… as you can see. There are now 12 rows of slates on the roof.

There is in fact 2m95 of roof, and each row of slates covers 17.5 cms, so 12 rows means that I’ve covered 2m10. 85cms to go means 5 rows, plus the topping-out row still to do.

You might be wondering why I’m not building up the back edge as I go along. The fact is that there is nothing particular underneath the back of the lean-to whereas my living accommodation is to the front. So I want to get that done as quickly as possible and can cut the slates to shape for the back edge once I’ve got my living bit covered.

After that I need to do the edging tiles, make some ferro-cement for the ridgepiece, and then fit the guttering as best as I can – depending upon whenever the bits come into stock at Brico Depot.

The postie came round this morning (bringing with her a big parcel that I’ve been waiting for for about 2 months and told me to get a move on as we are going to have a storm in the afternoon. It did in fact cloud right over at midday but the “storm” was about 6 raindrops. A storm in a teacup you might think.

At solar midday (about 14:10 round here) I happened to be in the house looking at the solar controller for the three panels that are currently connected up. And lo and behold! 19.4 amps! The highest I’ve ever had on any set-up. And 80.8 amp-hours in total (before the batteries topped out). In fact the solar charge in the house for the last few days has read 80.8, 64.5, 73.8, 83.3, 78.9, 68.0, 66.0. This is all pretty impressive.

And what else was pretty impressive was that at the Anglo-French group tonight there were more French-speakers than English-speakers. Only the second time that that has ever happened as far as I am aware.

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