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I’ve blogged about these guys before, but … really, there’s nothing I can really say about them except that I suppose it’s a good use of rock-climbing skills. Apparently, if you learn to rappel (“absail” is what they call it here), and aren’t really all that scared of heights, you can get a good job in Glasgow: washing windows on high-rise buildings.
About once a month, these guys come to the Skypark building, dangle down the side of the roof, and swing back and forth, washing a few panels of window with each swing. They’re equipped with a bucket, a squeegee, and some suction cups. That’s about it, really, except that when you encounter them for the first (and fifteenth) time, they’re quite amazing. They don’t really look into the buildings, but hang out (literally), chatting with their mates, as they slowly make their way down the building
And then they go do it again. And again. All day long.
It takes them probably about 4 days to work their way around the building, between the three or four of them. They work their way down, go up the elevator, and make probably around 4 passes before it’s time for lunch, or to knock off for the day. They do this no matter what the weather (I’ve seen them out there in the pouring rain), and they seem to enjoy themselves pretty much all of the time. Is it a thrill, to dangle down the side of the building? Do they get to peek into the offices along the way? They never seem to pay attention, even when I take their pictures. (These were from the lunch room.) They just keep on working their way down, washing, chatting, swinging across the face of the building until they anchor with a suction cup.
Sound like a fun job, to you out there? Like anybody you know would enjoy it? Send them to Glasgow: there’s apparently only one, single building here which is equipped to put out a platform, for washing the windows. And Glasgow is … dirty. These guys have a job for as long as they’d like, I think.
A strange world we live in, truly.
Once a month or so? Must be a very dirty city. Lucky if my work building is washed once a year… But if they enjoy it, more power to them. Might be a little more fun to play on the rocks, but at least this one pays.
Oops…lucky if my building is washed once a year…and it needs it more often then that.
hmm, this posting showed up, but the cake and the magpie one are gone. Odd.
I suppose everyone has to do something… and perhaps it’s better than cleaning up inside the lunchroom. In any case, I’d think they develop a decent amount of upper body strength.
I need guys like this for our grundgy skylights. Even the recent rain we’ve had hasn’t completely cleaned them. You’ve got me thinking I might like the job — lots of think time.
I’ll pass on that job.
Now, THAT’S an interesting job. 😉
Paz