Saving Paper

I used to use half a newspaper to start the log fire, but I learned a trick from Hay's dad.

Build a Jenga tower of kindling and put a single sheet of newspaper inside it. Works a treat.

Instant conflagration.

I have also found a better sealant for the gap between the stove and the chimney. I used to use fire cement, but it cracks as the gap expands and contracts. I now use a heat resistant silicone I got from ScrewFix, which is good to 300 degrees C and easily handles 200 degrees, which the stove never exceeds.