Week Beginning 22nd February
If ever there was a week that summed up life as the Cherry Picker Man, this was it.
Leadwork in Mansfield. Chimneys in Derbyshire. Gutter hoppers in Nottingham. A drone exam. A historic abbey. And a Tesco run to finish it all off.
Let’s get into it.
Sunday – Mansfield Lead Valley Surgery (and Cake)
Sunday morning saw me out the door early to a solicitor’s office near the centre of Mansfield. Town-centre work means one thing: beat the traffic or regret it.
Once boomed up, I found two substantial cracks in the lead valleys. Not hairline. Not “keep an eye on it.” Proper splits.
The only correct way to deal with this kind of roof repair work is to strip back the surrounding slates, cut out the failed section and introduce a new piece of lead beneath, overlapping correctly so water can’t track underneath. It’s careful, methodical work and it was needed in two separate areas.
Slipped slates were sorted while I was there.
Packed down by 10:30am.
Home for coffee and cake with the family.
A productive Sunday and still back in time to pretend I don’t work weekends.
Monday – Chimneys, Jackdaws & Roof Surveys
Monday started at DJI HQ with Tomasz punctual and eager as ever.
First stop: Draycott in Derbyshire for two chimney re-flaunches and bird guards. The whole street had been plagued by jackdaws dropping down chimneys and setting up home. New flaunching and properly fitted guards are often the simplest and most effective form of chimney maintenance and repair keeping water out and wildlife where it belongs.
From there it was on to Swadlincote Derbyshire and Warsop Nottinghamshire for roof surveys.
By 3:30pm we’d sensibly called it. Not every day needs to run into darkness.
Tuesday – A Lesson in Access Planning
Tuesday started strong and immediately humbled me.
We headed to Sutton-in-Ashfield to install solar panel bird mesh. Unfortunately, I misjudged the setup. Busy road. Wrong time of day. Not ideal.
That one’s on me.
The professional decision? Abort, regroup, move on.
Fortunately, the next job also in Sutton was a beautifully accessible chimney flaunch on a driveway. Perfect setup. Efficient finish. Redemption secured.
Then over to Warsop for another chimney flaunch. Two clean jobs completed and still back in time to pick Robyn up from school.
Evening highlight: Cubs Awards Night. I’m not saying “Noisiest Cub” was a competitive category… but it definitely was.
Wednesday – Liners, Pigeon Gutters & Lord Byron
Wednesday was a proper high-access day.
In West Bridgford, working with Nigel and Richard, we dropped a chimney liner. Parking was tight, a couple of driveways temporarily blocked (apologies to those residents), but the install went smoothly and efficiently.
From there it was Derby for a three-storey apartment block run by a property management company. The gutters were absolutely packed with pigeon mess. Not glamorous work, but neglected gutters lead to damp and façade staining very quickly. Clearing and repairing high-level systems like this is exactly why access using a cherry picker is so effective on commercial blocks.
Another Derby job followed a downpipe hanging off a three-storey building. Awkward setup, but sorted quickly.
Then came something slightly different.
A roof inspection at Newstead Abbey.
Yes. Lord Byron’s garden.
Not your average Wednesday.
Thursday – Drone Law & A2 Certification
Thursday was supposed to be machine maintenance at ProMax, but plans changed.
Rather than waste the day, I committed fully to drone pilot training.
Aviation law. Weather systems. Airspace classifications. Maintenance responsibilities.
Not exactly adrenaline-fuelled stuff.
But passing the exam means I’m now officially A2 certified, which strengthens my ability to carry out professional drone-based roof inspections and surveys safely and compliantly.
Midday revision break? Back to Newstead Abbey for a roof survey.
From aviation law to Byron in one day.
Friday – Tile Vents, Tower Blocks & Merchant Fame
Friday started in Loughborough with Callum the electrician.
Two separate properties needed tile vents installing so extractor fans could be connected properly. Ventilation in bathrooms is critical condensation trapped in roof spaces leads to timber decay and mould. These small interventions are classic preventative roof repairs that save homeowners a lot of grief later.
From there, it was down to Keyworth to inspect a tall block of flats in pouring rain. Chris was happy. We were soaked. Survey complete.
Next stop: Nottingham, repairing a gutter hopper on a three-storey block attached to a Sainsbury’s Local. Once I boomed up, I found the hopper completely jam-packed with debris. A straightforward clear-out restored flow immediately proof that regular gutter clearance and maintenance is often the simplest fix.
Then a materials run to Frank Key in Daybrook.
Ant behind the counter (30+ years in the place) greeted me by first name and told me he watches the YouTube channel. Dave from hire did the same in the car park.
That’s a good feeling.
Back in time to pick Robyn up from school and talk football with the headmaster about watching Eric Cantona play for Leeds in the 90s.
From chimney liners to Cantona in 12 hours.
Jobs a fish.
Saturday – Newark Liner Replacement (and Wizards)
Saturday began by dropping Robyn off at her Beavers Wizarding sleepover.
Then off to Newark with Richard to replace a chimney liner that was less than a year old.
Why replace something so new?
Because it had been installed poorly, fitted with the wrong cowl, and never properly signed off. The new stove installer couldn’t certify it without inspecting it and once it was out, it made more sense to install a new liner than refit a questionable one.
New liner dropped into Leeds Bishop pots. Correct specialist cowl fitted. Proper job. Fully compliant.
Back home.
Working week complete.
Only one task left: Tesco with the family.
High access by day. High aisle by night.
Keep Up with the Cherry Picker Man
If you’d like to follow the weekly chaos (and occasional competence), you can find 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
- 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 sponsored by Granite Workwear
About the Author
Danny Iwanejko is the founder of DJI High Access Services and the face behind Dan the Cherry Picker Man. Based in Nottinghamshire, Danny specialises in high-access roof repairs, chimney maintenance, guttering work and difficult-to-reach inspections using his tracked spider cherry picker.
With years of hands-on experience working at height across residential, commercial and heritage properties, Danny documents real working weeks through his Roof Tops and Pit Stops blog and social media channels. His content blends practical roofing knowledge, powered access expertise, business ownership, and the realities of balancing work with family life.
Danny acts as the editor, curator and publisher of the content on this site, drawing on direct site experience, industry collaboration, manufacturer guidance, and current UK safety standards. His aim is simple: provide honest, practical insight into roofing, chimney work and high-access problem solving without fluff, without gimmicks, and without cutting corners.
When he’s not on a roof or in a cherry picker basket, you’ll likely find him creating content, mentoring others in the access industry, leading Cubs, or attempting to get to Tesco before closing time.
