Oh, good morning! Here I am, sat at my desk pretty much for the first time in weeks and weeks (and with an appalling whisky-induced hangover, not a great start to the week but always fun at the time).

Summer ‘23 has been such a crazy ride. Usually this time of year comes with a sense of dread at what darkness lies ahead but for the first time in my life I am looking forward to autumn, to a slower pace and picking up projects long since cast aside (hey you, the two plates I made in January that still sit unglazed on my work bench - your time is coming!!).

Firstly, I offer you my thanks for being patient, for sticking with me and I am sorry this space has been somewhat lacking recently. Your subscriptions were paused for August because I didn’t want to take your money and offer you nothing in return, but now I’m back home I can turn my attention back your way. And please, please do keep pinging me all your fire related questions, I love helping with them.

This is me, cooking in a heatwave last week as we try to get all the images shot for the new book. 6 days out of 8, tick. My photographer, Jason ingram, is a legend with the patience of a saint. My god, it was hot… there was F’ing and Jeff’ing aplenty.

Anyway, kicking things off this fresh new term, a couple of dates for you…