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The Straddle building at Victoria Quays, Sheffield.

One of a pair found on a narrow boat in Victoria Quays, Sheffield.

Made originally as a tractor seat by Blackstone & Co, Stamford, Lincs.

Why don't ducks get frozen feet?

Well, apparently…ducks, as well as many other birds, have a counter-current heat exchange system between the arteries and veins in their legs. Warm arterial blood flowing to the feet passes close to cold venous blood returning from the feet. The arterial blood warms up the venous blood, dropping in temperature as it does so.

This means that the blood that flows through the feet is relatively cool. This keeps the feet supplied with just enough blood to provide tissues with food and oxygen, and just warm enough to avoid frostbite. But by limiting the temperature difference between the feet and the ice, heat loss is greatly reduced.

So there!

And I will stroll the merry way and jump the hedges first
And I will drink the clear clean water for to quench my thirst
And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high
On a bluer ocean against tomorrow's sky.
And I will never grow so old again
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain.

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing
My, my, my, my, my sweet thing
And I shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry
'Hey, it's me, I'm dynamite and I don't know why'
And you shall take me strongly in your arms again
And I will not remember that I even felt the pain.
We shall walk and talk in gardens all misty and wet with rain
And I will never, never, never grow so old again.

- Van Morrison
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QzDWIOUnM0