Street Fire and Black Bingo Lampe Bergere

Office life is becoming exciting: arrived to find there was no electricity, so we decided to sort out numbers for outings and holidays from the replies we had received. It was becoming rather cold from the lack of heating. Suddenly at about midday there was a huge bang outside our window and flames shot up to the sky right outside. There were one or two lesser explosions and some smoke. Romy dialled 999 and they decided it was probably an electricity junction box shorting. The building opposite was emptied so we decided discretion was the better part of valour and set off to have lunch before going home. Dorothy and Julian were also without electricity and possibly water, also . They are due to arrive at Baglady Corner this evening to perform their ablutions, if not kip overnight.

Sooo excited. My Lampe Berger has arrived together with a little bottle of orange and cinnamon scent. You have to pour in half a bottle of scent with a little funnel, clean away any spare scent on the outside as it is flammable, put the wick in and leave for 20 minutes with the top on before removing this and lighting the wick. Huge flames shoot out for a minute or two, but after about three minutes this settles down. Then you blow out the flame and put the large open cap on and leave on for half an hour or so to scent the room. You put it out by carefully removing the open cap without burning yourself, put the small cap on and replace the open cap over this. Apparently it takes about half an hour to perfume the place and get rid of any noxious fumes. After ten minutes it really smells good. It is a matte black lamp rather horribly called 'Bingo' and it goes very well with my other black things. There are so many other designs. I may well purchase something red and sumptious-looking for my bedroom at some stage. Or turquoise. We shall see.