Preparations

This is the third time I have written this blog, it has got lost twice but the main reason is that we can not upload any photographs. Old computer just about to be hurled through the window!!

We don't have too much to report as  we have just been working away in the salon steadily for the past 10 days. I have been wire brushing the chimney for all that time and frankly it doesn't look much better to me. I have managed to remove the soot and tar from the inside walls and have variously used acid, a caustic solution and elbow grease to clean the surround. However "the elbow" has now given up so we are hoping that when John joints the surrounding stones it will cover the imperfections.

Meanwhile John has been cleaning the beams nearest the fire and has now treated them with a special product which is supposed to hold back the tar stains when we paint them.. I think it must contain gold - the price it was!! He has also cleaned out the old mortar from the wall around the fire ready for rejointing.

We had hoped to show you our progress but that has proved impossible.