Cone-bending tricks

Do you know this one,fellow-potters?A cone starts to bend normally,then appears to pause in its descent:if you miss it,you continue firing and,if it's the guard cone,overfire.I had one of these jokers in yesterday's kiln - the tip of cone 9 perched on the rim of a bowl on its way down:luckily/for a change I was paying attention,made allowances,and the firing was fine.Motti's sink and tiles looked great [he's moving into the new house today,came round an hour ago to pick up his order].An overcast,hamsin-y day - time to get out the whitewash and disguise last year's squashed-mosquito marks and the odd winter-damp-blackened area.The studio is stuffed to the gills with pots and sparkling clean [well...]- bring on the holidaying hordes!