elephants on the roof

Why is it so hard to concentrate just because I have a herd of elephants on the roof? OK, they're roofers, but that's what they sound like. I keep expecting one or more to crash through the plywood and put his foot through the ceiling in a shower of insulation. Bits of old roofing felt whiz down and land in my flowerbeds--nothing fatally damaged so far, as far as I can see, but I haven't dared go out to have a good look in case a hammer or crowbar or roll of tarpaper lands on my head. The dog is amazingly calm about the whole business--

Oh oh, she's not happy now--they're dropping said rolls of tarpaper up there and the whole house shakes each time. I'm very glad I'm paying a little extra for 30 year shingles, so I shan't have to do this again till I'm 90, by which time I'll be deaf or gaga or both and someone else can cope with it.

Count your blessings, Carola. If they're putting down new paper already, presumably they haven't found any bits of rotted plywood, replacement of which is not included in the bid.

Hard to believe twenty-odd years ago I was up on the roof (a different roof) nailing joists and plywood and shingles myself. I've done it all, from digging foundations and leach lines to roofing three stories above the ground. I still think pouring concrete is the worst part of construction, though taping drywall comes a close second. Being shot in the knee with a nailing gun wasn't much fun either.

Now they're banging nails 6 feet above my head. It feels as if every nail is being pounded into my head. No way can I concentrate. I think I'll go and lie down.................................

I wrote that yesterday. The roofers carried on till about 6:30, finishing the felting--Thank heaven! This morning it's raining. After a month without a sign of a drop. Why is it raining? Because my roof was removed yesterday, obviously.

I can only hope they did a really really good job with that tarpaper. And that it'll stop raining in time for them to put up the shingles before my neighbour's neurotic dog comes to stay. Please, everyone, keep all your fingers and toes crossed!

Carola

www.geocities.com/CarolaDunn/

Comments

[Helen Ginger]

And I thought I had it bad when our resident squirrel races across the roof. I did not need to read this today. In about an hour our insurance guy comes out to check the hail damage on our roof!

[Carola]

I'm no longer complaining about the squirrels. I have a family of three who jump from a nearby birch onto the roof. I used to think they sounded like elephants, but now I know what elephants sound like.

Good luck with your insurance man, Helen.

[Jane Finnis]

We've got seagulls nesting on our roof - when we first saw them building, we thought this would be rather nice, but their incessant calling has become a pain. They are rearing chicks which, though enormous, haven't all learnt to fly yet, so the parent gulls fly about the garden warning all intruders off, and dive-bombing us and our dogs when we get too close to the house, (which or course happens rather often!) The younger dog thinks this is great sport, but the rest of us are fed up with it! I used to like the cries of seagulls...no way will we let them nest there next year! If anyone has any fingers as yet uncrossed re rain and insurance claims, please cross them now for the pesky things to fly away soon!

[Margaret Howland]

I've done it -- avoided getting to work on sending out letters for the next Left Coast Crime (on the Big Island of Hawaii next March -- www.leftcoastcrime.org/2009 for those of you who aren't paying strict attention) by reading "Elephants on the roof" -- and having a lovely time, Carola. Oh, I well remember when we had our roof replaced. I'm sure somewhere there's someone who took off a roof and it didn't rain, but I've never met that person.

[Jackie Griffey]

Carola, I'm impressed! But do stick to writing (selfish reasons-ha! Looking forward to reading The Bloody Tower)
Best always,
Jackie