Hi everyone,

Work continued apace again this week with good progress being made. At the extreme north-east corner of the site work commenced on the installation of the base slab of the MCC (Motor Control Centre). This part of the construction will contain the equipment which will power and control the treatment of water through the Actiflo process (chemical injections, clarification of raw water and removal of suspended solids). Photo attached.

At the south end of the site the north-west base slab to the Rapid Gravity Filters was extended, with concrete placed today, Friday. (Photo attached)

Mechanical installation commenced in earnest with constuction of scraper blades/ drive motors and baffle plates. Photos attached.

Work continued to underground pipe installation to the inlets to the Actiflo building and continued with excavation for a flowmeter chamber, which will house equipment capable of measuring flows into the Works.

A flight over the site was undertaken by a drone on Wednesday to record progress.

Some members of staff are to attend a talk by a couple at The Hearth Centre in Horsley Village next Thursday (18 May) evening. The talk is on locally-born Landscape Architect Capability Brown. We hope to meet any local NWL customers who might have any queries regarding the WTW Upgrade scheme.

Have an enjoyable weekend.

Geoff

Hi everyone,

I've been having some trouble today trying to update the blog so you may have seen a post that was a copy of last week's account. Hopefully I've short-circuited the problem until I can speak with somebody who's more system savvy than me and will be able to iron out the problems I'm encountering next week.

Anyway, it has again been a productive week on site with work continuing to all active areas of the scheme. Wall construction continued to the Rapid Gravity Filters section of the site with fixing of reinforcement and formwork erection. At the north end of the site the MCC base slab was concreted, and formwork erection and steelfixing followed closely behind. Pipelaying continued to the inlet pipes upstream of the Actiflo Building. See progress photos attached.

Mike Foster, the NWG Project Manger, and I attended an enjoyable evening yesterday at The Hearth in Horsley village. We were treated to a very informative talk about locally-born landscape supremo Lancelot "Capabilty" Brown. The talk centred around his birthplace of Kirkharle and, specifically, the upgrade works carried out by Kirkharle Hall's current owner. The work has involved landscaping in a Brown style to provide some new lakes, footpaths and wildflower meadow areas surounding the lakes. It looks like a very nice place to visit when the weather's behaving. The visit also gave us the opportunity to talk to some of the local residents, and to update them on the progress on site to date. I'd like to pass on our thanks to the trustees of The Hearth for making us welcome and to all those with whom we chatted. The general consensus was that everyone is happy with the way that work is progressing.

I started wondering if my internet problems of earlier today had anything to do with the cyber-attack which has so badly affected the NHS. There was a time when cyber attacks were events that only caused problems for Doctor Who (William Hartnell). At that time I basked in the comfort that rickets was no longer a real threat any more, and Trolls were merely antisocial, quarrelsome and slow-witted creatures who attacked and ate goats. After witnessing a Friday morning's brunch in the site office I've realised that I'm working alongside some present-day Trolls.

Enjoy your weekend.

Geoff

Hi, everyone

The much-improved weather has allowed us to hit a canter and good progress has been made again on another short week. Work continued to stripping of formwork to soffits (underside of suspended slabs) in the Actiflo area. Concrete was placed to the benching in the Lamella cells of the Actiflo building and shaped to suit the scraper blades which are to be installed in the near future.

Pipework installation commenced in the Rapid Gravity Filters area at the south end of the site. This was quickly followed by the installation of pre-cast concrete planks to form the "roof" of the Run-to-Waste channel.

Work continued to the inlet pipework installation below ground at the north end of the Actiflo area. Backfilling to this area also continued.

Mechanical installation work is to be stepped up from Monday, 8 May, 2017 so things will change visbly over the next few weeks.

A member of the upper echelons of the NWL staff at Horsley visited the Beamish Festival of Transport a couple of weeks ago. As the weather was clement on the day he took the opportunity to take his dog for a walk to the Festival. As he enthused over steam traction engines he didn't notice said best friend sneak off, only to return with a cooked chicken leg clamped tightly in his growlers. The fowl limb had been acquired from another enthusiast in the midst of trying to enjoy his picnic lunch. A hasty retreat was beaten by both owner and dog, dodging between steam locomtives, as a bearded colossus of a man sought to mete out retribution on the starving beast's owner. The hapless pair squeezed through a gap in the boundary fence which was thinner than the narrow gauge lines they'd come to inspect. The "master's" propensity for thrift had punished him badly this time. Next time buy the dog a snack on the way there, Alan, please. At least the dog saw the amusing side after the near miss. (see photo).

Have a nice weekend.

Geoff

Hi everyone,

A full 5-day week under our belts. We've become unaccustomed to that, and the lateEeaster this year has brought us swiftly to another Bank Holiday weekend. What's all that about?

We've started pipelaying activity to the inlet lines to the Actiflo building (photo of the first one attached). The final concrete pour to the high level slabs in the Actiflo building was carried out on Wednesday. Stripping of formwork in the Actiflo building has continued all week. This has now allowed access into the internal cells of the building which have been hidden for a few months (see photo attached).

Steelfixing and shuttering work continued to the slabs/walls to the Rapid Gravity Filters area.

We intend sending out a newsletter to the residents of the area to update them on progress and future plans toward the end of next week.

You might see a drone circling the Works area one day next week (weather permitting). This is to provide an aerial view of progress to date and will be published at a later date.

May Day is officially the first day of summer, so you can bet your shirt that's it's going to rain on Monday. Apparently it's been celebrated for over 2000 years. I'm working with a bloke here who's seen the majority of those celebrations. I'm not sure whether, on Monday, to dance round the Maypole, or leave May baskets on neighbours' doorsteps. These are both traditions that have become entrenched in our culture, however the latter would probably earn me at best much ridicule or at worst arrest for trespass (maybe if I was a bit more fleet of foot I could get away with the tradition of knocking on the door before sprinting homewards - that wouldn't look very suspicious now, would it?).

However you celebrate it, enjoy!

Geoff

Hi everyone

Two short weeks under our belts and another one coming up soon. It's like part-time working!

Work continued after the Easter break to the Rapid Gravity Filters area at the south end of the site and to the high level slabs in the Lamella area. Concrete was placed to the RGF walls and to the Lamella slabs today (Friday). Backfilling and compaction continued to the exterior of the Actiflo structure. See photos attached.

The wind continued to blow over the last few days, but with the milder conditions overall the only consequence was that we've had to wash our eyelids more frequently.

A couple of colleagues tried to convince me today that I'd love a cruise. While I'm sure that it's a very enjoyable holiday choice for millions of people worldwide, I know that it never was, is not and never will be an option for me. Although I was born in that seafaring capital called North Shields, from a tender age my route to the south side of the river was on foot through the Tyne pedestrian tunnel, at Willington Quay, after my sea-sick maiden voyage on The Freda Cunningham (ferry). The codling and sprats couldn't believe their luck for the fifteen minute feast provided by me (normally it's ten minutes but the skipper left it in second gear for the entertainment of the rest of the passengers who were putting in some practice for future cruises).

The Tyne pedestrian and cycle tunnels were opened in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain. At that time they contained the highest vertical rise escalators in the world. The escalators are still the longest working wooden escalators in the world. I can remember many trips through there in my youth on foot and on my bike. They're being refurbished at this time but I'd recommend a walk or cycle ride through there to everyone when they re-open. I also attended the opening of the Tyne Road tunnel. The Queen came up the same day. Strange coincidence that.

Have a good weekend.

Geoff

Hi everyone,

good progress again this week. Concrete was placed to the walls and mass fill to the central area of the Rapid Gravity Filter gallery at the south end of the site. Steelfixing continued to the coping level slabs in the Actiflo building at the north end of the site. Stone backfilling to the external faces of the Actiflo walls continued, with compaction and testing following on close behind.

One of our colleagues was cycling back to his temporary accommodation in Swalwell the other night and was struck by a car at the roundabout at Blaydon. Fortunately he's a dab hand at cycle handling and managed to accelerate enough so that the car only took out (wrote off) his rear wheel. His helmet was irreparably damaged by his crashlanding , however, and he sustained only scratches and bruising, fortunately. I bet he's stiff today. If any of you are going out on your bikes over the Easter weekend please make sure to wear the right equipment to make yourselves visible and for your own protection. We should not have to contemplate more than one death at Easter. Remember, though, that accidents on cycles involving cars only constitute 11% of all cycling mishaps.

Take care! Have a safe, Happy Easter. Not too much chocolate, now!

Geoff

Hi, everyone

apart from a few hours lost time due to crane stoppage for the Tyne Valley tornadoes (the winds not the jets) work progressed unhindered over the last week. Internal walls were concreted in the Lamella outlet channels to the Actiflo building. This building is nearing structural shell completion, which we hope to achieve in the next 3 to 4 weeks. Concrete was placed to Filter gallery walls (low level) and to the base to Filters 1,2 and 3, by the end of the week.

Backfilling with stone has commenced around the Actiflo building (it's a crime to have to hide the external walls with such a nice finish to them).

Progress photos are attached.

In a regular mid-week design review meeting on Wednesday, the contractor proposed using the latest technology in ventilation ducting. This consists of a fabric material duct in place of the usual metal ducting favoured in the past. The product offers easier installation and maintenance, so will be considered by the team on its merits. One of the meeting attendees revealed that he has actually seen this type of product in large stores,whilst sitting outside ladies' fitting rooms awaiting his wife's latest decision on choice of evening wear, and gazing skywards. In the silence which followed this revelation, I imagined the pair of them at the weekend in the midst of the Kirkleatham Brocante event, he with an optical plummet strapped to his knowledge-box, she with her newly-acquired Marks and Spencer (other brands are available) frock, purposely tailored for a neck brace device, so that both might gaze heavenwards with ease in order to inspect the newly-installed sprinkler system just below the museum ceiling while soft music plays in the background.

If anybody should happen upon a fellow who appears to be lost in indoor celestial wonderment, please leave him be. He is not actually suffering unwanted side-effects of whatever out-of-date medication he has mistakenly consumed - he's actually carrying out research for the improvement of our project.

Yet more confirmation that "there's nowt as queer as folk"!

Enjoy the weekend.

Geoff

Hi everyone,

another good week production-wise. Work continued to the internal walls and high level slabs to the Actiflo area at the north end of the site (steelfixing, formwork erection and concrete placing). Similarly steelfixing and formwork erection continued to the Rapid gravity filters area to base slabs and walls. Unfortunately, the concrete planned for the wall construction for Friday afternoon had to be cancelloed when the wind got up and the cranes had to be stood down. I'm going to re-christen Horsley as Ventoso Village because I've never before worked anywhere as windy. See progress photos attached.

It was sad to hear that the Festival on the Wall, planned for some time in August in the Horsley area, has been cancelled as I'm sure it would have been good for the area.

Have a good weekend

Geoff

Hi everyone

The latest update follows:

Those March winds wreaked havoc with crane operations at the start of the week. Steelfixing to the high level Actiflo slabs continued through the week, along with reinforcement to the lower walls to the Rapid Gravity Filters. Formwork was constructed to the beams which will support lamella clarifier installations in the Actiflo Building at the north end of the site, and concrete was placed at the back end of the week (see photos attached).

With the threat of taking out water supplies to the whole of Gateshead, we excavated a trial hole on the Low Service Main at the exit from the treated water reservoir at the south end of the site. This work was necessary to confirm the exact location, level and material make-up of the main for a connection to be made onto the main at the latter stages of the project. With planning and execution like that of a military operation the contractor completed this work without any hiccups and will deservedly have an enjoyable weekend break.

One of our colleagues decided last weekend that with the onset of the good weather he would show his wife and daughter his dexterity in the science/art of cycling. They set off into Wolsingham, his place of residence, and tackled some of the hilly territory. I always advise people when they are going out for the first time in a while to check their equipment, check the weather forecast and take stock of their own capabilities. The bike appeared in good condition (it should be because the next venture out will constitute its second use). The weather was excellent for outdoor pursuits. Unfortunately for him what goes up must also come down. On the downhill stretch into the picturesque Wolsingham his stature coupled with a well-oiled machine acted exactly as predicted by Sir Isaac Newton. From a standing start he accelerated to terminal velocity in no time. Inexperience and a failed brake system are no match for the sharp right-hander which presented itself to him at the foot of the hill. If anybody from the Wolsingham area has a photo of said "big-fella" being jettisoned into the River Wear, please feel free to forward to me for publication.

An "old bloke" (my colleagues description not mine) who witnessed this debacle laughed so much he suffered an asthma attack which turned out to be quite discomforting. Happily he recovered nicely from this as my colleague witnessed him outside the local hostelry the next day (no doubt recounting tales of ill-prepared buffoons on bikes on outrageously steep hills).

You couldn't make it up!

Name and address of buffoon supplied but withheld out of respect for his wife and daughter.

Have a nice weekend (plan ahead).

Geoff 

Hi everyone,

Work has been brisk but delayed by high winds this week. The winds have prevented use of the cranes for over 50% of the week. Steelfixing and formwork erection continued to both the Actiflo and the rapid gravity filter areas. Concrete was placed to the high level suspended slabs in the Actiflo building. Trial holes have also been excavated to pinpoint existing service locations. Photos are attached charting progress for the week.

The longer days are starting to make it easier to get up in the mornings. In fact, the birdsong is now rousing me ahead of my alarm. It's a pity that in my neighbourhood the early birds tend to be seagulls, not noted for their singing voices.

About 20 years ago, we went to start on a site at Harton Low Staiths, on the riverside between the ferry landing and The Customs House, in South Shields. On my first walk through the site I was struck in the back of the head by what felt like a light aircraft. After coming round I realised I'd been attacked by a seagull, which it turned out was protecting its nest/eggs/hatchlings. Apparently, I must have missed the first three stages of the classic seabird warfare strategy ( a "gag" call, a low-flight pass, a guano/vomit drop, then the 40 mph aerial attack). He/she may have succededed in stage 3 without me noticing but there was a strange smell as a result of the shock.The outcome was that the commencement of works was delayed by 3 weeks to enable safe introduction to this violent world for the young of the assailant (and purchase of a bespoke protective suit for me).

I recounted this tale to my brother who advised me that, " ...in fact there's no such thing as a seagull, it's just a generic term....". He was working with a twitcher (a bird-spotting enthusiast) who kept him up to speed with the correct nomenclature of the subjects of his hobby. My brother was twitching after I sent him packing with a flea (the size of a greater black-backed gull) in his ear.

Apologies to the true bird-spotters as I know the term "twitcher" does not apply to the purists, but my tale wouldn't have worked properly without it.

Have a good weekend.

Geoff