THE perishing frosts over the holiday period transported me back to childhood days before central heating became a must-have.

I woke up on Thursday to find the inside of my bedroom window thick with ice - despite having secondary glazing.

How many others had the same experience and were thankful that we now have a magic switch instead of being forced to get up, clean out a grate, twist papers and make a blower out of a shovel and newspaper? One sign of the times Im grateful for.