A Roof of Gold

Some people say the pyramids of Egypt were plated in gold. I find that difficult to believe, for some reason, but if they were, they must have been a sight to behold.

A gold plated tap is easy enough to grasp, but a whole pyramid that's something else. And then the obvious problem you are going to have is keeping it gold plated. Particularly at night, or during a sand storm. There is a good chance that someone will be hanging, around just waiting for an opportunity. The final word on this is the pyramids are gold plated no more, just look at them now. It was always going to be a matter of time.

I rest my case.

I have just consulted the Oracle:- Goggle, the ultimate test for all myths and legends, and it turns out my hunch was right. The pyramids were clad in highly polished limestone. The myth may have come from the fact that when the Sun God, Ra, was setting the polished stone reflected the golden light and they seemed to shine as if they were, indeed, made of gold.

That must have been a fantastic sight, and from a visual perspective the same thing. That’s what I’m thinking as I look at the new roof, that is starting to materialize, under Gideon's hand. The grass is stacked together in a kind of harmonious way, and when it catches the morning light it seems to glow with a warm lustre, that is somehow very pleasing to the soul.

As I have mentioned, my literary experience has gone full circle over the last few years, returning to my childhood. We all love to read and it has just occurred to me that one of our favorite stories; Rapunzel, might be influencing me here.

Obviously, the author felt the same way about grass, as I am feeling now.

Things are coming along surprisingly quickly, the sloping roof under the msasa tree is looking more impressive every day. The msasa tree, itself, is having a golden moment, too, coming into spring.

At the very end of winter, when there is dryness and dust everywhere, and all the grass has turned to gold. The msasa trees burst into an array of reds and ochres and yellows, and then finally green. Much like a vineyard in Chianti. But in reverse. The first new leaves emerge in fantastic alternative colours, before eventually turning shades of green. When you come across a msasa forest, in full bloom, the sight is really stupendous. I once spent an idyllic autumn in the hills of Tuscany; the colours of a vineyard in autumn are strikingly similar to a msasa forest in an African spring.

I have been telling the girls that they might miss the show, if they don't hurry, but on the other hand, we still need time to finish the roof. Then there is also the small matter of beds for everyone, cupboards, tables and chairs and all the other trappings of human existence.

There is something of importance that comes before any of these and probably, for the girls, even before the golden roof of grass. It's something I have been aware of, and with the arrival of Catherine, the girls and little Oscar, being imminent, its on the front page of my mind.

It's water ! We most certainly will need water and something that goes with the daily flow of it, so much so that the Victorian's once called it a " water closet ".

In our case, it is going to be much more of an open occasion.