Hokay, I started the job on Sunday.

I meant to finish it on Monday but I was too knackered after Sunday’s exertions.  Kneeling on the floor and rodding a chimney is very hard on the old back, especially when the job consists of constantly pulling rods back down and pushing them up again.  I decided instead to treat myself to a visit to the village and [naturally] have a coffee.

Conversation ranged over the various topics that one tends to cover in a mutual exchange of malicious gossip, but finally we chatted about my chimney woes.  Dave said he just happened to have a yoke at the back of the shop that might help.  He loaned it to me.  It’s a neat little yoke that pushes through a blockage, unfolds itself and then can be pulled down bringing the blockage with it.

Yesterday I set to work again.  Dave’s yoke worked to an extent in that it brought a load of crap down but then it got stuck.  Dislodging it didn’t do my back any favours but I didn’t fancy telling Dave that his yoke was now a permanent and invisible feature of my chimney.  I did get it down in the end

The next hour or so cosisted of sending just rods up and wiggling them about.  That did nothing.  Then I’d send the brush up.  That would just jamb again but at least when I pulled it down it would be matted with dead twigs, straw and sheep’s wool.

Suddenly there was a crash.  I disappeared in a cloud of dust which slowly settled everywhere but especially on the new furniture.

I shoved the brush up again……….

This was cause for major celebration.

However there was still one job to be done which I left until today.

I suppose I had better go and do it.