"Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck." George Carlin

As J F Kennedy said, the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining

and it doesn't get much shinier than this! So, with only a couple of days before I took the boat back to Aberdeen, I put up the scaffolding and started to remove the tiles and rotten sarking.

 However the midges descended with a vengeance and I had to wait till the next day when the forecast was for a stiff breeze. So it was up with the lark, stripping off the rest of the sarking and replacing it with new.

breathable membrane 

and retiling.

It is so much easier with two people, one to fix the slates and the other to find and measure them. On my own, I was up and down the ladder endlessly and this morning the muscles in my back and legs are telling me that, on reflection, they're not too happy with me.

Not the best picture I agree but I ran very short of time and had to rush to catch the ferry - arriving with about five minutes to spare. Next time I just have to fix the new ridge and seal the lead strip at the side.

"As men get older, the toys get more expensive." Marvin Davis

One of the best things about this project is that I get to buy so many new toys, 

(er... maybe that should read tools)

The latest additions are my compressor and framing nailer

Wohooo!

So making this

is easier and much quicker.

I also thought it might be a good idea to replace this lintel

over this window

The next part of the story will focus on the kitchen roof...weather permitting. Watch this space!

"Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm." Carlo Collodi

The trees which were removed from the front of the garden - partly to open up the view and partly because they were starting to rot inside as they approached the end of their lives - had been stacked up in log lengths. 

A lot of it was knotty and difficult to split with an axe, even if I had had enough strength and energy to process getting on for ten tons of  timber. Enter Chris and his amazing log splitting machine.

It took a few hours only to produce this 

and this

plus this

 

and this

and this

yet to be stacked. Hopefully there will be lots of this

for free over the winter!

"One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever came to sit by it. Passers-by see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on their way." Vincent Van Gogh

Many of the island's inhabitants possess experience, talents and qualities you could never imagine. When it came to fitting the flue liner for the log burner, Brian - the plumber- suggested asking Dean - the Forestry man cum coastguard - to help.

Why? Well, not only has Dean a good head for heights, it transpires he is a mountaineer of some note with many first ascents in South America to his name. He climbed the north face of the Manse attached to a primitive breathing device.

He inserted it down the chimney to provide a speaking tube

through which we were able to communicate.

 Whilst at the summit, he straddled the treacherous north ridge

to repair some flashing.

Meanwhile, back at base camp, Brian connected the speaking tube to the stove.

I lit a fire

and VOILA!

Observers from the tearoom were convinced a new Pontiff had been elected!

"It is the neglect of timely repair that makes rebuilding necessary." Richard Whately

Over the last twenty years the boundary wall of the front garden had collapsed in places. 

I had originally intended to have a go at repairing it myself - but then I spoke to Wes; who taught himself to be a dyker some years ago. 

He has built and repaired stonework across the island and I was over the moon when he agreed to do the garden wall in front of the house. The results speak for themselves! 

so I'll say no more, except Wes...you're a star!