Great to get out on the 1st, spend an evening with my good mates. Some pleasing shots and some duck for the freezer. The Franchi Feels Right and Gamebore Cartridges Mammoth Steel doing a great job. #wildfowling

Learning curve tonight with my first attempt at making jam.

Tuesday thatching thoughts #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #cambridgeshire

Annual photo of our garden gate

Long straw rethatch now all complete over at Helpston, we’ve now worked on 5 out of the 6 house within 75m of each other, which isn’t bad going. #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #cambridgeshire

Home made German apple cake today. Hardship.

Not all about thatching, lead flashing all fitted to the chimney, cracking bit of craftsmanship #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #cambridgeshire

12 years I ago today I got married to my amazing wife, who is the back bone of our family. Good use of the home made jam, made a Victoria Sponge for her

Another recently completed long straw re-ridge and repair completed near Cambridge. A large roof with a very unique chimney. Ridge, eaves and gables were also doubled wired due to jackdaws pecking the thatch previously. #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #cambridgeshire

A sneak preview of what we are up to for our next large project, before that, a few repairs and a porch to thatch #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #northamptonshire

And looking back at the ridge we’ve very nearly completed in Sawtry, with a couple of hours left once the scaffold is down #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #cambridgeshire

Might be waiting to do the fillet! #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #bedfordshire #moist #dripping

I’ve been thatching full time now 26 years, in all that time, the 40 frozen sausages I was given today has to be the most random tip ever!

So after the massive hail storm, I could finish this repair. Short fillets only just covering the top of the aprons tend to cause the thatch to wear quickly, here’s why. #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #bedfordshire

Despite it being a very still evening it was a good trip out, shot well and had a first in getting 3 out of 3 with the Franchi, one better than a left and right. #wildfowling Gamebore Cartridges Franchi Feels Right

Interesting video but it shows why the reaper binder was so important. Taking the labour away from tying in the cut straw, meaning the sheaves could be stooked immediately.

And so it begins

First for me, thatching in Nottinghamshire, doing a porch in Rempstone. Loudest place we’ve worked in ages! All be done tomorrow #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #nottinghamshire

Thatching and straw craft is for all the family. My amazing wife is making some corn dollies for a show later in the month. I am far too heavy handed for this!

Porch all finished off today in Rempstone. #thatching #masterthatchers #ruralcrafts #nottinghamshire