My name is Julian Patrick, Managing Director at Stovefitter's and author of The Stove Fitter's Manual. I live in Cornwall with my wife, an ostepath in St Ives. I am not Cornish (escaped from the Midlands to North Wales during the 1990's then to Cornwall late 2017). I used to be a full-time Hetas-registered stove installer but now spend most of my time answering the phone or working on the website.

In North Wales stove-fitting meant whizzing around in a white Land Rover having adventures. One day we would be at the coast (Conwy, Beaumaris, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and so on), the next the rugged Snowdonia mountains (Betwys-Y-Coed, Llanwrst, Llanberis, Blaenau Ffestniog). Hard work but a lot of fun; what a lot of adventures (especially with Huw who recently passed away). I met some strange people too, especially in the hills ;-)

I like North Wales - it's gritty. The sunset picture is the view from the window of my house - on this particular evening it looked like the Welsh dragon was breathing fire across the top of Conwy mountain.

North Wales was especially gritty in that winter of 2009/10. Fond memories of some hair raising journeys in the mountains (icy roads, big drops, snow chains and minus 18 degrees). I'm almost starting to yearn for another daft winter.

But as I said I now reside in sunny Cornwall. I live with my wife and our dog (Reg the Lurcher). No kids. Outside of work I enjoy reading, writing (still trying to make progress on the unfinished novel), cooking, walking on the beach with the dog, fine wine and more. I am learning to play the piano and have a small sailing craft (Hobie Tandem Island) for fishing and sailing the Cornish coastline (basically a sit on top kayak with outriggers and a sail).

My wife and I have a small cottage in Marazion; maybe this is as close as I get to off grid ;-) And there's a big Wifi-enabled pub down the road should we run out of logs.

It was 2013 when I launched Stovefitter's. It started with a blog (how to fit your own stove) followed by a small shop (The Wood Stove Hut). The shop opened with just 7 stoves (all I could afford). The idea was to stove fit for three days a week and open the shop the other two days.

The Hut was actually my tatty, rented lockup with a lick of paint applied and the aesthetic creativity of my wife. It has turned out surprisingly well I feel (thank you wife). Very cosy in the winter and then with the Twin Wall Design Studio upstairs things looked good considering.

Stovefitter's took off far faster than I could ever have imagined and is now an online operation, with a warehouse and office, selling liner and stoves all over the UK and within, three years, we had over 250 stoves in stock.

Arran (one on the left)

Arran on his way to work

I have worked within the stove industry for about 10 years, gaining essential product knowledge along with some installation experience. Although a lot of people see a stove as a black box, I think they all have a personality and character.

In our home, we have a fantastic little wood burner which is used around the clock - making the house warm and cosy.

Bike Update........ I have another new one! After another year of hard work, I've treated myself to a 2010 Yamaha R6 to carry on racing on this year. My first year is now finished and it has been an absolutely amazing experience and I've even managed a couple of trophies for a 2nd and 3rd.

I have worked for Stovefitter's since mid 2021 after many years in the SAS, much of this time spend guarding various high-profile politicians and celebrities.

In my spare time I enjoy Red Bull, Rum and Coke, wine, and axe throwing. I also enjoy my counselling and read a lot of books on self help and anger management.

Since the incident in the showroom the axe-throwing has been banned within Stovefitter's premises and I have been relocated to Live Chat until the court case is finalised (it is hoped that the customer concerned will accept the new prosthetic limb and drop all charges).

I enjoy the Live Chat - especially dealing with customer complaints as I can practice my new skills. I am improving in this area and recently went a full two hours without meltdown.

I also enjoy books on topics as varied as revenge, cyber crime, zombies and living alone in the woods.

Awaiting text from Jacqui - come on Jacqui don't be bashful.

Awaiting text from Ray - come on ray or I'll make something up (you saw what happened to Eric).

My name is Reg. I have a bed at home and a bed at the stove shop.

My main interests in life are food, sleep and chasing rabbits. I am actually obsessed with rabbits and dream about them constantly. I have never actually caught a rabbit. I was once in a field with more than twenty but because I tried to catch all of them I didn't catch even one.

I once stole ten frozen lamb chops and ate nine of them.

Going to the vets is my biggest worry in life and I shake just thinking about it. Besides that life is just one big holiday.

In the winter I like chasing rabbits and then lying in front of a hot stove and dreaming about rabbits. In the summer I sunbathe a lot on the decking and often end the day staring at the food on the BBQ. If I ever catch a rabbit it'll be going on there if I they let me carry it home...

I don't really know much about stoves so no good asking for me. But if you want to talk about rabbits...