Chop, chop

I've been quite upset all weekend after losing my favourite (brand new) secateurs while we were chopping slashing and burning the brambles. I searched high and low, and eventually came to the conclusion that they must have accidentally fallen into the bonfire with all the brambles I was carrying.
I was hoping that wasn't the case, but raking through the ashes this morning I came across the blades. I lifted them out on the shovel, the handles had completely disintegrated, and then went out shoppping for more.
I found some new ones at Brico Depot, which were half the price of the same ones at the garden centre, and next time we've decided not to chop and burn on the same day!