With the level of work we are now receiving it is getting harder to find time to write for my blog. However every now and them something happens which I have to write about, either out of sheer frustration, or just occasionally incredulity.
We recently supplied a ferris wheel to a major educational establishment. Now I labour under the misconception that anyone in charge of such establishments would tend to be a reasonably intelligent individual. An episode recently shattered this illusion. When erecting a ferris wheel, you fold the structure into place until you basically have 2 giant wheels about 6ft apart. You then add seats at the ends of the spokes to these wheels thereby completing the ride. At one of our latest events, the guy onsite, William, rang to tell me we had a problem. Upon inquiring as to what exactly was up, William told me that a delegation from the college had approached and informed him that they were not happy with the wheel as it was clearly unsafe. Now the ride in particular, like all of our attractions, undergoes a regular safety check, and is inspected annually by an independent engineer, so I know the ride had a clean bill of health.
"What exactly is the problem?", I inquired of William,
"Well", says he, "We have the ride erected, but have yet to fasten the seats into place, the gentleman in charge of the college has pointed out that the ride has no seats on it, and he cannot allow his students to cling on to the structure as it is in motion, as if they fall of near the top they could be killed!!!!!"
William politely pointed out the seats which were going to be added shortly and the gentleman was placated, I, meanwhile was rolling about laughing at the surreality of it all, surely no one in their right mind would ever think we were expecting people to cling to a structure that was 48ft high and be rotated at high speed.
A friend of mine, Tommy, had a word for people like this, "Educated Idiots" he called them.
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We recently supplied a ferris wheel to a major educational establishment. Now I labour under the misconception that anyone in charge of such establishments would tend to be a reasonably intelligent individual. An episode recently shattered this illusion. When erecting a ferris wheel, you fold the structure into place until you basically have 2 giant wheels about 6ft apart. You then add seats at the ends of the spokes to these wheels thereby completing the ride. At one of our latest events, the guy onsite, William, rang to tell me we had a problem. Upon inquiring as to what exactly was up, William told me that a delegation from the college had approached and informed him that they were not happy with the wheel as it was clearly unsafe. Now the ride in particular, like all of our attractions, undergoes a regular safety check, and is inspected annually by an independent engineer, so I know the ride had a clean bill of health.
"What exactly is the problem?", I inquired of William,
"Well", says he, "We have the ride erected, but have yet to fasten the seats into place, the gentleman in charge of the college has pointed out that the ride has no seats on it, and he cannot allow his students to cling on to the structure as it is in motion, as if they fall of near the top they could be killed!!!!!"
William politely pointed out the seats which were going to be added shortly and the gentleman was placated, I, meanwhile was rolling about laughing at the surreality of it all, surely no one in their right mind would ever think we were expecting people to cling to a structure that was 48ft high and be rotated at high speed.
A friend of mine, Tommy, had a word for people like this, "Educated Idiots" he called them.
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