General Chat

Yes, it's lovely to see, but to those like me who suffered with asthma and bronchitis so much it was death! I couldn't stand the fumes and am glad I'm away from the smoke now. Love, Sylvia xxx

Here in Northern Ireland it's like living in a time warp. We all have a coal fires and a coal man still delivers the coal. gas is a relatively new product PIPED into the homes here lol! Although its not the main source of heat as we have oil central heating. However it's lovely to have the fire going at weekends etc log or coal and thus the mess to clear up is at weekends and not EVERY day lol!! Much happiness Debi

So typical of a coal fire - you burn your bosom. but your rear is freezing!! Sylvia xxx

we moved to our new house last nov and had coal through last winter. i loved it when it was up and running but the hassle that came with it was a nightmare. we just had it ripped out and put oil in. its great!! still kept the open log fire for christmassy feelings though! x

Our heating packed up recently and the big house was like an ice box.... I used up all the wood in the storage cupboard but then had to buy coal.... I loved it.... the smell isn't as nice as the wood ones but watching it burn was fab!! I used to put bits of pine tree on it to make it smell much nicer!! :O) Used to spit lots tho!!

Sorry to tell you Jan,But the price of Coal has just gone up to Winter Prices. I got one lot at Summer Price,tried to get another last week ,but I was two days too late.Hal.

We have an open coal fire and we love it. Can't better getting close to it on a cold winter's night burning our cheeks as well as the toast. LOL Especially nice at Christmas. Helps take the humbug out of it.

A bit of a cheat - we have an open 'coal & gas' fire - all the benefits of a gas fire with the flames and cosiness of a coal fire - welcoming, warm and lovely to snuggle up in front of in winter

We use to have coal fires when i was a child and i still remember the lovely times we had roasting chetnuts on a shovel and toasting doorstops on a fork tied to a stick (we were a poor family couldnt afford a proper toasting fork lol) now i live in the country and still dont have one but my neighbour has and when he lights it i stand at the door and sniff the smoke( im a sad case really) but it brings back such wonderful memories

Another coal mine closed today.

I have an open fire - it's great with gas fired central heating, I light it at weekends, and there's ot very much mess! Fred, I use the soot for my plants, and the embers to put on slippery paths in the winter. Now that IS messy, but better a peck of grime than a broken leg!!! maggie

All you people with coal fires are lucky in a way in that the soot ,spread around the garden plants keeps the slugs and snails away ,and unlike the slug killers ,do'snt harm the wildlife..For those of you with no gardens ,take your soot to the nearest allotements ,the gardeners will be pleased to take it off your hands.Fred.ptfg.

I have a wood burner in my dining room , I love it even though its messy lol

Hi Sylvia, I grew up with a coal and log fire in N.Ireland and God do I miss it.All there seems to be here in England is gas fires.They are clean but not half as cosy or romantic!

I have a coal fire and love it, so does everyone who comes to the house. It's worth the mess. Christine

Yes indeed I have a coal fire - and love it, despite the mess of ash and dust I live in an old Shale Mining Cottage, and it used to have (before I bought it) an open fire in the sitting rooms, and 3 bedrooms. Alas, when the previous owners had the room re-tiled, they did away with two fires (blocked off the chimneys) . The third fireplace is blocked up, and has chimney intact - and could easily be opened again, if I want that. The sitting room has an open fire, where I burn coal, logs and any scrap wood that I can get my hands on. Only tend to use it at weekends, or days off - not worth the effort of lighting for a couple of hours in the evening after work. But it is really cosy to have a roaring fire on a winters day. Steve

Oh, know what you mean now!.never heard that before!. :-))

David, dare i ask what are these?..

I have a coal fire , well a Parkray it also heats the water and without it no central heating . So I really ought to get some coal ordered as it is costing a fortune to heat the water with the immersion heater. Winter is on its way so need to order the coal Jan

Sylvia, i love having a coal fire but also logs. my mum said i would hate the mess but its not too bad but then i don't have it going every day, Karen