Roof conclusion

My approach to making things is to go for it and find out as you do it. When it came to the roof, I had focused so much on the rafters and the ridge that I didn't thoroughly consider how to attach the polycarbonate sheets to the wooden framing. I knew it had to be done and had some ideas about how I could maybe do it but none of my options stuck. When Rosie, Helen and I got the first sheet up, we could access the sheets from through the house box as there was a space to poke one's head through where the second polycarbonate sheet would eventually end up. So the first sheet got attached securely. Accessing the second sheet wasn't as easy as there wasn't the 'through the house box' option.

I kept trying to send up either Rosie or Helen but they weren't convinced that the structure was strong enough to hold them. There is no way I can go up there as I weigh as much as two of them. I would go through the roof but little Helen? Nah, she'd be fine... Anyway Health and Safety prevailed and instead we ended up with a half battened down second sheet. This was a worry for me as all it takes is a freak gust of wind to rip that fucker right off and send it down the canal to never be seen again.

In steps the Head of Twine and Binding, Helen... A piece of rope was attached in the middle of the towpath side of the deck skirting, sent over the roof at the belly and then attached at the waterside edge of the deck. This piece of rope stopped the sheet from flapping about too much in the wind and would be enough to stop it getting away. Well done, Helen! And well done Rosie for attaching it.

Meanwhile I was standing back trying to quell my frustration. I have come to the end of my reserves trying to complete this roof. Many obstacles.

Tuesday 9th September

I went to Spoons breakfast with Rosie and afterwards I went to collect the ladders. This was an inordinately stressful task. Maybe I was just being a spanner. I was in a rush as Rosie only had so much time today. I think I have generally felt quite stressed recently.

I hate to say it but I think this took about 20 minutes to secure. I tried different ways but wasn't happy with them. A street cleaner was also watching on which is ok if one is working well, but very stressful if you feel you're fucking up. I was fucking up.

Stress testing the support by shaking it like a gorilla in prison

In order to allay any worries about crashing through the roof, I designed this support which gets secured to the butcher's block and to the ridge so 'nobody is falling through the roof'. Rosie, using her drill skills acquired on the construction of Hope & Desperation helped with the assembly. The plan was to send her up on the roof but unfortunately she had run out of time so once the support was constructed and in place there would be no ladder and roof action today. The final securing of the sheets to the rafters would have to wait.

...For fucks sake!

Went to the tip and cleared out my car from the crap I had acquired. Spent the afternoon cutting frame boards at the studio, went back to the boat to assemble frames. Put the paintings up about 6pm, stood about in the dark until about 8. James the pirate, Dave, Niall and Trotter assembled around the boat and we had beers. I left at 9 and asked them to put the chairs on the deck when they'd finished. Goodnight pirates!

Wednesday 10th September

Peyman went to A&E recently to get his arm x-rayed after taking a tumble on a Lime bike. He has been in serious pain for at least a month so we collectively insisted that he go. Bad tear. Despite his painful arm and despite having work at 11 that morning, he came to help with the roof! We met at 8am in storage where I had to unload some hardwood traditional leadlight windows I'd (potentially erroneously) picked up as well as some panes of glass that I don't think I'll use. Yes, I'm a hoarder.

At 08:30hr we set off in the car and since there have been tube strikes for the last few days traffic was shit. We sat on York way as the morning got sucked up. It was going to take him an hour and ten minutes to do what should be a 30 minute journey. So what would have been a comfortable 2.5 hours window of work / coffee time, tube strikes reduced it to 40 minutes. Nice one.

09:20hr: Peyman scuttled up the ladder onto the wet roof and got to work.

My hero!

He did the bits I wouldn't be able to access from the step ladder. At 09:50hr he disappeared and I worked until midday finishing off the roof.

There is a protective film still attached to the polycarbonate that a roof monkey needs to go and detach

There we go.