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The fire practically took care of itself and we spent several hours piling on logs and brush. The heat that it generated was considerable and as the self-appointed fire whisperer, I spent plenty of time making sure that things were burning brightly. There is something so relaxing about tending a fire on the beach with a fresh wind coming off the Sea. A perfect time to consider what is important in life and let the inconsequential burn up and blow away like Alder ash. Even though it was a cool westerly wind, the heat from the fire was blistering. By the end of the day, my face felt like a fir plank floor that had been sanded one too many times – nothing original was left except for the thinnest of veneers. On the positive side, I will have a smooth wrinkle-free face for the next week.