'The Lump' started back in the 1950s and possibly even further back in Ireland whereby men worked many hours in tough conditions and were paid cash in hand thus avoiding payment of tax. Bricklaying was one of those trades where there was little in the way of mechanical assistance, as they either didn't exist yet, or were expensive to hire. For example, elevators, forklift trucks and cranes. Often starting work at 6 am to have everything ready for the bricklayers to start at eight and finishing sometimes at 8 pm, it was down to the hod carriers to carry all the materials up a ladder. There were advantages to this way of life as you will see when reading this book.