Hi Everyone
Next week schools start the new educational year after the 6 week summer break. This week the government announced that a significant number of schools (over 150) will be closed or partially closed as the buildings are in danger of collapse, as many were built in the 1960s and 70s using RAAC concrete. It is apparently a lightweight concrete used between the 1950s to the 1990s. It is not something that I came across during my years in the construction industry but concerns were expressed about the deterioration of this type of concrete in 2018. We are now five years on, and four days before students return to school The safety of children and teachers in schools is paramount so why has it taken five years for someone to decide that this is a problem? Even worse, why was the safety or remedial work not started when the school holidays began six weeks ago? Sadly, we all know the answers as everything in government takes too long and the inefficient way things are dealt with is frightening. The Senior Partner had five brothers. The eldest brother was a bricklayer who went on to be a site agent and supervisor for a large building company in London. In the 1960s, like many large construction companies, they built numerous high rise buildings using new building techniques such as factory made concrete panels, and structural steel frames, etc. As a bricklayer, he was never convinced that these new techniques would replace what he called "One brick on top of two". He has been proved right many times since and now, many of those buildings have been demolished as traditional brickwork buildings with timber roofs continue to be the most reliable, assuming, of course, the buildings are properly maintained, but that is another story.
This week two Boobies have been spotted in Cornwall. Now before you get too excited and come to the wrong conclusion, these Boobies are the feathers variety for twitchers only, you know those odd people who will travel the length of the country to spot a rare bird. Apparently, they are tropical brown Boobies, probably from lying in the sun too long in their native Galapagos Islands. According to experienced twitchers, they have never been seen in the UK before. Their appearance here is likely to be another example of global warming, but perhaps like many others, they are seeking to follow a dream of a better life here. The good news is that we will not have to find them accommodation as they are quite capable of building their own.
One of the Main Contractors's long time friends can now hardly walk so her treat is to go with her husband to our local McDonalds for a coffee and a chat with her friends. Now as we approach middle age we are encouraged to get some exercise. Fortunately, we are still able to walk and, in addition, I have one of those bikes that go nowhere in the garage. An easy 5000 step walk takes us past McDonalds so occasionally we time our walk to meet our friends. The place is modern, warm, extremely clean with the coffee perfectly acceptable and nearly half the price of the normal coffee shops. It is also a great place for people watching. What intrigues me, apart from the permanent queue of cars at the drive through is the constant flow of delivery drivers with their large insulated bags collecting two or three orders each for delivery. Now bearing in mind that this is usually the middle of the morning, who orders all this food and where does it go to? You can probably guess that every bag probably contains burgers or wraps with portions of fries. While we are drinking our coffee as many as ten bags of food will disappear through the front door. It is all a long way from the days when we carried our fresh fruit, vegetables, and groceries loose in a hessian bag to prepare and cook at home.
Just a Thought :
My friend has a business repairing lifts in high rise buildings. I asked him how it was going to which he replied "It's very up and down".
I saw a man eat a kid's meal in McDonalds this week. His mother was really angry with him.
How is working on the fries machine at McDonald's like studying Plato and Aristotle? You really learn to appreciate ancient grease.
Brian
Boobies
Driving for the elderly
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