Tuesday 8 January 2008

The Chimney Liner

Chaos here.

The front room is covered in sheets and blue tarpaulin, with parts of a wood burning stove on the floor.
Our friend Mike is at the top of the chimney clinging onto a ladder, trying to drop a chimney liner down, while Himself is at the bottom, inside, trying to pull the thing down. It's hard work and dust and rubble is tumbling down the chimney. The worry is whether the very old chimney will be clear enough for the liner to go down. I can only hope so.

Gale force winds are forecast for this afternoon – and rain – and Mike is a tiny fellow. I’m hoping he won’t get blown away. In fact, I’m trying not to think about what they’re doing at all.

When I went into the kitchen earlier the two men were having a Conflab about whether to risk the weather - the forecast for the rest of the week is lousy. Mollie was looking at her most cute, sitting on Mike’s lap. The Helper, evidently.

Me? I’m trying to type up an interview I did last night with a cafĂ© owner, amidst cries of “Pop! Can you help?”

I rush outside to grab a cable dangling down the wall, feed it through the catflap and plug it on so they have power up there.

Moll rushes up and down the corridor with me, looking very Anxious.

I go back to the computer, type up some interview. Next door, something rushes down the chimney. I only hope it’s not Mike.

“Pop!” From next door. Back I go. At least I can hear two voices so no one has fallen off the roof. Yet.

I have a feeling this is going to be a Long Day. And as for me trying to get any work done? Tricky.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Couldn't think of anything worse. I hate heights! Fingers crossed he doesn't fall or anything. You won't get any work done at all then!

Crystal xx

Mid-lifer said...

Eek.

Weather here is foul so good luck to them.

He calls you pop?? We (myself and my own 'himself') used to call eachother pip and pop (why? - not even we can remember), but at some point forgot who was pip and who pop. Now we are both just pip.

Katherine and Pippa said...

Partner has installed a wood-burning stove in the rain before now (against his better judgment).

These things are summer jobs.

Katherine

laurie said...

i hope it's not mike, too!

seems this task could have waited a week, couldn't it?

Lane Mathias said...

Hope the job was successful and you managed to finish the article:-)

Flowerpot said...

crystal - I also have terrible vertigo. And as for falls - oh my God!

Midlifer - eek is one way of putting it but at least it hasn't rained - yet. How strange you two being pip and pop. I am definitely Pi[p and Himself is Pop though. Hello to you Pippers!

Katherine - I agree. They SHOULD be summer jobs....!

Flowerpot said...

laurie - waiting is not a word in Himself's vocabulary. And we had to fit it in with when Mike could work and he's only available this week.

lane - the job will go on for most of the week but Day One is going beter than expected. Although the entire flat is covered in black dust now. As for teh article - well, I've knocked it into rough shape. It's a start!

Elaine Denning said...

Perhaps they'll find Santa up there with a few more pressies for you?

Hope the weather eases off soon...I can't wait for Spring.

Akelamalu said...

So did they get it done, without accidents? I hope so!

Flowerpot said...

MissU - yes, it's blowing a gale here. Some warm weather would be lovely!

Ak - this is an ongoing job - should take days!

Ellee Seymour said...

You are obviously a multi tasker like me. I hope you get the chance to put your feet up this evening and unwind over Holby City.

Beth said...

Gosh the weather reminds me of my homeland in Canada. I hope you are all bundled up warm and snuggled up in be with a hot water bottle!

Flowerpot said...

ellee - in fact I went out to rehearsals for the musical I'm in so today I'm exhausted!

Flowerpot said...

beth - well I did eventually! It wasnt cold here just very windy and today's even worse!

Cornish Dreamer said...

A chimney liner will be the perfect solution. I hope it wasn't too expensive for you. Soon you'll be able to enjoy nice cosy fires again. I bet you can't wait?!

Flowerpot said...

RT - well let's hope so - and you wont be smoked out!!!

the rotten correspondent said...

That sounds scary. You couldn't pay me enough money to get up on a high ladder.