Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[Trackman]

Staying on the vehicle theme, those earthing strips on cars that stop a static build up - but in reality they don't. They still sell them though! Not seem them in ages.

 

[GordonT]

Evening "Dinner Dances" at posh or at least semi-posh hotels.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Buying a first class stamp and getting change from 10p coin.
I can remember - just - when a first class stamp was 9p and a second class was 7p.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Buying a first class stamp and getting change from 10p coin.
I can remember - just - when a first class stamp was 9p and a second class was 7p.

That must have been 1977 or 1978. Believe first class stamps were priced at just 3p back in 1971 when decimalisation took place.

 

[styles]

Do you mean "all weather tyre"?
Winter tyre have metal studs and are unsuitable for driving on clear roads

Winter tyres does not necessarily mean studded tyres.

Winter tyres have a tread pattern which focuses on grip in compacting materials like snow (or moderately firm wet sand!), as opposed to say all season tyres which focus on dissipating water, or summer tyres which focus on maximising contact.

Winter tyres on consumer vehicles are rare in the UK. If you live in the Highlands and have a safety critical job to get to, fair enough, but for most people the best advice is to simply stay at home. South of the border and perhaps parts of northern England, there are so few snow days to make winter tyres a worthwhile investment for most people. Bearing in mind they deteriorate when sat in the garage not used as well. Also because most people can't be expected to change tyres at home, most people with winter tyres buy a set of steelies to keep them on, then pay a local garage to store them each year and do a tyre swap at the start and end of the season. It can start to add up. Not to mention that many drivers in the UK simply do not know how to drive in snow as it's not covered in driving lessons and the need for it is rare.

All season tyres are well worth the money in my opinion though. I live in Scotland and it's the only tyres I'll bother buying these days. They're better in the wet, and the material composition of them helps them in minus temperatures without snow. I've driven on them in reasonably heavy snow and, coupled with knowing a bit about driving in snow, have found them more than capable. The main downsides are cost, and an unnoticeable grip difference in the summer. Potentially noise but I honestly couldn't tell you.

Studded tyres are unlawful on UK roads.

 

[Bald Rick]

Oh ok, said I didn’t know much about Heat Pumps
So what is the boiler replaced with? Where does the heat come from?
Apart from the big boxy thing you see mounted to outside walls, what extra equipment is required?
Do Heat Pumps take up more space than say a Combi Boiler?

The heat pump is the ‘boiler’. What you have outside (usually on the wall) is it.
Extra equipment - bigger radiators, as heat pumps are most efficient at a lower temperature for the heating circuit. But they work very well with underfloor heating, which is more efficient than radiators anyway, so for new / renovated homes they are a great option. Had the grants been available when I rebuilt my home I would have had one.

How does that compare to boilers?

Still a long way behind, but growth is quite significant. It can’t be too significant though, as heat pumps are the big issue for electricity demand, much more so than EVs. You can often delay charging the car, but you can’t delay heating your house if it’s cold now. The grid nificsnt beefing up for that, and although thst is happening it won‘t be for some years yet.

 

[GusB]

I suspect immersion heaters will be a candidate for the thread before too long now that people tend to have combi boilers.

Not everyone has the option to use a combi boiler.

Don't be so sure. Plenty of lower quality rented properties still relying on traditional heating systems for which an immersion heater is sometimes the better choice. Equally there are relatively recently built low-rise apartment buildings featuring a lot of timber framing meaning no gas on site ie immersion heating is the only way to heat water.

I still have a hot water cylinder with an immersion heater but it's controlled by the same gadget that runs my heat pump. The heat pump produces water that's hot enough for regular use, but occasionally it uses the element within the cylinder to heat the water to a higher temperature - something to do with preventing legionella, I believe.

Previously it was controlled by the Economy 7 timer, although I had the option to boost it if required.

 

[The exile]

Winter tyres does not necessarily mean studded tyres.

Winter tyres have a tread pattern which focuses on grip in compacting materials like snow (or moderately firm wet sand!), as opposed to say all season tyres which focus on dissipating water, or summer tyres which focus on maximising contact.

Winter tyres on consumer vehicles are rare in the UK. If you live in the Highlands and have a safety critical job to get to, fair enough, but for most people the best advice is to simply stay at home. South of the border and perhaps parts of northern England, there are so few snow days to make winter tyres a worthwhile investment for most people. Bearing in mind they deteriorate when sat in the garage not used as well. Also because most people can't be expected to change tyres at home, most people with winter tyres buy a set of steelies to keep them on, then pay a local garage to store them each year and do a tyre swap at the start and end of the season. It can start to add up. Not to mention that many drivers in the UK simply do not know how to drive in snow as it's not covered in driving lessons and the need for it is rare.

All season tyres are well worth the money in my opinion though. I live in Scotland and it's the only tyres I'll bother buying these days. They're better in the wet, and the material composition of them helps them in minus temperatures without snow. I've driven on them in reasonably heavy snow and, coupled with knowing a bit about driving in snow, have found them more than capable. The main downsides are cost, and an unnoticeable grip difference in the summer. Potentially noise but I honestly couldn't tell you.

Studded tyres are unlawful on UK roads.

winter tyres also have a different “rubber” composition - hence the better grip on cold surfaces. However - it makes them less hard wearing. Various bus operators in Germany nevertheless retain winter tyres all year round as the cost of extra wear would be outweighed by the cost of replacement and storage. Incidentally - driving on snow doesn’t form any significant part of German driving instruction either - other than a vague sort of “be careful”. You do, however, get a bit more practice and discover, as BR well knew but the press (us usual) didn’t, that there are many different types of snow!

 

[theblackwatch]

Calling temperatures of 30 Celsius “double” those of 15 Celsius. Grrrr.

Celsius, what's that? It was referred to as Centigrade "back in the day". An online search reveals it was officially changed in 1948, though in the 80s/90s it was always referred to by its old name on weather forecasts.

 

[Hadlow Road]

Celsius, what's that? It was referred to as Centigrade "back in the day". An online search reveals it was officially changed in 1948, though in the 80s/90s it was always referred to by its old name on weather forecasts.

I believe that it was changed to reflect the man who developed the scale? cf Alessandro Volta, Tesla, Ampere, Whitworth et al. Not sure whether there was an Albert Gallon.

 

[gg1]

Celsius, what's that? It was referred to as Centigrade "back in the day". An online search reveals it was officially changed in 1948, though in the 80s/90s it was always referred to by its old name on weather forecasts.

That was when it was renamed internationally but in typically stubborn British fashion, we didn't make the switch until much later, the 80s I think.

 

[bleeder4]

Celsius, what's that? It was referred to as Centigrade "back in the day". An online search reveals it was officially changed in 1948, though in the 80s/90s it was always referred to by its old name on weather forecasts.

It is still widely used. I myself say "centigrade" and I'm only in my 40s. There are people younger than me I know who call it "centigrade" as well.

 

[swt_passenger]

Sticky fly papers.

I now use a clear plastic type, they stick on window glass.

 

[GordonT]

When motorists in the main drove courteously, in accordance with the Highway Code and whose normal pace was not one of driving as if to resolve a dire emergency where speed was of the essence.

 

[dangie]

I now use a clear plastic type, they stick on window glass.

Bought a pack of 6 from Home Bargains yesterday. Put 2 of them up. As yet no captures.

Note: We’ve had one of little flies in our house for a few days. Those you only see when it flashes in front of your face. Can’t get the bu**er….

 

[dcbwhaley]

It is still widely used. I myself say "centigrade" and I'm only in my 40s. There are people younger than me I know who call it "centigrade" as well.

I always say thirty degrees cee or sixty degrees eff

 

[dangie]

Saying it’s going to be 90deg Fahrenheit next week sounds much hotter than 32.2deg Centigrade

 

[nlogax]

Oasis. Would have been ideal if they stayed in 1996 but no, here we are again.

 

[Indigo Soup]

Not to mention that many drivers in the UK simply do not know how to drive in snow as it's not covered in driving lessons and the need for it is rare.

I was fortunate to have driving lessons in snow, largely because I learnt in the Highlands and took so long to pass my test that it was essential. I also ran snow tyres for a while when I was doing a long commute by car. The combination was very useful during the 'Beast from the East' when I was able to get about almost as soon as the snow stopped falling, despite the efforts of a petty neighbour to dig my car back into the snow.

On the subject of the thread... the days when living in the Highlands meant guaranteed regular snow that laid for weeks on end, and a frost that didn't really shift for months!

 

[dcbwhaley]

Saying it’s going to be 90deg Fahrenheit next week sounds much hotter than 32.2deg Centigrade

Zero deg cee: cold Hundred deg cee: dead
Zero deg eff: very cold Hundred deg eff: very hot
Zero deg kay: dead Hundred deg kay: dead

 

[Jamesrob637]

When motorists in the main drove courteously, in accordance with the Highway Code and whose normal pace was not one of driving as if to resolve a dire emergency where speed was of the essence.

In similar vein, when police actually responded to serious stuff and not some little old dear going just 5mph over the speed limit because the road went downhill. Or doing 90-100 extremely briefly to get past slower cars, before pulling in and letting gravity slow them back to 70-80 (as I did yesterday).

 

[dangie]

When motorists in the main drove courteously, in accordance with the Highway Code and whose normal pace was not one of driving as if to resolve a dire emergency where speed was of the essence.

When pedestrians stopped at the kerbside and looked both ways before stepping out into the road.

 

[dcbwhaley]

When pedestrians stopped at the kerbside and looked both ways before stepping out into the road.

When the kerbside was sufficiently clear of parked vehicles to allow a view in both directions

 

[GordonT]

When the kerbside was sufficiently clear of parked vehicles to allow a view in both directions

When it was an exceptionally rare thing for an inconsiderate driver to straddle two lined spaces in a car park whether intentionally or through sheer carelessness.

 

[Indigo Soup]

In similar vein, when police actually responded to serious stuff and not some little old dear going just 5mph over the speed limit because the road went downhill. Or doing 90-100 extremely briefly to get past slower cars, before pulling in and letting gravity slow them back to 70-80 (as I did yesterday).

When people drove to the speed limit and accepted they were at fault if they were caught flagrantly exceeding it.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

When people drove to the speed limit and accepted they were at fault if they were caught flagrantly exceeding it.

Yes, but it is noticeable that the camera vans like places where they will get lots of people, rather than places where exceeding the limit is dangerous. One of their favourite places near me is right on the edge of a village, at the bottom of a long hill and just before the 40mph signs. No doubt they get loads there who have sped up a bit coming down the hill, or who don't brake hard enough when going from the 40 into the 30. It's not dangerous though - good visibility going both ways and barely any pedestrians.

I would have more respect for the vans if they targeted places where it is dangerous to speed but idiots to it anyway, rather than just going for the easy options.

 

[gg1]

In similar vein, when police actually responded to serious stuff and not some little old dear going just 5mph over the speed limit because the road went downhill. Or doing 90-100 extremely briefly to get past slower cars, before pulling in and letting gravity slow them back to 70-80 (as I did yesterday).

There's absolutely no need to accelerate to 90+ mph to perform an overtaking manoeuvre on any British road.

 

[dangie]

In similar vein, when police actually responded to serious stuff and not some little old dear going just 5mph over the speed limit because the road went downhill. Or doing 90-100 extremely briefly to get past slower cars, before pulling in and letting gravity slow them back to 70-80 (as I did yesterday).

On which UK road would you need to do 90-100mph, and what do you mean by ‘slower cars?’ If on non motorway then 90-100mph is a definite no-no if the cars you are overtaking are travelling at 30-40mph. If on the motorway when most traffic is already travelling at the 70mph speed limit, then why the need to exceed it? You’ll probably say you are a good driver, but from your post you may not be.

 

[styles]

Yes, but it is noticeable that the camera vans like places where they will get lots of people, rather than places where exceeding the limit is dangerous. One of their favourite places near me is right on the edge of a village, at the bottom of a long hill and just before the 40mph signs. No doubt they get loads there who have sped up a bit coming down the hill, or who don't brake hard enough when going from the 40 into the 30. It's not dangerous though - good visibility going both ways and barely any pedestrians.

I would have more respect for the vans if they targeted places where it is dangerous to speed but idiots to it anyway, rather than just going for the easy options.

Ok but this is pretty easy to avoid isn't it?

You're travelling in a 40mph area which turns into a 30mph area. Make sure you're doing no more than 30mph by the time you reach the sign.

If you're in a 30mph area and you see a 40mph sign up ahead, simply continue driving at 30mph until you reach the 40mph sign then accelerate to 40mph.

If you're doing the speed limit on a road and you see a downhill stretch ahead, be prepared to brake to stay under the limit (or for long/steep hills, downshift, but this is rare south of the border).

It's not hard.

Also the 2 seconds you gain by waiting until you get to the 30mph sign to decelerate 40->30 hasn't provided any tangible benefit so what's the point?

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Ok but this is pretty easy to avoid isn't it?

You're travelling in a 40mph area which turns into a 30mph area. Make sure you're doing no more than 30mph by the time you reach the sign.

If you're in a 30mph area and you see a 40mph sign up ahead, simply continue driving at 30mph until you reach the 40mph sign then accelerate to 40mph.

If you're doing the speed limit on a road and you see a downhill stretch ahead, be prepared to brake to stay under the limit (or for long/steep hills, downshift, but this is rare south of the border).

It's not hard.

Also the 2 seconds you gain by waiting until you get to the 30mph sign to decelerate 40->30 hasn't provided any tangible benefit so what's the point?

It may not be hard, but if cars accidentally drift 5mph over the speed limit in many areas (which is easily done) it's not dangerous either.

It would have far more of an impact on safety if they targeted the areas where it is actually dangerous to exceed the limit (and where some drivers exceed it by a good margin), and the idiots overtaking when there are solid lines down the middle for good reason.

They like to claim that the cameras are 'safety cameras', but actually most of them function as revenue cameras. If they were actually about safety that would rule out most of the favourite locations for the van.