Warm start to the year

I love our open fire! I can't wait for the evenings to get cold enough to light it (certainly plenty of those recently), and I love the challenge of getting it lit and keeping it going. I am gradually learning the best way to do it (thanks Sara) but its not always easy, depending on the quality of materials that you have to work with. And I hate to use firelighters - seems such a cheat.

I must confess that sometimes it makes the room too hot, and we have to open the doors to get some fresh air in, but I don't care - I just love my fire.