BANISHED!

I've been banished to the bedroom!  Funny that since it was only a couple of hours ago that I was urged to get up.  There are strange bangings and clatterings going on in the living room.  Well I'M not looking!  Today's the day our new fireplace is being fitted (not by Keith) and I have dreadful visions of the chimney - a big tall one at the end of the roof - crashing to the ground and the chimney breast in the living room caving in.  I've got such a disaster movie going on in my head.

A cup of tea has just been set on my desk.  Did I detect Keith hopping from one foot to the other?  Don't be daft Ang, the old fireplace is out already.  That was a bit quick.  Has he done it properly?  The disaster movie has now cut to panning around the 2" layer of soot covering our living room.  I can smell soot, I'm sure I can.

Keith just came back in here. leaving the door open.  That must mean there's bad news and I should watch what I say in case the fitter hears me.  "Fitting will cost a little bit more because he has  to cut out a couple of inches all round to make the hole the right size AND remove a back boiler."  A BACK BOILER???  I didn't know there was one of them.  Did you know that?   Just how old is that fire, I'm wondering.  Maybe we should have put it on Antiques Roadshow.

I can hear drilling or something.  No, it'll be a brick saw....and I picture another few months of getting rid of brick dust from everywhere.  Whatever happened to using a bolster and lump hammer to carefully remove brickwork not needed?

That amaryllis I mentioned last time is blooming beautiful!  It has 3 trumpets fully out and a fourth on the way.  My sis started hers growing at the same time and the stem is still only an inch long.  She says she's chucking it out
but I think it'll go if she lets it.   Just look at MINE (she said smugly):

Remember that lovely Kelloggs brekky basket I won in Marie's giveaway last year?  Red. shiney teapot?  This is that teapot today:

I loved that teapot.   Poured beautifully, never dripped.  And now look at it.  It's all Keith's fault.  I can never use it for tea again.  I wonder if I could grow herbs in it.  What does bergamot look like?  That's what gives Earl Grey its distinctive flavour isn't it?  Might look nice growing in it and out of the spout (as was).

They've gone.  Obviously there's still work to be done BUT The new fire looks lovely.

'Scuse me while I take advantage............

xxxxx