I've just been for a delightful run as the sun was rising. I wouldn't normally be awake at that silly hour, but fire waits for no man.

We woke up at about 4 to find the laundry, which is a shed a few metres from the house, well ablaze. Millerine called 000 and we tried to wake the neighbours but had no luck there. There's no garden hose or anything so we filled up a couple of buckets and soaked the very flamable fence which blocks the view of our flat from the shed. There was no chance of putting it out because, as I said, it was already well ablaze.

Anyway the firemen came and put the thing out, but our laundry is just a shell now. Apparently it was packed full of asbestos so we're to keep away from it until the agent gets it cleaned up. All very exciting.

We didn't have anything of value in there other than a washing machine which was rented anyway, so the only problem is that the electricity in the kitchen isn't working because it was on the same fusebox as the laundry. So the one time I'm awake early enough to make a cup of tea, I can't. Bugger!