I HAVE just been reminiscing on Christmases past and I remember being newly-married and not having much money.

We were living in a rented house with a tin bath, no central heating and had spent almost all we had on a fresh turkey with trimmings. It was bitterly cold and we used a paraffin heater in the kitchen.

We had invited my mam and dad for dinner and we cooked the turkey on Christmas Eve.

On the shelf above the work table I had placed the spare paraffin in a pop bottle. The turkey was cooked to a turn and before going to bed I placed the turkey on the kitchen work surface.

As you have guessed, a sharp frost occurred and while settling down in bed we heard an almighty bang. Rushing downstairs, I found to my horror that the heat from the cooked turkey had exploded the pop bottle containing the parafin - yes, it absolutely covered the turkey.

I decided to take off the skin and coat the turkey in best butter, keeping my fingers crossed.

The meal was duly served and my dad gave me the compliment of saying that it was the juciest and sweetest turkey he had tasted in his whole life.

Needless to say, I never revealed my secret to him.

FRANCIS CROSS, Eagle Street, Accrington.