Re-thatching

We drove past this wee cottage between K's new home and F's.   The thatched Cotswold cottages are quite beautiful but to see one having its thatch re-done was unusual.  As I took a few pictures the owner chanced to walk by.  She told me that the cottage dated back to the 1600's and she showed me a wee plaque on the wall that indicated the [much, [i]much [/i]earlier] owners had paid the necessary money so that if the roof was burning, the fire fighters would put it out!  I guess that was an early example of insurance.  She even invited me in to have a look at the roof from the inside of the cottage.  Utterly gorgeous and fascinating.  

In other news, we had rain today - the first since I've been here and, despite it only being very light and lasting less than 10 minutes, it seemed to freshen things up just a little.  I can't begin to imagine how the owners of the cottage would have coped if it had poured!  Hope the thatcher works quickly over the next few days.