Week Beginning 3rd May
Some weeks ease you in gently.
This one absolutely did not.
From the moment Sunday kicked off with 3,000 Scouts running around Newark Showground, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a quiet one. By the end of the week, I’d dealt with everything from chimney failures and tight-access nightmares to long-distance jobs, van tidying, and voluntarily electrocuting myself in a muddy field near Oxfordshire.
Standard.
Sunday 3rd May – Scouts, Cameras and 3,000 People to Chase
The week began at Newark Showground, where Nottinghamshire Scouts had organised what can only be described as organised chaos on a massive scale.
Over 3,000 Scouts, Beavers, Cubs and leaders all in one place.
I was there with Bilsthorpe Scout Group, officially accompanying Rob, but in reality I’d been given a job:
capture the day.
So instead of relaxing, I spent the entire day:
- walking miles across the showground
- tracking down our group
- filming clips
- taking photos
- trying to make sure no one slipped through the net
And there was a lot to capture:
- digger driving (which I’m surprisingly decent at)
- hook-a-duck (also not bad, if I’m honest)
- dodgems and the Sizzler
- climbing walls
- bouncy castles
- circus skills
- fire lighting
- and just about everything else you could imagine
It was one of those days where you don’t stop moving.
By the time I got home, I was absolutely done.
Except… not really.
Because the footage needed turning around quickly. These events live and die on momentum, so Sunday evening (and a chunk of Monday morning) was spent editing, cutting clips, and pulling together something worth sharing.
Roofing might be the day job, but content never switches off.
Monday 4th May – Bank Holiday Roofing and a Trailer That Said No
Bank Holiday Monday.
Which I had completely ignored when booking work.
That went down well.
The job took me to Southwell, to investigate a leak at a Methodist church that had clearly been causing ongoing problems.
But before I even got started, I pulled up and immediately spotted:
flat trailer tyre.
Not ideal.
Quick check revealed a screw buried neatly in the rubber, so before even thinking about roofs:
- jack out
- wheel off
- spare on
- tools away
Back in business.
Once on the roof, the issue became obvious fairly quickly:
- large hole in the membrane
- clear damp beneath it
This is one of those classic cases where water has been getting in for a while, and once you open it up, everything makes sense.
I:
- repaired the membrane properly
- reinstated the slates
- ensured everything was shedding water correctly
That said, experience tells me there’s likely more going on further upslope. The visible failure is fixed, but it may well need a deeper investigation down the line.
Interesting twist on this job, it was for my old history teacher, who was also my head of year.
There’s something slightly surreal about fixing roofs for someone who used to tell you off for talking in class.
Finished early enough to claw back some Bank Holiday points:
- helping in the garden
- tip run duty
- pushing Wren on the swings
A decent recovery.
Tuesday 5th May – Tight Access, Skip Chaos and Losing a Track
Tuesday took me into Mapperley Park, and this is where things started getting interesting.
The job:
- repointing
- re-flaunching
- tile repairs
- access through a tight rear garden
Straight away, there was a problem.
A skip that should’ve been removed over a week ago… wasn’t.
So instead of setting up:
- I was clearing waste
- moving materials
- creating space just to work safely
Once through the access (which was tight enough on its own), I got the machine in position.
Then came the fun part.
To reach the second chimney:
- the machine needed repositioning
- across uneven ground
- in a very restricted space
And then…
the track came off.
Right where you don’t want it to.
Limited room. Awkward position. Difficult to stabilise.
This is where experience (and patience) comes in.
With a lot of effort, a lot of repositioning, and yes a fair bit of frustration:
- the track was eventually refitted
- the machine recovered
- and positioned ready for the next day
Massive help having Tomek there, jobs like this are a completely different game when you’ve got someone capable working alongside you.
Wednesday 6th May – Cutting Tiles and Doing It Properly
Back to Mapperley Park to finish the job.
This is where the detail work happens.
The roof was covered in Rosemary plain clay tiles, which are slightly smaller than modern equivalents.
So every replacement tile became:
- measure
- cut with grinder
- fit
- repeat
Not difficult just relentless.
Meanwhile Tomek tackled the chimney:
- ground out all joints
- repointed with lime mortar
- replaced the flaunching
We also:
- installed two chimney liners
- fitted base plates for future twin-wall flues
This is the kind of forward-thinking work that makes life easier for the next trades coming in.
Before leaving:
- gutters cleared
- flow checked
And then came the final test:
getting the machine back out.
Given how tight it was getting in, this needed full concentration.
But:
- no damage
- no drama
- no missing tracks
A win.
Thursday 7th May – Sunshine, Gutters and Getting Ahead
Thursday was a welcome change of pace.
Over to Loughborough to clear gutters on a four-storey block of flats.
The job involved:
- navigating the machine around the entire complex
- working through narrow access points
- ensuring all gutters and outlets were flowing
But for once:
- the weather was perfect
- access was manageable
- parking was easy
No surprises.
Finished by midday.
Used the time properly:
- materials from Dontels in Nottingham – Tiles
- supplies from Screwfix in Basford
- back to base to unload, reload, and tidy
Then onto football duty with Robyn.
A rare steady day and very welcome.
Friday 8th May – Scunthorpe, Crumbling Chimneys and Long Miles
Early start out by 6:30am heading to Scunthorpe with Tomek.
Long drive, but a big job waiting.
Scope:
- repoint two chimneys
- re-flaunch
- reduce one stack by 12 courses
All using lime mortar, finished with Stormdry for added protection.
But as always:
once you open it up, the truth comes out.
The chimney being reduced was in terrible condition:
- degraded brickwork
- failed mortar
- structurally questionable
So it became:
partial rebuild, not just reduction.
No shortcuts, if it’s not sound, it gets rebuilt properly.
By the end of the day:
- everything completed
- cleaned down
- weatherproofed
Back to base at 5pm, then:
- unload
- tidy
- reset
Because the job doesn’t end when you leave site.
Saturday 9th May – Tough Mudder and Total Madness
Down in Henley-on-Thames for something completely different.
Morning:
- relaxed walk around town
- park time with Robyn and Wren
- Mrs. Cherry Picker doing Parkrun
Then at 2pm:
Tough Mudder.
6.3km. 10 obstacles.
Including:
- ice water plunges
- fire hose blasts
- rotating obstacles over water
- electric shocks
- climbing walls
It was brutal.
Mud everywhere. Energy drained. Grip gone.
But:
we finished it.
And after a week of:
- roofing
- lifting
- climbing
- fixing machines
…it felt like a fitting end.
Evening:
- Italian food
- drinks
- celebrating survival
Roofing Insight – Why Access Matters More Than You Think
This week reinforced something I see constantly:
Access dictates quality.
From tight rear gardens in Mapperley Park to tall chimneys in Scunthorpe, the ability to position correctly determines:
- how safely you can work
- how thoroughly you can inspect
- and how well you can repair
That’s why specialist access makes such a difference:
👉 https://www.dji-uk.co.uk/cherry-picker-hire
And if you’re unsure about your roof:
👉 https://www.dji-uk.co.uk/roof-surveys
Locations Worked This Week
- Newark Showground – Scouts Big Weekend
- Southwell – Church roof repair
- Mapperley Park – Chimney works and tile replacement
- Loughborough – Gutter clearance
- Scunthorpe – Chimney rebuild and repointing
- Henley-on-Thames – Tough Mudder
Do you have concerns about your roof, chimney or a persistent leak?
- Targeted Roof Inspection – £100 + VAT
- Full Roof Condition Survey – £250 + VAT
👉 https://www.dji-uk.co.uk/roof-surveys
Workwear That Keeps Up
My workwear is sponsored by Granite Workwear and when your week involves:
- rooftops
- machines
- mud
- and electrical shocks
…it needs to hold up.
👉 https://www.graniteworkwear.com/?afid=danny
About the Author
Compiled and published by Danny Iwanejko roofing and high-access specialist documenting real work, real problems, and real solutions.
Follow Dan The Cherrypicker Man Online
🌐 Website: www.dji-uk.co.uk
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dan_cherrypicker_man
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dan_cherrypicker_man
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_cherrypicker_man/
👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancherrypickerman
✖️ X: https://x.com/Dan_Picker_Man
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-iwanejko-18574265/?skipRedirect=true
Google Business: DJI High Access Services – Google Search
🛒 Amazon Shop:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/danthecherrypickerman?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_0H3MM4YGDVAPRTXQJAYV_1
