The insanity of manufacturing a candle in England. The @UKCivilService closed my shop (no furlough for me but rent and rates still apply) so I thought I would use the time to develop a new product (see below):

I live in Berwick and sell arts and crafts to customers, in Berwick we have a lighthouse (see below). That would make a great candle, thinks I. So I carefully measured the thing and commissioned a wood-turning neighbour to make me a 'former' - the thing you make a mould from.

Early attempts were difficult - temperature, dye, quantities, technique with wax-pouring. A 100 hours of steep-learning curve. Two pickle jars - white and red, a constant bain marie... A latex mould (not cheap).

Being me, throw money at it, take the time to get it right. If it's good people will buy it. I designed and built a special funnel to get the wax in - can't splash the sides. Each cock up is melted down. Eventually I've got 10 good candles. Each is 10" tall made of a pound of wax

I've already got a good painting of the lighthouse, a bag - with a seaweed (compostable) window. Ready for market. Now I figure out the cost: £3 for wax per candle, 80p per bag, 15p per label. OMG, what about the £250 I've spent on moulds and formers?

Let alone the cost of keeping a cooker hob on a low heat - permanently. It takes three hours to cast a candle - minimum wage that's at least £15. So the cost of a handmade candle of the Berwick lighthouse is £20 not including capital. Know you know why you buy stuff from China.

On a happy note: I sat down with my dear Father and went though the costs. With two more moulds: I can reduce the labour to £3. Therefore you can buy my handmade candle of the Berwick lighthouse for £10 from @Serendi35446178 in Marygate, Berwick.