Well, for once I have something newsworthy to say.. unfortunately. Not all that long after midnight, the other half heard glass breaking and went to check it out. Only to see a fire that seemed to be coming from the flat downstairs. After pulling out the modem from the phone line to call the firebrigade (much to my chagrine) we went downstairs and waited with the girl from one of the other flats, for the firebrigade to arrive. Two engines turned up, by which time smoke was billowing out of the house. After a while we were led into the warm cab of the fire engine, whilst waiting for a red cross van to come so that they could look after us. Although they were not needed for now.

Apparently, the TV in the ground floor flat (which was empty for xmas holidays) caught fire.. and is now a lump of melted plastic. Their flat is absolutely full of smoke, and flat 2, which was also unoccupied and so had to be forced open, is also a little smokey. We got off lightly, as did the other girl in the house. A little smokey to smell, and a cold house cause we've left all the windows open. But we're otherwise ok. Still, not the way we planned to spend new year.. and we're incredibly relieved we were all awake at the time.. if we hadn't been.. well.. I probly wouldn't be here typing this..