In three weeks’ time one of us will have a job of sorts so we’re reflecting on the limited time available to prepare for winter. We’ve got a big pile of seasoned timber that needs to be cut into logs of a suitable size for putting on the fire. The pile is intimidating for a number of reasons, not least its sheer size! Another factor is that to get it “fire-worthy” it needs to be sawn into chunks which will physically fit into the fireplace and then split with an axe and sledge hammer. (See above.) Just look at that concentration.

It’s the sawing that’s the problem. We have a chain saw and DM has chain saw trousers, gloves and protective headgear but still the chain saw intimidates the hell out of us. I so wish we were fearless but perhaps it’s the fact that we treat it with respect that we’ve not yet come to any mischief. DM had a couple of lessons in chain sawing, one from his brother in law and the other from my buddy Bill. He also got taught how to maintain the beast by Bill too.

BUT we have to tackle the pile because it’s a source of free warmth other than the effort of getting it sawn up. So we’ve hit on a plan. We’re going to saw and chop eight logs a day for as long as the weather holds out. We’ve done the first eight today and they yielded four wheelbarrow loads of logs for the log store. I did a quick count up and think there are in excess of 40 logs remaining so by the same average, there are 5 more days of sawing and chopping needed and this will yield 20 more wheelbarrow loads of logs which should completely fill our log store and that should, in turn last us until the new year by which time we might have some money coming in. The daft thing is that it only took 20 minutes to saw the logs (the rest of the time was spent splitting and transporting to the log store) but the sheer terror of that time is truly scary.

With the logs and oil we’ve “found” over the summer we will stay warm hopefully until we’re able to spend some money on replenishing supplies. It’s odd to be hunkering down for winter in this beautiful summer (yes, really) that we’re having. You see, it’s my “fault” because I’d planned to strip the paint off our bannisters and balustrades on wet days!