On axe...

With my burner now in and ready to burn, clearly it needs fuel. Things to make it go, you might say.

My brother and I had totalled one short axe a few weeks back, using it as a conduit for the force from hammer blows to split logs.  It worked on you tube but we didn't quite have it down and the axe had to go in for  a new handle (sorry dad). With wider research on technique and a bit of on line shopping,  I happened upon a wood splitting set from Screwfix and set to this bank holiday Monday with the result below. All managed with limbs intact to boot!

Woodburner - day 2 and lighting.

Friday saw the completion of the burner install here in BS5. There are some decorative tweaks yet to complete but all in all, the wood burner is functional and fitted - and very, very toasty.

It was a right caper being here for both days of the fitting and I asked tons of questions.

Here he is....Bernard the burner via a time lapse and a series of stills.

Wood burner Install - day 1

A very exciting day has made its way to Blog BS5. I have finally got to the installation point for a wood burner here in the house.

The house is  about 115 years old, so naturally it has a chimney, and today after a decade of residence I stuck my head up there and took a look. There it was, quietly and reliably intact, ready to take a new lining for many a happy fire to come.

Here are some images of the day 1 install. There is solid wood, slate, iron, brick, render, cement, history, fascination and  all manner of conflagratory potential.


More updates on day 2, and at the weekend, maybe even a real fire movie.

Walking Week!

Almost a week ago I left BS5 to spend a Sunday afternoon driving 245 miles up to The Lake District in Cumbria. Walking Week had finally come around - this had been in the diary for ages!

I work for Rohan, a retailer  for 'Outdoor, Adventure, Travel'. We sell top end clothing to suit that strap line and the week was all about days with Store Managers trying out gear and just getting together to do what our customers do. Each lunchtime a set of Managers joined us at Windermere railway station, we had an afternoon walk, dinner together in the evening, a morning walk and then back to the station to start all over again,  Monday through to Friday. I have thirteen Stores and a mix of guests were from my Area. It was relaxed and informal and whilst no great distance was covered (maximum walk 6 miles), the elevation was full on!

We were based in Hawkshead on the edge of Windermere. We walked Red Screes, Tarn Hows, Grizedale Forest, and a load of other steep climbs. It was fantastic!  We also made a video to show later in the year. Larks a plenty, healthy, fresh air...and paid to boot!

I had never stayed in the Lake District before but I will go again. It was my birthday in the week, and the last few years I have been on a dull work  errand but 2015/43 was memorably different and I am grateful.

Top stuff!