Warm glow

My birthday. Family all present. Late breakfast/brunch. A walk beside the river. Home for tea/cake - and then the best gift ever: the power went off!! Cue for me to get down all my old oil lamps and reminisce about my first five years spent in rural isolation without electricity, running water, telephone, transport or much money.

A pasta meal was cooked on our (bottled) gas stove and we  sat round the fire "just like the old days" and then to everyone's relief the lights came back on and the lamps were put away for another emergency. I always aim to keep them filled,  with matches and candles at the ready,  because You. Never. Know.

Thanks to everyone who left such nice compliments on yesterday's blip.