The Tai-Chi of Stoking

Weight well forward over the right knee,eye on the log- Keren puts wood in hole.That's 1300 big hot degrees coming at you-through your welders' specs,big gloves,copious head-windings,2prs pants and a sweatshirt or so: you've got about 20 seconds to get 5 or six pieces of wood in before you start to fry.By the time the door is lowered back into place you are zonked by the heat,eyes blinking,thighs scorched,gasping for air but breathing thick black smoke.You tear off your boiling gloves,struggle out of all your gear,exclaim [traditionally] "that's HOT!",then check your watch to see how long it is 'til you get to do it all over again.
If you get a chance to do this repeatedly for 4-6 hours [a "watch'],it may well change your life and make you a better person.Not that you,personally,need that.