Author Topic: Lighting a Fire  (Read 4110 times)

Ashy

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Lighting a Fire
« on: Jul 13, 2018, 07:56:15 PM »
Does anyone remember holding a newspaper up to the fireplace to get a draught when lighting the fire? There's a scene in Will Hay's film "Oh Mr Porter" where they are trying to light the fire in a steam locomotive using this technique. Hilarious.

GrannyMac

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #1 on: Jul 13, 2018, 08:04:37 PM »
Yes, I can also remember it catching fire once or twice. I also used to make newspaper twists if we were short of kindling.
Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right.

R. Gervais

zoony

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #2 on: Jul 13, 2018, 08:28:32 PM »
All very familiar. Standing the coal shovel at the front of the grate to support the single sheet of newspaper to really increase the drawing power. Didn't mind lighting it but didn't much like cleaning it out.
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

"Never use money to measure wealth, son"

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Michael Rolls

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #3 on: Jul 13, 2018, 09:01:03 PM »
Me too - and me too suddenly finding myself holding a blazing sheet of paper more then once. Thankfully the draft that had been created sucked the paper into the fireplace rather than back onto the floor
Mike
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The older I get, the better I was!

Ashy

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #4 on: Jul 13, 2018, 09:07:04 PM »
I don't think today's newspapers are big enough to do it.

firenze

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #5 on: Jul 13, 2018, 09:11:21 PM »
Talk about lighting the coals ;D .  The memory of the newspaper catching light and being drawn up the chimney! 
Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain.

Michael Rolls

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #6 on: Jul 13, 2018, 09:13:54 PM »
I don't think today's newspapers are big enough to do it.
he Telegraph is, but I haven't had a coal fire to play with since 1965
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

zoony

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #7 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:12:59 PM »
I remember briquettes arriving in our house about the same time as firelighters. Dead modern we were...1978 were a good year.
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

"Never use money to measure wealth, son"

                                           cowboy wisdom.

Phil

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #8 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:17:09 PM »
I remember briquettes arriving in our house about the same time as firelighters. Dead modern we were...1978 were a good year.

I'd had gas central heating for 10 years by then.

 ;D
"I've stopped arguing with idiots. They will only bring me down to their level and beat me with experience.”

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zoony

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #9 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:18:40 PM »
...Oh, never mind. ::)
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

"Never use money to measure wealth, son"

                                           cowboy wisdom.

Alex22

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #10 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:24:07 PM »
Remember those splints or was it spills ? They were multi coloured and my Mum had them sat in a jar on the mantelpiece
.

Phil

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #11 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:24:32 PM »
Remember those splints or was it spills ? They were multi coloured and my Mum had them sat in a jar on the mantelpiece

Spills.

https://www.smoke-king.co.uk/coloured-wooden-spills-bundle-fire-lighters.html
"I've stopped arguing with idiots. They will only bring me down to their level and beat me with experience.”

Paraphrased from George Carlin

Raven

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #12 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:28:19 PM »
We still have a coal fire in the den, I love curling up in there on a winter's night..

Phil

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #13 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:30:39 PM »
We still have a coal fire in the den, I love curling up in there on a winter's night..

We don't have any fires in our current house, just the central heating.
"I've stopped arguing with idiots. They will only bring me down to their level and beat me with experience.”

Paraphrased from George Carlin

Alex22

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Re: Lighting a Fire
« Reply #14 on: Jul 13, 2018, 11:35:34 PM »
That's them Phil !   ;)
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