Motorists and local government bodies alike are constantly surprised by 'sudden winter flurries'; bad weather that arrives 'with no warning'!Yeah, right! Duh...it is winter isn't it? It never ceases to amaze that, collectively or individually, winter drivers are invariably floored by a little snow and ice. The following tips (and mindset) should help you through even the roughest winter weather.1. Anti-freeze in your radiator before the cold weather arrives. These days it is common practice to have a coolant/anti-freeze in the radiator system of a water-cooled engine all year around. This is because the chemical make-up of modern 'coolants' enables it to help prevent overheating as well as freezing; it also protects the cooling system against corrosion.2. To prevent the water in your under-bonnet (hood) windscreen washer container from freezing when you don't have the purpose-made fluid, try adding a small quantity of denatured alcohol (methylated spirit) to the water in the washer bottle.3. The water in the windscreen washer system can now be used in conjunction with the wipers and in place of scraping the frost or snow off the glass.4. Do not use hot water to clear ice off the windscreen - if it doesn't the first time, you can bet your bottom dollar that eventually the practice will cause the glass to crack.5. If snow is deep and threatens to last some time, lower the pressures in your tyres a couple of pounds (kps). A slightly deflated tyre will give more grip on a slippery surface.6. If you find yourself parked on a hill when the snow has fallen, remember to apply very light pressures to the accelerator pedal when moving off for the first time. Jamming down on the gas will only result in wheel spin and more than likely burying your wheels in a snow drift.7. A good tip in snow and ice is to stay away from the brakes as much as you can. In a manual transmission car it is quite easy to keep speed and overall handling of the car under control using the gears as a brake. With an automatic transmission gears can still be used manually for a certain amount of control. Remember, the more often (or harshly) you use your foot brake in snow and ice  http://weblog.int-world.com/weblog.2114771.html the more likely you are to lose control of your car.8. Winter or summer, a good aide-memoire as a measurement for travelling distances behind other vehicles is this:· Dry roads = Leave 3 car lengths minimum;· Wet roads (rainy conditions) three times that of dry = 9 car lengths;· Icy/snowy roads 10 times that of dry conditions.When we calculate the immense distance required to stop safely on icy roads, is it any wonder that there are so many accidents under these conditions? Hardly anyone leaves these distances - with so many cars on the roads this isn't so surprising!9. If you live in a hilly or mountainous area check that you have tyre chains on board. In some parts of the world it is a legal requirement to carry and use them in particularly risky regions.10. When planning a journey in icy or snowy conditions be sure to carry sufficient warm clothing to keep you warm through the night in the event that you become stranded.

We often associate a healthy eating plan with monotony and deprivation, but we can take various steps to prevent this. The 10 suggestions below may help inspire us and tantalize our taste buds, while assisting us achieve our ultimate goal of a strong, lean physique.Healthy Eating Tip 1) - Select High Quality FoodsWe should try to focus on selecting the best quality foods which contain the highest nutritional value possible. Of course this means we must restrict the quantity of fatty, sugary and processed foods, gradually changing totally to whole, organic and nutrient enriched foods.Healthy Eating Tip 2) - High Quality, Reduced QuantityBy improving the quality of the foods that we eat, we will notice that we will feel much more satisfied, without eating as many calories. High fibre, nutritious foods will make us feel full and more satisfied for a longer period of time, therefore we eat less.Healthy Eating Tip 3) - Healthy Drinking and HydrationA major component to most healthy eating plans is water consumption. Drinking plenty of water not only keeps our body hydrated, but also helps maintain the function of our organs and muscles. Increased water consumption helps boost our energy levels, promotes better health and helps reduce our appetite. Of course there are many other benefits.Healthy Eating Tip 4) - Vitamins and Mineral SupplementsEven though we may be following a healthy eating plan, we should consider taking high quality vitamin and mineral supplements, to help replace any that our diet may lack. Most of us do not have a perfectly nutritious diet, and even if we did, outside influences such as poor soil conditions or time between harvesting fruit and vegetables and consumption all affect the nutrition value of the foods that we eat. Multi vitamins are a good choice of supplements, also a calcium and mineral complex which includes magnesium and vitamin D, a B complex vitamin and also perhaps a fish oil supplement to boost omega 3 fatty acids.Healthy Eating Tip 5) - Stop the NibblingWe also need to regulate how often and how much we eat. We often find ourselves nibbling or snacking unnecessarily, sometime due to boredom. Sometimes we may be feeling restless or stressed, which may lead to snacking. This is one habit that needs to be broken, as we will no doubt be eating far more calories than our body actually needs. Not only is it important to improve the quality of foods we eat, but also to regulate how often and how much we eat. We should also aim to reduce our portion sizes at meal times. By not overloading our stomach, we will stop the full, sluggish feeling we suffer after overeating, and this will also increase our energy levels, which can only help burn off more calories.Healthy Eating Tip 6) - Be Selective With SweetsRefined white sugar has an adverse effect on our body. It can cause fluctuation in our blood sugar levels, which stimulates hunger and often reduces important nutrients from the body. Including plenty of fresh fruit in our diet can help satisfy any sweet cravings, and of course we can substitute sugar with sweeteners. Over a few days our craving for white sugar will decrease substantially.Healthy Eating Tip 7) - Select Colourful FoodsThe more colourful the food is, the higher the nutrient content. Foods such as tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, spin