Not quite the gadget it appears to be, I'm afraid! We don't have any option! No mains gas in this benighted place, and the coal ain't that cheap either! This stove heats the water, runs the c/h and looks pretty, not much more! Plus, of course, with mains gas, you don't have to scrape the ruddy thing out every morning, cram it with rolled up paper, sticks and coal. Also, you have no control over the water temperature - the domestic hw can actually BOIL in the tank!

Fine if there's a power cut, though!

The dogs think it's theirs, exclusively!

Snorri

Yes I understand we used to have a coal fire, getting up in the early morning, freezing, ice on the inside of the windows, trying to get the b****y thing to go......what memories.......still would like it back though.

On the point of the water boiling, we used to often have that happen, we would have to drain a bit water off, but you couldn't touch the tap, it was red hot. Also we used to have a back to back oven (the fire heated a oven at the back of the fire which was in the kitchen) One year at christmas dad built such a good fire to roast the turkey that the hot plates were actually glowing red!

Ian

Unfortunately, Ian, I'm ancient enough to remember those days, too! When the water boils, we turn on the c/h, which sends it on a grand tour of the house, clanking radiators and all! The place has a tendency to get too hot then (for me, anyway), and the windows steam up! We have a bottled-gas cooker, and when that is on, it gets unbearable - so much so that Kali demands a trip out into the garden. The walls here are about five feet thick, so when it gets warm, it stays warm.

The cure? A bucket of snow with a bottle of homebrewed lager in it! Wahey!

Snorri
(hot stuff )

well done snorri

well done Snorri :smt038 :smt038 :smt038

Congratulations Snorri and well done on getting your second green square

Very weldone snorri!!!

Congratulations Snorri

Well done Snorri Another hard-done-by BC I see

Congratulations Snorri, well done..deserved...