Electric Hose Fathers Day Wind Up

The PowerUp hose & reel from Waterworks impresses Brads Dad.

HOSE LAUGHING NOW? Dad is delighted with his generous Father’s Day present from his son – but there’s a catch. Serial prankster Brad Holmes is at it again - and this time it's his window cleaner dad who's on the receiving end. Brad Holmes is at it again – and this time, it’s his dad who’s copped the short straw.

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Brad, 24, presents his father with a generous gift for Father’s Day. He explains to his unsuspecting pa that the “first electric hose-reel wind up thing” from Waterworks Window Cleaning is meant to help him with his work. Brad says: “As it’s Father’s Day I thought I’d treat you, make your life a bit easier.”

Chuffed to bits with his new toy, Brad’s dad exclaims: “B****y hell, that’s cool as you like isn’t it? Thanks mate.” After he’s had a play, the pair then climb into the front of the van, where Brad’s dad thanks his son again for his kind gift. He gushes: “It’s f*****g handy that, going to make my job 20 times f*****g easier, you know that don’t you?

“F*****g brilliant. Didn’t have to get that though, could have just got me a card, that would have been alright.” Brad tells him it worked out at around £349 plus vat, to which his dad replies: “You soppy c*** you didn’t have to spend that much did you?” It’s then Brad drops the bomb that he didn’t. When his confused dad asks who did, Brad explains: “You paid for it.” He then informs his furious father that he used his credit card, warning him: “You shouldn’t leave it lying around.”

Incensed, Brad’s dad goes off on one of his infamous sweary rants, calling his son all the names under the sun. It’s only at the very end that Brad puts him out of his misery, telling him: “I’m joking you p****, I got it.”

Brad’s videos, which often features his dad and his girlfriend Jenny, have a huge online following.

Last month, Brad played a cruel trick on Jenny which involved rubbing chilli on her tampon during her time of the month. Despite the cruel stunt receiving over 19,000 likes and 12,000 comments, the ruthless trick sparked outrage, with many accusing Brad of over-stepping the mark.

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Window Cleaners Brainchild Unites Northern Ireland

Flags fly on west Belfast street for football sweepstake. A Northern Ireland flag is not the most common sight on west Belfast's Springfield Road. But it is one of many flying proudly on one street ahead of the Euro 2016 football tournament. Each of the qualifying nations in the championship is represented on Iris Drive in what has been described as a "sweepstake with a difference". A group of window cleaners first had the idea ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Euro 2016: England and Northern Ireland flags fly in west Belfast street for football sweepstake: They are just some of the 60 flags flying in Iris Drive, off the Springfield Road, that represent each of the qualifying nations in the tournament for a neighbourhood sweepstake.

The colourful and impressive display was organised by locals who held a sweep for countries and put up flags for participating homeowners. Although only 24 nations qualified for the championship, demand for flags was so high that three separate sweepstakes were carried out so that everyone could join in.

'It's not a political thing...it's a bit of banter'

One of the organisers Sandy Turley told the BBC: "Every resident in the street was involved, the kids loved it. "We also had a street party and everyone came out and enjoyed themselves. "It's not a political thing - it doesn't matter if it's the Republic, Northern Ireland, or England. We like to see everyone represented. It's a bit of banter - I've my money on France but I got Germany in the sweepstake, so I'm not worried."

The neighbourhood sweepstake was the brainchild of local window cleaners and was first started ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

England, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland flags are flying in one west Belfast street ahead of Euro 2016.

Routine Danger In Grand Rapids

Sam Rodriguez, with Award Window Cleaning Services, cleans the windows of the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids. The hotel is cleaned twice a year. More pictures at the link.

23 stories up, window washers dangle high above Grand Rapids, MI – Dangling over 200 feet in the air, four men inch their way down the face of the JW Marriott while wiping each window clean. The building's height and its unique shape make rappelling from the roof the most efficient way to ensure that the windows shine on the riverfront hotel that has become a Grand Rapids landmark.

The work is not for the faint of heart. "Terrifying," window cleaner Sam Rodriguez said of his first trip down the JW Marriott. "You finally get to the ground and you almost want to kiss it." One "drop" or trip down the face of the hotel takes more than an hour.

From left, Sam Rodriguez, Brenden Riggins, and Tim Scott, all with Award Window Cleaning Services, clean the windows of the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids.

The first time Rodriguez performed the task as part of the Award Window Cleaning crew, it took him twice the time of an experienced window washer. With each swipe of his squeegee, he felt sure something would go wrong. After six years of working high above the ground, like any other job, it becomes routine. Now, he has to remind himself that it's dangerous and to check and double check his equipment.

What's one thing facing window washers that passersby can't see from the ground? "Spiders," said Mark Reinhart, Award Window Cleaning's president. The eight-legged creatures leave cobwebs for the cleaners and sometimes crawl up their pant legs. Before pesticide use, window cleaners would duct tape their pants and shirts closed to keep them out. Now, there aren't nearly as many, but they still can be found even on the highest buildings in town.

Grand Rapids' most recognizable buildings, including the Amway Grand Hotel, Bridgewater Place and the JW Marriott are cleaned twice a year, moments that often draw the attention of downtown crowds.

Window Washer To Soap Maker

Larry Plesent of Vermont Soap, whose unofficial slogan is "Replacing yucky stuff with yummy stuff," specializes in formulating natural, organic and nontoxic home and garden products.

Vermont Soap has a Formula for Cleaning Homes the Nontoxic Way - The curing room in Vermont Soap's manufacturing facility in Middlebury may be one of the most fragrant spots in Vermont. As dozens of soap bars cure on drying racks like ageing craft cheeses, the air is laden with the rich aromas of pine, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and other essential oils.

But, unlike the scents added to most conventionally produced soaps, shampoos, toiletries and home-cleaning products, none of these odors comes from artificial chemicals or toxic ingredients. In fact, the earthy reddish hue of some of the bars is derived from lobster shells.

Vermont Soap, whose unofficial slogan is "Replacing yucky stuff with yummy stuff," specializes in formulating natural, organic and nontoxic home and garden products. Those include underarm deodorants, oral-care products, antiaging creams, pet and horse shampoos, surface cleaners, fruit and vegetable washes, car cleaners, and even yoga-mat cleaners. Most are U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic, and all are safe and nontoxic. That makes them ideal for consumers with severe allergies or chemical sensitivities, or those who simply have concerns about the prevalence of hazardous materials in the home.

Larry Plesent, 57, founded Vermont Soap in 1992, after he'd learned the hard way what toxic chemicals can do to your body. In the 1980s, Plesent earned money for college working as a Burlington window washer. In an effort to economize, he concocted his own window washing solution consisting of dish detergent, floor cleaner, windshield-wiper fluid and antifreeze.

For about eight years, Plesent essentially soaked himself in noxious chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate, methanol and ethylene glycol, which left him with severe contact dermatitis and multiple chemical sensitivities. Conventional deodorants gave him rashes across his arms and torso that lasted for weeks. Normal shampoos caused his hair to fall out.

He tried one conventional brand after another, but the problems never went away. By 1991, Plesent's "reactive body" was so sensitive, he couldn't touch or be around artificial scents, artificial colors or petrochemical products, including most plastics.

Then, one day at a Vermont craft fair, Plesent picked up a bar of soap made with goat's milk. Just days after he tried it, his eight-year bout of dermatitis disappeared. Realizing that countless other consumers must suffer from similar sensitivities, Plesent decided to turn his disability into a business venture. Thus Vermont Soap was born.

Of course, Vermont Soap isn't the only producer of eco-friendly home-cleaning and personal-care products in the Clean Mountain State. According to Forbes magazine, Burlington behemoth Seventh Generation does more than $300 million in annual retail sales.

Many of Vermont Soap's customers suffer from asthma or chemical sensitivities or have compromised immune systems due to chemotherapy and other medical conditions.

While Vermont Soap hasn't reached that level, it's growing quickly as more consumers seek products labeled organic. The company now has 25 employees and sales in excess of $3 million annually; it recently expanded into Asia and is exploring new markets in Europe. Two-thirds of Vermont Soap's products are now sold under other labels or are added as ingredients to other products.

A June 2015 fire in Vermont Soap's factory on Middlebury's Exchange Street shut down operations for four months but ultimately proved fortuitous: It forced a move into a manufacturing facility more than twice as large just down the road. The company still maintains a discount retail outlet at its original location. There, consumers can find deals on Vermont Soap products and visit its modest soap museum, which features antique washing machines, shaving kits, classic toiletries and, of course, old soaps.

In accordance with Plesent's goal of "doing as little harm as possible," his new and much larger manufacturing space is all electric and at or near zero emissions. Eschewing landscaping that might expose his employees to pesticides and other allergens, he recently planted vegetable gardens for his staff's use.

Consumers who typically buy organic meats and produce can shop online at Vermont Soap for similarly nontoxic alternatives to familiar cleaning products. For example, Produce Magic is an organic cleaner that removes waxes, pesticides, and other dirt and residues from fruits and vegetables. Green Car is an automotive cleaner similar to Armor All, except it's certified organic and contains no petrochemicals.

Liquid Sunshine is an all-purpose spray-and-wipe surface cleaner and concentrate similar to Citra Solv, but it contains all-natural citrus oils. According to Plesent, it can be used safely on cabinets, woodwork and hardwood floors, just like Murphy's Oil Soap, but it's nontoxic and easy on your hands.

Sandy Lincoln, owner of Sandy's Books & Bakery in Rochester, sells organic baked goods and says she uses only Liquid Sunshine on all her countertops, glass surfaces, prep tables and dishes. "So many chemicals on the market leave a chemical, toxic smell behind," she says. "Liquid Sunshine has a really citrusy aroma that our customers love."

In 2014, Delicious Living magazine gave Liquid Sunshine its Editor's Choice Award, noting that the household cleaner contains no volatile organic compounds, which can irritate eyes and cause headaches. "Is it possible to fall in love with a household cleaner?" wrote managing editor Jenna Blumenfeld. "If it's certified organic, eco-friendly and made with a mere five ingredients, it is."

Many of Vermont Soap's customers suffer from asthma or chemical sensitivities or have compromised immune systems due to chemotherapy and other medical conditions. Over the years, some have reached out to Plesent to seek his advice or thank him for the products he's created.

In response, Plesent published a downloadable 68-page book, The Reactive Body Handbook, which instructs people with chemical sensitivities, asthma and other environmental triggers on how to become a "Sherlock Holmes to unravel the mysteries of your own body."

"One of the first comments I ever got on our website was from a woman who wrote, 'Thank goodness you wrote this, Larry. I thought I was the only one,'" he says. "No, you're not. There are millions of us."

Brexit - Looming Vote for UK Window Cleaners

Gibraltar leader fears Spain sovereignty push over Brexit. Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity in 1713 but has long argued it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty. How will window cleaners home & abroad be affected? Click to enlarge.

Brexit puts jobs at risk' vs 'The EU is failing': Teesside MPs debate Euro referendum - Ahead of the EU poll on June 23, Teesside MPs Anna Turley and James Wharton argue their case :: Which way will you vote?

Teessiders will next week go to the polls to cast their vote in the EU referendum vote. Writing for The Gazette, two of our area's leading politicians have made the case on whether the UK should stay or leave the European Union. For our region, the biggest issue at stake in this referendum is the local economy and thousands of skilled jobs reliant on Europe. Brexit will put these and Teesside’s recovery at risk. Our area has been devastated recently by the closure of SSI and the loss of over 175 years of steelmaking.

On top of job losses at Boulby Potash and Air Products, three thousand jobs were lost overnight at the works, with many more in the wider community – everyone from window cleaners to child minders has been affected in some way. Some people have sought to channel the justified anger and sense of betrayal that we feel against Europe, but that would result in us ‘cutting off our nose to spite our face’ by hitting our remaining industries.

'Protects our rights'

At the time the government said they couldn’t intervene to save SSI due to European State Aid rules. We knew that wasn’t the case, and even gained confirmation of this from the European Commission.

The fact that the government is now discussing a state loan of hundreds of millions of pounds to stop Tata’s UK business closing shows that Europe was not the barrier. Our own government was. It would be deeply damaging to vent our anger at the very institution which was, in fact, working to raise tariffs on Chinese dumping and protect the steel industry in Europe.

We now have to rebuild our economy on Teesside. This means getting inward investment, growing small and medium enterprises and regenerating our area. In the Redcar constituency, we have two major assets which are vital to our economic recovery.

Both the Teesport and Wilton International benefit hugely from access to the European Union. The North East Process Industry Cluster joined business leaders from across the region to say that leaving the EU would deter investment, threaten jobs and put the North East economy at risk.

There are many other projects, such as the Teesside Advanced Manufacturing Park, which rely on EU funding, and many local businesses that rely on exports to the single market.

'Regenerate our area'

Our region is a net recipient of EU funds and we are entitled to more European funds than any other English region. The European Social Fund alone paid £157m into the North East between 2007 and 2013, and we are due £726m from the EU over the next five years.

The EU has also kept people safe at work and protects our rights as a consumer. It protects paid leave (before EU membership we had no right to paid holiday), maternity rights and equal rights for agency workers.

We have a huge job on to rebuild our local economy and regenerate our area, but the EU has a vital role to play in this. I hope you will join me and the many people in Redcar and Teesside who are voting ‘YES’ to staying in.

Leave

James Wharton, Stockton South's Conservative MP: I want to trade with Europe, but we do not need EU membership for that. The EU sells more to us than we sell to them. Germany will still want to sell cars to British drivers just as France will want to sell wine to British drinkers. Those who claim that to leave would endanger investment to our region fail to understand that we attract investment because we are good at what we do.

Teesside has a world leading chemical process capacity, incredible workforce and excellent connections through Teesport. Nissan in Sunderland is the most productive plant they have, that is why it succeeds. Hitachi in Aycliffe is backed by a big UK Government contract to provide trains to the UK. That is what brought them here.

'Expand our trade'

We should look to sell to the whole world, not focus only on our near neighbours. We should take back control over our laws and borders and should look to the rest of the world to expand our trade. The EU economy has halved in size as a proportion of world GDP since 1980. It is the only continent other than Antarctica that has not seen its economy grow over the past decade.

The EU influences trade, regulations, spending and immigration. It has become too big and too bureaucratic. It has countless challenges ahead, from the debt and the Euro crisis with places like Greece still in deep trouble to its demographic time bomb and the failure of its immigration systems.

We will be affected by what is coming, but if we are outside then we are free to take what action is necessary. If we are inside the cost will fall to our Government and, ultimately, your money. The real risk in this referendum is staying in an organisation which is failing.

'Cause instability and disaster'

European funds we receive are a tiny fraction of the money the UK sends to the EU every year. We pay in £8bn per year more than we get out. If we leave we can spend more to develop our economy and have more control over how it is spent.

It is also a matter of sovereignty and accountability. We choose our political representatives in the UK. We have little or no say over those making decisions that affect us in the EU. Teesside should be free to take what action is needed to prosper in an uncertain world, working with Europe but not being run by it.

Finally it is about long term stability. Peace in Europe has been guaranteed by NATO, not by the EU. With so many unresolved problems the EU cannot be seen as a force for stability. It may instead cause instability and disaster, especially given the troubles of the euro currency.

Friday Funny As Window Cleaner Photo Bombs Ronnie Wood

Taking 40 winks: Ronnie of the Rolling Stones was caught stealing a moment's sleep as he kept close by his daughters in the hospital on Friday. The cheeky photo bomb of a window cleaner giving the thumbs up outside the hospital window. Click to enlarge.

New mother Sally Wood, 38, looked the picture of happiness alongside rocker "Rolling Stones" husband Ronnie, 69, as she's seen for first time since giving birth to twins. She recently welcomed healthy twin girls Gracie Jane and Alice Rose into the world. Ronnie, who hasn't missed a moment by his wife's side, led the way into the back of a black vehicle no doubt excited to get the new additions to his family home.

Ronnie looked typically cool in a quilted black leather jacket worn over a buttoned down white shirt and a pair of black aviators. The rocker still had a spring in his step on Saturday as he emerged from his London home for another visit to the hospital after sharing an adorable picture as he slept at their bedside. The 69-year-old new dad couldn't hide his infectious smile on no doubt one of his last solo outings for some time. 

Despite the dull day, fancy free Ronnie dressed for sunnier skies in mirrored purple shades and a bright shirt, appearing like he was on top of the world. The previous day, he posted an adorable picture by his wife's bedside in the hospital where he stole a moment's sleep. Though capturing the sweet moment as he napped with his children, he also captured a window cleaner outside sticking his thumbs up for the camera. Ronnie wrote: 'While I was sleeping with the twins,' and accompanied it with love hearts as he eagerly awaited their return to his home with wife Sally.