TO BUILD A FIRE

Many many years ago I had the great good fortune to work in Northern Canada for the Hudson's Bay Company. I was one of the last Scottish fur buyers privileged to work amongst the last of the hunting generation of the first nations peoples. I loved the winters up there. The air was so dry and cold you could hear trees split like rifle reports in the sub zero temperatures. Travel was part of the remit and I always remember carrying a box of matches ( dipped in wax ) and a small candle with me at all times. Tonight I needed to build a fire outside under the stars and sat up late with a dram to hand reading then writing. It's at times like this that I always remember this story TO BUILD A FIRE