Week Beginning 2 February 2026
A week of chimneys, frozen fingers, Dublin adventures, missed flights… and somehow still making it home for bedtime stories.
Some weeks feel like a steady march. Others feel like someone’s hit fast-forward and thrown in a bit of travel chaos for character development. This was very much the latter.
Monday — Chimneys, Countryside & a Red Flag Roof
The week kicked off with an early start and a run down to Market Harborough to investigate a chimney leak. On inspection, the issue was clear: the head lap on the overlapping flashing simply wasn’t sufficient to stop wind-driven rain working its way underneath. Not ideal.
The fix involved fabricating a proper soaker at the front of the cover flashing — the sort of detail work that prevents repeat callouts and protects the property long-term. Jobs like this are a reminder that good chimney maintenance and repair isn’t just about patching it’s about understanding how water behaves when the weather turns aggressive.
One worrying footnote: the roof itself was less than two years old, yet several flat concrete tiles were already cracking. That’s usually a sign of installation stress or poor detailing rather than age, a quiet reminder that a “new roof” doesn’t automatically equal a good roof.
From there, it was straight into the Nottinghamshire countryside, Pearlthorpe on the Thoresby Estate to install a chimney liner. A big stretch, a tricky setup, and the sort of access challenge that keeps you sharp. Surrounded by lakes and countryside, it was one of those jobs where you pause for a second and appreciate where work has taken you.
The day wrapped with an emergency gas flue installation in Sutton-in-Ashfield after a boiler team hit an access wall on a three-storey property. Problem solved, tools packed, home at last. One of those days where you’ve covered counties, trades, and problem-solving in a single shift.
Tuesday — Frozen Hands, Jackdaws & Cubs
Tuesday started in Bagthorpe with a 9am job installing protective mesh beneath the eaves of an older property. Jackdaws had decided the roof space was prime real estate, and eviction was required.
Working at height in bitter cold is no joke. My hands went numb more than once, to the point I had to keep coming down from the machine just to warm them against the exhaust so I could physically hold nails. Roofing in winter isn’t glamorous… but it gets done.
The job also included gutter repairs, the kind of practical work that prevents bigger headaches down the line. Proper bird mesh installation and pest prevention paired with maintenance is what keeps buildings behaving themselves.
Next stop: Mansfield town centre for slate repairs, followed by a small chimney job back in Bilsthorpe.
Evening meant switching hats, Cubs night. We built insect hotels with the group, which felt like a poetic counterbalance after spending the day keeping wildlife out of roofs.
Then home to pack for Ireland… or at least attempt an early night. Excitement won. Sleep did not.
Wednesday — 2:45am, The Outlaw & Dublin Begins
The alarm went off at 02:45. That’s not a typo.
I drove to meet Geoff, The Roofing Outlaw and we headed for Leeds Bradford Airport. Smooth journey, plenty of entertaining stories that absolutely cannot be printed, and a clean flight to Dublin.
Airport waiting turned into lunch with Geoff, Marcus, and Wayne, four large men squeezed into a taxi like sardines followed by a proper Dublin initiation: historic pub stops, first Irish Guinness, and soaking in the atmosphere.
The evening escalated into a woolly hat delivery mission (promise kept personally by Geoff), more pints, and a late pho dinner. A surreal shift from scaffolds and chimneys to Dublin nightlife and the week was only halfway through.
Thursday — Lava 20 Training & Dublin Nights
Thursday was all business… mostly.
A full day of Lava 20 training delivered deep, hands-on learning. Sessions like this sharpen the technical edge, understanding systems inside out is what makes better decision-making on site and ultimately better roof repair work for customers back home.
Training wrapped around 5pm, and after a quick reset at the hotel, Dublin called again. Traditional music sessions, lively pubs, and thanks to a team recommendation an introduction to pink gin that left my wallet noticeably lighter.
No regrets. Maybe mild financial reflection.
Friday — Missed Flights & Hairy Landings
Friday began with a wake-up call nobody wants: wrong tickets checked… flight missed.
Cue airport scramble, rebooking pain, and an unplanned Dublin layover. Eventually airborne toward Leeds Bradford an airport famous for approaches that feel like threading a needle through the Pennines. Thankfully, the landing was successful if not extremely fast and bumpy .
Before heading home, Geoff arranged for some Roofing Outlaw gear and membrane samples always good to test new kit in real-world conditions.
Back through the door at 6pm. Straight into dad mode. Bedtime stories read. Normal life resumed… just like that.
Final Thoughts
This week was a perfect snapshot of the trade: precision repair work, weather battles, training investment, travel chaos, and moments that remind you why you do it.
From fixing chimney leaks and protecting roofs from wildlife to navigating Dublin pubs and missed flights, it’s all part of the story.
And somehow, through all of it, the best part is still walking back through your own front door.
Keep Up With the Journey
- 🌐 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
A quick shout-out is deserved this week for the kit that kept me going in Dublin. The Irish weather did what Irish weather does sideways rain, cold air, and plenty of it but my Granite Workwear gear handled it without complaint. In particular, my Dassy Gravity jacket was worth its weight in gold.
Dry, warm, and comfortable all day, whether I was travelling, training, or running between pubs. When you’re on the move like that, good workwear isn’t a luxury, it’s survival gear.
Granite Workwear continue to impress: Check them out
