The stars were going out now, one by one, dropping like pennies behind the television aerials and the skylights and the washing strung between the chimneys. The sky was still dark - a sated, navy-blue woman - but the grass was jittery with the expectation of dawn.

~ Peter S. Beagle

Peter S. Beagle Chimneys Dawn Daybreak Morning Skylights Stars Television Aerials

With gas cookers and chip pans in every kitchen, the chip-pan fire was by far the most popular method these Proddies had for burning their houses down. The second technique was the ever popular chimney fire and number three had to be the drunken cigarette drop on the carpet. Mind you, why they'd be cooking chips at this hour was anyone's guess.

~ Adrian Mckinty

Adrian Mckinty Carpet Chimneys Chip Pans Cigarettes Fire