No Roaring Fire This Christmas

We had our chimney swept this week and were given the sad news that it is breached with our neighbour's, so we won't be having a roaring fire this Christmas, and we won't be sending up messages to Father Christmas.

The options that we have are:

• don't use it
• line the chimney for around £1.5k (and have a fire that's about 20% efficient)
• put in a wood burning stove for around £2k (and have a fire that's nearer 70% efficient).

My immediate response was....how do we get it lined?  I love fires!  I want an open fire!  I need an open fire!

 

I then took a deep breath and realised that even if we had that kind of money, my priority is putting a bay window in our kitchen to make space for a table, which would impact every day of my life, rather than a fire which would be wonderful for a few evenings a year.

God then also reminded me that we have been richly blessed with:

• a roof over our heads
• central heating
• warm clothes
• rugs
• double glazing
• and friends that do have open fires;-)

So in the end, it was a no brainer, and once again I was reminded how useless I am at being thankful for all the amazing things with which we are blessed.  And with the howling, cold wind outside tonight, I am very thankful!   (And Father Christmas need never fear having a scorched behind when entering our property on Christmas Eve ;-)