Firecones

D'you know? These are the best firelighters in the world. Each morning I stick a couple in the grate, pile on some thinner branches of well-seasoned chêne vert* set light to the cones with a match and then watch it all roar into life. It's magic and free.

This morning I took my Mum out for her weekly shopping trip and she wanted to buy firelighters. I told her about the cones so, on the way back to her house, we stopped under a huge stand of pins parasol** and I collected a big bagful in about two minutes flat. Once home again I lit her wood-burner with a couple of the cones and she was thrilled. Now I've made myself another job.

* Quercus ilex
** Pinus pinea