Thatch

The cottage that my youngest daughter lives in is being rethatched. A good thatch should last at least fifteen years and probably up to thirty provided the vunerable parts, like the ridge, are maintained. It's a craft that's still flourishing in Britain with a waiting time of two years to get a good thatcher on the job - not something you can get done at the drop of a hat, or in a trice, two shakes of a lamb's tail, whatever.

Traditionally the materials came from reedbeds in Norfolk but these can no longer cope with demand thanks to the predations of modern farming. This roof is covered courtesy of the Ukraine.

They're not without their pitfalls - nipping up into the attic with a candle in a blackout is a sure way of meeting your local firemen. Nevertheless they're warm and dry and give a place a great rustic feel.

Cast off your slates, your corrugated iron, your cedar shingles and bed down under a heap of grass. You know it makes sense.