In the never-ending to do list that is my house, having an open fireplace is pretty near the top. It’s a terrible cliche but there is something so relaxing about sitting in a comfy chair watching the frames flickering. Somehow it makes everything feel better. Keep the lights down low and the heating as well and that’s even a practical thing to feel better about.
Actually, I didn’t even make that up (well I did) but there is research to back me up; a study by the University of Alabama found that watching a fire complete with the sound of crackling wood really does lower blood pressure and the longer you watch it the more relaxed you get. Fact.
When we moved in here it was, as some of you will remember, two fairly grotty rental flats which we put back into a single house. We were incredibly lucky that all the fireplaces, although boarded up, were still in situ so we didn’t need to buy any surrounds (these are all from Chesneys).
However most the rooms are missing the grate so if we want to actually have a real fire we need to get on and buy one of those. We should also have the chimney swept (I’m just crossing my fingers the flue is all right). I have the number of a sweep so I must just get round to ringing him. Like I said, my house is an endless to do list.
Mind you, these days having the chimney swept is all very easy. Dare I say dull. I remember at my Grandmother’s house – and she had a huge Inglenook fireplace – that everything had to be covered in dustsheets and the sweep would make a great show of poking the broom out of the top and we would have to run outside and see it. I mean it wasn’t quite Dick van Dyke and Mary Poppins but there was definitely a certain romance to a visit from the chimney sweep. Perhaps it was just knowing that winter was coming and it was time to batten down the hatches and get cosy.
These days, as I recall, it’s a while since I lived in a house with an open fire, they just turn up with a giant hoover and it’s all done in minutes. Still that would suit me at the moment. I’ve got someone coming to take out one of the fruit trees in a couple of weeks so I’ve even got logs for the fire already.
Right I’ve even convinced myself now. Sorting out the fireplace is the goal for Christmas. That way January will be easy because I shall just sit in front of a roaring fire with my laptop and type away while feeling incredibly zen.
Talking of the C word (sorry) Chesneys are running a competition and you have a chance to win a Fortnum & Mason hamper, which would, frankly, not hinder the whole open fire, relaxation, refuelling experience. Click the link if you fancy, I’m off the ring the sweep.
This was posted in collaboration with Chesneys. Normally I would say I need to pay for shoes. In this instance it’s the chimney sweep….
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