A fireplace clean out.

I think I’m in need of a chimney sweep. Two nights ago, I collected firewood from the stack against the garage wall.  It’s grown smaller over the past few weeks.  Dwindled down to mostly nothing actually. A good sign that winter is almost behind us now. I layered up the pine needles, cones and then the firewood chunks. I struck the match and the fire roared to life beneath my fingers. I put the protection grate in place and stared at the memorising tongues of fire before me. I tore myself away from the relaxing atmosphere of the fire place. If we were to eat dinner I had to. In a matter of moments, while I was in the kitchen and without my noticing it, the lounge filled with smoke. Coughing and spluttering, I rushed over to see what was going on. Perhaps a log had fallen out as sometimes that happens. To my amazement there was none. I saw that the smoke was not being sucked out the chimney and instead it poured into the lounge. Over the next three days, I aired every part of the house but battled to get the smoke smell out. It was truly awful and definitely not something I want to repeat. I was relieved when it finally disappeared and I am determined to sort out the blockage. I guess the skills of a chimney sweep are needed so that the fireplace is in good working order for next winter.