Got hold of Rupert Newman's book 'Oak Framed Buildings' in a bid to expand my knowledge, and found it to be a very useful supplement. I at last understand what 'kerfing the shoulder' is, and in what order to arrange my scarf joints.
What did dismay however, were interjections of the nature 'don't try this for yourself' and 'leave this to experts'. This I find rather paradoxical in a book with such lucid and informative presentations.
Given that there are a host of owner-builders out there, with many completed structures and many more to follow, why might timber framing be less suitable than other methods, whether with wood, block or steel? They all involve considerable planning, time and resources; practical involvement with all methods involves risk of physical injury, as does any manual work at height or with heavy objects.
As the progress on my own chantier has been abysmally slow to date, I can testify that doing it yourself is trying; lack of experience cannot facilitate efficiency and progress. The foundations are however nearing completion, and I should move on to the woodwork soon. The question is, should I take Mr Newman's advice and quit, simply because I am not a professional?