My chimney blocked again tonight
Yeah right..........just after I got home after a long day and I lit the log burner!!!
As the cottage filled with smoke
I opened the door and windows to let out the fumes and went into the kitchen to hide as the temperature dropped to just above zero
I sat in the reading chair, with the dogs and Albert jammed all together on my knee and I covered us all with a wool throw as we listened to radio 4
My family
A feisty Welsh terrier, a sad bulldog with issues and a wide eyed black cat with a deformed leg
And we sat together in the warmth of my reading chair
Four souls
Together
Your family could easily describe your friends x
ReplyDeleteAre you the terrier or the bulldog, Mave?!
DeleteAll three at times 😜
DeleteOh no John-that's all you need-and keep your head warm.I had a bad time with mine also-2 chimney sweeps with their rods in succession until the third did it satisfactorily x
ReplyDeleteUgh, we had our chimney done today.
ReplyDeleteMy animals freak out if we get smoke in the house.
DeleteSorry to hear about your chimney. It does not seem very long ago that you had the sweep round.
ReplyDeleteDoes it depend on wind direction too perhaps? If not, sounds like you need to engage another chimney sweep who is good with woodburning stoves.x
ReplyDeleteI’ve got one
DeleteYes Rachel I think you're right-the third sweep who visited here used a scraping tool x
DeleteJohn, "Smoke" is a succinct and memorable poem. Closing lines,"Four souls
ReplyDeleteTogether.", are perfect. Well done,sir.
What a beautiful piece of art - it reminds me of the line drawings of Leung. (Have I spelt his name correctly?) Good luck with the Sweep.
ReplyDeleteYou have a truly wonderful family - and I do hope the next sweep does his/her job properly.
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay safe,
ReplyDeleteGees but you've had an eventful couple of days! Hopefully things get a lot less eventful soon.
ReplyDeleteSmoke filled rooms requiring windows open in the cold of winter is terrible. I would not use the stove until your stove/chimney guy solves this problem. A good huddle in your chair is quick thinking and a good solution for keeping warm as the smoke cleared. OMG - You've had your share of mishaps...
ReplyDeletedid your sweep not do a good job last time? and what a nice chosen family and sculpture. I have my nyla cat on my lap presently.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could warm you all with my heart.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can get it repaired soon! You have a beautiful family.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask. What is blocking your chimney? It can't be birds nesting; too early. You can't be snowbound; it would melt. And it can't be Santa; wrong month. What's up there?
ReplyDeleteLove the picture! Do you own those sweet figures?
ReplyDeleteSorry about the blocked chimney and resulting smoke but also love your words: four souls together. How sweet it is.
Hugs!
Someone, sadly no longer with us, would have loved to have been there when the sweep arrives. But I've no doubt she'll be looking down from above, completely entranced just as before.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have your fur family to keep you warm. I hope you get you chimney sorted quickly, a cold cottage is no fun in February. xx
ReplyDeletePerhaps it MIGHT just have been the wind direction...maybe worth another try? Animals are the most reliable family, especially as you huddle together when the woodburner won't work! x
ReplyDeletePS Love the wood cut-out. Is it part of your art collection?
ReplyDeleteJohn, have you cleaned the baffle plate? I do mine a couple of times a year. I forgot one year and filled the house with smoke?
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't bode well for either the chimney or that recent chimney sweep. Hope it hasn't made a mess of the house. Good you all had each other for warmth and comfort. Are those wood figures yours? I love them.
ReplyDeleteBummer. I hope the smell of the smoke has now gone.
ReplyDeleteI love those figures, they are wonderful x
But...but...didn't you just have the chimney swept?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, too. Seems odd that it would get blocked up so easily.
DeleteYou obviously need a sweep who knows what he's doing and not one chosen because he's lovely!
ReplyDeleteIf you've just had it swept it sounds like you need a cowl fitting on the top of the chimney.
well, that's a real bummer. i hope you get it remedied soon. doesn't your little family have room for one more?
ReplyDeleteIf your chimney is not blocked the problem may be a cold damp chimney. Sometimes the solution can be to open the window closest to the hearth or stove and set a small fan on the area where the draught enters your chimney, go easy don't blow ashes all over. Do not start with too much fuel when you know the chimney has not been used in a couple of days. Mum used to put a sheet of newspaper over the chimney front, that worked too. We have heated. With two wood stoves for years and yes sometimes it is the direction of the wind. A miserable business but with a bit of practice not so intimidating. Thanks for the lovely blog sometimes it is all that keeps me afloat. Xxx
ReplyDeleteThank u deArheart x
DeleteFire places can be very comforting but very unsafe glad you are okay.
ReplyDeleteI like that sculpture and how its simplicity perfectly captures love between humans and animals!
ReplyDeleteLots of good advice about chimneys which I know nothing about so I am just sending good wishes your way! Happy February, John!
ReplyDeleteI really like that figurine, as well!
ReplyDeleteDidn't you just have that chimney swept?!
ReplyDelete(Oh -- I see other people already said that. :) )
I did.......there is an added complication
DeleteHello all but anon
ReplyDeleteThe chimney has a kink in its lining x
The sweep has just left and I’m cleaning up the smoke damage
Ooh, a kink in your lining sound painful! 😚 Hope the smoke damage isn't too bad. Hugs. xx
DeleteWhat caused the kink in the lining? The previous attempt at sweeping perhaps?
DeleteNo there is a kink in the chimney too and the lining was kinked when it was put in , but I wasn’t told
DeleteHope you can have a fire tonight! x
ReplyDeleteThey did a much better job when they used to send young children up to clean them.
ReplyDeleteThrough choice or circumstance you are never idle are
ReplyDeleteyou John? The ups and downs of Life love washing in and out around us eh? chin (and bra straps) up..much love x
I Hurtle through daily life like a fat buffalo looking for a lion
DeleteJohn. I don't think it would be anything to do with your recent sweep.It may be the baffle, or for other reasons - here: https://www.stoveworlduk.co.uk/why-is-my-wood-burning-stove-spilling-smoke-into-the-room#:~:text=For%20a%20stove%20to%20work,chimney%20back%20into%20the%20room.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, it was helpful
DeleteFamily time is the best. Enjoy. Love your family.
ReplyDeleteI do x
DeleteA log fire is so cozy but work at the best of times would a small electric space heater not be a worthwhile investment even if it was just to heat up the house quickly before the log fire gets going?
ReplyDeleteYou paint a lovely picture of you and family huddled under a blanket nice and cozy, I also like the figure of the dog and owner. Best wishes Margo.
Sounds like you need to save up and have a new chimney built WITHOUT any kinks in it! Is that a possibility? Or can you actually get a different type of home heating system? One that doesn't smoke?!?
ReplyDelete