Do you remember the ice flowers? Those strange-shaped bouquets left by cold nights on the inside of your bedroom window. Looking back, I seem to recall waking up every childhood winter morning to those glacial ferns of intricate whorl and feather, with their odd but beautiful blooms.

Created when warm breath hits the iceberg of a window and thus condenses, these ice formations are no longer common in our living quarters – double glazing and central heating have put an end to such curious flower arranging.