Belfast Window Cleaners Organise World Cup Flags

Brazil World Cup supporter Bobby Maginn at Iris Drive off the Springfield Road.

World Cup 2014: We won't be Cross even if England win, say west Belfast residents. The beginning of the World Cup has sparked fresh flag controversy in Northern Ireland – but it's all in the samba spirit. A street in west Belfast has caught the attention of passers-by after residents hung the flags of all 32 nations competing in Rio from their homes – even the St George's Cross of old enemy England.

The colourful and impressive display on Iris Drive has been organised by a group of local window cleaners who held a sweep for countries and put up flags for participating homeowners. Sandy Turley, Packi Ryan and Stephen Walsh said residents were more than happy to get involved once they told them about their idea. "The atmosphere and community spirit in response has been overwhelming," Sandy said. "We are running on a motto of 'embrace the race', so whoever you got – even England – you have to fly the flag and support your team."

Mick Goodman drew the dreaded England ticket but said he was taking it in good spirits. "I've been dubbed English Mick and there has been a lot fun poked our way, but it's all in good fun," he said. "Some of the houses pulled Algeria and countries with no hope, I'm happy to be in the mix – even if it is England," he joked. Paul Davey, a resident in Iris Drive and who has helped organise the event, said it was great to finally have some positive flag news. A huge street party is planned on the day of the World Cup final, with the match being projected on to an outside wall for everyone to watch.

Hurricane Sandy Will Affect Window cleaners

Residents test the high surf in in Ocean City, Maryland as Hurricane Sandy intensifies October 29, 2012. About 50 million people from the Mid-Atlantic to Canada were in the path of the nearly 1,000-mile-wide (1,600-km-wide) storm, which forecasters said could be the largest to hit the mainland in U.S. history. Click to enlarge.

Many window cleaners are showing concern over Hurricane Sandys advancement in the Eastern States of the U.S. - most cancelling work tomorrow. Updates to window cleaners concerns can be followed here.

Hurricane Sandy’s wrath being felt hours before landfall, forecasted to be biggest storm to hit northeast coast: Late-minute preparations for Hurricane Sandy, the “frankenstorm” set to be the largest hurricane to ever hit the northeastern United States and Canada, intensified Monday as the monster storm shut down transportation, shuttered businesses and sent thousands scrambling for higher ground hours before its landfall.

About 50 million people from the Mid-Atlantic to Canada are in the path of the nearly 1,600-kilometre-wide storm, which forecasters said could be the largest to hit the mainland in U.S. history and will have a devastating landfall. It was expected to topple trees, damage buildings, cause power outages and trigger heavy flooding. “We are certain that this is going to be a slow-moving process through a wide swath of the country, and millions of people are going to affected,” U.S. President Barack Obama said, speaking to reporters from the White House Monday afternoon.

The storm is bearing down nearly directly upon New York City and the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said Sandy’s full wrath could be felt by 6 p.m. today. The storm surge in New York City from Sandy, which flooded Battery Park Monday morning, has already surpassed that of last year’s Hurricane Irene. “Don’t be fooled, don’t look out the window and say, it doesn’t look so bad,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “The worst is still coming.”

Officials have been stark in their warnings, as their have been more than 60 deaths already attributed to the hurricane, and say it is likely there will be more. “There will undoubtedly be some deaths that are caused by the intensity of this storm, by the floods, by the tidal surge, by the waves. The more responsibly citizens act, the fewer people will die,” Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley told reporters.

Joanne Klineburger, left, and Scott Thomas boarded up her novelty shop in downtown Cape May, N.J., on Sunday. They recycled the pieces of plywood they used during Hurricane Irene.

At New Jersey’s Southern Tip, Dire Forecasts Are Met With Irritation and Defiance (Cape May, N.J.) — Ed Johnston agreed to make only one concession to Hurricane Sandy: He would close his oceanside restaurant three hours early. All right, that is not quite all he did. Mr. Johnston and his two dishwashers brought in the plastic chairs from the patio, stacking them inside for safekeeping. They removed the glass windows that enclose the porch, concerned for the howling winds that were to come. But head to safer ground inland? For Mr. Johnston and some others like him who live around New Jersey’s southernmost point, Hurricane Sandy was at once a nuisance and a curiosity — but certainly not a reason to flee the area. “I’ve been here over 40 years; this is part of living, you know?” said Mr. Johnston, who is an owner of the Cove Restaurant and Seaside Deck.

He showed off a photograph taken of him last year as he stood outside the restaurant during Hurricane Irene, waves crashing before him. This year, he said he would return to his restaurant at high tide to check on the place. “My brother is down in the Dominican Republic right now, and he’s more worried than I am,” Mr. Johnston added. Gov. Chris Christie ordered residents of New Jersey’s barrier islands to leave by Sunday afternoon, and local officials warned of a high probability of flooding and power failures in the area. Many people did leave the area, and business owners fortified their shops, but there was little alarm among the residents who planned to stay.

Mike Keosky, 68, a human resources consultant, also put his Hurricane Irene plywood to use. Putting down his drill, Mr. Keosky pointed to all of his neighbors who, like he and his wife, Norma, were planning to ride out the storm in Cape May. “Last year we went away for two days,” Mr. Keosky said. “When I came back, all I had were a few leaves on the ground.” The weather worsened as the day went on, with rougher seas and gustier winds. But barely an hour before the 4 p.m. evacuation deadline, some businesses were still open. One last slice of barbecue chicken pizza could still be had at Louie’s Pizza, right across the street from the beach. At Sunset Liquors, where the storefront window was covered with plywood bearing the message “No booze for Sandy,” a steady stream of customers stocked up on provisions throughout the afternoon.

Perhaps no one was more defiant than Mike Losness, 31, a sales representative from San Clemente, Calif. — a safe distance from Hurricane Sandy. But Mr. Losness flew to New Jersey because he wanted to surf as the storm hit. “It’s a fun adventure, surfing in a perfect storm,” Mr. Losness said as he stripped off his wet suit after a morning in the water. He was in a hurry to leave Cape May — not to evacuate, but because he and his friends wanted to get to Ocean City, N.J., their next spot to surf, before the authorities shut down access to it.

Residents Put Life At Risk To Clean Windows

Residents put life at risk to clean windows: Gulf News reader advices people to take safety precautions. When I noticed this happening across from my office building, I could not avoid taking a picture of this person cleaning his window with a bucket of water beside him. He was not only risking his life, but there is even a chance of him causing damage to the vehicles parked below the building. I’ve seen this happening several times in the building throughout the summer.
I wanted to highlight this situation to alert our community from inviting danger to themselves and their fellow beings. I advice people to avoid such an unsafe practice, which could cause risk to themselves and others, too. These windows can be cleaned easily by just removing it from the groove and replacing it after the cleaning process. Authorities should also put a notice in each building reminding residents of safety measures. This reader is a sales manager based in Abu Dhabi.

Some safety tips from Robinson-Solutions:

1. Never put your head outside the window or beyond the window pane - your center of balance will follow your head, which tips the body.

2. Try never to use steps or ladders when cleaning windows from the inside, adding another factor of working at height from the inside will increase your chances of falling.

3. Over reaching will seriously raise your chances of falling. Watch your water on the ground, it could cause you to slip.

4. The chances of your tools falling & injuring people or property are increased, use safety bungees on your tools. Use a pole with lockable tips for your tools. Never leave tools or objects on the ledge.

5. Use a pole with lockable tips for reaching heights, again it is possible to keep your head inside.

6. Take breaks & think about the job before starting ... it may be possible to remove the window frame so you can clean it inside. Ask an assistant to help you if the window is too heavy (watch for wind).

7. Specialist tools can be bought for this type of work - I recommend Wagtail tools.

8. If you don't feel comfortable doing the job - don't do it. Call a professional. A clean window is not worth your life.