Ole smokey is in place and it’s soooo cool

There really is nothing quite like it. So a wee while ago we booked a “Come Dine With Me” at a local farm shop, where local producers turn up and circulate with the diners to talk about the produce they are eating, as you sample differing foods of up to 20 types, with a roast beef main course.

Nice idea but you don’t actually realise how much grub is included and before you even hit the main course you’re stuffed. We arrived early only to find out that all but one of the local producers had pulled out with colds (ok then). Mr Chilli (the chilli man) had a fan in Caddie who is growing his own chillies. In total there were only 13 diners, so the manager got roped into it along with her husband (to make the numbers up).

A very nice way to spend 4 hours, apart from the ginger jelly, ginger cheese and ginger other bits.

As you can see we was all spritely at the start of the night and as seen by Mr C, stuffed at the end of it.

A good night.

So, fireplace demolished – check, new ceiling in place – check, new Indian Stone Hearth – check, hole ready for the stove pipe and down lighters -check.

Wow a lot complete in 3 days, next up new LED spots, stove fitting, walls painting and carpet laying, all before 1st Dec. NO PRESSURE!!!

So late at night we all took part in the “thread the toilet light pull cord through the new handle game”. Do we know how to party or what.

Well day two and most of the building works complete, ready for the stove installation

Look we paid a sweep to clean the fireplace and he did such a bang up job he actually got shot of it.

After a day of Mrs Fogg dealing with builders, stove installers and council chappies, we have a ruddy great hole, oh and 2 acro props to stop the chimney stack collapsing.

Well it’s the night before the dust battle commences and our builder starts bashing out the chimney bit.

Carpet removed, colour pots painted onto wall and oodles of carpet samples down to select from.

If only I could decide on the colour….. Mr Fogg being all colour blind it’s over to me to choose.

I can’t wait to see the fireplace bricks knocked out- sounds like fun to me!

So after a week of Chillin with the Folks in Ireland, late rises, lovely grub and falling down water, plus 4 drunks on Halloween, we are back.

And now it’s the “fireplace removal and replace with a stove” project which will take 4 weeks to complete. Stage 1 clearing the room and then ripping up the carpets. Still a late start so makeshift dining cum living room commenced.

Oh yes and a random Llama in a field!

Yes it’s Halloween in dat der oirland and as you can see the Folks have really got in the spirit of the night, in the hope that some poor unsuspecting brats might come calling.

Who’s your fwend