Tuesday 11 June 2013

Building matters

The gloriously fine weather has broken and we have a day of low cloud and fog - so I have time to write the blog. The Rector@6 and I are still so very busy. It is difficult to believe life will slow down - but it is good to be busy. I am riding regularly on a lovely shire cross and I have even been jumping her in the paddock. The last time I jumped on a horse (and it was a pony) was over forty years ago. It is so good to play horses
again!! We have had some lovely invitations to accept and we begin to feel quite 'local' when we join with others to celebrate  occasions such as birthdays or the opening of the second village shop (a shortage of celebrities meant that the Rector@6 had to say a few words.) Last Saturday we stepped in at short notice to host the 'Marriage Matters' course for engaged couples. This is a short course aiming to equip couples to consider the many different aspects of marriage, from parents in law to money matters to the meaning of the wedding vows. It focuses on more than 'the big day'. It was good to work alongside The Rector@6 and another experienced couple - despite two of the three couples dropping out. (If they only knew how I cleaned the Rectory - but it was such a beautiful day, I would probably have pulled out myself - if I had had the choice!) So life is busy for me and even more so for the Rector@6 who often looks and sounds worn out by the end of the day. Today is an 'at home day', (except for the visit to the coffee morning to meet the Sudanese Bishop who is dropping in, the discussions with the neighbouring vicar who is popping in and the churchwardens meeting this evening!)

It just so happens that as we are in today - the builders have returned to carry out some of the jobs identified in the 5 year inspection (which was a year late). As they are replacing a cracked WC upstairs and adding more insulation to the roof space, they are all over the house. The dogs and I are confined to the front room or the kitchen. I expect we will see a lot of these builders as there is quite an extensive repair list and, if they just do a few jobs at a time, I can see that we will get to know them very well!

In contrast, the roof thatchers who are working on many of the village houses at the moment, work with great speed to complete the jobs, as they are so dependent on good weather. These skilled men have been repairing ridges or replacing one side of a roof or occasionally the whole roof. Our village pub remains closed after having had half the thatched roof repaired. It is looking great but there is no one prepared to take the lease on - or manage it at the moment. Many rumours are flying around but in the meantime the door is firmly shut. Anyone want to manage a friendly village pub in deepest Dorset?
So many cottages are needing repairs after the very wet, cold winter we experienced this year. The cottage across the road was to have its ridge repaired but the thatchers have had to repair all of one side, as the roof was in such poor condition. This will have been an unexpected expense for the owners. It amazes me that we still have thatched cottages today but they are so much part of Dorset's charm. It is good to see firms of skilled men are still available to continue the thatching trade.
 

11 comments:

  1. You're right - the thatched roofs look gorgeous but they are a tremendous responsibility for the owners. Glad to read that you are settling in. Jx

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    1. I shouldn't keep going back to Devon.....it doesn't help with the settling in process. I miss the wildness of the moor.

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  2. Actually J, I am still struggling to settle into the house. Builders are constantly invading my space to pick at bits of the work - and, like today have left us needing a new floor in the wc as the new pan doesn't cover the cut floor from the old one. Our throne now sits on a 2 inch plinth as the waste pipe was too high!This was the new floor they laid after we moved in - it is beyond belief sometimes. I wouldn't put up with this in my own house yet I am supposed to accept it in the rectory. I am struggling with this because I do believe your home is the most important place in the world (thank you Ikea!) and at the moment that is still in Devon for me! Pictures next blog!!!

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  3. It's hard adjusting to living in a house that comes with the job, Harriet, and I really sympathise. My area of adjustment was the incredibly antiquated kitchen, which the Area Dean was sure would be replaced very soon, but which wasn't until after we left. Sigh....

    Glad to hear that you're busy but enjoying it and are having some lovely invitations. Thanks for the great pictures of thatchers and the results of their wonderfully skilled labours.

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    1. I have to say the people around have been wonderfully welcoming and how lovely that is!

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  4. Thanks for the glimpse of the village life where you are, especially with so many cottages with thatched roofs - I hadn't realised that about Dorset. It must be all go with the thatchers activity. Sad about the lease of the pub, which is often one of the meeting places in a community, but good you have a second shop that has opened. The building situation in the Rectory sounds very difficult when both you and the Rector@6 need your own space and the work is dragging on. Hope the riding and jumping continues. I expect it's a good way to relax with your horsey companion.

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  5. Ah, builders... hope you're free of them soon.

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    1. Hello Isabelle, I can feel a summer of builders coming up as they have the five year inspection ( a year late) repairs to do. This will be things like taking the ivy off the house, replacing the front door and other bits that could have been done before we moved in!

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  6. Nice roof! I like the thatched roof's neutral color because it blends well with the type of environment where your house is located. This type of roofing material is good for locations where the weather is always hot. However, the maintenance for a thatched roof is quite intensive. I suggest that you talk to some experts for some advise about how to take good care of your roof, so it could serve its purpose for the longest time possible.

    Division Seven Roof Services

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  7. Great thing about thatch roof is it never runs out of style. It's always trendy, although only a few prefers to make it as their roof. This is great for those who want a “unique” house. Looking at it, it's like you are living in the past, and it gives you a peaceful atmosphere around. Do your best to make it last longer. Have a great day!

    Karen Burgess @O.N. Andrew & Son

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  8. Thatched roofs are classic! I think that they are unique kind of roofing. However, maintaining its beauty should be taken seriously. Thanks for sharing!

    Francisco Close @Katch Mark

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