We currently have ceiling lights that are synonymous with narrow boats. Brass ring with glass centre and a little switch on each. They’re not particularly energy efficient so I’m having them replaced with energy efficient tubed lights. Besides, the currents ones really burn hot and what a palaver when you need to swap out the bulbs – screwdriver requried!

Anyway, I’ve always preferred ambient lighting to sit with in the evenings and so far have been enjoying candlelight. Not the greatest light givers unless you have lots of them so my thoughts turned towards oil lamps!

I looked everywhere! Many antiques to choose from with hefty price tags and no guarantee that they’re a) working or b) safe. So, 2nd hand/antique lamps were out.

I found some rather beautiful ones by a French manufacturer called Guardard but they never return emails and the one place I found in the UK that stocks them don’t return emails either and don’t provide a phone number. Lost sale there then… not that I’m upset as a pair of those were £177.00.

What I found today look exactly the same and are sold by a marine chandlery Tradeline. I gave them a call to order a couple of their Galley Lamps (after working out that their link URL’s were broken and finding the correct links).  They worked out £100 cheaper than their French cousin.  I’ve chosen White shades though, not green as in the photo.  The guy on the end of the phone was really nice and helpful too.  Thanks

Lovely aren’t they!  Nostalgic, functional and hold enough fuel for 70+ hours of burning according to the blurb so very economical to run.  The light produced by an oil lamp is warm and romantic.  Just need a man to share them with now

So, they’ll be with me in a couple of days and I’m quite excited LOL.

We took another walk along the freshly snow covered towpath today in search of ‘crumble’ ingredients.  We came back with more than I anticipated and nearly dislocated my shoulders carrying it back.  Silly me… still, we’ll prepare the blush pears and plums tomorrow and get that in the oven.  I even spoiled myself to a rather nice bottle of aged port and will splash a bit of that in the pan when stewing the fruit.

Really getting on with the Taybrite but still haven’t managed to keep it going all night.  Mind you, I woke up this morning at 7 to see the fresh snow and knowing the school would be closed went back to bed til 9am.  I don’t think the fire would keep going for 9 hours without seducing it some huh!  No worries, on with a Tigertim log that reignited the coals that remained allowing me to build the fire gradually throughout the day.  Bliss.

Lastly, I was contacted by BBC Wiltshire who want to interview me having read my blog.  Wonder what questions they’ll have?

Thoughts go out to Haiti; another natural tragedy.

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