I’m not a huge lover of winter – too dark and gloomy for me but there is something that makes it bearable……lighting the fire each night. How I love that.

Tonight, after work, we popped down to our local M&S for a bit of shopping – well DM said he needed some new clothes and I had to leap on that given that he hasn’t bought ANYTHING new since we’ve been together. So, as soon as he mentioned it, I was shoving him towards the car and telling him what a good idea!!!

I’d been working at home so we could get down there quite early for a weekday night. It’s open until midnight from now until Christmas each day.

Because I’d been at home, I’d become insulated from the elements so I hadn’t realised how cold it is. When we went outside it was colder than we’ve experienced so far this year (5.5º) and as it was only 7pm it seemed like a good excuse to light our first fire of the winter (here at least). The chimney was swept a few weeks ago in anticipation of this moment and so we were all ready for it.

It’s so different from the fireplace in Cornwall which is really rugged and rough looking – this one is a very classic late Victorian/Edwardian style but is in fact only seven or eight years old. When I moved here eleven years ago, the previous owners had seemed grittily determined to rid the house of all its period charm – I’ve spent years trying to put some of it back and this is one of my finest achievements.

My parents think I’m bonkers for wanting a real fire – they are doggedly determined that they’re dirty and difficult – but they do like it when they come round and interestingly my Nan always appreciates it.

My eagerness to light the fire meant that while DM was trying on his new clothes, I’d already got it going and roaring up the chimney. Even though I’ve photographed it before, I decided I could do a better job and so this is what I came out with.

I think it’ll satisfy my harshest critic (DM)………….