Chimney Part Two

The living room now has a large hole in the chimney breast.

It gapes like an jagged mouth, revealing the orange tongue of the chimney liner covered in duct tape. Everything is covered in a thick layer of brown filth. It stinks of old coal dust and grime.

But the liner’s in, which is the main thing. And no one was killed, maimed or even injured.

Himself could hardly move he was so tired last night, so I made his grub and I went out to rehearsals for Pajama Game, so was able to escape the building site. It was one of those evenings when I was convinced that not only do I have two left feet, but I couldn’t remember the notes either. And as I don’t read music, that doesn’t help. Still, it got me out of the house.

I’ve just discovered that Himself has been cutting aluminium in the kitchen. On the chopping boards. Despair is not a word that I use lightly.

I’m not sure what he’s carving it up for - something to do with the huge amount of work that now has to be done in the living room to repair the hole in the wall, fix the chimney liner to the stove, make a new hearth – and whatever else needs doing. It’s better not to ask, believe me.

Mike’s coming back today and the work should be finished in a couple of days. Well, say the end of the week.

By which time the multi fuel stove will be in service.

The reasoning behind this upheaval is that when the easterly wind blows, our flat is freezing, and that’s with the heating on. So, what with gas prices rising, we felt an alternative or additional form of heating was a good idea.

Actually it was my mother’s idea, in self defence, when she stayed one weekend and was freezing. She is funding this project, bless her, which is forming my next 600 birthday and Christmas presents.

By the weekend we hope everything will be in place. And you can guarantee that we will have the warmest winter on record.

But the best bit of news for our friends next door is that they won’t be smoked out whenever we light the fire. RT you can celebrate – come and share the fire!