We're cracking on with this roof!

If you look very closely you will see that we've put on all of the plywood, the damp-proof membrane and we've fitted the windows in the roof.

Terry came round for 09:00 and we cracked straight on with it. A brief pause for lunch after we'd done the plywood, which was awkward getting around the chimney and it's a good job I can wield a hammer with my left hand as well as I can with my right. "That's not difficult" - ed

Putting the membrane on was easier than I would have thought, and the windows were comparatively straightforward.

It was grey and overcast for all of the day so I remember telling Terry "as soon as we've put this last screw in the final window I reckon it's going to p155 down".

I was wrong. We had to wait about 20 seconds for the downpour. And quite pleasant it was too, watching the rain stream off the membrane and off the windows. But it was clear that there would be no more work done outside today so even though it was only about 15:30 (I told you we'd worked hard) Terry went home.

I had a coffee and then swept up inside the house and piled all the broken slates onto a tarpaulin. Youmight womder why I'm keeping them, but in fact I'm moving my vegetable plots this winter and there will be some permanent pathways. Slugs don't like sliding on slate, so I'm told, and seeing as they are decimating my crops right now, I'm going to have to do something to stop them next year. So slate it is.

All we have to do now is
1) slate the front of the house
2 fit the brackets for the solar panels and mount them (that will be exciting - I should sell tickets for that) and wire them up
3) bend the ridge tiles to shape and fit them
4)move part of the scaffolding round to the side to extend that which is already there.
5) bend the edging tiles to shape and fit them
6) fix the wind turbine to the wall and wire it in
7) remove the tiles from the lean-to where I live, put the scaffolding on the flat roof underneath there and then bend the edging tiles to shape and fit them
8) dismantle the scaffolding.
9 replace all of the wood and the tiles on the lean-to.

When that's done we can start on the barn.

In other news, the annual game of "10 Green Bottles" is now under way as a member of the Open University Students Association Executive Committee hands in his hat.
"Ill-health", we are told.
"That's right" he replied. "I'm sick of the b*gg*rs"

We are going to start a sweepstake for the name of the next EC member to depart.