Ilkley Baptist

The chimney sweep came round this week. As a child I was always banished. I'd see the man arrive and set up with his grubby cloths round the fireplace and his vacuum cleaner ready. Later, I'd hear little noises then the whine of the vac. I remember being disappointed that there was no sign of a brush like in Mary Poppins.

Well, now I'm grown up I can stay and watch. And there is a brush! And it came out the top of the chimney! Just like Mary Poppins. There's something so romantic and right about a man who is a chimney sweep, a job that's been around for decades and will probably see him out. Strange, chatting with him, to discover that in the slack time of year (which is March, strangely) he likes to go skiing.