I was stashing a large computer box on a high shelf (an accident patiently waiting its turn I suspect, but we needed to get it off the floor), when it slipped and knocked this onto the floor. Despite the fact that it fell onto (admittedly threadbare) carpet, it shattered quite impressively.

I bought it in Covent Garden towards the end of 1993, I think. Recently I got a pestle and mortar from the same place, though I'm not certain why I was shopping for a pestle and mortar, good though it is to have one.

There are two bits to such a burner. Despite the name I've given it, it doesn't actually burn oil, but rather small tealight candles go in the bottom bit, on top of which rests a bowl full of water, into which drops of perfumed oil have been dropped. A subtle fragrance is released. Probably not a chap thing: chaps tend not to go for subtle fragrance; indeed I think we find the concept of fragrance a bit suspect. We'd prefer a smell, and get our money's worth. After all, why hand over all that cash and get something that's only barely detectable?

Anyway, the top bit, the bowl bit, went AWOL a while ago, and this bit has been sitting on a high shelf waiting to be reunited with it, which obviously won't happen now. If I'd known, I could have thrown it away a while ago, but then, there wouldn't have been any point to throwing it away, as it would be perfectly good, apart from not being useable on account of the missing top bit.

Now I have to work out what to do with the orphaned top bit if it does turn up. It seems cruel to throw it away, considering it's not, in itself broken.