If it's anything like my folks, you get some paper and wood and coal, and you ceremonially light the first fire of the season. You make sure the paper's lit in a half-dozen places, so that it catches properly. Then you sit back and wait for the lovely warm glow.

Then you dash back over to the fireplace and stuff your hands up the chimney whilst going "ouchouchouch" with the sparks, eyes blinking and watering in the smoke, to remove all the newspaper that you stuffed up the chimney in Spring to stop the draughts...

Graham.