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Thanks a lot to syngola for original file. Even with this file it took me very long to understand and to manage it.
This is the color scheme I used for my first attempt, but I realized that it's impossible to make it with this scheme so I tried it again with proper coloring but it looks little bit boring...
My sister informed of the sad news today of the death of Jean "Slim" Young in a care home in Australia . She was like an honorary or surrogate Aunt to us growing up in Africa. Pictured here with the dark hair. She had been a Wren at Bletchley Park when not even yet 20 and ended up in Africa first working on the Groundnut scheme in Tanganyika where she met my parents.
She was a remarkable and determined woman and a great craftsperson. I had a lovely tooled belt she had made for years.
I tried to encourage her to write down her memoirs but she thought no one would be interested. I would have been. An author once contacted me as she was writing a novel set in Tanganyika at the time and wanted to know about the Groundnuts scheme so I put her in touch with Jean so she could flesh out the arduous life and conditions .Jean was very internet savvy in her old age and so they had a bit of back and forth. When the book came out Jean was appalled as it made it seem like they swanned around in some kind of country club all day. .
Anyway she was quite something . Here to you Jean and to Alison Andy and Jasmin xx
Sir Peter Fahy hears about cadet training.
Today, April 15 2014, saw the passing out parade of Bolton’s first volunteer police cadets. The ceremony took place at Bolton Town Hall with guests including Sir Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Jim Battle, Chief Superintendent Shaun Donnellan - Bolton’s police commander and Cllr Colin Shaw and his wife, Dee, the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton.
In 2012, Sir Peter Fahy pledged to create a new Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme for young people in the region.
The scheme, developed by Sergeant Jane Butler and Youth Strategy Officer PC Andrew Marsden, is aimed at 13- 17 year-olds and provides a programme of weekly Cadet nights filled with activity, information and – hopefully – some fun.
The aims of the scheme include:
•Promoting and encouraging a practical interest in policing among young people,
•Providing training which will encourage positive leadership within communities which will include volunteering opportunities,
•Encouraging a spirit of adventure and developing qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Cadets will be given the opportunity to obtain a Duke of Edinburgh Award, First Aid qualification etc.
Cadets units will be based in areas where there is currently little to occupy local youngsters.
Volunteers will have to apply, stating their reasons for wanting to be part of the scheme and will be encouraged to remain with the scheme for as long as they can. On reaching the end of their time as a cadet, they will be given with advice on careers and business, help with CVs and information about any opportunities to remain with the Force.
The first cadet scheme has been developed with the support of the Co-op Academy, Blackley.
Cadets are currently completing a "probationary" period and have so far experienced drill, physical exercise classes and advice on subjects such as the effective and safe use of social media.
Further items on the curriculum are lessons on the law, public order awareness, phonetics and radio use, problem solving … and more drill!
A uniform will be worn but only issued on completion of a successful probationary period.
The scheme's team leaders are also volunteers and include schools based officers, PCSO's, special constables and university students, all contributing their own time to run each cadet night.
To build number of successful schemes across the region we are looking for help. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer team leader and can demonstrate a commitment and desire to "change hearts and minds" can contact Sergeant Jane Butler at volunteerpolicecadets@gmp.police.uk.
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or gi
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of May, 2016. 14 months previously we'd watched low-level maintenance work on the opposite banks, and (I) predicted that destabilised sections might be a problem. To address the serious problem of surface runoff/seepage destabilising the bank structure, they excavate and lay out a drainage pipe system, to better channel the water and slow down the erosion of the banks. The section of this bank, directly opposite the apartment complex, was critically exposed after the winter rains. The roots of many trees were exposed, with the bank itself starting to rapidly erode. Specific work involved the removal of soil, back-filling with large boulders, integrated drainage system, and finally re-facing with new soil.One has to wonder at some of the wasted effort - remember the 'carpet strips' painstakingly installed through 'soil stitching' process in Sept 2012. The evidence is there in my previous picture galleries.
UK International Development Secretary, Andrew Mtichell (front right), meets with villagers in Nepal, who receive health services, sanitation and education as part of the UK-funded Gurkha Welfare Scheme.
Britain will supply remote Nepali communities in the Gurkha heartlands with clean water and sanitation, Andrew Mitchell said today during a visit to the country.
UK aid will provide sanitation for 44,000 people and clean water for 96,000 as part of the expanded Gurkha Welfare Scheme - a programme of support for the Nepali servicemen and their families who have served the British Army.
The programme will also help to educate 78,000 people about health and hygiene, which may reduce the proportion of people suffering from water-borne disease by as much as 90%.
Poor sanitation and a lack of clean water is a major issue in the rural areas of Nepal where the Gurkhas live. Up to 13,000 children under five die from preventable waterborne diseases each year. Cholera and typhoid outbreaks occur annually, but could be wiped out with improved sanitation and hygiene.
Water-borne diseases disproportionately affect the women of the community, as they usually collect the water and care for the sick. Not only will improved sanitation save women’s lives, it will also save them on average three hours a day in time spent collecting water. This has been shown to directly increase the number of girls enrolling in school by around 17%.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said:
"I am proud to see that the ties between the people of Nepal and the UK are as strong as ever. There is universal admiration in Britain for the dedication and bravery of the Gurkhas – whose communities I have met.
"The British Government remains committed to supporting Nepal’s peaceful development and I was pleased to confirm last year that Nepal was prioritised as a recipient for UK aid."
To find out more, please visit: www.dfid.gov.uk/News/Latest-news/2012/New-support-for-Gur...
Picture: Department for International Development/Narendra Shrestha
Terms of use
This image is posted under a Creative Commons - Attribution Licence, in accordance with the Open Government Licence. You are free to embed, download or otherwise re-use it, as long as you credit the source as 'Department for International Development/Narendra Shrestha'.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the 4th week of May 2017.
Most of the main civil engineering works have ceased along the Slang/Rehills section of the river bank.
However, the soil-shifters are at it again.
Smaller operation than before, but a steady process of removing soil, shifting soil and reshaping the banks.
Said it before, and I'll say it again . . . . .
I call it the 'Biggest Sandpit/Playarea' in Wicklow, in Leinster, in Ireland.
The place is a mess. Aesthetically, the uneven flow to the ridges and terraces annoys me.
You don't have to be a certified civil engineer to figure out that there are quicker and more efficient ways to move the soil.
Using one excavator, a few dumper-trucks and a single bulldozer is a process not driven by time/cost.
If you 'really' had to complete this work quickly, you'd line up a few 'bigboy' bulldozers . . . . . and shift the soil in days, rather than weeks-months.
This 'hurdler on the ditch' simply comments on the piecemeal nature of this planning!
Hard to believe - but I've been recording this project now for 5 years.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the second week of July, 2016.
A feature of the recent weather has been the mixture of warm/sunny days, spiced up by the random appearance of flash rain storms. The streets and rivers run deep for a short while afterwards, then normality (whatever that is) returns. Until the next deluge.
Factor 50 and a handy umbrella.
On the opposite bank, directly opposite the Rivervale apartment buildings, and adjacent to the bend in the river where the 'Debris trap' is being constructed.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the fourth week of July, 2016.
And we're back to the Rehills/Slang section -- between La Vallee and Rivervale.
Where previously this area was an organised structure of vast earth mounds, which ebbed and flowed with the removal of material, saw the import and removal of enormous mounds of stone material, and emerged as a relatively levelled piece of ground -- we saw the arrival of a fleet of 4-axle trucks bearing fresh mounds of stone. This continued for the best part of a week.
And what has been dumped, has to be sorted, and piled, and graded . . . and ultimately moved on to somewhere else!
In fairness to this contractor (Jons Construction) they recognise the need to control the working environment . . . and YES, that involves watering the access route to the disposal zone.
Hold on, are you telling me that it hasn't been raining recently in Ireland/Wicklow/Bray?
Apparently, not enough.
Hence the arrival of our little friend -- the Ruscon 2000 Slurry Tanker, used as a water bowser/sprayer.
Violet and brown are a very 70s thing. Until the last couple of years, I wouldn't have thought of pairing them. Never put the two colors together the first time around.
Ann Taylor merino sweater
Vintage Farrah cords
Miguel Angel loafers
Twisted copper earrings
All thrifted, remixed
Proving there was still life in the old dog yet, Realtoy applied its new and very modern Police Department livery on to its ancient Ford Explorer casting not many months before the brand was totally swept away at Tesco. This new colour scheme did a decent job of keeping this model looking fresh with its very dark blue hue hiding evidence of cost cutting. Part of a five vehicle Emergency themed set bought back in February 2017. Mint and boxed.
And my poor neglected Gamma Action Man (I refer to his brothers as Alpha and Beta so) finally got some clothes to suit his look I think. He’s wearing a vintage home made shirt I got with one of my Allans, a Fashion Fever Kurt jacket, Fashionista jeans and shoes. I think he’s looking a bit snappier now lol.
Badami formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for its rock cut structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake. Badami has been selected as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India.
HISTORY
- Dravidian architecture - Badami Chalukyas
- Hindu temple architecture - Badami Chalukya architecture
- Political history of medieval Karnataka - Badami Chalukyas
- Architecture of Karnataka - Badami Chalukya architecture
- Chalukyas of Badami
PRE-HISTORIC
Badami is surrounded by many pre-historic places including Khyad area of Badami, Hiregudda, Sidlaphadi and Kutkankeri (Junjunpadi, Shigipadi and Anipadi), there we can see the rock shelters megalithic burial sites and paintings.
BADAMI CHALUKYAS AND OTHER DYNASTIES
MYTHOLOGY
The Puranic story says the wicked asura Vatapi was killed by sage Agastya (as per Agastya-Vatapi story), the area in which the incident happened so named as Vatapi. At Aihole there was a merchant guild known as Ayyavole Ainuravaru lived in the area have reformed. As per scholar Dr. D. P. Dikshit, the first Chalukya king was Jayasimha (a feudatory lord in the Kadamba dynasty), who in 500 AD established the Chalukya kingdom. His grandson Pulakeshin Ibuilt a fort at Vatapi.
BADAMI CHALUKYAS
It was founded in 540 AD by Pulakeshin I (535-566 AD), an early ruler of the Chalukyas. His sons Kirtivarma I (567-598 AD) and his brother Mangalesha (598-610 AD) constructed the cave temples.Kirtivarma I strengthened Vatapi and had three sons Pulakeshin II, Vishnuvardhana and Buddhavarasa, who at his death were minors, thus making them ineligible to rule, so Kirtivarma I's brother Mangalesha took the throne and tried to establish rule, only to be killed by Pulakeshin II who ruled between 610 A.D to 642 A.D. Vatapi was the capital of the Early Chalukyas, who ruled much of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Few parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh between the 6th and 8th centuries. The greatest among them was Pulakeshin II (610-642 AD) who defeated many kings including the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.
The rock-cut Badami Cave Temples were sculpted mostly between the 6th and 8th centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. cave 1 is devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave 4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of the various incarnations of Hindu gods are strewn across the area, under boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeological perspective, they provide critical evidence of the early styles and stages of the southern Indian architecture.
The Pallavas under the king Narasimhavarma I seized it in 642 AD & destroyed the vatapi. Pulakeshin II's son Vikramaditya I of Chalukyas drove back Pallavas in 654 AD and led a successful attack on Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas. Then Rashtrakutas came to power in Karnataka including Badami around 757 AD and the town lost its importance. Later it was ruled by the Hoysalas.
Then it passed on to Vijayanagara empire, The Adil Shahis, Mughal Empire, The Savanur Nawabs (They were vassals of Nizams and Marathas), The Maratha, Hyder Ali. The Britishers made it part of the Bombay Presidency.
INSCRIPTIONS
Badami has eighteen inscriptions, among them some inscriptions are important. The first Sanskrit inscription in old Kannada script, on a hillock dates back to 543 CE, from the period of Pulakeshin I (Vallabheswara), the second is the 578 CE cave inscription of Mangalesha in Kannada language and script and the third is the Kappe Arabhatta records, the earliest available Kannada poetry in tripadi (three line) metre. one inscription near the Bhuthanatha temple also has inscriptions dating back to the 12th century in Jain rock-cut temple dedicated to the Tirtankara Adinatha.
VATAPI GANAPATI
In the Carnatic music and Hamsadhwani raga the Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje by the composer Muthuswami Dikshitar. The idol of Vatapi Ganapati brought from Badami by Pallavas, is now in the Uthrapathiswaraswamy Temple, near Thanjavur of Tamil Nadu.
In 7th century, Vatapi Ganapati idol was brought from Badami (Vatapi - Chalukya capital) by Pallava who defeated Chalukyas.
TOURISM
Landmarks in Badami include cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures.
- A Buddhist cave in a natural setting that can be entered only by crawling on knees.
- The Bhuhtanatha temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century.
- Badami Fort situated on top of the hill.
- Many Shivalayas including the Malegatti Shivalaya with 7th century origins.
- The Dattatreya temple.
- The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan.
- a Dargah, a dome of an Islamic place of worship on the south fort side.
- Vista points on top of the North Fort for the view of the ancient town below.
- Temple of Banashankari, a Kuladevata (family deity) for many families, is located near Badami.
- Archaeological museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
BADAMI CAVE TEMPLES
The Badami cave temples are a complex of four cave temples located at Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in the north part of Karnataka, India. They are considered an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture initiated during the 6th century. Badami was previously known as Vataapi Badami, the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty, who ruled much of Karnataka from middle of the sixth until the middle of the eighth centuries. Badami is situated on the west bank of an artificial lake filled with greenish water dammed by an earthen wall faced with stone steps. Badami is surrounded in the north and south by forts built in later times from the ramparts that crown their summits.
The Badami cave temples represent some of the earliest known experimentation of Hindu temple prototypes for later temples in the Indian peninsula. Along with Aihole, states UNESCO, their pioneering designs transformed the Malaprabha river valley into a cradle of Temple Architecture, whose ideas defined the components of later Hindu Temples elsewhere. Caves 1 to 3 feature Hindu themes of Shiva and Vishnu, while Cave 4 features Jain icons. There is also a Buddhist Cave 5 which has been converted into a Hindu temple of Vishnu. Another cave identified in 2013 has a number of carvings of Vishnu and other Hindu deities, and water is seen gushing out through the cave all the time.
GEOGRAPHY
The Badami cave temples are located in the Badami town in the north central part of Karnataka, India. The temples are about 110 km northeast from Hubli-Dharwad, the second largest metropolitan area of the state. Malaprabha river is 4.8 km away. Badami, also referred to as Vatapi, Vatapipuri and Vatapinagari in historical texts, and the 6th-century capital of Chalukya dynasty, is at the exit point of the ravine between two steep mountain cliffs. Four cave temples have been excavated in the escarpment of the hill to the south-east of the town above the artificial lake called Agastya Lake created by an earthen dam faced with stone steps. To the west end of this cliff, at its lowest point, is the first cave temple dedicated to Shiva, followed by a cave north east to it dedicated to Vishnu but is at a much higher level. The largest is Cave 3, mostly a Vaishnava cave, is further to the east on the northern face of the hill. The first three caves are dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses including Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The fourth cave, dedicated to Jainism, is a short distance away.
HISTORY OF CAVE TEMPLES
The cave temples, numbered 1 to 4 in the order of their creation, identified in the town of Badami, the capital city of the Chalukya kingdom (also known as Early Chalukyas) are dated from the late 6th century onwards. The exact dating is known only for cave 3 which is a Brahmanical temple dedicated to Vishnu. An inscription found here records the creation of the shrine by Mangalesha in Saka 500 (lunar calendar, spanning 578 to 579 CE). These inscriptions are in Kannada language, and have been the source for dating these rock cave temples to the 6th-century. The Badami caves complex are part of the UNESCO inscribed World Heritage Site under the title "Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal" in the Malaprabha river valley which is considered a cradle of Temple Architecture, which formed the template for later Hindu temples in the region. The art work in Cave 1 and Cave 2 exhibit the northern Deccan style of 6th- and 7th-century, while those in Cave 3 show a simultaneous co-exhibition of two different ancient Indian artistic traditions – the northern Nagara and the southern Dravida styles. The Cave 3 also shows icons and reliefs in the Vesara style – a creative fusion of ideas from the two styles, as well as some of the earliest surviving historical examples of yantra-chakra motifs and colored fresco paintings in Karnataka. The first three caves feature sculpture of Hindu icons and legends focusing on Shiva and Vishnu, while Cave 4 features Jain icons and themes.
TEMPLE CAVES
The Badami cave temples are composed of mainly four caves, all carved out of the soft Badami sandstone on a hill cliff, dated to the late 6th to 7th centuries. The planning of four caves (1 to 4) is simple. The entrance is a verandah (mukha mandapa) with stone columns and brackets, a distinctive feature of these caves, leading to a columned mandapa – main hall (also maha mandapa) and then to the small square shrine (sanctum sanctorum, garbhaghrha) cut deep into the cave. The cave temples are linked by stepped path with intermediate terraces looking over the town and lake. Cave temples are labelled 1–4 in their ascending series even though this numbering does not necessarily reflect the sequence of excavation.
The cave temples are dated to 6th to 8th century, with an inscription dated to 579 CE. The inscriptions are in old Kannada script. The architecture includes structures built in Nagara style and Dravidian style which is the first and most persistent architectural idiom to be adopted by the early chalukyas There is also the fifth natural cave temple in Badami – a Buddhist temple, a natural cave, which can be entered kneeling on all fours.
CAVE 1
The cave is just about 18 m above the street level on the northwest part of the hill. Access is through series of steps which depict carvings of dwarfish ganas (with "bovine and equine heads") in different postures. The verandah with 21 m length with a width of 20 m in the interior, has four columns all sculpted with reliefs of the god Shiva in different dancing positions and different incarnations. The guardian dwarapalas at the entrance to the cave stand to a height of 1.879 m.
The cave portrays the Tandava-dancing Shiva, as Nataraja. The image, (1.5 m tall, has 18 arms, in a form that express the dance positions arranged in a geometric pattern, which Alice Boner states, is a time division symbolizing the cosmic wheel. Some of the arms hold objects while most express mudras (symbolic hand postures). The objects include drums, trident and axe. Some arms also have serpents coiled around them. Shiva has his son Ganesha and the bull Nandi by his side. Adjoining to the Nataraja, a wall depicts the goddess Durga, depicted slaying the buffalo-demon Mahishasura. Elsewhere, the two sons of Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikkeya, the god of war and family deity of the Chalukya dynasty are seen in one of the carved sculptures on the walls of the cave with Kartikkeya riding a peacock.
The cave also has carved sculptures of the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati flanking Harihara, a 2.36 m high sculpture of a fused image that is half Shiva and half Vishnu. To the right, Ardhanarishvara, a composite androgynous form of Shiva and his consort Parvati, is sculpted towards the end of the walls. All the carved sculptures show ornaments worn by them, as well as borders with reliefs of various animals and birds. Lotus design is a common theme. On the ceiling are images of the Vidyadhara couples. Through a cleavage in the back side of the cave is a square sanctuary with more images carved.
Other prominent images in the cave are Nandi, the bull, in the sculptural form of Dharmadeva, the god of justice, Bhringi, a devotee of Shiva, a female decorated goddess holding a flat object in her left hand, which are all part of Ardhanarishvara described earlier. The roof in the cave has five carved panels with the central panel depicting the serpent Shesha. The head and bust are well formed and project boldly from the centre of the coil. In another compartment a bass-relief of 0.76 m diameter has carvings of a male and female; the male is Yaksha carrying a sword and the female is Apsara with a flying veil. The succeeding panel has carvings of two small figures; and the panel at the end is carved with lotuses.
CAVE 2
Cave 2, facing north, to the west of Cave 3, created in late 6th century AD, is almost same as cave 1 in terms of its layout and dimensions but it is dedicated primarily to Vishnu. Cave is reached by climbing 64 steps from the first cave. The cave entrance is the verandah, divided by four square pillars, which has carvings from its middle section to the top where there are yali brackets with sculptures within them. The cave is adorned with reliefs of guardians. Like the Cave 1, the cave art carved is a pantheon of Hindu divinities.
The largest relief in Cave 2 shows Vishnu as Trivikrama – with one foot on Earth and another – directed to the north. Other representations of Vishnu in this cave include Varaha (boar) where he is shown rescuing Bhudevi (symbolism for earth) from the depths of ocean, and Krishna avatars – legends found in Hindu Puranas text such as the Bhagavata Purana. Like other major murti (forms) in this and other Badami caves, the Varaha sculpture is set in a circle, the panel is an upright rectangle, states Alice Boner, whose "height is equal to the octopartite directing circle and sides are aligned to essential geometric ratios, in this case to the second vertical chord of the circle". The doorway is framed by pilasters carrying an entablature with three blocks embellished with gavaksha ornament. The entrance of the cave also has two armed guardians holding flowers rather than weapons. The end walls of the outer verandah is occupied by sculpted panels, to the right, Trivikrama; to the left, Varaha rescuing Bhudevi, with a penitent multi-headed snake (Nag) below. The adjacent side walls and ceiling have traces of colored paintwork, suggesting that the cave used to have fresco paintings. The columns show gods and battle scenes, the churning of cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan), Gajalakshmi and figures, Brahma, Vishnu asleep on Shesha, illustrations of the birth of Krishna, Krishna's youth, Krishna with gopis and cows.
The ceiling of Cave 2 shows a wheel with sixteen fish spokes in a square frame along with swastikas and flying couples. The end bays have a flying couple and Vishnu on Garuda.[8] The main hall in the cave is 10.16 m in width, 7.188 m deep and 3.45 m high and is supported by eight square pillars in two rows. The roof of this hall has panels which have carvings. At the upper end of the wall a frieze runs all along the wall with engravings of episodes from the Krishna or Vishnu legends.
The sculptures of Cave 2, like Cave 1, are of the northern Deccan style of 6th-and 7th-century similar to that found in Ellora caves.
CAVE 3
The Cave 3 is dedicated to Vishnu, and is the most intricately carved and the biggest. It has well carved giant figures of Trivikrama, Anantasayana, Paravasudeva, Bhuvaraha, Harihara and Narasimha. The theme on which the Cave 3 is carved is primarily Vaishnavite, however the cave also shows Harihara on its southern wall – half Vishnu and half Shiva shown fused as one, making the cave important to Shaivism studies as well. Cave 3, facing north, is 60 steps away from the Cave 2. This cave temple's veranda, 21 m in length with an interior width of 20 m, has been sculpted 15 m deep into the mountain, and an added square shrine at the end extends the cave some 3.7 m further inside. The verandah itself is 2.1 m wide and has four free standing carved pillars separating it from the hall. The cave is 4.6 m high, supported by six pillars each measuring 0.76 m square. Each column and pilaster is carved with wide and deep bases crowned by capitals which are camouflaged by brackets on three sides. Each bracket, except for one bracket, has carvings of standing human figures, under foliage in different postures, of a male and female mythological characters, along with attendant figure of a dwarf. A moulded cornice in the facia, with a dado of blocks below it (generally in 2.1 m lengths), have about thirty compartments carved with series of two fat dwarfs called ganas. The cave shows a Kama scene on one pillar, where a woman and man are in maithuna (erotic) embrace beneath a tree.
Cave 3 also shows fresco paintings on the ceiling, but some of these are faded, broken and unclear. These are among the earliest known and surviving evidence of fresco painting in Indian art.[14] The Hindu god Brahma is seen in one of the murals, while the wedding of Shiva and Parvati, attended by various Hindu deities, is the theme of another. There is a lotus medallion on the floor underneath the mural of four armed Brahma. The sculpture is well preserved, and a large number of Vishnu's reliefs including standing Vishnu with 8 arms, Vishnu seated on a hooded serpent called Sesha or Ananta on the eastern side of the verandha, Vishnu as Narasimha (half human – half lion), Varaha fully armed, a boar incarnation of Vishnu in the back wall of the cave, Harihara (a syncretic sculpture of Vishnu and Shiva), and Trivikrama avatars. The back wall also has carvings of Vidhyadaras holding offerings to Varaha, and adjoining this is an inscription dated 579 AD with the name Mangalis inscribed on it. At one end of the pilaster there is a sculpture of the fourth incarnation of Vishnu as Vamana shown with eight arms called Ashtabhuja decorated with various types of weapons. A crescent moon is crafted above his face, crown of Vishnu decorates his head and is flanked by Varaha and two other figures and below on his right is his attendant Garuda. The images in front of Vamana are three figures of Bali and his wife with Shukra, his councilor. Reliefs stand 4 metres tall. The culture and clothing embedded in the sixth century is visible in the art sculpted in this cave. The roof in the verandha has seven panels created by cross beams, each is painted in circular compartments with images of Shiva, Vishnu, Indra, Brahma, Kama and so forth with smaller images of Dikpalas (cardinal guardians) with geometric mosaics filling the gaps at the corners.
The front aisle's roof has panels with murals in the center of male and female figurines flying in the clouds; the male figure is yaksha holding a sword and a shield. Decoration of lotus blooms are also seen on the panels. The roof in the hall is divided into nine panels slightly above the level of the ceiling. The central panel here depicts a deva mounted on a ram – conjectured as Agni. Images of Brahma and Varuna are also painted in the central panels while the floating figures are seen in the balance panels.
CAVE 4
The Cave 4, to the east of Cave 3, excavated around 650 AD, is located higher than other caves. It is dedicated to revered figures of Jainism and was constructed last among all the caves. It also features detailed carvings and diverse range of motifs. The cave has five bayed entrance with four square columns with brackets and capitals, and to the back of this verandah is a hall with two standalone and two joined pillars. The first aisle is a verandah 9.4 m in length, 2.0 m wide and extends to 4.9 m deep. From the hall, steps lead to the sanctum sanctorum, which is 7.8 m wide extending to a depth of 1.8 m. On the back part of this, Mahavira is represented, sitting on lion throne, flanked by bas-reliefs of attendants with chauri (fans), sardulas and makara's heads. The end walls have Parshvanath (about 2.3 m tall) with his head decorated to represent protection and reverence by a multi-headed cobra, Indrabhuti Gautama covered by four snakes and Bahubali are seen; Bahubali is present to the left of Gautama shown with his lower legs surrounded by snakes along with his daughters Brahmi and Sundari. The sanctum, which is adorned by the image of Mahavira, has pedestal which contains an old Kannada inscription of the 12th century A.D. which registers the death of one Jakkave. Many Jaina Tirthankara images have been engraved in the inner pillars and walls. In addition, there are some idols of Yakshas, Yakshis, Padmavati and other Tirthankaras. Some scholars also assign the cave to the 8th century.
CAVE 5
It is a natural cave of small dimensions, undated, is approached by crawling as it has a narrow opening. Inside, there is a carved statue seated over a sculpted throne with reliefs showing people holding chauris (fans), tree, elephants and lions in an attacking mode. The face of this statue was reasonably intact till about 1995, and is now damaged and missing. There are several theories as to who the statue represents.
The first theory states that it is a Buddha relief, in a sitting posture. Those holding the chauris are Bodhisattvas flanking the Buddha, states this theory, and that the cave has been converted to a Hindu shrine of Vishnu, in later years, as seen from the white religious markings painted on the face of the Buddha as the 9th incarnation of Vishnu. Shetti suggests that the cave was not converted, but from the start represented a tribute to Mayamoha of the Hindu Puranas, or Buddhavatara Vishnu, its style suggesting it was likely carved in or before 8th century CE.
The second theory, found in colonial era texts such as one by John Murray, suggested that the main image carved in the smallest fifth cave is that of Jaina figure.
The third theory, by Henry Cousens as well as A. Sundara, and based by local legends, states that the statue is of an ancient king because the statue's photo, when its face was not damaged, lacked Ushnisha lump that typically goes with Buddha's image. Further, the statue has unusual non-Buddha ornaments such as rings for fingers, necklace and chest-band, it wears a Hindu Yajnopavita thread, and its head is stylistically closer to a Jina head than a Buddha head. These features suggest that the statue may be of a king represented with features of various traditions. The date and identity of the main statue in Cave 5, states Bolon, remains enigmatic.
OTHER CAVES
In 2013, Manjunath Sullolli reported the discovery of another cave with 27 rock carvings, about 500 metres from the four caves, from which water gushes year round. It depicts Vishnu and other Hindu deities, and features inscription in Devanagari script. The dating of these carvings is unknown.
OTHER TEMPLES AT BADAMI
On the north hill, there are three temples, of which Malegitti-Shivalaya is perhaps the oldest temple and also the finest in Badami, and has a Dravidian tower. Out of the two inscriptions found here, one states that Aryaminchi upadhyaya, as the sculptor who got this temple constructed and the other dated 1543 speaks of the erection of a bastion during the Vijayanagara rule. The lower Shivalaya has a Dravidian tower, and only the sanctum remains now.
Jambhulinga temple, situated in the town, is presumably the oldest known trikutachala temple in Karnataka. An inscription dated 699 ascribes construction of this temple to Vinayavathi mother of Emperor Vijayaditya.
The place also has Agasthya Tirtha, temples of Goddess Yellamma, Mallikarjuna, Datttreya and Virupaksha. Bhuthanatha group of temples are most important in Badami.
BADAMI FORT
Badami fort lies east of the Bhuthnatha temple, atop a cliff right opposite the Badami cave temples. The entrance to this temple is right through the Badami museum. It is a steep climb with many view points and dotted with little shrines. The path is laid with neatly cut stone, the same that adores all the architecture around.
ETYMOLOGY
The name Vatapi has origin in the Vatapi legend of Ramayana relating to Sage Agastya.There were two demon siblings Vatapi and Ilvala. They used to kill all mendicants by tricking them in a peculiar way. The elder Ilvala would turn Vatapi into a ram and would offer its meat to the guest. As soon as the person ate the meat, Ilvala would call out the name of Vatapi. As he had a boon that whomsoever Ilvala calls would return from even the netherland, Vatapi would emerge ripping through the body of the person, thus killing him. Their trick worked until Sage Agastya countered them by digesting Vatapi before Ilvala could call for him, thus ending the life of Vatapi at the hands of Ilvala. Two of the hills in Badami represent the demons Vatapi and Ilvala.
It is also believed that name Badami has come from colour of its stone (badam - Almond).
CULTURE
The main language is Kannada. The local population wears traditional Indian cotton wear.
GEOGRAPHY
Badami is located at 15.92°N 75.68°E. It has an average elevation of 586 metres. It is located at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills and surrounds Agastya tirtha water reservoir on the three other sides. The total area of the town is 10.3 square kilometers.
It is located 30 kilometers from Bagalkot, 128 kilometers from Bijapur, 132 kilometers from Hubli, 46 kilometers from Aihole, another ancient town, and 589 kilometers from Bangalore, the state capital.
WIKIPEDIA
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken in the first full week of November 2014.
There is a noticeable drop-off in the level of activity on this site now.
The main (final) focus will be on completing the profiles to the sheet-steel wall, securing the structure with poured concrete, and then the completion with the pre-fabricated stone capping.
The majority of operatives who attended through the summer months have since moved on to other sites/tasks.
And we can see a slow repatriation of heavy-duty equipment back to base.
Having laid steel frames, back-braced for rigidity, they proceed to pour mixed cement into a suspended cradle which is swung across the river, allowing them to carefully measure out the cement fill through the sleeve -- so necessary when working in small, confined intricate spaces.
Once poured, what is effectively a vibrator is used to agitate the mix, forcing out any air pockets - voids that might weaken the integrity of the hardened structure.
Then a smooth level finish.
Herman Miller Ethospace refurbished by EthoSource. EthoSource can customize the cubicle to exactly your liking!
6.5 million women in Morocco work in rural food production, and 1.8 million in Tunisia; more than half of these women are informal workers without a contract, and therefore without access to social protection, healthcare or formal structures that would allow them to benefit from governmental support in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agricultural sector has been particularly affected by the pandemic due to the limitation of the movement of people and goods, the closure of usual markets and points of sale, and changes in consumer practices, including apprehension towards products whose production cannot be traced. This has further exacerbated many women’s risk of job loss, poverty and disease.
The FLOWER project will increase women workers’ awareness of their socio-economic rights, of the health risks of the pandemic, and of the opportunities available in terms of law, funds and functioning of the market, in order to achieve better working conditions, production processes, quality and hygiene of food products, distribution channels and access to local and national markets. It will also train young local coaches on mechanisms of funds access and business management, and enable women’s groups to become familiar with economic, commercial and financial approaches to crisis management.
Ive added a colourscheme editor function to the Flickr Shades Greasemonkey script, that lets you edit the colour scheme on the flickr website, including changing the text colour, background colour and link colours. You can access the new colour scheme editor function via the Firefox Tools Menu, then select Greasemonkey, then Select "UserScript Commands" then select "Flickr Shades Colour Scheme Editor" Reinstall the script to get the new function.
*Update 24-Sep-2009* Tweaked various things (fixed for galleries + new flickr logo) Also added an onscreen link to open the colour scheme editor. Clicking the "?" link next to the "Flickr Tools" link in the top nav menu will now also open the colour scheme editor.
Update 9-Dec-2009 Fixed hidden photo button bar, fixed hidden photos in photostream view
You can find all my flickr scripts here and they are mirrored here
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken in the first week of November 2016.
These are the critical stabilisation works at the Silverbridge site, adjacent to the N11 dual-carriageway:
Back in November 2014, we observed bank stabilisation works here involving excavation, repair and building of a support wall structure -- carried out by JONS Construction on behalf of the National Roads Authority.
We would occasionally catch sight of this work in the distance. Quite an impressive little piece of structural engineering.
Having built a retaining concave wall, backfilled for solidity, they were also drilling, fixing and sealing ground anchors to pin the entire structure together.
Now we see that further works are being undertaken.
Word has it that extra ‘stabilisation work’ has to be done to protect the integrity of the riverbank. At the section here we can see that there’s not much space between the edge of the rock face and the Armco at the side of the dual-carriageway.
Have yet to determine what precisely that will entail. Serious work to reinforce the side access ramp down to the river.
The N11 carriageway runs adjacent to this sunken side of the riverbank -- barely 2 (large) paces divide the two. Even with twin strips of Armco along the roadside, it's perilously close. Traffic speeds along this stretch (maximum speed 100 kmp). Only needs a touch from a heavy vehicle to cause secondary impact, which (worst possible scenario) could result in something going airborne.
Working in these confined spaces puts a premium of safety and communication.
The guys have hard-filled a working shelf on the riverbed, to allow machinery access to the rockface. Obviously some serious drilling is called for before a form of extra 'pinning' is put in place.
They have sunk a series of hollowed tubes/casings -- obviously to form the foundations of a more extensive structure.
And some investigative work around the transverse buttress of the access bridge, parallel to the heavy-duty pipeline carrying water down from the Vartry reservoir.
At a (rough) guess -- I'd say the foundations were sunk to a depth of approx 4+m.
With such secure foundations in place, they would then look to construct a substantial bank of material, and/or retaining wall (similar to that in place further along the roadside bank).
=================================================
Previously the guys drilled and sunk 4+metre deep reinforced tubing and rods along a newly laid concrete base. Those stubs are now being used to attach steel rod cradles -- which, in turn, I believe will be filled with poured concrete. Variation on the method they've used elsewhere along this stretch of the river.
At this time of year, it's not a particularly nice place to be working in. The low, late sun never swings around sufficiently to light+warm this stretch. The day we were there, the air was barely above freezing point -- so, gotta be bloody cold down in that recess. No type of construction gear, or footwear, is going to keep the cold from seeping into your bones.
And, on a related point, it is a particularly tough spot for the inhabitants of the 3 traveller community dwellings adjacent to this work. Blood cold, and eternally damp.
28/07/2020. Nottingham , United Kingdom. Boris Johnson new cycle scheme. Nottingham. Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets members of the local cycling club at the Canal Side Heritage Centre in Beeston near Nottingham, England, the government is launching a new cycling intuitive to help get people fitter Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken in the first full week of November 2014.
There is a noticeable drop-off in the level of activity on this site now.
There's still some finishing touches to the river bed itself, cosmetic work along the riverbank sides, and a jig-saw pattern of large boulders placed in mid-stream.
The main (final) focus will be on completing the profiles to the sheet-steel wall, securing the structure with poured concrete, and then the completion with the pre-fabricated stone capping.
The majority of operatives who attended through the summer months have since moved on to other sites/tasks.
And we can see a slow repatriation of heavy-duty equipment back to base.
The guys have attached steel frames to the recess of the sheet-steel uprights, prior to filling with concrete.
There's still a surprising amount of intricate manual work involved in completing tasks -- machines can only do so much!
Plenty of bad weather about now, making for messy conditions underfoot.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the fourth week of July, 2016.
And we're back to the Rehills/Slang section -- between La Vallee and Rivervale.
Where previously this area was an organised structure of vast earth mounds, which ebbed and flowed with the removal of material, saw the import and removal of enormous mounds of stone material, and emerged as a relatively levelled piece of ground -- we saw the arrival of a fleet of 4-axle trucks bearing fresh mounds of stone. This continued for the best part of a week.
And what has been dumped, has to be sorted, and piled, and graded . . . and ultimately moved on to somewhere else!
In fairness to this contractor (Jons Construction) they recognise the need to control the working environment . . . and YES, that involves watering the access route to the disposal zone.
To this untrained eye, there's a lot of time and effort that goes in to moving, dropping, sorting, grading, stacking, gathering, loading, shifting, dumping, replacing . . . and repeating this exercise.
Obviously material has to be stored before/during/after it's needed along the various stretches of the protection works.
Could it be done more efficiently !!
At least they now use a bulldozer to gather+move material about. That's efficient.
And it's used nearby to create/grade the sloping mounds that are slowly rising.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of June, 2016.
14 months previously we'd watched low-level maintenance work on the opposite banks, and (I) predicted that destabilised sections might be a problem. To address the serious problem of surface runoff/seepage destabilising the bank structure, they excavate and lay out a drainage pipe system, to better channel the water and slow down the erosion of the banks. Specific work involved the removal of soil, back-filling with large boulders, integrated drainage system, and finally re-facing with new soil. The level of activity has markedly decreased. Are they nearing completion?
The previous week I'd suggested that the contractors were finished, packed up and GONE.
Seems there are still a few landscaping tasks to complete. Levels to check. Points to align. Readings to take.
Participants in the Donegal Sports Partnership's Community Coaching Programme in the proficiency in paddle sport at the Gartan Outdoor Training and Education Centre
Tel Aviv May 2017
if you want to see more of my photo stuff
or check out my website www.christopherratter.com
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the second week of March 2017.
These are the critical stabilisation works at the Silverbridge site, adjacent to the N11 dual-carriageway:
Back in November 2014, we'd observed bank stabilisation works here involving excavation, repair and building of a support wall structure -- carried out by JONS Construction on behalf of the National Roads Authority.
We would occasionally catch sight of this work in the distance. Quite an impressive little piece of structural engineering.
Having built a retaining concave wall, backfilled for solidity, they were also drilling, fixing and sealing ground anchors to pin the entire structure together.
Now we see that further works are being undertaken.
Word has it that extra ‘stabilisation work’ had to be done to protect the integrity of the riverbank.
At the section here we can see that there’s not much space between the edge of the rock face and the Armco at the side of the dual-carriageway.
Have yet to determine what precisely that will entail. Serious work to reinforce the side access ramp down to the river.
The N11 carriageway runs adjacent to this sunken side of the riverbank -- barely 2 (large) paces divide the two. Even with twin strips of Armco along the roadside, it's perilously close. Traffic speeds along this stretch (maximum speed 100 kmp). Only needs a touch from a heavy vehicle to cause secondary impact, which (worst possible scenario) could result in something going airborne.
Working in these confined spaces puts a premium of safety and communication.
The guys have hard-filled a working shelf on the riverbed, to allow machinery access to the rockface. Obviously some serious drilling is called for before a form of extra 'pinning' is put in place.
They have sunk a series of hollowed tubes/casings -- obviously to form the foundations of a more extensive structure.
And some investigative work around the transverse buttress of the access bridge, parallel to the heavy-duty pipeline carrying water down from the Vartry reservoir.
At a (rough) guess -- I'd say the foundations were sunk to a depth of approx 4+m.
With such secure foundations in place, they would then look to construct a substantial bank of material, and/or retaining wall (similar to that in place further along the roadside bank).
=================================================
Previously the guys drilled and sunk 4+metre deep reinforced tubing and rods along a newly laid concrete base. Those stubs were then used to attach steel rod cradles -- which, in turn, were filled with poured concrete. Result - the wall quickly rises. Variation on the method they've used elsewhere along this stretch of the river.
A continuous stretch of protective wall has now been poured, and joined up with the section originally erected back in 2014.
As we can see from the side-on shot, the base of the wall has pre-cut openings for the retaining pins that have been driven into the side wall of the roadside cliff. These have been sealed and capped.
Progress has been rapid, the full stretch of wall is completed, and the guys are now working on back-filling the empty space between the protective wall and the roadside rock face. You don't just throw in a few trucks loads of soil and hope for the best. You load, layer, level and compress.
By now the guys had clearing away material used to build access ramps down into the riverbed.
The thought crossed had my mind -- in doing so (removing the stone-filled gabions etc,) are they potentially exposing the river bank on that side to erosion, slippage etc?
We know the destructive force of fast running waters. Hell, this is precisely why the protective works have been carried out along the rest of the stretch, down to the Bray Harbour. Unless they have other plans to stabilise it, what is going to be left here is loose soil -- very close to the access road into the halting site itself.
Now that we can see the cleaned, exposed riverbank, we can see a substantial bedrock. Clearly this is not liable to subsidence. And there evidence that sections of the slope had already been 'nailed' * to prevent slippage. But, in talking to the guys there, it would seem that further 'nailing' might be required later in the year.
Some repair/reinforcing work is going on here to protect the (old) buttress that supports the pipework carrying water to the Bray region.
*
Soil nailing is a construction technique that can be used as a remedial measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes or as a construction technique that allows the safe over-steepening of new or existing soil slopes.
The technique involves the insertion of relatively slender reinforcing elements into the slope – often general purpose reinforcing bars (rebar) although proprietary solid or hollow-system bars are also available.
Solid bars are usually installed into pre-drilled holes and then grouted into place using a separate grout line, whereas hollow bars may be drilled and grouted simultaneously by the use of a sacrificial drill bit and by pumping grout down the hollow bar as drilling progresses.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken in the first full week of November 2014.
There is a noticeable drop-off in the level of activity on this site now.
There's still some finishing touches to the river bed itself, cosmetic work along the riverbank sides, and a jig-saw pattern of large boulders placed in mid-stream.
The main (final) focus will be on completing the profiles to the sheet-steel wall, securing the structure with poured concrete, and then the completion with the pre-fabricated stone capping.
The majority of operatives who attended through the summer months have since moved on to other sites/tasks.
And we can see a slow repatriation of heavy-duty equipment back to base.
Having laid steel frames, back-braced for rigidity, they proceed to pour mixed cement into a suspended cradle which is swung across the river, allowing them to carefully measure out the cement fill through the sleeve -- so necessary when working in small, confined intricate spaces.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first full week of August 2014, after the long Bank Holiday weekend.
Work is now on-going in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River, involving: -- Site preparation and mobilisation comprising sheetpile flood defence walls. The site preparation required the removal of mature trees and vegetation along the riverbank. Section-by-section, long lengths of steel sheet piling are aligned within a frame, and then driven partially into the bedrock by crane-suspended hydraulic hammers.
After a spell of spectacularly good weather, frequent and heavy squalls of rain swept the country. River levels were appreciably higher in the Dargle.
The Mack Daddy of busses! The crown jewel for the upcoming 2013 Tampa Super Show, this spectacular paint scheme will really draw in the crowds! With four slide-outs we’ve got over 400 sq feet of interior space all rolling down the highway in style. Our designers outdid themselves again with exotic granite countertops, rich nubuck leather and imported granite floors throughout. Fully equipped with all the latest technology including our new i-Secure security system, this machine could probably put a man on the moon. Prepare to be impressed!
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the 2nd week of September 2017.
Hard to believe - but I've been recording this project now for 5+ years.
These are the critical stabilisation works at the Silverbridge site, adjacent to the N11 dual-carriageway:
Back in November 2014, we'd observed bank stabilisation works here involving excavation, repair and building of a support wall structure -- carried out by JONS Construction on behalf of the National Roads Authority.
We would occasionally catch sight of this work in the distance. Quite an impressive little piece of structural engineering.
Having built a retaining concave wall, backfilled for solidity, they were also drilling, fixing and sealing ground anchors to pin the entire structure together.
=================================================
Previously the guys drilled and sunk 4+metre deep reinforced tubing and rods along a newly laid concrete base. Those stubs were then used to attach steel rod cradles -- which, in turn, were filled with poured concrete. Result - the wall quickly rises. Variation on the method they've used elsewhere along this stretch of the river.
A continuous stretch of protective wall has now been poured, and joined up with the section originally erected back in 2014.
As we can see from the side-on shot, the base of the wall has pre-cut openings for the retaining pins that have been driven into the side wall of the roadside cliff. These have been sealed and capped.
Progress was rapid, the full stretch of wall completed, and the guys worked on back-filling the empty space between the protective wall and the roadside rock face. You don't just throw in a few trucks loads of soil and hope for the best. You load, layer, level and compress.
They then clearing away material used to build access ramps down into the riverbed.
The thought crossed had my mind -- in doing so (removing the stone-filled gabions etc,) are they potentially exposing the river bank on that side to erosion, slippage etc?
We know the destructive force of fast running waters. Hell, this is precisely why the protective works have been carried out along the rest of the stretch, down to the Bray Harbour. Unless they have other plans to stabilise it, what is going to be left here is loose soil -- very close to the access road into the halting site itself.
Back in March of this year we could see the cleaned, exposed riverbank, we can see a substantial bedrock. Obviously this is not liable to subsidence. And there was evidence that sections of the slope had already been 'nailed' * to prevent slippage. But, in talking to the guys there, it would seem that further 'nailing' might be required later in the year.
6 months later, when passing by, I stopped to check . . . and confirmed that they had already completed the task of sheathing+nailing that section of the slope at most risk of destabilisation over the long term.
In 10, 20, 50 years time . . . what odds on further protection work here.
Hell, 10 10, 20, 50m months time . . . what odds . . . .!
Some repair/reinforcing work is going on here to protect the (old) buttress that supports the pipework carrying water to the Bray region.
*
Soil nailing is a construction technique that can be used as a remedial measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes or as a construction technique that allows the safe over-steepening of new or existing soil slopes.
The technique involves the insertion of relatively slender reinforcing elements into the slope – often general purpose reinforcing bars (rebar) although proprietary solid or hollow-system bars are also available.
Solid bars are usually installed into pre-drilled holes and then grouted into place using a separate grout line, whereas hollow bars may be drilled and grouted simultaneously by the use of a sacrificial drill bit and by pumping grout down the hollow bar as drilling progresses.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken in the second full week of November 2014.
There's a big drop-off in activity on this site now. Some finishing touches to the river bed itself, cosmetic work along the riverbank sides, and a jig-saw pattern of large boulders placed in mid-stream. The main (final) focus will be on completing the profiles to the wall, securing with poured concrete, and then the completion with the pre-fabricated stone capping.
The guys have attached steel frames to the recess of the sheet-steel uprights, and filled with concrete. They very carefully check levels, laser-assisted. There's still a surprising amount of intricate manual work involved -- machines can only do so much!
The next step involves swinging in pre-formed capping slabs, with inset jacking points, and embedded rods to intertwine with the sheet-steel wall. Accuracy satisfied, the welder melds them together.
It's a race against time, schedules - and expected heavy rains and high river levels on the way.
The fume given off by welding and hot cutting processes is a varying mixture of airborne gases and very fine particles which if inhaled can cause ill health.
Gases that may be present in welding and cutting fume are:
nitrous oxide (NOx),
carbon dioxide (CO2),
carbon monoxide (CO),
shielding gas (eg Argon, helium) and ozone (O3)
The visible part of the fume cloud is mainly particles of metal, metal oxide and flux (if used).
The exact level of risk from the fume will depend on 3 factors:
How toxic the fume is;
How concentrated the fume is;
How long you are breathing the fume
(HSE.Gov.UK)