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Open fire

rowan

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,462
Location
Tamar Valley, West Devon
Type of diabetes
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Tablets (oral)
I recently moved to a bungalow with an open fire, first time I've lived with an open fire since I was a kid (when it was the only heating in a big drafty house!) I was so excited with the thought of log fires etc but haven't used it because the place is too warm already.

But I've just discovered a real downside to open fires - a bloody annoying woodpigeon sitting on my chimney pot cooing that very annoying coo and the sound is coming down the chimney right into my loung, very loudly!
 
I guess if you lit the fire, the cooing might stop
 
Open fires I remember them
I remember shivering with my sister on the hearth Waiting for the fire to draw
I remember ice on the inside of the window

Open fire no thank you
I'm more than happy with my remote control central heating
 
One of my childhood chores was to get up and make the fire, clean it out, relay it, make sure it was going properly with plenty of coke to keep it going.

No thank you, central heating and gas fires.

Too much trouble. Don't forget that the chimney cleaner every year and the smell of it.
 
Sancho panza said:
Open fires I remember them
I remember shivering with my sister on the hearth Waiting for the fire to draw
I remember ice on the inside of the window

Open fire no thank you
I'm more than happy with my remote control central heating
Click to expand...


Sounds like my childhood bedroom! Winter of 62/63 with no central heating, how did we survive?

I thought the fire would be nice alongside the central heating, but to be honest it would make it too hot for me to sit in here and then there's the mess, so I'm going to fill it with pinecones or dried flowers etc and make it look pretty. And try and find a way of blocking the sound coming down!
 
My only heating is the open fire in a drafty cold cottage .. My fire is alight all day in the cold weather .. And often during the day in the summer .. Never had a problem with birds on the chimley pot .. But when it snows the snow will come down the chimney on to the coal and hisses loudly ..
Do make sure your chimley is safe .. A coloured smoke can be used to see that you have no leaks and a carbon monoxide alarm is advisable
 


It was my job too and I loved doing it, then! Wouldn't be so keen now though!
One of the clauses in my tenanvy agreement is that I must get the chimney cleaned once a year, even if i dont use it!
 
Have you got the cap thing fitted on top,of your chimney so the birds can't fall down , they sit on it though to keep warm
 
I think you can get a ballon type thing to place in the chimley if your not going to use it .. Mr Google I think will find this for you
 
Enclave said:
I think you can get a ballon type thing to place in the chimley if your not going to use it .. Mr Google I think will find this for you
Click to expand...

That's if you're posh, the unused , bedroom chimney in my house is blocked with a feed bag of straw

The only heating in Bleak House is an open fire in the living room, and my beloved Rayburn that heats the kitchen, provides hot water, dries collies, cats and washing , oh and I cook on it too

Signy
 
Squirrels came down my friends chimney ...
They had to wait ages , opened door , put ladder up to the window ...the little squirrels had a great time ....
They have a Fire and a chimney cover now
 
Kat100 said:
Squirrels came down my friends chimney ...
They had to wait ages , opened door , put ladder up to the window ...the little squirrels had a great time ....
They have a Fire and a chimney cover now
Click to expand...

hahaha I love that! My dog would've gone crazy, he loves chasing squirrels
 
I remember open fires very well.you were warm at the front and cold at the back.and the front of your legs got patterns on.
Not good old days.
We have a log fire here in Spain,but heating as well,we light it because it looks cosy.
 
robert72 said:
I guess if you lit the fire, the cooing might stop
Click to expand...

No good in the summer though lol hopefully with spring coming up, the birds will be more interested in the bees
I do hope it stops though.

RRB
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Patricia21 said:
I remember open fires very well.you were warm at the front and cold at the back.and the front of your legs got patterns on.
Not good old days.
We have a log fire here in Spain,but heating as well,we light it because it looks cosy.
Click to expand...

And if anyone left the room there'd be a chorus of "shut the door!"
 
We have an open fire that runs the central heating Best of both worlds ,but we do have a wood pigeon that sits on the back chimney and calls to us in the bedroom. at 5 am in summer!
CAROL
 
The great thing about a log fire is that you still have heating and a little light even in a power cut. I loved the log fire when I lived with my parents. I wouldn't want the bother of it now though.
 
carty said:
We have an open fire that runs the central heating Best of both worlds ,but we do have a wood pigeon that sits on the back chimney and calls to us in the bedroom. at 5 am in summer!
CAROL
Click to expand...
Do you find it the most annoying bird call ever? And 5am is just so antisocial!
And my one was so loud coming down the chimney, made me almost jump out of my skin!
 
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