got everything at builders’ discount, which made a considerable difference. The french windows and one ordinary window for downstairs, plus two windows for upstairs were to be standard size.

“Meanwhile, go to Felixstowe and buy scrubbing brushes and a large can of creosote, and you will need a couple of cheap brushes to put that on with. The beams all need to be treated just in case there is any live worm left.”

We pressed him to take some money, but he said he hadn’t done anything yet.
“See you tomorrow,” he called as he cycled off.

Of course on Monday Peter and Gale were at school, so I went on the bus to shop. I kept away from the mill building, afraid of disturbing the swallows, but when Graham turned up after tea to “give it a bang” he brought down a whole shower of bricks, more than were necessary, but if we ordered some sand, cement and shingle, he’d soon make it good. So we did that.

Meanwhile, it was our job to scrub down the beams, and, when they were clean and dry, to creosote them. Graham didn’t think the swallows would mind now there was plenty of air in the building. He left too put his son to bed and we saw to Gale. Then, as it was still light, we fetched a bucket of water and began to scrub. First we did the main beams, then the lower ones radiating outwards. As I lent over towards the “french windows”, resting my weight on one beam and beginning to scrub the next one, I suddenly fell through onto the rubble beneath. I had forgotten that the outer ends were no longer supported by the missing bit of wall. Luckily I didn’t hurt myself at all – it all happened too quickly, but Peter got a terrible shock when suddenly I wasn’t there!

For the rest of the week we creosoted each evening after tea and went around smelling permanently like a new fence.

Once all was dry, we gave everything a second coat, brushing the creosote well into all the nooks and crannies. It was a very warm September. By Saturday the shingle, sand and cement had arrived – we had ordered a good, sturdy spade which came too and the beams were dry again. The swallows seemed happy and the whole place smelled fresh and different
During the day I tent-kept, washed, borrowed Yvonne’s iron, shopped and cleared up after the evening before.