I've got a job as a teacher of English which has led me to all
sorts of new observations for example did you realize that the name Plumber
is derived from the name for lead, (Plumbago)
and literally refers to some one trained in the working of lead. Whether it
is in the house pipes, the drains or the flashing on the roof of a house.
OK, you say what's this got to do with Switzerland, or indeed the title? Well I'll tell you in Switzerland the outside of the buildings at least are coppered not leaded. The flashings, the guttering and the down comers are all copper. New buildings gleam in the sunlight, even the tops of some chimneys are coppered. Indeed I recently realized that the Swiss National Bank in Zurich is currently having all it's guttering and down comers changed. Bright new copper all over the building, it looks quite impressive.
