A slight deviation so apologies to the OP, but I'm mulling fitting a woodburner/multi fuel and was checking out the prices of logs and coal the other day.
A local coal merchant had a notice on it's website that said that due to new regulations they are only allowed to deliver coal in open bags. Coal or smokeless oval/briquettes that are delivered in sealed plastic bags will have the bags slit open on delivery to comply with the regulations. 
What's that about? 
That's peculiar , I'd be asking the supplier for a source of the regulations that state that requirement .
Over here in IE real black coal is unavailable and we are forced to burn the smokeless ovals .
These cost €35 a bag (£32ish) real coal was quoted to me at €46 a 40KG bag when it was believed that it would be available .
Initially I was OK burning the smokeless stuff but during the recent cold snap I broke into my stash of real coal that I kept and was amazed at the difference of heat between the two.
The stove fans run at turbo speed when burning the real stuff but sort of tick over on the ovals .
I'm burning Ash timber at present so the output from the stoves is still acceptable .
My coal supplier is a good friend and he has told me that there is no available black coal but he believes that it has been withdrawn from the market using the Energy Crisis as a reason/excuse but it is actually been forced on IE by the EU to get us to comply with their emmissions target that IE has failed to meet year upon year .
I have noticed much more of the tell tale smell of peat /turf being burned as locals turn to suppliers who have decided to ignore the countrywide ban on turf cutting .
There is genuine hardship down here amongst the elderly who live on a single pension is houses that are old and inadaquetly insulated.
But hey , they may be cold but they're saving the planet ........
) he'll play the post traumatic stress card earned in Afghanistan and be welcomed back into the fold receiving all the help The Firm will lavish on him becoming a beacon of success in overcoming that dreadful disorder .
