Naked Flames

When you want to set a scene of romance you light candles, turn off the lights and maybe light an incense stick as well don't you? That's what i did just so we could have some US time rather than working on the house, entertaining guests or running around sorting other things out.
We had a nice relaxing meal and were cuddled up on the sofa watching a video..."The Tamarind Seed" starring Julie Andrews & Omar Shariff, a love story of a kind when Luscious remarked about a funny smell, no it definately wasn't me and the cat was out, so as i couldn't smell anything we carried on watching the film. A couple of minutes later i noticed the smell as well but couldn't work out what it was, after getting up and walking around the room i established that it was coming from the area that the candles were burning but couldn't see anything amis so sat back down again. MISTAKE, about 10mins later a small wisp of smoke drifted up towards the ceiling and it was then that i realised what was happening. The candles were on a ledge with a wooden shelf about 6" above them and the heat from the candle flame had eventually caused the wood to smoulder!!!! Without further ado i got a cup of water and poured it over the top of the shelf which started to hiss and pop and produce a lot more smoke/steam + the most god awful smell. This shelf is an original part of the house and i think must have been used at some time as a toilet by the rats that used to run around when it was a working farm!! The smell of smouldering rats urine was disgusting and put an end to any romantic notions that i might have been harbouring.

With the "fire" finally damped down and with it our libido we decided to have a cup of tea and sit outside as the smell inside was revolting... even with windows/doors open during the day it took the best part of three days for the smell to completely go! Needless to say the offending piece of wood has now been removed!!