Hi, everyone. I had a week's leave last week so this update covers the last fortnight.

Mechanical installation work continued in the Actiflo Building. In the adjacent Chemical Building, purlins wre installed in readiness for cladding works to commence next week. Mechanical installation work continued also to the Rapid Gravity Filters.

At the south end of the site, reinforcement fixing, formwork erection and concrete placement have continued.

Underground pipelines continue to be installed.

Have a nice weekend.

Geoff

Hi, everyone

Work has continued again at a good pace despite some more miserable conditions.

Mechanical installations have continued in the Actiflo Building and Rapid Gravity Filters Gallery. Below-ground pipework installation continues between the two aforementioned edifices. Advance works were carried out this week on one of the existing high voltage housings in order to facilitate permanent works to the HV system for the new Works areas. Wall construction has continued to the Birney Hill Pumping Station at the south end of the site, with formwork erection and steelfixing activities. Similarly, reinforcement and concrete installation has continued to the Inlet Distribution Chamber and the silos slab to the Chemical Building.

I hope you all caught sight of the recent "super moon" at the end of January. To celebrate its arrival I went for a swim in the sea to tackle the accompanying spring tide. I mistakenly thought there was yet another super-moon due ( which will fix the date for Easter) at the end of March, but it turns out that that one's only going to be a standard full moon. Probably just as well as I'd have had to celebrate the treble - supermoon, high tide AND Easter and I don't know if my full-body all-in one knitted bathing costume will have dried out by then. Bring on the next blue moon lunar eclipse. I'll be 210 years old by then. Isn't modern medicine marvellous!

Have a good weekend.

Geoff

Hi, everyone

First update of the new year. I've had some more problems with access due to a company change of email addresses but all is well now. I hope everybody enjoyed the festive break and you're all back wondering where it all went.

The Horsley project continues as it left off at the end of last year with good progress on all fronts interspersed with blips due to the weather. Mechanical instalaltion is ongoing to the Actiflo building and the Rapid Gravity Filters structure. Pipeline installation is continuing around the site, and some finishing works to the cladding to the Actiflo building is nearing completion. Adjacent to the Actiflo building, the Chemical building, which houses equipment which allows injection of treatment products into the raw water to begin the clarifying process (think finings in wine-making), is being prepared for storage tank bases to be constructed in reinforced concrete.

Reinforcement and formwork installation is continuing to the new Birney Hill Pumping Station walls at the south end of the site.

Whilst out on an evening stroll with my better half a couple of weeks ago I happened to look heavenwards and saw a row of three bright stars in what appeared to be a perfectly straight line. On returning home I checked out this marvel of the universe and discovered it to be "Orion's Belt". Apparently it's quite prominent during the month of January in the southern sky (best between 8 and 9 p.m.) in this locale. On a similar walk a couple of days later I was regaling my wife with my new-found astronomical knowledge, and urging her to gaze skywards, when I walked into a lighting column (When she'd said "Watch!" I thought she'd left her timepiece at home.). I then discovered a new constellation in the form of a pefect circle orbitting my rapidly-swelling napper. With a jaw like Desperate Dan, I'm now content with gazing at celestial bodies solely from a static position in the garden. Heed the warning - stick to Philately!

Enjoy the weekend

Geoff

Hi everyone,

work over the last two weeks has concentrated on the new Birney Hill Pumping Station at the south end of the site with the base slab well underway with concrete and reinforcement works progressing well. Concrete was placed this week to the Inlet Distribution Chamber walls (first lift) at the north end of the site. Mechanical works continued to the Actiflo and Rapid Gravity Filters areas. Pipeline and duct installation progressed also. See photos attached.

I fell foul of that new-fangled online shopping experience last week when I ordered a piece by my wife's favourite sculptress. Whilst ordering, my computer kept buffering and I didn't receive any confirmation email for the purchase so I ran through the order procedure again (twice). I later discovered that the confirmations were being diverted into my junk mailbox and I'd inadvertently "successfully" ordered three. I had intended to provide her sculptures of the Three Wise Monkeys over the next three celebration events. She's going to be disappointed on Christmas Day when she finds that what she thinks is the full set actually consists of "Speak-no-evil, Speak-no-evil, Speak-no-evil". I'm taking my earplugs home with me for the gift-opening ceremony in our house so that I can act like the middle fella of the trinity. I've decided from henceforth to stick to "hard" shopping in retail emporia, although at my age by the time I arrive home I've forgotten what I've purchased so the outcome would probably be the same.

I'm dreading losing my memory fully.

I'm dreading losing my memory fully.

I'm dreading ............

You get the picture.

I've got some friends from Yorkshire who prove a nightmare to buy presents for. At this age it's normally the standard pack of three pairs of underwear, but being Yorkshiremen (not known for their generosity) they don't like anything with elasticated waistbands, because they give.

I must thank all the people who have made the last year at Horsley such a great experience. Too many to mention but they know who they are. Congratulations to our Project Manager for winning the competition for the most relaxed stance while awaiting delivery of the books in July. (photo attached).

Some topical themes for discussion over the Festive period:

Why was Richard III interred in a car park in Leicester?

If Jesus was born in Bethlehem how come he was given a Spanish name?

Please spare a thought for the homeless and lonely.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Geoff

Hi, everyone

Latest update from Horsley WTW Upgrade:

Work has continued apace to the Birney Hill Pumping Station, part of the base slab was concreted earlier this week. Mechanical installations have continued to both the Actiflo and Rapid Gravity Filters areas. pipe and duct laying work continued to the external areas. Some time was lost on Wednesday and Thursday this week due to high winds (there's a surprise).

I'm working with a bloke who reckons that we didn't put a man on the moon. In 1969 I was there watching live on black and white TV. And I've got the photo to prove it (see attached). Neil, nobody should be that cynical!

I've come up with a cunning plan - if we get Trump to declare Newcastle as the capital of England we'll probably a get high-speed railway system in double quick time to link the rest of the UK with the Northern Powerhouse.

Have a good weekend.

Geoff

Hi, everyone. Please find below a brief update on progress on Horsley WTW Upgrade scheme.

Mechanical installation has continued to the Actiflo building, and to the Rapid Gravity Filters.

Excavation for the Inlet Distribution Chamber has been completed and reinforcement and concrete works to the base slab were completed last week (w/e 24 Nov. '17).

The structural steel frame to the Chemical Building which will serve the chemical dosing to the actiflo streams has been erected.

Blinding concrete has been placed to the Birney Hill Pumping Station at the south end of the site. Reinforcement fixing has commenced to the base slab of thye pumping station.

Pipelaying to various areas of the site has continued.

The Christmas break will be here before very long (not many shopping days left now!).

Take care.

Geoff

Thanks to everyone who came along and participated at our community event at the W.I. on Saturday. We were keen to update everyone on how the site is progressing and the changes we have had to make to the original plan.  I think everyone who attended found the information interesting, we took away lots of good ideas and feedback from local people which will be very useful for us as we progress towards the end of the project and look at how we can make a positive difference to the village.

Many thanks

Brian

Free tea  Free cake  

Come along to an informal drop in session at the Horsley Womens Institute on Saturday 18th November 2017 between 10am and 2pm. We will be having tea and cake and talking about our plans at the Northumbrian Water site at Horsley and what they mean for local people. We have some great visual presentations and would love to hear what you think about our work and how we can help the village

All welcome (including dogs and children)

*also serving coffee, squash and sweets!

Hi, everyone

Sorry for the tardiness of this rep[ort, but I've had some IT issues of late (not just my incompetence).

Internal mechanical installations continue in the Actiflo building and Rapid Gravity filters area. The external cladding to the Actiflo building is nearing completion. Reinforcement and concrete works to the roof slabs to the RGF are continuing.

After completion of the excavation to Birney Hill Pumping Station, works are now in progress to place blinding concrete inreadiness for construction of the base slabs.

Hope you enjoyed the fireworks last weekend.

Geoff

Hi everyone

I had some holidays over the last fortnight, hence this update covers the previous two-week period.

Backfilling operations have commenced around the Rapid Gravity Filter walls to the south end of the site. Another couple of weeks and all the good work will be hidden from view. Mechanical installation continued in the Actiflo building at the north end of the site. Cladding operations continued to the walls of the Actiflo building also.

Excavation works continued to the new Birney Hill Pumping Station at the south-east corner of the site. This part of the work is now complete and ready for blinding concrete to be placed in readiness for reinforced concrete works to commence.

See photos attached.

Enjoy!!

Geoff