A very peculiar old man stopped me in the street yesterday. Amidst the spitting and swearing, I made out the following words: "Watch yourself sonny, fire and ice don't mix." "That's strange," I replied, "I've just bought this new Mathmos lamp, which seems to state otherwise." So, I invited him home, made him a cup of tea, and together we filled the mould from the lamp with water. We then stuck it in the freezer, and passed time playing scrabble while we waited for the water to turn to ice. We then removed the ice from the mould, and placed, as instructed, a little candle in the centre. "Incredible," the man said with a toothless grin, "I guess they're right." Mathmos are always right, I smugly thought to myself. With that I waved him goodbye, and just as I was closing the door I heard him shout at a neighbour, "Watch yourself sonny, fire and ice don't mix." What an odd man.

The Mathmos Thaw is available now for £20/$50.