It’s been a long wait….we’ve been in our house since November 2013 and had permission to thatch since July 2014 but I’m pleased to say, work is underway.

First, the tin comes off then a wooden lattice is laid over the remaining old gorse on which to attach the thatch.

We hoped all the old gorse could be removed but Listing are insisting we keep as much as possible (don’t ask me why, it’s crumblyand dirty) so we are stuffing new gorse in from inside wherever we can. The new gorse still has yellow flowers and looks so clean and fresh against the filth. Jibby went to check out the roof…. as the thatch was layered on. Two new purlins had already been put in by my partner, Mike and a friend. The common rafters leaning against it and the old gorse, crumbled to powder so, we are using wood cut from our land for new rafters. It’s an odd sensation standing in what is going to be ones bedroom and seeing the sky! The thatcher went home for the weekend and left the house like this… but they are back today and we’ve had a glorious sunny weekend (who says it rains all the time in Wales?)

I’m off to writer’s group now but check in again for more progress on our 18thC farmhouse.