A Bird in My Chimney

31st January
Last Saturday I had a terrible day . A bird had fallen down my chimney and was trapped behind a steel shutter that we had placed in there when we took out the fireplace 20/30 ? years ago. We had lined the space with green slate and fitted a fancy electric fire inside the hole. It looked very nice indeed.
On coming downstairs that morning I heard frantic scratching coming from the front room, I could see there was dirt on the carpet in front of the fire and the noise was coming from inside the fireplace. I was terrified I thought it was a rat because we have been told, we are never more that a few feet from a rat at any one time!! Whoo Woo I was so scared this scratching was very loud. I knew my chimney was capped so I was convinced that nothing could have fallen down the chimney this “Thing” must have come out of the wall cavity. I rang for help but every one was out and no one responded to my calls. So running into the street I tried my neighbours and fortunately David from across the road came to my rescue. But we couldn’t shift the steel plate because it appeared to be bolted . I was also unsure whether I wanted the Thing to be set free in my lounge covered in soot and dirt, there was so much debris coming into the room from down the sides of the shutter, and we were choking from the dust. I was convinced the Thing would eventually burrow through into my house. Well, it went quiet and after a short spell of listening intently we realised that it had probably died or gone back where it had come from. Sweeping up the mess and checking the shutter again with a torch I found a tiny feather poking through the gap down the side. What a relief, but oh that poor bird I was so sorry we couldn’t get it out. Later in the day Andrew came in response to my calls, the shutter requires an Allen Key so he is going to return later in the week to remove the bird.
I could taste soot for day it was everywhere. I hope it never happens again. The chimney is capped but there are openings on two sides it must have gone in out of the rain poor thing.
After that the week was a breeze. I started a Philosophy Course at the U3A this week and really enjoyed the discussion on “What is Self” I am looking forward to next months session on "God". Attended three poetry gigs this week and went out to lunch twice; all very pleasant.. Today Saturday I drove up to Harrogate to catch up with Stuart and Sam. It was sunny and bright too, after all the dire weather warnings we have had, so we had a nice visit. Enjoyed the drive up there, as I can now open up the Punto and see what she can do, I wasn`t dissapointed kept within the speed limit like a good girl should.
Bye