The firing is underway!

Well after a 10hr pack yesterday, followed by pizza and wine we bricked up the wicket and lit the fire this morning at about 9am. It has been kept small at the front of the grate until about 3 this afternoon feeding through the lower firemouth, and we are now starting to feed through the upper firemouth as well. The pyrometer which I've stuck in the top blow hole is now reading about 400 C

Fire is building well still have the lower stoke hole open, but filling it with wood to burn down and form a cross hatch with the wood being dropped through the top firemouth. Soon time for supper and heads down for the first night shift. I'll be stoking till 3.30 when Steve will get up to take over. All good so far.