The cost of this project is hopefully under control Saw the on-site labour figures being banded about last week, 1300 now every day! Very rough figure of between £8-10m per month if averaged out at a very conservative £200-250 per day. I’m probably seriously underestimating that.... Last project quote I saw in April was £800m. When do you think we’ll need to start checking the sofas for loose change?
What is it with Cheese? It takes them 7 years to make a mature cheddar, then when they cut it up and wrap it in plastic it gets a 6 week use-by date! About the same time as David Moyes' spam use-by date I'd guess.
Been to the Amex a fair few times as it being down my way. Cracking ground bearing in mind the restrictions and criteria they had to meet (partially sunk down into the ground so as not to ruin the view of the Downs (had planning seen the concrete monstrosity of Sussex University next to it! How is that not ruining the view). I do like how it can suddenly loom out of the hillside though like some ancient spaceship that had crashed centuries ago and is suddenly awakening. Beer sucks though. Only bloody Harveys which is acceptable but a bit boring when you have Long Man and Dark Star breweries also on your doorstep (seriously try some of the Long Man range, they are great). Only time I've ever walked onto a football pitch at a big stadium was at the Amex and I honestly felt the hairs rise on my neck when I did so. The way the stands loom up and you can feel the whole place looking down on you is just thrilling (OK it was for a Rod Stewart concert held there but it was still a great feeling).
We treat food with disdain in this country, which is probably why we're so fat and unfit. We eat crap. Cheese should be in wax paper [like all French cheese is packaged] and nowhere near plastic which is how we sell it and then keep it. Keep it in wax paper in the salad box in your fridge if you want to keep it fresher for longer. Alternatively, just eat the ****er today and buy fresh tomorrow. It'll taste better and you'll be happier - especially when eaten with a proper English apple or pear. A mate of mine worked in India for a couple of years. When I went out to visit him, I asked "What do you want me to bring with me from home?", his immediate response was, "Cheddar and red wine, as much as you can carry." He told me that Indian cheese was sold in a can........
Don't. Cheese is my favourite food but I have been dieting since the 15th August. 112.5 kg now from a start of 138 kg. I believe in the Mark Twain quote 'If you want to be successful eat what you enjoy', I allow myself cheese only one day per week. The deedub diet allows bread, pasta, rice but no alcohol. However, the most important bit is nothing after one o'clock in the afternoon. Target is 95 kg. It may take a while due to the Christmas amnesty.
Apart from Brexit ****ing up the cost of materials, the only rumour of problems that I've heard is that there were some piling problems in the early days and a threatened crane driver strike, which didn't happen or lasted 1 day. So, we should be close to expected progress. Whether we flood the site with labour now or draw the whole thing out, it should be the same amount of man hours, if there are no further problems. Apparently the lower floors are already being decorated in parts other than the South Stand. I saw concrete being poured in the pitch area a week or so ago and the roof supports are in situ to go up in the North Stand area, so there's huge progress everywhere. The glass is ging in everywhere which is normally a good sign that things are going okay from my experience. The Americans were over a few days ago and it looked like smiles all round, so I'm optimistic. Rumours of overruns are typical of the British negativity As soon as the Olympics were won, people couldn't wait to be negative about it being ready in time. As it turned out, we were the best prepared Olympics in years. Levy will have written in bonuses all round for timely completion. It's what he does. More concerning is the lack of actual progress on the new WHL station and remodelling of the High Road and walk from the station to the ground. The ****ing public sector lag in full effect. As for the money, Joe Lewis has personally guaranteed the borrowing and funding. Spending on stadia is not covered by FFP, so, if he wanted, he could fund the stadium and then take the money back out of future profits. He won't but it's nice to know that's there as an option.
There will be a contract, probably one of the NEC (New Engineering Contracts). These can be: Option A: Priced contract with activity schedule: Contractor will give a price for each stage of the work, i.e. demolition, earthworks, foundations (could be split into north. south, east, west etc), superstructure, roof etc. This works well if one has a comprehensive design and required timescale. Penalties (Liquidated damages) will apply if elements are not constructed on time. Option B: Priced contract with bill of quantities: Similar to Option A but often used where quantities are not obvious at the design stage. Similar penalties can apply but it is easier for the Contractor to claim for extra time if quantities significantly exceed what was stated in the original data provision. Option C: Target contract with activity schedule: Similar to Option A, a Target Price is agree to complete the whole job. Ongoing costs are supplied to the Employers QS on a monthly basis. These costs have to be agreed and are signed off. If the Contractor brings the build in under Target budget, the difference is split. If the Contractor's costs over run the contractor pays. Normally the split is 50%/50% but if Levy has used this I'd guess it will be 90% Spurs, 10% Contractor. Option D: Target contract with bill of quantities: Similar to Option C but often used where quantities are not obvious at the design stage. Option E: Cost-reimbursable contract. Costs agreed with Employers QS on a monthly basis and then costs plus a percentage paid to the contractor. Used to be known as 'Cost Plus' Very risky in my opinion, the more the job costs the more money the contractor earns Option F: Management contract Contractor is paid to manage various specialist sub-contractors and to bring the job in on time and to budget, often used where the Employer wants to specify certain specialist sub contractors or carry out some of the work himself. Hefty liquidated damages are likely to apply if the work over-runs or is over budget. Because the design should have been watertight before construction started and Levy has purchased his own cranes I'm guessing we are looking at Option F for the main contract with sub-contractors contracted under Option C. Taking this route would ensure no cost over-run and if there is a time over-run, the Contractor pays. However, with Option F, the main contractor will price in his risk, so the contract price is generally a little higher in the first place.
mine was a bit tortured, but that's very good. Bloody stuff has no names that easily lend themselves to buns, I mean puns.
I work in the Public Sector and couldn't agree more. Lots of willingness to get jobs done at the lower levels (i.e. those who actually do the work) but nothing but umming, ahhing and endless prevarication at the top. But hey, at least my local Council are on the ball as another round of cuts over the next three years loom. First item on the agenda was Council members pay increases: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-41701931 Leader came across all Danny Rose as he explained that he was worth his 37% pay rise..... and more. Ordinary workers are looking at another 1% next year. Second item on the agenda........ the closure of the Counties Libraries!
