• MY flat, and indeed the council block, is riddled with mice; I cannot have hot water because just to wash my hands I have to heat a whole tank of water as the council refused to install an immersion heater when our heating was replaced.

Anything gas or electric is too costly to use. Winter will be here all too soon and although I feel that I have gone backwards in time at least if I was Victorian I could have lit a fire for warmth and cooking. But not now.

It feels a bit like the dark ages. So is it to be “salad by candlelight” this Christmas. Bah humbug!!

JILL FRASER
West Kentish Town Estate