Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Lighting Up Time

by admin - 23:25 on 23 October 2010

One of the tasks that goes with ownership of a working fireplace is getting it swept once a year – a responsibility assumed by Matchgirl. Employing the sweep, that is – not poking a brush up the flue.

Every year she thinks there's plenty of time; every year she's wrong.

I'd planned to carry out the ceremonial lighting of The First Fire Of Winter when we could make use of a sootless chimney, but last week Matchgirl confessed that she'd finally got around to calling Chim Chimeny, our sweep of choice, and learned that the earliest we could expect a visit is in early December.

That seemed a bit of a wait, especially as for the last couple of evenings Matchgirl's worn her comfort blanket, so tonight the hearth was swept, the remainder of last year's coal and wood brought in from the outhouse, and a cheerful blaze allowed to light up the room while we watched Strictly Come Dancing.

To enjoy an open fire again is almost worth the imminent onset of winter. Almost...

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