All the dire warnings and predictions about how much we would miss the Rayburn have proved to be largely wrong, thank goodness. I do miss it as a handy place to stand and warm my back, while waiting for the kettle to boil, but we are finding that the new double-ended wood burner is doing exactly what we hoped it would do.
As you can see from the photograph, a hole was knocked through a kitchen wall and into the sun room. Dire warnings about how cold and draughty it would all become have proven to be unfounded, we have had some bitterly cold days/nights, wild, wet and windy days and the stove has kept us warm and snug. It also makes the animals happy. They have two firesides to choose from so they can be sociable, or not.
The piece of string isn't normally there but I am drying out some apple slices for a little project. Similarly the brown paper bags are in the hearth because I have pomanders and orange peel drying out, as you do.
The blue saucepan contains spices and water, at this time of year I always used to have a pot of them quietly simmering on the Rayburn - they really scent the house beautifully. The fan just wafts the heat around a little.
When it gets really cold the gas central heating gets flicked on, to heat the other areas of the house. So far it all seems to be working as we hoped it would. Needless to say, the cats enjoy being able to take a shortcut through the hole in the wall.
The log basket is one which I have had since the early 1980's and it is still going strong. It is enormous, the pine cones are very large and not for burning, I just thought they added a bit of texture to the photograph.
As for the cooking side of things, well it all still looks pretty much as it did when the Rayburn was there. I intend to change the tiles at the back of the cooker, but other than that everything remains pretty much the same.
I enjoyed cooking on the Rayburn, particularly on the hotplate, but the oven was always a little unpredictable. I am saying nothing about the mess and the soot, I have covered that in full, in far too many posts.
The new cooker is a real pleasure to use. Quick to heat up, predictable and steady heat in the electric ovens, instant heat on the gas hob.
I am happy. The mess, hard work and expense was worth it. (Thank you, Sue, you said it would be fine, and it is.) Life has become a little easier.
The wind is still blowing hard, branches have been falling in Owl Wood. I don't mind branches falling, much safer than falling trees. There will be plenty of kindling waiting to be collected when the weather improves.
