I Know How to Have a Good Time + An Apology

Image borrowed - I believe this is Scotland's first female

chimney sweep.

We have three chimney's on our house, one at either end and a flue in the middle. This week was designated the week we would tackle the chimney-sweeping. Eeek! Run for the hills, it is a filthy job.
However, some things have to be faced, and this is one of them. We don't want to have to call out the wonderful volunteers of Alford Fire Brigade again, handsome though they may be...

The small one in the middle belongs to the Rayburn

So, the chimneys have been swept and prepared for when we begin lighting the fires on those cooler days of autumn.The rooms have to be dust sheeted, floors covered, etc. It is a time consuming and tedious process. Even with these precautions I still have to wash down surfaces, clean away soot and dust. All I can say it is wonderful when it is over. For a few minutes it actually feels as though I live in a clean and tidy house.
Apologies to you all, time has been short this week...this month. I have not managed to keep up with my reading, or commenting. Once we get through the heavy work schedule of harvest and into October I hope things will settle down again.One of the many jobs I did today was to make a more than 80 mile round trip to do shopping for my elderly aunt. She asked whether I thought Harry would like this! It is a beautiful hobby horse. Don't you think he looks quite a bit like Arnold? (see side panel photographs)
If Harry says no, then I know a little girl who would really like it when she is older!