The problem? for me, and the rest of the local residents, is that we live in a "smokeless zone", where burning things is discouraged, or illegal.

Even though our houses, including mine, have chimneys, we can no longer burn coal, wood, ex wives, undesirable aliens, etc, in our grates!
(Carbon dioxide fumes, etc).

Although this has eliminated air pollution from smoke, it has left me freezing my goolies off, every Winter!... ...!

We have to be very careful what we burn nowadays, to avoid tangling with the Law.

OAT at the moment = 10*C. Slightly more comfortable... ..!

Paul....Hot mid-day Dinner... ...!

I moved into my brand-new council house in 1962 which were built with open coal fires and chimneys, which served us very well until the; "Health and Safety" rules and laws where instituted.This resulted in the use of open coal, etc, fires being made illegal.
The same law also made my gas fire fitted in my fire place also being suddenly made illegal.
All this due to the fright of CO2 fumes being exhausted from the interior chimney brickwork walls into the rooms within the house.
"Central Heating" wasn't invented in the 1960's, and before. We all used coal fires!
It is the construction of brick chimneys which now prohibits the use of CO2 generating fuel.
I cant remember any of my neighbours dying of CO2 poisoning in all that time of stoking up all their fires!
Our council houses are gradually having gas central heating fitted, but after 50 years of occupation in a very large house, and accumulating all that that entails, the fitting of a full central heating system generates all sorts of complex problems in finding spaces to install the necessary appliances!
I have a rock on one side, and a hard place on the other!
Decisions, decisions... ...!

Paul....surrounded by most of the Hale Orchestra...and electronic computers...and 50 years of other "stuff"!... ...!

Hello Doug...

For an open coal fire to be used legally, it would be necessary to completely line the existing brick chimney from top to bottom with a metal tube and sealant (concrete?), and this, apparently, is too costly for the council to install..they say...

...so its gas central heating with hot water radiators....or nothing!

At the moment I am using a portable (on wheels) electric, oil-filled radiator in my living room...and nothing elsewhere.. ...!

Paul....still living in the 18th century... ...!

'elf and safety is the instigator of all my present problems!... ....!

In the olden days, an open coal fire kept the downstairs warm, and the heat radiated from the hot chimney kept the upstairs rooms warm.

I may pop into Maplins tomorrow, Doug...>>>

http://www.maplin.co.uk/1200w-halogen-heater-383988

£20...If it doesn't snow...and I can strap it onto the back of my Motor-bike... ...!

Paul...an even bigger electric bill!... ...!

That's health&safety fozzer,they do whatever they can to annoy the hell out of you.
We've been using an open fireplace for the past few years now and the only CO2 in our house comes from farts and open windows.

wahubna wrote on Dec 18^th, 2012 at 5:29am:


At your latitude, (similar to mine) I would have thought you would get some pretty cold Winters, Adam, with snow and ice, and frozen fingers, etc!
I never did find freezing cold weather pleasant....

...Butterflies and Tortoises don't, either!... ...!

Paul...Mid-day...7*C, 1015mb, clear blue sky, no wind, at the moment.

BLAZE wrote on Jan 16^th, 2013 at 1:28pm:


I wont tell all my secrets