I took some odd and ends down to the village charity shop this morning - and came back with a tiny folding Indian table, an incense burner and a short sleeved yellow cardigan. Oh well!

I am trying to get hold of my "occasional" builder, as I have decided to open up the dining room chimney breast sooner rather than later. I want to get on with it before the work starts in earnest on the rest of the back. Not only that, I have seen a wonderful old stove in the stove shop. It's newly in, and unrestored. It looks 1920s, and appears to have been made in England for the French market, in that it is quite ornate, and has the indications that it is a multi-fuel stove in French on the sides. It won't be super-efficient on the heat side, I hope, as the room is smaller than my lounge, and it would be quite close to the dining table. However, what sold it to me is the hinged filigree top, which lifts to show a hotplate! My hope is that he hasn't earmarked it for somebody else, because I have fallen in love with it, and I really want it to fit. The flue pipe comes out of the back, which may make it come out too forward, which is why I want to get the chimney opened up asap and see what space there is.

Plan B is a smaller modern one, maybe...

Andrea