In one part of London, Big Ben's chimes have been stopped for 6 weeks whilst the great clock, the most famous in the world, is given a makeover ready for its 150th birthday in 2009.
In another part of the metropolis a skyscraper, 30 St Mary Axe (dubbed "The Gherkin" because of its shape), is having its windows cleaned for the first time since it opened in 2004 - and it's not a job for you if you are scared of heights.
The gherkin washers: Just don't drop your squeegee!
15th August 2007
Daily Mail
Looking south down Bishopsgate, one of the main roads leading through London's financial district. At 590 ft, the building is the 6th tallest in London.
Scared of heights?
Well, this is definitely not the job for you. For the first time since it opened three years ago, the famous 540ft 'Gherkin' building in the City of London is having its windows cleaned - from the very top.
The construction of the building means that a specialist team of nine men have to abseil down the side of the building to do the windows on the highest section, before reaching a height where the more commonplace cleaners' cradles can be used to finish off the 744 windows - 24,000square metres of glass, the equivalent of five football pitches.
It will take the team up to ten days to complete.
Meal breaks are taken sitting on top of the 40-storey building.
Despite its high-tech interior, the work has to be done in the old-fashioned way: with a bucket of soapy water and a squeegee.
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Time for a wash and brush-up:London's high-tech Gherkin is being cleaned with a bucket of soap and water. Click enlarge for the full picture
City Slicker:The Gherkin looks as good as new
Just hanging around? Hardly, this job takes window cleaning to a whole new level
New heights: This job offers a window of opportunity if you're not faint-hearted
High tea: Meal breaks are taken sitting on top of the 540ft, 40-store building
dailymail.co.uk
In another part of the metropolis a skyscraper, 30 St Mary Axe (dubbed "The Gherkin" because of its shape), is having its windows cleaned for the first time since it opened in 2004 - and it's not a job for you if you are scared of heights.
The gherkin washers: Just don't drop your squeegee!
15th August 2007
Daily Mail
Looking south down Bishopsgate, one of the main roads leading through London's financial district. At 590 ft, the building is the 6th tallest in London.
Scared of heights?
Well, this is definitely not the job for you. For the first time since it opened three years ago, the famous 540ft 'Gherkin' building in the City of London is having its windows cleaned - from the very top.
The construction of the building means that a specialist team of nine men have to abseil down the side of the building to do the windows on the highest section, before reaching a height where the more commonplace cleaners' cradles can be used to finish off the 744 windows - 24,000square metres of glass, the equivalent of five football pitches.
It will take the team up to ten days to complete.
Meal breaks are taken sitting on top of the 40-storey building.
Despite its high-tech interior, the work has to be done in the old-fashioned way: with a bucket of soapy water and a squeegee.
</B>
Time for a wash and brush-up:London's high-tech Gherkin is being cleaned with a bucket of soap and water. Click enlarge for the full picture
City Slicker:The Gherkin looks as good as new
Just hanging around? Hardly, this job takes window cleaning to a whole new level
New heights: This job offers a window of opportunity if you're not faint-hearted
High tea: Meal breaks are taken sitting on top of the 540ft, 40-store building
dailymail.co.uk
