About 2 months ago, my friend Ray had a rather interesting evening. His suburb, Arcadia, had been without power for over 48 hours. It was about 8pm and Ray was really hacked off. The cold baths, no TV, the take -outs instead of home cooked wholesome food (not that Ray can cook) and not being able to pursue his passion of reading was really getting to him. Poor bugger! In a desperate attempt to get a modicrum of normalcy back into his life Ray decided to sit on his bed trying to read his novel (I'll ask for the title so we can all get ourselves a copy and try this at home) using a tiny candle in an upside down lid (or cap if you may) of a discarded peanut butter container, sitting delicately balanced on his bed. Those of you who have tried to read by candlelight are aware of how tiring this is on the eyes, which are accustomed to more light, so Ray yawns and (understandably) decides to take a short break from his book, places his head on his pillow and.... did I mention that the candle was on the bed????
Somewhere in the middle of the opening credits of his 2nd dream his nostrils pick up this strange smell. He woke up and turns his head to find his sheets being mercilessly engulfed in flames. Needless to say it took him 0.8 secs to leap off the bed to safety, but during this brief flash he had the "presence of mind to ask himself a really pertinent question: "Where the hell did the fire come from?" He quickly attacked the flames with some yet to be identified object and then inspected the damage. The sheets have this new gaping hole and the mattress has a matching hole as well. Ray takes off the mattress and turns it around and then upside down, puts on fresh sheets, gets back into bed and settles down to a well needed rest. minutes later he feels a warm sensation in his feet.... Yes the night is warm, but this is a little too warm for comfort. he gets ups to inspect the mattress only to find a smouldering hot inferno burning the base of his...yes, wooden bed. So, in desparation, he dashes outside in his pyjamas to find as much sand as he can carry, under the watchful eye of the dog with an understandably puzzled look on its face.(Its amazing how difficult it is to find sand in the moonlight, with a burning bed indoors - try it sometime...)
Finally the fire is snuffed out but the bed is not very useful, so Ray packs his bags to sleep by his moms house (where there is power), I suppose for his own safety... Just as he finishes packing, the power comes on!!!
