Toast and Crumpets.........

One of the simple pleasures of childhood was toasting crumpets over the coal fire. Toast was done the same way and made from crusty bread and real butter there was nothing like it.
Dad would make up the fire and clean out the grate. Set the fire just so with rolled newspaper some kindling then topped with coal. In order to draw the fire he would cover the opening of the fire with a newspaper and the fire would roar. We had to be sure to keep the chimney clean else a chimney fire would be a bit of a bother. The chimney sweep would send the kids out to watch for the brush. I now think that it was done to keep us out of the way and not to "help" by yelling that the brush had popped out the chimney.
Anyway, in England we used the fire for more than a few things. We had Toasting forks that were long and one would sit in front of a roaring fire with cheeks blazing and fingers burning for that oh so special piece of toast.
When I was first married in 1971 we lived in a house in Bedford. We had a coal fire in the "front" room. Lucky thing because it was a common thing for the gas company and the electric company to take turns going on strike. We would roast potatoes in the ashes and heat soup on the coals and toast our bread. Sigh......I miss that.