Thanks to JP and his post with this link....
Top down
I tried the top down method...
The advantages of the top-down fire building method are:
minimal start-up smoke;
no chance that the fire will collapse and smother itself;
no need to open the loading door to add larger pieces once the kindling fire is established
I will add that there was a very even burn and relatively fast.
I started with large wood, one flat piece of paper on top to hold the small stuff, one crumple and a bunch of bits on the top...even some dry rosemary!
I'd say a thumbs up to doing the top down....