Tweenager

backblip

Rather a packed day today - and so indeed are the next few days hence these backblips. Arrived early at work today which was good as that was when the brief period of not-boringly-grey weather happened.

Here's the one remaining cygnet trying to look inconspicuous while following parents heading toward the nearest photographer in search of food. The swans have always seemed to be friendly but I do tend to prefer a bit of a barrier between them and me.

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The evening was the IAM Group AGM, preceded by a talk by a couple of speakers from Goodyear Dunlop on the subject of winter tyres and the new-ish tyre labelling scheme.

The latter is a scheme like the A-G rating of fridges for energy efficiency. This time it's rather more difficult to reach the A grade so hopefully the A+, A++, ... A+++++++ ratings now needed on fridges will take longer to happen. Two separate scales indicate stopping-ability in the wet, and an economy scale (different tyres will cost you differently in fuel consumption).

The discussion about winter tyres was interesting. Very few in the room (and we had 50+ present) had used winter tyres. The speakers were careful not to preach using them, they simply gave an explanation and a demonstration - it was very convincing.

The essence of a winter tyre is that it's a slightly softer 'rubber' designed for use when average temperatures at 7 degrees C or below (so not just 'freezing' or 'in snow'), the tread is different in design, and the tread is designed to hold snow.

That sounds counter-intuitive, but you just try pushing a snowman about.

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The AGM was a bit less exciting. No-one leapt to their feet to seize control of the power base that is the Chairman's role. Never mind, there's always next year.