During the latter days of winter this year, 15th March 2023 to be precise, we had a little disruption to our lives. The living room caught fire.
Max had just come in from a shift at work, and we were setting off to walk down to the White Hart. We popped another log in the burner so that the living room would stay warm for Max once he’d showered and changed. As we were arriving at the pub, there were messages from Max to say that the sofa was on fire and he couldn’t put it out.
A swift about-turn (with Josh jumping out from behind the bar to run us back home), a call to the Fire Service, and an arrival back home to see smoke pouring out of the front door. Rob managed to dowse the curtains and carpet through the French Doors with the garden hose and Max had used the fire extinguisher on the big sofa already.
Within 30 minutes of the fire starting, two Fire Appliances had arrived and it took about twenty minutes to extinguish the fire. The Fire Service declared the house safe but we couldn’t stay there that night. Back to the White Hart where we were offered the flat above the pub and Ali & Paul brought us over some bedding.
The next day, we surveyed the aftermath and realised that we had lost more of less everything in the room. Books, photos, our lovely Tetrad Harris Tweed sofas, pictures, piano, TV…
The blessing was that the rest of the house was untouched – save for soot throughout the ground floor. After a cup of tea and a wander around the house, we mustered the energy for phone calls and emails – shaping plans to sort it all out so that we weren’t without a living room for too long.
Fortunately, Warman Builders were already working on another part of the house and they had space in their schedule to not only clear and gut the room, but make good and renovate the room. The stone fireplace and surround was removed – it stank of smoke and was badly charred, and suddenly the room took on a different shape. Windows were replaced (which have since been matched so that all the windows are the same) and the walls were plastered.
It’s handy moving back to an area where one of us is from – old school friends reappear and know people who can help. It’s been wonderful living in this village where we have made good friends who had suggestions and advice too. We’ve felt very supported by old friends and new throughout the last few months.
Mark Beard’s team of painters and decorators have worked hard on the house this year. Painting the living room initially, and then making good and painting the house as well. It’s amazing how a lick of paint can breathe new life into a place.
Anyhow, back to the living room. Once painted, it was ready for flooring and we opted for wooden flooring. This will not surprise anybody who has been to any of our houses over the years! It was perhaps the most costly thing but we think it adds character and looks fabulous.
A new TV, sofas from Tetrad again (coming all the way from Clitheroe) and space to replace the digital piano with a grand piano.
We’ve known this house for a long time. It was the home of Rob’s parents, and his Mum loved it here. When we moved in, we weren’t certain that we would stay but we have been surprised at how quickly it felt like the place where we should be. There’s something quite cathartic about living here; and every day has a gentle and comforting reminder of his parent’s lives here too. I quite often walk into a room and remember his Mum or Dad in that space.
A house fire is a disruptive experience. Having to watch TV propped up against your bed’s headboard helps you appreciate the comfort that a sofa brings and only being able to entertain guests around a dining table makes you realise that living rooms do serve a purpose. It makes you take stock of what is important to you and what you might have been living with out of habit.
Most of all, it makes you realise that there are so many generous and caring people around you who mucked in when needed or sent gifts and love when you really needed it. So many people kept asking how things were or whether we needed anything, weeks and months after the event. As they say in a famous ‘Christmas’ film – love really is, all around.
empiricallyus 