The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was all about bread and circuses, and I don’t see much difference.<\/p>\n
And it’s hardly surprising. Terry was round early and we got on the roof and carried on slating. This required some intricate work around the roof windows and I surprised myself by being prepared for such an eventuality with some stainless steel screws and silicone-backed washers.<\/p>\n
After lunch we were back up there to carry on but by now it was 35 degrees and everything on the roof was so hot that it was agonising to pick anything up. No use in working so at 14:30 we called it a day.<\/p>\n
Terry went home to his good lady and I took a book and a drink into the comfort and safety of the water room. Once the sun moved from out of direct line with the roof I got back up on the scaffolding and painted the underneath of the eaves with xylophrene, a product that protects wood against dry rot, wet rot and nasty little pests (that’ll stop members of OUSA’s Executive Committee visiting me) and then with some of the brown wood preservative.<\/p>\n
During all of this I had a visit from Tijas and his mum and so a guided tour was organised.<\/p>\n
After all of that I was exhausted and it took me all of my best efforts to cook some food. I’m going to have to find myself a willing assistant for that kind of thing.<\/p>\n
