Yes folks, it’s that time of year again, well and truly!  As my last post suggested, my flue needed a darn good seeing to and that took place today.

I consulted the Oracle (Google) and found a local man called Ben Pike.  He came to see me today, some 24 hours after contacting him, and set to work.  I knew I had a pipe full of creosote and he removed that with his scraper tool before giving it a good sweep and hoover.  And all for the Princely sum of £40!

Bargain!

I’ve not ruled out the replacement of my flue and definitely need the chimney pot replacing… that’ll happen next week :)

We’re now enjoying a ‘safe’ real fire and are now all set for the Winter.  Bring it on!

I’m guessing here but I think I’ve got creosote in my morso squirrel flue… why you may ask.

Well, last night Lottie was chilly and popped a Tiger Tim log into the stove and burned it. She said it burned very fiercely and then subsided.

This morning at 10am it was still smoking terribly – acrid grey/white smoke – so I doused it with water. What was interesting is that inside the stove looked greasy/waxy! I accused her of burning something else in it as well as the log but she was adamant she hadn’t so I googled the problem and came up with a greasy pipe

I’m guessing it’s the original one that was installed from new – 19 years ago.

Do you also think it’s that? I cleaned up and shoved my flue brush up and down several times and each time, on withdraw flat broken bits of something came out too. I thought it looked metal but I could be wrong.

Time for a new flue?

I’ve also read a website about creosote in a flue over at Master Sweep which kind of confirms my diagnosis.  Do you agree?

The Niece of Tom Barrie who’s a pensioner, who lives on NB Wirral Wanderer, is trying to find him as she’s not heard from him in over a year.

my uncles name is Tom Barrie The boat ..well just a barge to me ! I think it was blue and was traditional looking  His last Known whereabouts ummm ! Berkhampstead . He s a very sociable bloke and chatty so can t see anyone not noticing him as he s been on canals for a long time about 8 or 9 years and was in Nantwich alot also but has no perminent mooring that i know of

If anyone knows his whereabouts please contact Lucy Nix by clicking this email link

I hope he’s ok :)