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22
October/November 2013 www.esb.ie/em
HEALTH & HABITAT
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a selection of your photography
WHAT'S NEW?
A NOVEL HOTEL IDEA
By Dave Washe
WE HAVE COUNTRY hotels, beauty and spa hotels, boutique hotels and now we have Parcel Motels. This Parcel Motel is one of the best services aimed at the internet/online user. It allows you to order items on line and have them delivered to the main Parcel Motel delivery address for forwarding to a Parcel Motel near you that you can then visit at a pre-determined time and collect. It's a hotel for your package if you like. The beauty of this service is that you don't have to be home to collect your parcel from your online provider's courier or rush to get to An Post's depot at a time that may not suit you. To avail of the service you have to register at www.parcelmotel.com.
Where are these motels you ask? 93 locations nationwide and expanding! There are 40 in Dublin alone and nine in Cork. You may have seen them - they are the green and blue metal lockers that you see at a lot of Topaz petrol stations. They are unmanned and all you need to get your parcel is the number of the locker (room), your mobile number and a one-off PIN from Parcel Motel. Once this information is keyed in the door containing your parcel opens and you take your parcel. It's as simple as that! It's hassle-free, safe and secure and convenient for you.
But that's not the best feature; Parcel Motel has a UK delivery address so you can buy items in the UK availing of the online providers free UK delivery service, arrange for delivery to the Parcel Motel UK address they provide you with and they will get it from the UK to a Parcel Motel near you here in Ireland. To stay at a Parcel Motel costs €3.50! So to take the pressure away from having to be at home to receive a delivery the Parcel Motel is an excellent service and the way to go so treat your parcels to a hotel stay. It's always the simplest of ideas/services that are the best.
SAFE DRIVING BUREAU
WINTER DRIVING CHECKS
By Grainne Coogan
» DRIVING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MEANS DRIVING IN MORE HOURS OF DARKNESS AND POORER WEATHER CONDITIONS. THESE SIMPLE CHECKS CAN MAKE FOR A SAFER JOURNEY:
Servicing
Have your vehicle fully serviced at the beginning of winter or at least winter checked, particularly your battery. It has to work much harder in the winter and can fail completely on a very cold morning if it's weak.
Check your tyres - they are your only contact with the road
Car tyres should be above the minimum legal thread depth of 1.6mm, but need to be changed before they get this worn. The RSA advises replacing tyres when they reach 3mm. The less tread depth you have, the longer it will take you to stop.
Visibility - make sure that you can see
Carry a de-icer and screen scraper in the car. Wipers need to be checked for wear and tear, and replaced if necessary. Ensure that your windscreen washer bottle is filled – use high strength screen-wash to prevent freezing.
Use your lights to maximise your Visibility
Headlights and taillights should be clean and in working order. Only use fog lights in foggy conditions and don’t forget to turn them off after they have been used in fog and mist.
Keep your distance
Remember: only a fool breaks the two-second rule. Say it twice in wet conditions and up to ten times in icy or snowy conditions. Leave yourself more time to complete the journey.
Keep up-to-date
Listen to local weather and traffic reports. Pay heed to the weather warnings alerting drivers of unsafe and dangerous driving conditions.
Beware of ‘black ice’
Black ice is one of winter’s biggest hazards as it is difficult to see. Watch out for sheltered/shaded areas on roads, under trees and near high walls. For more information email safedriving@esb.ie or visit the Safe Driving website: http://esbnet/safedriving.
