Thanks Greg, Stu, gurney, good advice I think.

Yes Greg, I'm the only one in this area who still works with the little Scottish slates from Ballachulish and Easdale.

Most roofers now use the large rectangular Spanish an Chinese tiles.
Anyone can lay them quickly, but they don't have the look of old Scotch.
They don't quarry them here anymore, so I use second hand, some from houses over one hundred years old and sometimes they have been on a previous dwelling....you can tell by the nail holes.

Gurney...that's what I don't like, the thought of losing fitness.
I'm up and down ladders all day carrying loads of slate or blocks of freestone shouldn't like to put on too much weight.