Random reminder

Press, 4 August 1976, Page 28

Random reminder

GREAT OAKS . . .

There is sometimes only a slender margin between diversion and disaster. There was a dinner party for four in a suburban home, on the evening that the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) was on television in “The Edwards Show.” It was a pleasant meal, eaten in the soft glow of two candles in wall brackets, one on each side of the room. The meal done and the cloth swiftly drawn, the diners moved into another room to watch the television programme. About an hour latei, two of them came back, either through disenchantment with Messrs Muldoon and Edwards, or enchantment each with the other; they proposed to have a dance. They were assailed by a strong smell of smoke;

and they found flames two or theee feet high as the carpet on each side of the room burned briskly. The hostess had installed her new candle brackets for the occasion, not knowing they were made of plaster. They simply looked like brass. The host telephoned the local fire brigade — a volunteer organisation — explaining that he needed only a little swift advice about how to put the fire out, and the needed no turn-out of the brigade. They sent two engines. The sound of tne sirens attracted the attention of a nearby publican, who thought the house on fire was that of a poultryman friend of his. So he came too. So did a man from tha brigade tp give ad-

vice. And sundry assorted firemen. Before any of them arrived, the fire nad been put out and the smoke had been cleared away. But it was clearly a state of emergency, and a swift vote persudaded the publican that he should restock the house swiftly, in case there was a further outbreak of fire. He was away a matter of minutes. So there it was — the carpet ruined, the curtains blackened; but otherwise no misfortunes. And a dinner party of host and hostess with two guests was converted into a friendly frolic for 14, at the end of which none of those present had the slightest idea of what Mr Muldoon or Dr Edwards had said.