Redmage good post and welcome!

As kids we took a can and put 3 or so charcoal briquettes in it to use as a hand heater when it was really cold ( it does get really cold in Australia sometimes). <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Using stones to hold the heat and control embers is a great idea. I will have to try it out, it could be of benefit in our bushfire prone areas. Now just to work out how to safely feed the fire!