HomeOwners Falling Off Ladders + Window Cleaning News

Balcony fall man fighting for life: A Toowoomba (Australia) man has taken a turn for the worse and is fighting for his life in the Nambour Hospital a week after falling nine metres from a Sunshine Coast balcony. Robert Andersen, 55, slipped off a step ladder as he was cleaning the window of his investment unit at the Mandolin Resort, Alexandra Headlands, last Saturday. Initially, his injuries seemed minor, considering the fall from the fourth floor. He sustained a broken pelvis and bruising. However, his condition took a turn for the worse on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Andersen developed pneumonia, blood clots in his lungs and a dangerous infection.
His wife of 29 years, Shona, has been by his bedside since Saturday. “On Wednesday, he got bad,” Mrs Andersen said. “They put him on strong antibiotics for the infection. “He also developed pneumonia; the lower lobes of his lungs have collapsed. “We are taking each day as it comes.” Mrs Andersen first thought she had “lost” her husband after the fall. “Robert was out cold for maybe a few minutes, but it felt like forever,” Mrs Andersen said. “He was a terrible shade of grey, when he finally opened his eyes and said my name, it was such a relief. “I thought I can deal with having a husband who is crippled, but not being a widow.” Mrs Andersen said it was too early to say when her husband, who is a carpet layer, would return home. “They are not moving him anywhere,” she said. “The clots that are in his lung have the potential to move. “Each day is a new start.” Mrs Andersen is staying at the Reed Charity House at the Nambour Hospital as their unit is currently being leased.

BNP member jailed for 11 years after weapons and explosives found in house: A BNP member who spent a decade building up a cache of weapons in a bedroom hideaway was jailed for 11 years today. Bus driver Terrance Gavan manufactured highly dangerous firearms and explosives at the home where he lived with his mother in Batley, West Yorkshire. Police discovered 54 improvised explosive devices including nail bombs and a booby-trapped cigarette packet at the address, as well as 12 firearms. The former soldier told detectives that he had "a fascination with things that go bang", the Old Bailey heard. The defendant had worked as a bus driver for six years and had also run his own window cleaning business, the court heard.

APPLETON - The winter warm-up had plenty of people outside Thursday, without giving it a second thought. After a blizzard days of below-zero temperatures, the day's weather seemed almost spring-like. Tim Payne with Valley Window Cleaning of Kaukauna was among those enjoying the outdoors. He says he's braved all kinds of weather in his job. "Oh yeah," Payne said. "We use methyl alcohol so the water doesn't freeze and we keep going rain, snow, whatever." Even in below-zero weather, Payne will carry on, but he says days like Thursday bring a smile. "Oh definitely, yeah," he said. "It's kind of a tease but yeah." There may be a lot of winter left, but as snowmen slip away and the temperatures creep up.


A warm welcome for end of freeze: A window cleaner has returned to work after the weather forced him to put down his sponge and bucket until the frost and snow cleared. It was business for usual for Robert Hemmington yesterday, but the heavy snowfall and low temperatures have meant that he has only worked a handful of days since the original heavy snowfall in December. Mr Hemmington, who has been cleaning windows for more than 30 years, said: "I'm just glad to be getting back to work. "I've basically had more than three weeks without work. "As soon as the temperature drops below freezing point I have to stop working. "The water freezes in the pipes and in the van where the water is stored. "It's been the worst winter since 1993 and it does have a huge effect. "If I'm not working for three weeks that's three weeks without pay. "Unfortunately, there's not a lot I can do about it. "At least now, the temperatures are going up and getting back out to jobs."
Mr Hemmington, of RAH Cleaning Contractor, lives in Northampton but works across the county. He added that as well as freezing cold weather, changing legislation on the use of ladders had caused a big change in the way he worked. Around the middle of the last decade laws over the use of ladders also meant he could only use a small ladder when working on his own. He said: "I had to go out and buy a special hose to clean the upper floors of buildings which cost me about £4,000. "The thing is, when you're having to spend that much money on equipment it means you need to be working. "Things like the cold weather and the snow just causes more problems."
The Evening Telegraph wants to hear from more businesses which have been put out of action by the recent cold weather. Write to Newsdesk, Evening Telegraph, Newspaper House, Ise Park, Rothwell Road, Kettering. Alternatively email et.newsdesk@northantsnews.co.uk or call 01536 506153.

Nicholas Sitko, 24, is alleged to have violently attacked Ben Lund, 19, at the Funktion Rooms, in Eastbourne, last summer. Mr Lund, a window cleaner, of York Road, Eastbourne, suffered fatal brain injuries and died within seconds of the alleged brutal beating. Sitko, a factory machine operator of Mendip Avenue, Eastbourne, denies murder at a trial at Lewes Crown Court. He said witnesses described Sitko attacking Mr Lund, who fell to the floor where he was beaten around the head and neck and left lying in a pool of blood. Afterwards Sitko left the club but was arrested about an hour later. He was tearful and told police he wanted to talk to his mum. He told police he had only acted in self-defence. Mr Miskin said: "He lied because he knew what he had done could never be justified." The trial continues.

5 trends for 2010: Consumers seek harmony, serenity, cleaner lines in homes: Busy, hard working Americans have never claimed to have much free time. So it should be no surprise to anyone to hear that low-maintenance products will be much sought after this year. Over the years, outdoor furniture has improved in terms of becoming easy maintenance. A simple hose down will work with many lawn chairs made of recycled high-density polyethylene.
Window manufacturers like Andersen also are now producing low maintenance windows. The window glass has a special photo-catalytic coating -- titanium dioxide -- on its surface that makes it easy to clean with a jet of water. Along with staying on the green course, Americans will have a positive attitude toward recycling materials for their own home improvement projects.
Repurposing and looking for ways to reuse existing items is a reflection of a shift toward people focusing on comfort and being cost-conscious, design industry experts say.

Exclusive: an interview with A Place in the Sun stars Jonnie and Jasmine: Jonnie: I do get recognised on the street now and again, but it’s not something I’m really bothered about. Occasionally, I get complete strangers coming up to me and saying hello – they think they recognise me but don’t know from where. I reckon they think I’m their old neighbour. I turned up to a friend’s party once and the lady that answered the door wanted to give me the money for the window cleaning – unfortunately, someone put her right before I got my hands on the dosh!

Actor Craig Gazey, who plays window cleaner Graeme Proctor in 'Coronation Street', has signed a new contract which will keep him on the show until March 2011. Digital Spy reports that Gazey confirmed the move saying "I've just signed another year's contract, so I'm definitely here now until at least March 2011.