Week beginning 29th March 2026
Some weeks in this job are steady.
Others take you from selling machines… to working inside a prison… to fixing chimneys in Lord Byron’s back garden.
This was definitely one of the latter.
Sunday – A Different Kind of Win
Sunday wasn’t spent up in the air for once, but it was still productive.
I managed to secure a buyer for the temporary spider lift I’ve been using while my main machine is in for repair. It’s a nice reminder that there’s a bit of a side opportunity here… buying, using, and selling machines.
Accidental trader? Possibly.
Let’s just say, it’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Monday – Working Under Supervision… Lots of It
Monday took me somewhere a bit different, working inside a prison in Waddington.
The job itself was straightforward enough: repointing verge ends using the cherry picker. But the working conditions were anything but normal.
I had:
- One asbestos operative helping
- One asbestos monitor watching air quality
- A prison guard
- Another supervisor
So essentially, four people stood watching me all day while I worked.
No pressure then.
It was a proper graft of a day, but it highlights the kind of environments this job can take you into and why accessing roofs safely using a cherry picker is so important in controlled or restricted sites like this.
Tuesday – Behind the Scenes (and Cubs Chaos)
Tuesday was meant to be another day on site, but the job was cancelled which meant a rare opportunity to get organised.
That involved:
- A materials run to MKM
- A trip back to the old chicken shed (the original HQ!)
- Restocking and sorting gear at DJI HQ
Not glamorous, but absolutely essential. This is the bit people don’t see the preparation that keeps everything running smoothly.
Evening – Cubs Take Over
The evening was a complete change of pace, Cubs night.
We had:
- Easter card making
- Egg hunt
- Egg and spoon race
So after being watched all day in a prison the day before… I was now being supervised by 30 chocolate-fuelled Cubs.
I’m not entirely sure which was more intense.
Wednesday – Tight Access, Old Houses, and a Job That Beat Me
Wednesday was a proper mixed bag.
Kirkby-in-Ashfield – Chimney Flaunching
First job was in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, at a lovely 200-year-old property.
The issue?
Water running down the chimney liner and into the stove, never a good sign.
The cause turned out to be a large hole in the flaunching, so I carried out chimney maintenance by removing the failed section and installing a new flaunching.
Getting set up was half the battle, tight access through a gateway into a churchyard but once in, the job went smoothly.
Derby – Defeated by Reach (Again)
Next stop was Derby to replace some tiles I’d previously been unable to reach due to bad weather.
This time?
No weather excuse.
Just out of reach.
Sometimes it’s not the conditions… it’s just physics. Even with the flexibility of a spider lift, there are limits and this one beat me again.
Nottingham & Warsop – Roof Surveys
I then headed into Nottingham’s Park Estate for a drone roof survey, followed by another in Warsop.
This is a big part of what I do, identifying issues before they become bigger problems through detailed roof repair work.
In Warsop, I found a particularly dodgy chimney, the kind that looks fine from the ground but tells a very different story up close.
Thursday – Lord Byron, Heavy Graft, and a Timely Bag of Sand
Thursday took me to Newstead Abbey, Lord Byron’s old stomping ground.
The job was to re-flaunch two large chimneys, which meant:
- Removing all the old concrete
- Rebuilding fresh flaunching from scratch
It was a full day of hard graft.
At one point, I realised I might be half a bag of sand short which would’ve meant a 40-minute round trip to MKM.
Thankfully, the customer stepped in and saved the day with a spare bag.
Not something you can usually rely on!
Powered by Proper Gear (and a Bit of Luck)
By this point, I was absolutely grafted. Days like this are exactly why having decent workwear matters the stuff I wear from Granite Workwear has genuinely held up well to this kind of punishment.
If you’re curious, here’s where I get mine:
https://www.graniteworkwear.com/?afid=danny
The Best Kind of Finish
Back at DJI HQ, unloading the truck after a long day… I was greeted by a family handing me an ice cream from the van.
Honestly, perfect timing.
After a day like that, you don’t need much more.
Although if you’ve ever tried unloading a truck after a full day on the tools, you’ll understand why this felt like winning the lottery.
Friday – Good Friday Favour
Friday was meant to be a quiet one, it is Good Friday, after all.
But when your old history teacher (and former head of year) gives you a call about a leak at Southwell Methodist Church, you don’t say no.
You say:
“Yes sir… of course, sir.”
So I headed over to carry out a roof survey, the kind I’d normally charge for, but some jobs aren’t about that.
Sometimes it’s just about helping out.
After that, it was time to meet up with the wife and kids in Southwell and officially switch into Easter weekend mode.
🧠 Roofing Insight – Why Chimney Flaunching Fails
Chimney flaunching is one of the most common failure points on a roof.
It’s exposed to:
- Constant rain
- Freeze/thaw cycles
- Expansion and movement
Over time, cracks form and once water gets in, it can travel down into the chimney structure, often ending up inside the property (as seen earlier this week).
Properly installed flaunching, especially with additives like SBR, helps improve flexibility and water resistance significantly extending its lifespan.
📍 Locations Worked This Week
- Waddington – Verge repointing inside a prison
- Kirkby-in-Ashfield (Mansfield) – Chimney flaunching repair
- Derby – Attempted tile replacement
- Nottingham (Park Estate) – Drone roof survey
- Warsop – Roof survey and chimney inspection
- Newstead Abbey – Chimney flaunching on historic property
- Southwell – Church roof survey
✍️ About the Author
This blog is compiled and published by Danny Iwanejko, also known as Dan the Cherry Picker Man, who runs DJI High Access Services Ltd.
Danny specialises in roofing and chimney repairs using high-access equipment, including spider cherry pickers, allowing him to safely reach areas that are difficult or unsafe to access using traditional methods. Through his content, he documents real-world jobs, challenges, and insights from life working at height across Nottinghamshire and beyond.
🔗 Keep Up With Dan the Cherry Picker Man
🌐 Website: www.dji-uk.co.uk
🎥 YouTube: @dan_cherrypicker_man
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📸 Instagram: @dan_cherrypicker_man
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