Modern Labour of Hercules

Getting modern domestic fuel to ignite is one, according to a neighbour who likes a coal fire. Worse, the moulded stuff on offer seems to be 10% coal and 90% cement, which forms the world’s best thermal insulator on combustion.
    As a spin-off, my neighbour gets lots of exercise from raking the grate with a poker to keep the pestky stuff glowing redly.