How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
The old weather thas a’warmin up. I hev got the old lawn mower out t’keep a’trimmin the grass. I an a’tryin suffun different this year, when the Missus und I go und hev a look at other folks garden I hev bin a lookin t’see how low their cut their grass und hev found that they dont take the cutter right down und leave the grass short. I recon that if yu cut the graas a bit longer that meake the grass wear better where yu keep a’walkin on it. Anyhow I am a’goin t’give it a go this year und see what happen.
The Missu und I hev bin over the water agin t’hev a look at Holland. We went t’hev a look at the tulips but I ha’a keep a’lookin t’see how they farm. Yu dont hev t’look over any hedges cos there arnt any. Instead they hev sum water filed dykes right clus t’the road so yu ha’a keep a’lookin where yu are a’goin. They tidy farmers und hev a lot o’glass houses. The tulips looked a picture in the fields, we ha’a keep a’stoppin so the Missus could teake a picture. We went und hed a look at one o’their flower parades. That started at about 10 0’clock in the morning und they driv the floats along the roads for sum 30 miles und finish about 10 o’clock at night. There were sixteen gret old floats, that must hev taken a far bit o’time t’git all them flowers pinned in place. As well as the floats there were sum tractors in the parade. They were all covered in flowers, thas a wonder them who were driving could see where they were a’goin.
While we were there I ha’a go und hev a look at a cheese farm. The fust one we went to dint gev any cows there, they were kept on another farm. I wernt very pleased so we went und found another cheese farm up the rood. As soon as I got outa the car und hed a sniff I new that were a warkin farm. The Missus recon we’d ha’a mind where we walked cos that wern’t to clean. I told har not t’be su sorft, if she got any muck on har shoes she could allus clean them on the grass afor she got back in ta the car……..she dint say any thing……….she just gi me one o’har looks.
They hed a hundred cows where yu could see um and made 1500 cheeses a’day. I bought sum mature cheese there, the Mawther (girl)who sold it to me recon that’ull keep for 50 years. I recon I’ll ha’a eat it afor then cos the Missus wont let me keep it in the fridge that long.
While we were the other side o’the water we went und hed a look at the Menim Gate in Ypres. The gate hev thousands o’names on of solders on it who hev no known grave. They hold a Last Post ceremony there ever night at 8pm so the Missus und I drawed along t’hev a look. There were a rare crowd o’folk there, they cum from all over the world. I got a talkin to an Australian who hed cum for a look. There were a lot of youngsters there und all. The ceremony dint last long but that dint half leave a lump in yar throat
I were a readin tuther day that twey year ago we produced 80% o’the food we eat in this country, thas now got down t’60% und they recon thas soon a’goin t’be under 50%. Thas all very well while things are a’goin all right but things can change cos theres a growin population in other parts o’the world that will want a’feedin as well. As I hev said a’for farmers here cant just turn a tap on und out ull cum milk, meat und vegetables, they all teake time t’grow.
Well them Caneries are still a’singin. A’time I am a’writin this they hev played them Tractor Boys once und will be a’playin them again a Carra Rood next Saturday. What ever happen they hev done well when yu think where they were at the turn o’the year. (I hope they beat the Tractor Boys cos if they dont me Brother will keep a’goin on about it all summer).
I am a’goin t’finish now cos one o’my old shed roofs is a leakin. As the weather is set fair for the next few day I want ta get a new roof on afor old Mother Nature start a’hullin sum water down on it agin.
Fare ye well t’gether und du you keep a’troshin.
The Boy Tom