Our New Toy...

Today has been a real red letter day for us, in fact you could even say a red-hot letter day because today we were having the new wood burning stove installed.

Our first job was to clear the space where the burner was going to go and cover up everything else with dust covers because we had to have a hole cut through the wall for the chimney.  The cats were not impressed because they hate change and we had moved their bed so they were very confused by it all.  Fortunately after all the dreadful weather today was fine and forecast to remain so all day - even though we saw some threatening clouds coming our way from Latchi.

While we were waiting for the guys from AA Homeflame to arrive I took the opportunity to give our bedroom what I guess you would call 'a good bottoming'!!  I blame Nicky as her clean and uncluttered house spurred me into action - John keeps reminding me that our house is most definitely more Country Cottage than Urban Chic and with limited storage we are bound to have 'stuff' knocking about.  Still that doesn't excuse my collection of dust - Mum would be appalled!!  AND what excuse have I got when I don't work not to at least keep the house clean?  Strange really because when I actually get down to it I really quite enjoy it and I do love it when my house looks clean and tidy.  John has just suggested I make this a regular event - as if!!!

We took a mid morning break and treated ourselves to the biscuits that Laura and Mark brought out with them - OMG have you tried Thornton's Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies????  They are absolutely absolutely absolutely the lushest biscuits I have ever tasted and I usually don't like things cooked with chocolate.  Laura and Mark we can't thank you enough - the only trouble is no other biscuit will ever get the juices flowing quite the same again!!!  

Note to any prospective visitors - chocolate is always very acceptable either in bar form or as a biscuit.  Coffee is also very welcome as it costs and arm and a leg out here for a decent brand.

I managed to get the bedroom all lovely and clean and embarked on the bathroom when the guys arrived with the wood burner.  We had joked that they would come in time for bacon butties and so we had got bacon and mini pittas in for them.  Before they started on the job we all had a break with a hot drink and a bacon pitta - which they agreed were some of the best they had tasted - but I expect they say that to all the girls!  

Although AA Homeflame has been in Paphos for 18 years or so Andy and Dean both hail from Yorkshire originally so that gave them something in common with John immediately.

So this is the first stage - our brand new Tala 06 woodburning stove in situ - it looks like it was made for that space!  We had moved the carpet away as far as we could and it sits in the gap on the tiles perfectly - so far so good.  

The guys told us it would take a couple of hours to get it all fitted and then they would stay to make sure it lit and drew properly and I have to say at this point I couldn't wait to see the final result.  My mind is firmly focussed on wood and John has been testing out his chainsaw already on stuff we have scrounged!

This is Dean (from Rotherham - but somebody has to be) punching the hole through the wall for the chimney - fortunately this was not concrete so the job didn't take too long.  The noise was enough to make the cats escape outside into the conservatory for some peace and quiet and warmth as the sun was streaming through.

This is the outside pipework completed and what a neat job they have done -  mind you with John overseeing the project what else would you expect!  Apparently they have patented the bit at the top and although they told me why I can't for the life of me remember why as it had nothing to do with shoes!!!

At this stage things were going well - guys had been fed - marvelled at the view of the Troodos and taken photographs - punched the hole through the wall, erected the chimney and sealed it all up.

We had ordered a load of logs to arrive with the wood burner because we needed stuff that was seasoned to get us going.  John's store was put straight into action and between us we ferried it from next door's drive and put it away making sure that there was plenty of air circulating as it had got a little damp overnight due to the heavy rain down in Paphos.  We think it is Almond and apparently this burns very well and slowly - time will tell!

Finally our fire was fitted and lit and declared perfect.  We tidied up, telling Dean and Andy that we would do it ourselves although they had offered to do it, and put the furniture back in place.  

We are delighted - we think it looks great and it is beginning to really chuck the heat out - the cats are moving further and further away from the source!!!