full gutter clearance, navigating the cherry picker through multiple gates and garden areas to access all elevations. Slow going, but steady progress.
While on site, I spotted a minor issue with the machine some rubber on hydraulic hoses had been rubbing against the bodywork. Nothing dramatic, but exactly the kind of thing worth catching early. A quick preventative fix saved bigger problems later.
After Loughborough, I headed to Basford, Nottingham, to fit a chimney cowl on a property showing signs of damp a straightforward job that should help keep moisture out.
The day finished back at DJI HQ, where Hannah and I sat down with our Action Business Coach. We spent the session organising thoughts around business direction, social media, and where we want things to go next. Less dust, more thinking but just as important.
Thursday – Flat Tyres, Traffic & Questionable Parking
Thursday started early with plans to meet roofers in Derby, on Harrington Street, to investigate a leak on a three-storey building. Before I’d even left, disaster nearly struck: the rear tyre on the truck was very flat.
Thankfully, the compressor saved the day and I was back on the road within 20 minutes. The drive to Derby took over an hour, and when I arrived, parking was… let’s say optimistic. Tight streets, barriers, and very little room to get a machine anywhere near the building.
At that point, it was a case of finding the lads, assessing access, and seeing what was realistically possible. Some jobs are beaten not by the roof, but by the street it sits on. After wrapping things up, I headed back round home via HQ.
Friday – Guttering, Barriers & an 1800s Emergency
Friday started in Arnold, on site for around 8am to repair and unblock gutters on a block of flats. A solid few hours of productive work and a good way to start the day.
The next job, also in Arnold, was meant to be a gutter replacement but access surveys don’t always survive contact with reality. Barriers prevented the cherry picker from being positioned correctly, meaning the job couldn’t go ahead. A temporary issue, hopefully resolved once access is sorted, but not happening that day.
So, plans changed. I headed over to Bestwood Village for an emergency call-out.
The property turned out to be an old house from the 1800s, very likely still carrying its original slate roof and it showed. While the roof itself clearly needs full replacement (and the customer already has quotes in motion), the immediate problem was noise and movement.
A small flat roof section at the top had felt lapping onto the slates below, and those felt edges and slates were flapping violently in the wind, causing a proper racket. The request was simple and sensible: make it safe, quiet, and watertight for the next few weeks.
Using CT1, I secured the loose felt and stabilised the affected areas. No magic fixes, no pretending it’s a permanent solution just a practical temporary repair to buy time until proper roof works happen.
With that done, I wrapped up by midday and headed back to DJI HQ for an early finish.
Final Thoughts
From survey days and storm-limited jobs to emergency roof fixes and business coaching sessions, this week was a perfect mix of graft, problem-solving, and adaptability. Not every plan survives the weather, access issues, or a rogue windscreen wiper but that’s all part of life working at height.
Keep Up 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
Workwear Shout-Out
A quick shout-out to Granite Workwear, who keep me kitted out week in, week out. From long days clearing gutters to windy emergency roof jobs and everything in between, their gear is hard-wearing, comfortable, and actually built for real site work — not just looking good in a catalogue.
If you’re working outdoors, at height, or just want workwear that lasts, they’re well worth a look.
👉 Workwear sponsored by Granite Workwear
https://www.graniteworkwear.com/?afid=danny
