F.lux - Automatic VDU brightness tool

Wow, it's all about links today, but I just have to share this one! ;) Check out this neat bit of (totally free) software - F.lux - it's basically a little toolbar app that automatically, and gently (if you check the "Slow 60m" check box during configuration) adjusts the brightness of your VDU depending on the time of day - it's location aware, so it knows when the sun is about to rise/set and will tweak the temperature accordingly, there is also a handy button to quickly disable it for an hour if you want to be doing something temperature critical (like photoshopping some pictures), it's supposed to be of great benefit when it comes to doing things like trying to go to sleep after extended periods staring at a monitor with the brightness turned all the way up (and let's be honest, when was the last time you actually manually adjusted the brightness on your VDU to account for environmental factors? It's only ever for battery life)...gotta be good for the environment too... ;)

Window Cleaners stuck in Canary Wharf

So this is what greeted me at the end of my lunchtime walk back to the office...a quick check with all the interested bystanders revealed that it wasn't a terrorist attack (or anything like that), this is the response that is merited in Canary Wharf when some window cleaners get stuck...

...up in the office a similar scene...so I took a few pictures of the (ongoing) rescue attempt-

- the (many) firemen sitting around and smoking on the roof opposite-

- and the appliance they have managed to get into the cofferdam dewatering hole (building crossrail) which couldn't *quite* reach them (zoom in on the picture and you can pick them out with the white helmets)...

Hope it all turns out okay!

Update - both guys now safely on terra firma...

Worst job ever?

A combination of extreme heights, freezing cold, high winds (*and* rain) plus cold water and dirty windows *have* to combine to make a rather good candidate for one of the worst jobs to have around here...

Certainly a lot worse than cleaning people's shoes... ;)

Dorking Window Company update #2

...well, could I be more impressed? Probably not...and that really says something...quite honestly, if I had been tasked with doing the job myself I couldn't have done any better, the attention to detail, the clean lines, the perfect "make good", it's just the very best service I have been yet privy to...even considering the cold, cold weather-the utterly professional staff worked a swift and perfect miracle...Awesome... :)

Hailstorm!

Hailstorm!
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

Argh! The skies have gone black and hail has thundered down on our position, leaves are blowing through the house, and still the is no glass on the back wall...(on the ground floor at least!)...

Finishing off...

Wow, look at that! Perfect finish... :)

Cleaned up and treated...

Cleaned up and treated
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...all ready for the builders filler to go down...(much better!)... ;)

Ant sign...

Ant sign
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...discovered under the doorway! The plastic will keep them out, but as a precaution I'm going to pepper the ways with Ant powder...

Back window gone...

...so now we just have a huge gaping hole as the back wall of the house...oh, and it was nice to find that with the removal of the sturdy posts from beneath the slightly bent lintel that the house didn't subside even a millimeter.... :)

Demolishing the back door

Demolishing the back door
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...It's getting a bit cold in the living room now...brr...!

Dorking Window Company update...

Kitchen Window in...
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...Kitchen Window is in, it's all going extremely well...and really nice lads too... ;) I've even let them plunder my cold drinks fridge...(must be working hard to get hot in these freezing temperatures!)...phew! ;)

The Boys

The boys
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

(Ooh...blurry shot)...but you get the idea... :)

Kitchen and Marc

Kitchen and Marc
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...and there goes the kitchen! At least it's stopped raining now... ;)

Old Windows

Old Windows
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

(the van is loading up with all the old timber frames)...some scary bits of broken glass too...

Bathroom and Bedroom in!

Bathroom and Bedroom in
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

(well, the frames at least!)...they are just starting on the downstairs now...

Dorking Windows...

Dorking Windows
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

...are here today, it's all go! One of the upstairs windows is already out and by the (loud) sounds of things the others are following quickly, at this rate they'll be out of here by lunchtime...I have to say, it's a seriously smooth operation, firstly they were impressed that the space by the windows was clear (I think they were expecting to be playing removal men for the first hour). Secondly, while Marc was using an electric jigsaw to get rid of the timber in the bedroom one of the other lads was putting dust sheets *everywhere* and the third lad was unloading the van, all three of them haven't stopped since they pulled up! Fingers crossed it's all going to plan so far... ;)

Double Glazing...

...well, one of the boys at Dorking Windows is off sick today, so, rather than have a plastic bag to cover a large hole in my wall (if all hadn't gone well) we have agreed to change the installation day to Thursday this week...fingers crossed that the forecast snow doesn't pay a serious visit... :(

Well, excitingly...

...and *finally* (they are "very busy at the moment mate, got a couple 'o blocks 'o flats on in Levered and a loada council in Dorkin' to do") I have managed to get an appointment with the boys from Dorking Windows to come round and do the formal measuring up for the double glazing...this is happening tomorrow (he couldn't be too specific about the time, but in the fast moving, suprise-ridden world of window installation you just never know what may crop up to interrupt an appointment, I guess ;)...

I just hope I don't have to move all the furniture around the place so they can access the windows (the office in particular is rather wedged with things exactly where I'm guessing they are going to need to stand)...

Oh well, we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it...!