First, our fireplace. Through the long cold winter we have been keeping warm by having a roaring log fire each night. The only problem is that after a long winter of daily log fires, the time comes when you need to sweep the chimney.
Having got into spring cleaning mood, we set about organising for the chimney to be swept.
Remember meeting the very agile Monkey last year (July) when he shinned up the trees we were felling? Well, because Monkey is such a good climber, he immediately volunteered to emulate Tom from the Water Babies, and go up the chimney with a dustpan and brush and sweep out all the soot.
However, the older members of the Norfolk Branch felt this was a bit risky and that he might get stuck.
At this point, Chelmer, with an eye to an action adventure, quickly suggested that he, instead of Monkey, should be the one to take on the task, as he is considerably smaller. The older bears worried yet again, this time that Chelmer might fall and injure himself.
Fortunately wiser heads prevailed and the company Health & Safety policy was wheeled out. After a board meeting, it was decided that Blue Bear should take charge and have Monkey and Chelmer assist.
Blue Bear, being a true professional, began by assembling all his tools, (a large pile of dust sheets, his brushes and a vacuum cleaner) and, with his two assistants primed for action, started the job.
As each brush disappeared up the chimney, Monkey would pass over another.
Chelmer's job was to be outside with a pair of binoculars and a Walkie talkie, prepared to shout 'STOP!' as soon as the brush came out of the chimney pot. He had to do this before the brush hit the top of the cowl that stops pigeons trying to BBQ themselves by coming down the chimney when the fire is buring.
With such teamwork and Blue Bears's leadership, the job was swiftly, cleanly and efficiently completed.
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