Firestarter

The father and son chimney sweeps who arrived a few weeks back at Nunhead Cottage swept us into the 18th century as soon as they arrived.

Chimney Sweep Senior came in chattering about the cup of tea he'd been promised but never got at the two cottages before ours.

We obliged as he nattered away at 100 mph. His dad was a chimney sweep before him, and his dad before him, and his dad before him.


We got two of our four fires swept - because at £35 per chimney £70 felt like a lot on a rainy Saturday, even if it was paid by cheque.

Business is booming for the sweeps.

Real fires are all the rage now, Chimney Sweep Senior told us - especially around the posh suburb of East Dulwich. And even Peckham for that matter. The Del Boys and Rodneys the area was once famous for, long gone.


And it turns out it was £70 well spent. The fire has transformed our experience of the house.

Toastie? An under-statement.

We've inherited this coal bucket

And we're using this wooden wine box for logs because lets face it, there's never really any need to store wine at the Nunhead Cottage anyway.

So with the fire comes many a new accessory for us to lust after.

This iron Graham & Green fire guard has caught my eye for starters. .

As the frost finally arrived it seemed like we got the hang of lighting fires at just the right time.