G CHURCH, of Chillington, writes:

When is a chimney not a chimney?

On the last leg of my evening walk with my dog, I turned into Orchard Way by the post office, a few yards down the road and the new housing estate Helmers Meadow came into view on my right.

What I was pleased to see was that all the houses had chimney pots and stacks. What kind and considerate architects and builders they were to put fireplaces in the houses!

Pausing for a while, I thought of the past years and what comfort I enjoyed sitting by an open fire, a Rayburn and recently a woodburner.

One instance I remember is as a young local I had a bad cold and my mum put me to bed and lit the little fire in my bedroom. How comforting and friendly the fire was. I felt snug and warm.

The following morning, after my walk, I got in conversation with a builder friend of mine and mentioned Helmers Meadow and the fact that the houses had chimneys, then chatted on about the old days and how lucky the folk who move into these new houses were to have fireplaces.

He listened very politely and then started smiling. I asked: 'What are you smiling about?' His reply was: 'The houses haven't got any fireplaces!'

'Chimneys and no fireplaces?' I replied. 'That's right,' he said. 'I can assure you they haven't got fireplaces.'

A chimney and no fireplace? How very deceiving. What a shame. Mind you, they will make a nice lot of new homes for the seagulls!

But maybe my builder friend is pulling my leg. You wouldn't have a chimney without a fireplace, would you?