Had a combustion stove in my last home - if you have to buy timber it can be a little expensive but in many years of that home's ownership I always managed to source timber bits and pieces as well as from people who got rid of their old hardwood fences etc - a fair bit of work but the timber acquisitions kept one warm more than once - collecting, chopping stacking and ultimately the fireplace itself. It was always nice and cozy to sit near the combustion stove's door window and watch the flames whilst water was heating up atop for a cuppa or two - even had dinner cooked in the embers at times.
Had radiata pine trees on the property and thus kindling was never a problem - plenty of pine needles and pine cones - gave a job on occasions to a chimney sweeper too - was funny to have the chimney cleaned in winter as the region had Christmas in July - no white snow but plenty of black sooth - had to contend with a Santa in a black suit - (Man in black)
and I had to give him a present for his services
even as on occasions the outside green grass in the park was replaced by a temporary fleeting white blanketing of snow.
But yes, money can be very tight and hard to hold onto these days - so at times we suffer as we're left wanting/needing and dreading the next bill that's always around the corner and always more then comparatively the last.
Baker.. delight do have large wonderful croissants and their breads are better than those on offer at supermarkets - can b a bit costly though. Our bread and butter got rather expensive - shame not having the foresight a few years ago to invest in DEG when it's sp was in the cents.
