Waking to discover that the electricity was not on during a recent power failure, I was concerned as to how I could face the rigours of the day ahead without my routine cup of tea and boiled egg.

Be resourceful, I told myself, thinking back to boy scout days and a search of long-neglected cupboards revealed an old packet containing six candles. What followed were 30 of the most suspenseful minutes I can remember as I watched the water for any sign of boiling and every minute the candles grew shorter as they burned away.

The candles were down to little more than an inch as the water started to boil and I popped the egg in for the longest three minutes of my life. With just a flicker of flame remaining, the egg was cooked and with tea brewed, breakfast never tasted so good.

But I could never have done it without the determination I learned in those far off scouting days.

-Michael Parker, Brighton