Well, if you've been following my Twitter feed you'll know that it's been quite an evening at Dale Towers near Saffron Walden. We've been spending the weekend with my parents at their farm (where I grew up) in Ashdon.
At about 9pm my partner John went out for a smoke and came rushing in saying he thought there was a fire at the back of the farm, where my father lets one of the villagers work on his stock cars.
We rushed round there - it's about 300 yards from the house - and the flames were leaping 30 feet in the air and were threatening a barn and a mobile phone mast. I phoned 999 and within about ten minutes three fire engines carrying about 20 firemen arrived from nearby Linton and Saffron Walden. They soon had it under control. Around half an hour later two police arrived.
I shall be careful what I say, but it is pretty clear it was arson. People were seen running away from the farm. Villages are small places. People know things. The stock car guy knows who did it. I know who did it. The police know who did it. Will they be charged? Will they buggery.
Still, the evening did have some consolation for my two sisters. They spent the entire time trying to snog the firemen and making jokes about helmets and sliding down poles. I, of course, maintained my decorum at all times.
Finally, a word of praise for Essex & Cambridgeshire Fire Brigade. They were superb this evening. Thanks, guys.
