Some weeks start slowly… and some start with four seven-year-olds tearing your house apart looking for chocolate.
This week was very much the latter.
🐣 Easter Sunday – No Cherry Picker in Sight
Sunday kicked off the week in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire, and for once, I didn’t leave the house all day.
We had four kids (all aged seven) descend on the house for an Easter egg hunt, and I decided this year was the year to stop making it easy. Those eggs were hidden properly. No mercy. If they wanted chocolate, they were going to earn it.
After Easter brunch and a quick turnaround, we then hosted 15 people for a full Easter Sunday roast. Lamb on the table, great company, and a proper family day.
The only thing I lifted all day was a serving spoon… not a cherry picker.
🛁 Bank Holiday Monday – Reset Mode
Monday was a deliberate day off. No work booked in, just a proper extended bank holiday.
The morning was spent tidying up the aftermath of Sunday (which looked like a chocolate-fuelled hurricane had passed through), before heading over to Stamford, Lincolnshire for lunch with family.
Back home, it was hot tub time followed by a movie night with my daughter, a calm before the storm, because Tuesday meant one thing…
Back to work.
🧱 Tuesday – Chimneys, Tiles & a Bonus Survey
Tuesday saw me in Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire, carrying out a full day of chimney maintenance and roof repair work.
The job included:
- Re-flaunching the chimney
- Repointing the brickwork
- Repairing a loose hip tile
- Fixing a number of roof tiles
A solid, productive day, everything went to plan.
But here’s where it gets interesting…
While I was working, the neighbour came over and asked if I could take a look at a leak on her chimney. Luckily, I had the drone with me, so I carried out a roof survey there and then.
One job turned into two… without even moving the truck.
🧱 Wednesday – Stitching a Chimney Back Together
Wednesday took me further afield to Burton upon Trent, and this one was a bit more serious.
The chimney was starting to come apart, so this wasn’t just a case of repointing and walking away.
I installed Helifix crack stitching bars, set into the brickwork using resin, to stabilise the structure. Once that was done, I repointed the chimney and finished it off with fresh flaunching.
Not every chimney just needs a tidy-up… some need putting back together first.
🔁 Thursday – When Plans Change
Thursday didn’t go to plan.
I was all set for a job in East Bridgford… and then it got cancelled last minute. So instead, I headed over to Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Morning – Loughborough
I repointed some verge ends using flexible roof putty, ideal for areas where movement can cause traditional mortar to crack.
Afternoon – Gedling, Nottingham
Then it was over to Gedling, where things got a bit more involved.
The issue wasn’t just a leaking gutter, it was the fact the gutter didn’t actually line up properly with the roof edge. Water wasn’t even reaching it properly due to a barge board obstruction.
So I:
- Installed lead to redirect water back into the gutter
- Carried out professional gutter clearance
- Sealed coping stone joints on a parapet wall
- Sealed around a window to stop water ingress
One cancelled job turned into two… and neither of them straightforward.
🚁 Friday – The Most Inefficient Route Possible
Friday started off as a “catch-up on surveys” day… and ended up as a full tour of the Midlands.
After a relaxed start (coffee, breakfast with my youngest, and out the door at a civilised 9am), I headed to Kimberley, Nottinghamshire to survey an old school being converted into flats, a big one.
Then:
- Ripley, Derbyshire – a lovely converted cottage
- Sneinton, Nottingham – picked up mid-route
- Mansfield – because why not complete the loop
At this point, I’m pretty sure even Google Maps had given up on me.
That said, this is exactly why drone surveys are so valuable, they allow me to assess roofs quickly and safely without needing full access equipment on every job. When needed, I can then return and carry out work using methods like accessing roofs safely using a cherry picker.
Finished just after lunchtime, followed by the weekly shop and a “relaxing” hot tub session with my daughter… which, as always, turned into chaos.
🏗️ Saturday – Playing with Big Toys
Saturday started early, 6am on the road down to Milton Keynes.
I met up with Adam from Elite Access Ltd to finally get a proper look at the Multitel MZ250 truck-mounted platform.
Last time I saw it, it broke down during the demo… so I was keen to see what it could actually do.
This time? Fully working and seriously impressive.
While I was there, I also jumped on a 2012 Leguan 160, which turned out to be an absolute joy to operate.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning a few hours testing machines before heading home by 1pm.
🦺 Kit of the Week
I also received a new safety harness from Safehold this week.
First impressions?
Outstanding. Proper bit of kit. Comfortable, solid, and exactly what you want when you’re working at height all day.
Check them out for yourself at https://safe-hold.com/
🧠 Roofing Insight of the Week
One thing that came up this week is how often water problems aren’t caused by obvious damage.
Take Thursday’s gutter job, the issue wasn’t just a leak. It was poor alignment between the roof edge and the gutter. If water doesn’t land where it’s supposed to, it will always find its own path… and that’s usually straight into your property.
That’s why diagnosing the cause of a problem is just as important as fixing the symptom.
👕 On the Job
Working outdoors in April means one minute you’re in the sun, the next you’re freezing on a roof. Having decent gear makes a massive difference, which is why I stick with Granite Workwear:
👉 https://www.graniteworkwear.com/?afid=danny
📍 Locations Worked This Week
- Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire – Easter weekend at home
- Stamford, Lincolnshire – Family visit
- Market Warsop – Chimney and roof repairs
- Burton upon Trent – Structural chimney repair
- Loughborough – Verge repointing
- Gedling – Gutter repairs and leak investigation
- Kimberley – Drone survey (large development)
- Ripley – Cottage roof survey
- Sneinton – Additional survey
- Mansfield – Additional survey
- Milton Keynes – Machine testing at Elite
🔚 Wrapping Up
From Easter egg hunts to structural chimney repairs… from relaxed bank holidays to four-stop survey days… and finishing off testing cherry pickers in Milton Keynes.
A proper mixed week, exactly how I like it.
✍️ 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 roof repairs, chimney maintenance, and high-access work using spider cherry pickers. Through his work, he documents real-world roofing challenges, solutions, and day-to-day life in the trade.
🔗 Keep Up With Dan the Cherry Picker Man
🌐 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:
