It will soon be upon us!

Winter that is...

So time to get everything ready whilst it is still nice and dry...
Kindling is gathered and stored.

Yes we know... We also know it is cleaned well.

At the same time as we were chimney cleaning, our six steres of wood arrived.

and as usual tipped in a pile ready to stack. We have this year cut and stacked all the willow from the pollarded trees of two years ago.

So this six steres will have to go in an adjacent stack...We did make a start BUT it will have to wait for another day...

At least we have some help this year, So Steve, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast and we will get the better of it in the morning...

Up On the Roof.....

We getting to the time of year when the evenings feel decidedly chilly and thoughts turn to lighting the fire...

For safety's sake the chimney needs to be swept first and this year Colin went self-sufficient on this score. This meant starting from scratch by making a roof ladder.

After another 'Depannage' experience (our third in a week), we paid a visit to Brico Depot. Now that's always a delight, if only from the 'people watching' point of view.  We never cease to wonder at the amount of 'stuff' people cram into their cars or trailers. We bought the wood needed to make the ladder and by evening it was ready for service.

Colin was up on the roof yesterday with rods and brushes at the ready, when the heavens opened and he was forced to abandon ship (mixed metaphor apologies).

Fortunately second time around the showers held off ...

Soon he was finished and jettisoning the rods...

Then it was on with the cowl...

And back down to earth..

Another good job done, Colin!

Ramonage

Last week we got our supply of wood for the winter. This week it was time to have the chimney swept ready for the cold winter nights!! As our wood burner has a clapet to regulate the speed of burning, the chimney has to be swept from the top down.

The clapet!!

This year (being our second!!) we had a change of chimney sweep. M. Maunet was recommended by one of our neighbours. His service was excellent and could not be faulted.

He was soon on the roof with brush at the ready.

 Off with the cover plate and the sweeping began.

A quick cleanup of the soot from inside the fire and we are ready to go. It has always surprised me how little soot there actually is. I can remember when I was a lad and my parents used to have a coal fire. When that was swept the soot went on forever more!! The good old days !!!

It makes you want it to turn cold!!! Not really but it is nice in winter to sit in front of!!!