Bored of logging

I never thought I'd say it - but here it is: "I'm bored of logging."

I think it's those darn big logs again, they are really hard work to saw and split - they've pushed me over edge and I've had enough.

I'm sure I'll get that twinkle in my eye come winter but for now I'm hanging up my axe and sorting out my golf clubs - now that the clocks have gone forward there is other free time things I can pursue.

I'll still be blogging as I've got an impending fire back installation coming up and other fiery things to do.

Looking down my chimney

I've had a look down my chimney today! Unusual you might think, wouldn't someone look up a chimney? Well yes, you're right, unless of course you're standing on the roof, then you look down the chimney. Let me explain - today I finished off a little job I started last year, namely the painting of my flat roof dormer on the front of my house. Whilst I was up there I checked my chimney stack and I had a good look down the chimney itself. I was a bit surprised that the chimney wasn't lined (I'd been warned to look out for this on various articles I'd read on the t'interweb) and it also appears never to have been used as an open fire as there's very little dirt in there? Anyway, apart from all that it appears to be sound and I'm planning to sweep it soon - and with this done I can organise my plumber to take out the old gas fire and then start the installation of the new fire back - it's all coming together.

Spring awakening

A mild breeze, buds on the trees and birdsong in the air - everything you need as you stride into the woods armed with your backpack and bow saw. Spring is on it's way. Best of all I think I heard my first woodpecker today - well at least I think I did. A succession of pecking sounds coming every twenty seconds or so - I'm not sure if the poor thing was feeding, looking for a mate or making a nest - but I felt truly honoured to have heard it in my little patch of woods. I was pleased as punch, I could have almost laughed out loud. ha-ha-ha-HA-ha.

Here's a video of something similar to what I heard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy3g3p9P5k8&feature=related

Money matters

I've just been summing up how much I've spent so far on my little project and I'm a bit shocked!!! Especially seeing that this was supposed to be "free heat"! This is the breakdown:

Things bought so far: bow saw - £7, splitter axe - £5, wood used for shacks - £30, fire back and lintel - £80, drain rods with sweep brush head - £25, grate and fire bricks - £15, ash pan - £2, brush and shovel for ash clean up - £3, fire guard - £24.

It's heading to £200 quid!!! yahhh - I hope this fire is good when it's finally installed.

Thought of the day

I've been reading a forum/discussion board about log burners/burning wood today and some old fellow on there summed it up nicely...

"I couldn't be more happy" he said. "I love all the 'faffing' that goes with it, i.e. scrounging wood, chopping, cleaning, etc. I find it really satisfying."

I couldn't have put it better myself :-)

How much is enough?

I've only gone and done it! All the wood I'd collected has now been sawn and chopped. I've been playing log tetris all afternoon and now both of my wood stores have been filled completely (with a little left over). The tall one is about 3foot by 7foot, the short fat one is about 5foot by about 8foot. They can now get a sun tan over the summer and dry out as much as possible. I think this ends my wood collecting phase.

==> Update 15/03/09: I just can't stop collecting wood!! I've started a new pile behind my garage now - but this has to be the last lot I collect because I've run out of room after that. I reckon this new pile will be my winter 2010/2011 supply - so it will be 2 years old when I burn it - perfectly seasoned. The stuff in the pictures above will be just 1 year old when burnt but should still be OK. Also I've had a bit of a disaster with the thin wood shelf/shack thing above - the shelves have started to sag! The thickness of the wood I used in the construction isn't sufficient for the weight of the logs - I reckoned on packing each section so that it supported the weight of logs above it - but as the logs season/dry/shrink then they become no longer packed tight and the shelf above suffers. I'm going to unpack and repack next weekend which should sort it.

Skulduggery not so pleasant

New developments at my local wood source. The council have been back with the chainsaw and cut back the massive stump of a tree and kindly left some huge chunks of wood. This seems to have sent out a message to the wood collecting community and every man and his dog (they always seems to have dogs) are there collecting bits.

I myself popped along and grabbed as much as I could carry, had a brief chat with numerous others who were helping themselves from the pile. Actually overdid it on one load and as I bent over to put on my backpack a big log popped out the top, banged me on the head and rolled off - and what was worse was that a dog walker saw me do it and rushed over to check if I was alright. "Yes" I said. "Head fine, coolness in tatters" I thought.

And from what I've heard /seen there's been some skulduggery going on - not only pure muscle and backpacks (i.e. me) have been involved - yesterday I saw a man with a wheelbarrow (sullen fellow) and I've heard that someone came down with a horse. A horse!!! Now that is CHEATING!!