I built a fire last night, the first for a long time. Some friends were visiting my stepdaughter and just as they were about to leave they asked to see our house. My wife mentioned that it was a lovely evening for a fire, which immediately had the grandchildren running around trying to find chocolate and marshmallows.

It was already dark, and I think that this was the quickest that I have got together paper and kindling, and got the fire started in our fire pit. We sat around it, roasting marshmallows, until some drops of rain and over tired kids made us decide to call it a night.

A lovely, spur of the moment change of plans.