Drones - Window Cleaning Add-On

Ian Kevern, who owns Squeek Ian Clean, recently bought a drone as an add-on to his window cleaning business.

Torrington man launches drone film business: A Torrington window cleaner is planning to make extra cash filming weddings and stag dos – from the sky. Ian Kevern, who owns Squeek Ian Clean, recently bought a drone and started posting his dramatic videos of North Devon’s hills, valleys and beaches on YouTube. “My video of Castle Hill in Torrington really got everyone going,” he said. “There was a massive thick fog down in the valley. “The video was a bit shaky -I’ve got better since then – but I got so many positive comments from people.” Ian was encouraged when his video of a Torrington church “went down a treat” with viewers.

He said people had contacted him to say they were “moved to tears” by his aerial views of the local landmark. Ian was content flying his drone as a hobby until he thought, “Hang on, there’s some money to be made here”. “I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon early,” he said. “Drone businesses are already making good money in the US, filming high-end properties for estate agents.” Ian has had to complete a civil aviation course and apply for legal permission to use the drone professionally. He will be required to adhere to strict guidelines, such as not flying the drone above 400 feet.

Having parachuted and joined his 70-year-old father on his paragliding adventures, drone flying was a natural activity for Ian to take up. “I’ve spent most of my life outside, running and surfing,” he said. “I decided to get a new hobby which wouldn’t involve sweaty clothes lying around the house. I checked out some of the drone videos and thought it was something I could get into.” Ian is planning to test his drone filming skills to the limit at his son’s upcoming wedding at Tapeley Park. “It’s a brilliant thing to work with because it’s so intelligent,” he said. “If I get into trouble the drone will come back and land pretty much where I tell it to.”

You may remember Ian Kevern from his fancy dress - look here & here.

The compact drone flies by itself and follows a tracking device that is worn around the wrist like a watch.

Throw this drone into the air and it'll follow you, filming all the while: Ever worry you're being followed? With the Lily drone, you are. Throw it into the air and it flies, following you wherever you go. And it films too, so you can record yourself mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and anything else you like. It knows where you are because you wear a tracking device on your wrist. Here's a video showing how it keeps up.

You can choose to have the drone follow, go in front or from the side, so you can make sure you get your best side. When you've had enough, it lands in the palm of your hand, like a faithful bird returning to its owner. It flies for 20 minutes on a single charge and has a range of 100 feet. It's waterproof too, so you can have it film you in the water without worrying about it breaking if it lands in the drink. It films in 1080p HD and can take 12-megapixel stills. You use the remote to snap stills, change the angle it films from and record audio. It's your new best friend.

Clean Windows + Low Winter Sun + Glass Refocus = Fire

Clean windows with low sun on to another glass surface can refocus sunlight to cause fires in properties.

Beware the winter sun, warn firefighters: Firefighters are warning people to beware of the fiery dangers winter sunshine brings. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service say around this time every year they attend fires caused by the sun’s rays focussing through or onto glass, and then setting fire to nearby objects.

The winter sun is low in the sky and shines directly through windows, so any mirrored or glass items close to the window may re-focus the sun’s rays onto combustible items, often curtains, heating them up to a point where they spontaneously ignite into flames.

Paul Bray, Community Safety Protection manager for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: “Many people do not realise the dangers of leaving glass objects too close to windows. Anything that can concentrate the sun’s ray should be moved away from the window to reduce the risk of fire breaking out, especially where the sun can shine directly into the room.

“I have personally attended two fires caused by make-up mirrors, positioned on dressers, in bedrooms. “One of these fires occurred in the early morning, with the sun shining through a south-easterly facing window, and the other occurred in the early evening, with the sun shining through a south westerly facing window. “Both days were bright and sunny, but not hot.

“If any of your rooms are penetrated by bright sunlight, especially at this time of year, carry out a check to make sure any glass objects cannot re-focus the sunlight to create a fire. “Now would also be a good time to discuss your fire procedures with the rest of your family, fit or check your smoke alarm is working, and put into practice a simple routine of shutting internal doors, not only as part of a bedtime routine - but also whenever you leave your home unattended, as even a light internal door will prevent or reduce smoke and heat damage to a rooms contents.”

Also see:

Energy Efficient Windows Melting Houses & Cars

How Does A Skyscraper Melt A Car?

Window Cleaner Strikes Gold

Stephen Lovering said: "I do all of my research on Google Earth, I use it to search land and find old paths and roads.

Roman gold coin found at site of lost village in Devon by window cleaner: A window cleaner from Devon has discovered a solid gold coin dropped by a Roman soldier more than 2,500 years ago. Metal detector enthusiast Stephen Lovering made the discovery last week after scouting an area believed to house the remains of a lost village.

Heavy to hold and about the size of a 5p piece, the Heraclius gold tremessis is believed to date between 610 and 642 AD and was preserved, in pristine condition, in the water bed. Stephen from Tiverton, said: "My heart raced when I found it. It was about five inches down but I think it must have moved over time. "It was in this shiny condition. I didn't do anything to it I just washed it off and it was gleaming. I reckon there's lots of gold around and all sorts of other things."

Stephen, 60, has been searching for historical artifacts since 1972 after seeing an article about metal detecting. His first detector cost him just £15 and since then Stephen has upgraded his machines throughout his 35 years of detecting, and now uses the internet to study land and unearth Roman sites in the area. He said: "I do all of my research on Google Earth, I use it to search land and find old paths and roads. In 1992 I found Palmers Village which was founded in 1238."

The gold coin is the second big find for Stephen who also uncovered 50 Roman coins near Homebase in 1997. Those coins are now in Tiverton Museum but Stephen says that his latest find will not be joining them, nor will he be revealing the site of the lost village where he uncovered the treasure.

He said: "I always ask for permission to search land and when I found the hoard of Roman coins in 1997 a lot of people found the site and now the farmer has banned me from his land. So I won't reveal the location of this site.

"The coin is worth about £900 today but it was maybe worth a week's wages then. To me it's not about the money it's about the history of it. I'd love to go back in time and see why it was dropped. They used to throw coins into water to make wishes so this could have been a wish – or was it a fight?"

Despite recently spending £900 on a new beach metal detector, Stephen is adamant that he will not be parted from his gold coin. Instead, he will be adding it to his growing collection of artefacts which also includes a George III coin, a Celtic Stater and an unused arrow head. Stephen has now been given permission by the landowners to search the entire area that houses the lost village site.

And the Twyford Cleaning owner is also willing to help others with their own searches for long-lost objects of value. He said: "One woman asked me to search for a ring that she had lost 20 years ago and I found it for her. "If anyone wants me to search their land for them I do offer a free service."

Cleaning the Crocodiles Windows

WHEN I'm cleaning windows … Paignton Zoo crocodile keeper Rod Keen jumps into help but only after a dangerous 'saltie' has been locked away. Window cleaning is a big part of a zoo keeper's life, says the zoo, and mostly it is a pretty routine job.
A zoo spokesman said: "And then there are the underwater viewing windows in Crocodile Swamp" The £1.5million exhibit which opened earlier this year to critical acclaim was closed for a morning recently so staff could clean the underwater viewing windows. The spokesman said: "A magnetic device is used to clean the acrylic windows in Crocodile Swamp. It is used from outside but holds a cleaning pad on the inside.
"However, algae managed to get a hold on the windows of the last exhibit, containing the 2.6-metre female saltwater crocodile, before staff had a chance to use it, which is why staff had to resort to good old elbow grease."
Crocodile Swamp was designed with interconnecting pools, so all the keepers had to do was move the female Cuban crocodile out of her pool and into the neighbouring lily pond. The saltwater crocodile was then moved into the pool vacated by the Cuban. The vacant pool was drained and staff moved in to start work, armed with cloths and waders.
The job took head reptile keeper Rod Keen and keeper Andy Meek several hours to complete.
The spokesman said: "With the water in the pools at 25° Celsius and the sunlight, the algae can build up very quickly on rock and window surfaces. "The state-of-the-art filtration system keeps the water clear despite the daily cocktail of plant material, small pieces of food and crocodile dung."
Neil Bemment, the zoo's operations director, said: "Windows throughout the zoo need to be as clean as possible so visitors can get the best possible view of the animals.
"Cleaning underwater viewing windows is a job aquariums and places like Living Coasts have to do regularly, but these are probably among the trickiest windows in the zoo for us to clean.
"From now on we should be able to use the magnetic cleaner and not have to move the animals." Crocodile Swamp holds more water than three domestic-sized swimming pools or 2,500 bath-tubs. It is home to Cuban crocodiles, Nile crocodiles and a saltwater crocodile, plus four species of large snake. There are five interconnecting pools of different sizes containing 255 cubic metres or more than 250 tonnes of water. See previous story by clicking the alligator.

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