Author: The Boy Tom

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2022

Well How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Thas bin a rummun old year so far und that ain’t over yet. At least since I last had a wurd along with yu we hev still got the same Prime Minister un King Charles is still a’gettin his feet under the table, I see that they are all still a’comin t’Sandringham for Christmas so folk will be able t’draw over there und see um all goin t’church on Christmas Day. They may hev still got a few bumps t’git over afore the 25th cos I read that one o’them ‘online’ companies are a’goin t’start showin suffin about why Prince Harry und his Missus decided to up sticks und move abroad.

Du yu know I hev still got roses und sum tender shrubs a flowering. thas all on account o’the weather, normally this time o’year the weather hev turned a bit moderate und I would hev got all the tender shrubs inta the greenhouse. The day I am a’writin this (December Fust) I hev cut these shrubs back und got them inta the greenhouse, und thas only cos they recon the old wind is a’goin t’start blowin from east over the week-end. This here mild weather mean that my old hins are still a’layin, mind yu if that tun cold they’ll stop und hev a rest until next spring, They recon there’s a shortage o’eggs, cos of the bird flu, so I hope they keep a’layin as long as possible. I have ha’a split my old hins up, I have got an old Bantum livin along with the rest o’the hins but she’s gettin an old lady, we recon she’s 14 year old, und the other hins hev a’started a’pikin on har so I hev moved har inta a pen on har own, she seem happy enough she hev got a warm hut in a covered grass pen so she may keep a’goin a bit longer.

Last month I were a’tellin yu how there was a’goin t’be a Christmas Bazaar down at the village hall, while that were a’goin on they were a’goin t’open the new Heritage Centre. The Missus und I drawed down there und that were a right good du. There were a lot o’folk there und the Heritage Centre was opened by a couple who hev lived in the village for a good few years, the husband hev bin a’pokin about here for all his 90+ years und he und his missus hev bin married over 50 years. They were helped with the openin of the Heritage Centre by their 6 year old Great Grandson ,he wus given a gret old pair o’scissors t’cut a ribbon acrors the door inta the heritage centre. Arter that were opened a’lot o’folk cum in t’hev a look around und started askin about what they were a’seein in the centre.

Hev yu bin a’watchin the World Cup? That seem a rummun time o’year t’hold it when all the local countries here und them over the water are half way though their own league games. That seemed a rum place t’be picked t’hold the matches, Thas hot und they hev had t’build all them stadiums cos they don’t play much football, there’s bin a lot o’talk about how the country treat them folk who were employed with the building wark and about how they would treat certain folk who wanted to visit the country in support o’their teams. I see, tuther day, that the fella who were in charge when that were decided t’hold the world cup there recon, now, that were a mistake t’hold the event there. Thas a bit late for that when everybody were telling him that when he made the announcement that this country was picked out. Still England are still in it so all we can do is support them und hope they go all the way. There are still a few on us about who can remember where they were when England last won the World Cup. I hope that our boys up a Carra Rood play a bit better when they start playin agin.

That’ll soon be the turn o’the year. The Missus und I are a’goin up t’the City one arternoon t’meet a friend und then hev a look at the Christmas lights. That seem a while ago since we drawed up to the city t’du any shoppin. I seem t’remember the last time we went afore Christmas t’buy some presents the Missus got suffin savige with me cos I asked sum young Mawther behind the till for some discount, she ,the Missus recon that were embarrassing, well I din’t feel embarrassed but I were disappointed that I din’t get any discount.

The Missus join me in wishing you all the best for Christmas und the New Year.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Last time I hed a wud along with yu I recon that we hid got a new King und Prime Minister, well since then we hev got another new Prime Minister, I aren’t a goin t’say a lot about it cos like me I recon a lot on yu hev got fed up with it all. Them lot up at Whitehall were elected by us t’run the country – the trouble is I recon we must hev voted for the wrong folk cos non on um seem t’know how t’run anything. I was allus told “Never tell a man how to do a job yu can’t du or hant dun yar self” I remembered that when I become a Farm Foreman a few days afore my twenty fust birthday. Them lot us at Whitehall are Minister of suffin one day und then the next they are minister o’suffin else und are spus t’be an expert on it. Yu can tell that by the way they are a runnin this here Avion Flu thing that is affecting a lot o’farmers who keep hins und are fattening turkeys for Christmas. There’s poultry keepers crying out for a vaccine ( there is one about) und all they can waffle on about is that han’t bin tested enough yet, huh. Them who know about these things recon that if your hins get this here flu that teak a day or two for the ministry vets t’git t’see you cos there aint enough of um to cope. If there that busy why don’t they call on local vets t’help. Them up at Whitehall will proberbly say that local vets arnt qualified enough!!!

I tell yu suffin I forgot t’tell yu last time. When the Missus und I were on our trip to Switzerland we see their farmers a’makin hay on their steep fields that I would think twice about walkin up let alone drive a tractor. Well we went past one field where they were a’makin hay und that were to steep for them to drive a tractor up, Du yu know how they were gettin the hay down the slope….. they were a’usin leaf blowers t’blow the loose hay down the slope.

When we got over that there Covid the Missus went away for a few days away in our caravan. We din’t go outa Norfolk this time , we went to Ludham Bridge as I say t’the Missus thas just far enough from home t’feel different. She din’t say anything………she just gi me one o’har looks. We went und looked at the autumn colours at sum gardens und sum members o’the family drawed round t’see us. While we were a’havin a walk along a path called the Weavers Way I was tellin the Missus how I knew the farmer who hed the next farm we were a’comin to cos I used t’go there when he hed cattle und kept Suffolk Hosses. That farmer passed away a few year ago now but do yu know, when we got near the farm there were a couple of Suffolk Hosses a grazen in a grass paddock. They cum over t’eat sum hay so we could see them. When we left Ludham t’come home we hed a rare journey back, there were two accidents on the roads we were a traveling on und then there were hold ups on the A11 where they are digging up the road. All them holdups meant the journey t’where we park our caravan took twice uz long as normal. Arter we hed parked our van our car stopped going so we ha’a come home in a lorry w’the car tied on the back.

I see them boys up at Carra Rood hev won a game on Saturday, less hope that’ll give Mr Smith a few more days in his job. I used t’recon that be-in a Farm Manager were like bein a Football Manager if your team und yu din’t git near the top o’the league (make a profit) yu were outa a job und yer house un all. But now I recon bein a Football Manager is a bit like bein the Prime Minister!! I think there’s a house that go with both them jobs un all?

They tell me that durin November there’s goin to be a du at the Village Hall. Thas on Saturday 26th und run from 12 noon t’4 o’clock. As well as being a Christmas Bazaar the Heritage Group are a’goin t’be opening their Heritage Centre which is attached to the Village Hall. They hev won a grant und hev been spending sum o’the money a tricolating the cabin up so they hev some where t’store their files und things they hev collected . I recon that’ll be a good du so I hope t’see yu there.

Less hope the weather dry up for a day or two, a’fore we went away I emptied my compost bins onto the flower und shrubs beds, now I want some dry weather so I can start collecting the leaves that are falling everywhere.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Thas bin a rum old time since I last hed a wud along with yu. We hev got a new King und a new Prime Minister.

Thas a rummin when yu think that the new Prime Minister is that Mawther who live just down the road und is the member of Parliament for sum on yu what read this. I spuse we knew she were doin to do the job for a while afore she were elected. She hant made a very good start cos folk are already complaining about what her und her chief money man hev done t’try und git us outa the financial muddle the country seem t’be in. Acors she hed a bit of a slow start cos only a couple o’day arter she were appointed har Majesty passed away.

The Queen have bin the only person a lot o’folk hev known on the throne as she took over from har Father 70 year ago. Durin that time she earn’t the respect of a lot o’folk both in this country und abroad. I spus because she hed the house up the road at Sandringham she seemed closer to those of us who live here on Norfolk. I never met har but I hev bin close to har a couple o’times. Once I were driven on a road near Sandringham just arter Christmas when I met a couple o’women on hoss back, cos I slowed down for um und as they rode past I see one on um were the Queen und on the other hoss were Princess Anne. Afore yu think that were dangerous for har to be a’ridin out on har own like that I can tell yu that about 25 yards behind them were a large car filled with folk a’keepin an eye on um. About 55 year ago I nearly went for an interview at Sandringham for a job. The man in charge at Easton Collage was contacted by the royal estate und asked if there were anybody who they could put forward for the job of Farm foreman. At the time I were a’goin to Easton for half a day every other week on a course. The head man asked t’see me und recon he wanted t’put me forward for the job if I were interested? Well a’course I were interested but when that come t’lookin at the job spec. I see that they wanted someone aged 25 und over, I were only 24 year old…… so Easton put somebody else forward und he went got the job.
The trouble is King Charles 3rd aint a’goin t’hev s’long to git his feet under the table as his mother hed. While he hev a’bin waiting less hope he hev bin a learning how t’do the job. As I hev said a’fore That int the power he hold, thas the power he will deny other folk.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin. We went on a coach with sum other folk from Norfolk t’Switzerland t’see what they call a Cow down Festival. We should hev gone two year ago but Covid knocked that on the head. We see some other things while we were there un all. They hold these festivals when they bring the cows down from the high alpine pastures at the end o’the summer. We stayed in St. Anton but ha’a go up the road to another place t’see the cows a’comin down. The local farmers tricolate sum of cows up with head dresses und big bells round their necks und lead them through the village, there were also goats & horses und the local folk dress up in national costumes & perform local dances, Some o’the men did a whip cracking demonstration, my heart that made a rare noise und you ha’a give them plenty o’room. I say t’the Missus that I would’t mind having a go at that……She din’t say anything she just give me one o’har looks………..She told me later that I hev a job to crack the top of me boiled egg let alone trying to crack a whip. That were a good trip, the trouble was a day or two arter we hed got home we both cum down with this here Covid. My heart that don’t half knock the stuffing outa you. even though thas several days since we tested negative I still feel as if I am walkin through treacle. They recon that can take a few weeks till I will be pulling a full furrow so I recon my old bike is a’goin t’hev t’stay in the shud for a few more days.

I tell yu suffin I did afore we went over the water, I went to a show to photograph some Suffolk Horses. There were a good turn-out o’horses und there were a fare few folk there t’see them. That were good t’see several young handlers there un all. As long as there are young handlers then these hosses hev a chance o’surviving cos they are the next generation t’keep a breeding und showing them. There were a class for Mares & their Foals, one o’the foals din’t being separated from its mother while she were being walked und trotted up for the judges, My heart din’t he play up, put the man who were a leading him knew what he were a’doin so no harm was done.

Them boys up a Carra Rood hev got a busy month a’cumin up cos there hev got t’be another break in their games for the World Cup. If they are still in the same place in the league at the end o’the month as they are now most o’their supporters will be happy, there are allus those who recon they could hev done better. If they think they could do any better then they should git in the football pitch und try.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Since I last had a word a’long with yu we hev hed a drop o’rain. Mind yu that hant bin enough, we did nev a night when there were a few tempests about. There were a rare old clap o’thunder overhead, that woke me up und I could hear the old rain a’cumin down. That finished afore I got up und when I went out on my old bike you could see there hed bin a rare drop o’water cos there were stones und soil a washed out onto the road where the water hed run. Du yu know, when I rode up the footpath t’the Norridge road the water were running suffin fast under the footbridge. I’ll tell yu suffin else, when I rode over the footbridge the following morning the ditch were dry as a bone agin.
Since we had that drop o’rain the land is still dry, I see a tractor cultivating tuther day und there were dust a’blowin. Cos the next thing the farmers are a’goin t’be thinkin about is how are they a’goin t’git them old sugarbeet outa the ground. Mind yu they will be leaving them old beet in the ground as long as possible t’see if they grow a bit more.
still they recon there a’goin the be sum more rain at the end o’this week. Thas hope that don’t affect the Wayland Show which is goin t’be on again this comin Sunday (4th Sept)

The tuther mornin when we got up und looked outa the bedroom window we see the road outside the house had a lot o’water runnin down it, at fust we thought that had bin raining agin but then we noticed that were only wet on the far side o’the road. When we went out und had a look we could see that the water were cummin outa the bank where there were water a bubbling outa the ground. That were reported und somebody cum out und hed a look. They put signs up that said the road were closed, only that wernt cos they dint block the road orf und there were still room t’drive a car past They cum out at about ten o’clock at night und dug a hole in the bank t’repair the leak but arter they’d finished they din’t fill the hole in. We ha’a wait the best part of a week for them t’cum back t’fill the hole in und teak the signs away.

I went up t’Carra Rood tuther week t’see them Canaries play a cup game. That were a good game with plenty o’goals und a penalty shoot out t’decide who went through t’the next round. There were six on us there including our two Grandsons who enjoyed it. Although they live away their Father hev made sure they are still support the Canaries.
Them City players arnt doin to bad in the league at the moment havin won their last four games.

I see they are a’havin an evening o’pig racing at the Village Hall next week. I recon that’ll be like them hoss racing film night we used t’hev a few year ago. I’ll tell yu suffin, pigs can run fast enough when yu are trying t’catch them, there int a lot on a pig t’grap hold of when you do git near enough , at least sheep hev got a bit o’wool or a pair of horns t’git hold of.

They tell me that the village Heritage Group are holding a Harvest Tea in the Village Hall on Friday 23rd September from 2 – 4pm So come along und hev a mardle (chat) along with them und hev a look at what is on display The Missus und I might draw down und hev a look so we might see yu there.
Some on yu may hev seen that the hoss plough hev gone orf the plinth outside the village hall, thas been tricolated up und so that’l look good for a few more years.
Them old nights are starting t’draw in so I hed better finish und draw outside t’git a few jobs finished afore thas to dark t’see what I am a’doin.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I know I”m allus a’goin on about it. thas the weather I am a’talkin about, when yu allus wark outside thas suffin you ha’a think about all the time but this here weather we are a’havin now, well thas suffin different.
I know I arnt a’goin t’please sum on ya but I recon this here climate change they keep on about is really happening. Them rare hot days we head tuther week are suffin you might git once in a lifetime ,my old weather station got up to 39c, but we hev had hot summers afore, the only difference is that they keep happening more often. Them terrible fires we hed a burnin folks homes down, you hev gotta feel sorry for them all, thas the sort o’thing yu see on the news a’happening abroad, now thas a’happening only two or villages villages away away from us. I am sure sum on yu know sum folk who live in Ashill. I were a talkin tuther day to a Mawther who liv there und she recon that she ha’a evacuate har house. She went und spent the night a har daughters a few mile away und when she cum back next mornin she were so worried about what she would find that har daughter cum with’har. Luckily har house were still standin.
This here drought is havin an affect on the farmers crops und sum on um hev lost crops in the fires. I see that them farmers who hev irrigation systems could be told t’stop usin it cos there aint enough water t’go round. That probably start shortages o’sum vegetables und that’ll put the prices up. Thas the same in the garden, I hant cut my lawn for weeks & a lot of the Missus shrubs are looking very sorry for them selves, I say t’the Missus thas no good we can’t water everything, we hev cut several of the shrubs that are a wilting right back , they could cum back if und when we git sum rain, thas the same with the lawn, that’ll cum back. The old tomatoes in the greenhouse are a doin alright although thas been a job t’keep the heat down in there.

Several farmers hev nearly finished their corn harvest cos the drought und hot weather meant that the crops ripened early und some of the crops are only yielding 50% o’what they normally do.
I see the young master up at the Hall hev had a change o’combine this year, he normally hev a green und white one (Claas) now I see he hev changed to a yellow und black one (New Holland) they all du the same job und cost a lot o’money t’buy.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin up t’London. We went on a coach t’hev a look at them wild flowers they hev sown in the moat round the Tower of London. We went afore that really hot week . They recon they hev sown sum twenty million seeds. I din’t try und count them but that were worth the visit, They hed made a path through them with places where you could draw into und stop. That took us an hour t’walk right round the moat, arter that we went inta the Tower uf London und hed a walk round with a group that hev one o’them Beefeaters as a guide. The one we hed liked a good laugh with you, mind you he new his stuff und put it over in a humorous way, The coach we went on hed two mawthers in charge , one on um did the driving und the other one kept cummin round t’see if you would like a hot or cold drink. We stopped on the way down there und agin on the way back at that there service place near Stanstead airport. My hart there were a rare crowd o’folk there all a’buyin food und drink. There were a couple a sittin near us on the coach und all they did all the way there und back was eat und when we stopped they were buyin food t’eat afore they got back on the coach. I say t’the Missus if they don’t stop eating like that they’ll be lucky if they see three score years und ten afore they die.
Well them England girls a’playin football are doin well, less hope they can beat the German team in the final. The Canaries start their league games soon, they hev got a long trip to Cardiff t’start orf with, We’ll ha’a see if Mr Smith can git them playin better than last year. They could du well t’lean a lesson or two from the young Lionesses, they don’t keep diving about as if they hev bin fouled und they don’t argue with the Ref und they play some good football.
I’ll tell yu suffin I hev noticed in the last day or two while I hev bin crowding my old bike along, Sum of them big trees are a’startin to drop their leaves!!! Thas a sign that they are a’havin a job t’git enough water t’stay green. I can’t start thinkin about clearing up leaves in the garden yet, I hant emptied me compost bins.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

As I am a’written this I recon yu could say we are a’havin Wimbledon weather, Sun und a few showers, mind yu there’s plenty on us who recon that the showers o’rain don’t last long enough. The Missus und I hed a fews days away tuther week und I’ll tell yu suffin I din’t ha’a do when I cum back und that were cut the lawn , mind yu that’ll soon grow agin if we git a nice steady rain for an hour or two. The old ground is suffin hard, I wanted t’move a bird feeder tuther day, thas one o’them with a spike on that you ha’a just drive inta the ground. Do yu know the old lawn were so hard I ha’a water the ground und leave it an hour or two t’soften the ground up so I could push the feeder spike in. When I told somebody about a’doin this they recon I should hev used hot water, he told me where he get his warm water from but I aren’t a goin t’tell yu what he said cos that were a bit rude.

The old Jubilee seem a while a go now, That were the Missus Buthday over that week-end so I took har to Sandringham t’see Cathrine Jenkins a singing. We took sum grub und a couple o’chairs t’sit on. There were a good turn-out t’see har and them Military Wives . They all sung well und Miss Jenkins entered into the spirit o’the Jubilee by singing songs with the world Queen in or by the group Queen. As there is allus a rare lot o’cars on the carpark at these does I allus look about when I park up so I can find the car when we come back to it in the dark. When we come t’leave at about half arter ten there were folk a’wanderin about a’tryin t’find their motors, I spus they found them arter a while

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin in our caravan. We din’t go outa the county this time, we drawed over t’Ludham Bridge, there’s a site there that we hev bin to a time or two. We allus find enough places t’visit und the family can come und see us. We went und hed a look at them poppies at Cromer Church, most on um were red but there were one or two purple ones among them to represent the animals that were killed during the wars.
Another day I went out early in the morning for a walk along the riverbank w’me camera t’see what was about. I see several insects, butterflies und Reed Warblers. While I were photographing one on um I looked over m’shoulder und there were a Barn Owl flying along looking for a late breakfast. I were suffin surprised t’see it und that were surprised t’see me. hos-sum-ever I were quick enough t’git a photo or on it afore that changed course. When we were out a’havin a look about one day I say t’the Missus that I can’t understand folk who keep a’worrying about goin abroad on holiday when we hev got s’much t’see in our own country.

This here fine weather seem t’be suitin our cricketers und tennis players. Our boys beat the New Zealanders 3-0 in the test matches und our tennis players are a doin better than usual at Wimbledon. Thas good t’see sum young players coming through.
My hart don’t them men hit a tennis ball suffin hard, Serving at about 125 mph, I won’t even see it let alone hit it,

For one reason und another I din’t git t’the Royal Norfolk Show und my Brother din’t git there either cos he hev got Covid. I were a talkin to him this morning und we recon that must be the fust time for over sixty years since there han’t bin one or both on us there.
Still there’s allus next year und the Wayland Show cumin along soon.

I see they hev started a building the new supermarket on the Norwich Road, the other supermarket up the road must hev run outa ideas on how to try und stop um. Competition is good und the new one ull be a bit closer, I hope they are a’goin t’put in somewhere where I can chain my old bike up.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2022

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

A time yu read this that’ll all be over, thas the Platinum Jubilee I am a’takin about. Har Majesty hev done well, thas a pity Prince Phillip aint still here t’see har over the line. Still with all else was a’goin on in the World thas good t’hev suffin t’teake yar mind orf all them troubles und hev suffin t’cheer about. They reckon that the shop keepers are hoping we are a’goin t’spend a bit o’money with um t’help with the celebrations. With the prices of everything on the up I don’t think folk will be loosening their purse strings to much.
Cos sum on us are old enough t’remember har Coronation. That were a moderate day un all with a fare bit o’rain, I seem t’remember that while everybody in the royal procession in London hed the hoods up on their carriages cos o’there rain the Queen o’Tonga kept hars down so she could wave t’all the folk lining the route to Westminster Abbey. Where we lived there were a village party in a farmers barn that we went to. There were a fancy dress competition for the children und my dear old Mother hed been busy for a few weeks a’meakin fancy-dress costumes for m’bother und myself.. He was a drummer boy und I was Sar Walter Raleigh. I remember that there were several on us children dressed up und we ha-a walk round in a circle t’be judged. Neither on us won – that went to the children of the farmer who owned the barn we were havin the party in. Dear old Mum wernt best pleased cos she recon that their fancy-dress costumes hed bin bought where-as the rest on us where wearing home made costumes. Mum meade a lot of clothes for us, she also meade dresses for other folk und when my Brother und I went orf to Agricultural College she got har self a job teachin needle work at a local Girls High School.
Suffin else I remember from the Coronation was that the Norfolk Education committee give all the school children in Norfolk a New Testament Bible, I hev still got mine und thas on a shelf behind me as I am a’writing this.

At the beginning o’the month I were asked t’go und take sum photos o’Suffolk Horses at a one day show been held twix Thetford und Bury. My heart there were a rare crowd o’folk there cos thas the fust time that show hev bin held since 2019. There were a good turnout o’Suffolks there including a this years foal.
Thas a’goin t’be the Royal Norfolk Show in four weeks time und I am a’goin t’be there takin photos of the Suffolk hosses und the Rare Breed Animals on show. They tell me that the Princess Royal is a’goin t’be there so I expect she will be runnin har eye over the Suffolk hosses cos she own one on um although thas looked arter & shown by somebody else.

They tell me that the Heritage Group in the Village hed a good arternoon at the Village Hall when they organised a Tea und Cake event for those who hed lived in the village for a few years so they could git them a’talkin about their village memories. They are a’goin t’be hevin another arternoon at the village hall on June 24th for folk t’come along und help sort und catalogue the artefacts they hev collected t’gether.

A couple o’week ago the Missus und I went with a few other folk t’hev a look at the Rhododendrons at Stody. Thas in north Norfolk just past Melton Constable. We hev been there afore but my heart I recon thas the best we hed seen um. They’ll be over by now but if you git a chance next year du yu go und hev a look.

Another thing I hev noticed while I hev bin a’ridin about on my old bike is that
Winter Wheats und Barleys really seem to be a’runnin inta ear really early, if we keep a’gettin a drop o’rain und warm weather then I recon that’ll be anearly harvest. Talkin about things growin fast, then old weeds in the garden seem t’be shooting up really fast this year, I hev told yu afore that we hev got Ground Elder in the garden und this year that really seem t’be growin so fast that thas a job for the Missus und L t’keep on top on it.

Well them up a Carra Rood will ha’a git ready for life in the Championship league next season. There’s bound t’be some changes in the playin boys und I read that there’s a BaseBall team owner who want’t invest some money in the club. From what I read about him he seem t’be somebody Delia could du business with. I’ll tell yu suffin else at least my Brother will be quiet for another year cos them Tractor Boys are still in league one.

Far ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Last time I hed a wurd a’long with yu I hoped that two things would happen afore I hev a wud with yu this month. One were that Russia und Ukraine would sort them selves out und tuther were that old Mother Nature would git har act t’gether und give us some proper weather for the time o’year. Well four weeks arter writin that nothing seem to hev happened on either counts.
Russia und Ukraine are still locking horns, this could last for sum time cos them folk in Ukraine arnt a’goin t’give in, this is suffin him at the top in Russia did’nt recon on happening. Less hope they see sense und stop cos if they carry on there won’t be any country left for anybody to live in.

Old Mother Nature hev tunned the heater dial up a bit so thas warmer but when are we a’goin t’see some rain. When I were out on my old bike a couple o’weeks ago I see a tractor working down a field belonging to the Young Master up at the Hall und the soil were so dry that the dust were blowing behind the cultivator. .Tuther day when I were out with the Missus down near Thetford I see a Farmer were irrigating his winter sown barley crop. Farmers don’t normally irrigate any o’their cereal crops but with prices for wheat und barley going up I recon they think thas worth doin.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away with our caravan. No we han’t bin over the water ,we aren’t a’goin t’du that no more cos we are gettin a bit long in the tooth for that caper. any how there a plenty o’places in this country we want t’visit agin. So we hev kicked orf with a trip t’the Yorkshire Dales, we used t’go there a lot sum thirty t’forty year ago with our three children. Thas a fair way t’go, ni on two hundred miles , still once yu git up the A17 t’Newark thas duel carriage nearly all the way. I thought the price of fuel where high down here but in one o’them service areas on the A1 I see that diesel were £1.99p/ litre.
While we were in the Dales we went und had a look at where they meake the Wensleydale Cheese. There were plenty of folk there so arter having a look at how they meake the cheese we drawed inta the shop where they were selling it. My heart there were a rare lot o’different types und they hed cut pieces of cheese orf so yu could hev a taste on it afore yu ha’a buy it. I say t’the Missus that we didn’t ha’a go inta their cafe for sum food , if we drawed round the shop two or three times tasting their samples o’cheese as we went round that’d be the same as a getting some food in the cafe……… The Missus told me t’hold my row cause she recon folk were a’starin at me.
A’drivin round the dales yu could see that they could du with a’rain un all. There wernt a lot o’grass in the fields und the rivers were very low. When we went t’hev a look at the Ribblehead viaduct I see an old ewe havin a drink outa one o’the down pipes on one o’the viaduct pillars. The weather changed the evening afore we come home, that started t’rain und carried on all through the night und stopped just afore I drawed outa bed at seven o’clock the following mornin, that were what my dear old Father would hev called “a growin rain” The trouble was that din’t follow us home to Norfolk when we left at about half arter nine.

I’ll tell yu suffin I hev a’started doing in the garden, I hev started feeding Hedgehogs. I knew hed got sum in the garden und the Missus bought me a hedgehog feeding box. A month or two ago we hed bin to a talk at our Gardening Club from a Mawther who were a telling us all about looking arter hedgehogs, how-sum-ever we put some cat food und clean water inta the box, yu don’t use bread und milk cos that an’t good for um, und I rigged up my camera trap. A Hedgehog found the box on the first night und then the night arter that the box were visited by hedgehogs five times. The trouble is I can’t work out if thas five different hedgehogs visiting once or one hedgehog coming back five times durin the night.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood have fell through the trapdoor back into the Championship League. The trouble is they just hant bin good enough all season. That’ll be interesting to see which players stay und which ones leave cos the present manager, Mr Smith, will want’ta git players who will play for him und the supporters.

They tell me that the village Heritage Group are holding a ‘Tea and Memories’ arternoon at the Village Hall on 20th May from 2 – 4pm. They are looking for folk who hev memories of living in the village und would like t’cum along und tell members o’the group about they’re memories over a cup o’tea und cake. If you hev any photos the group would be interested in looking at these as well. As the Missus und I hev lived here for fifty years I recon we’ll be there. If you are interested in coming along then contact the group on 01953 885353 or Email: [email protected] If yu can’t git there don’t worry cos the group can arrange to come und git yu. Yu never know that might be me who come und fetch you und take you back home agin afterwards!

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Well thas a rum old world out there at the moment. The sooner them who are fightin each other stop the better that’ll be for all on us. That must be terrible for then ordinary folk who are caught up in it all. Why can’t folk just earn t’live t’gether. Them farmers in Ukraine are a’gettin plenty o’publicity about towin them damaged Russian tanks away, that were good to see a photo tuther day of um using their tractors for planting potatoes. What ever is a happenin out there the farming cycle ha’a go on. Thas just the same on farms round-about here the planting cycle ha’a go on despite the price o’diesel und fertiliser. Although farmers will hev bought the fertiliser they are a’usin now a’while ago the next lot they buy will be several hundred pounds a’tonne more. Yes I know yu are all a’thinkin well they will be getting more for their wheat und barley to help pay for it but that’’ll also mean that the feedstuffs farmers buy for their livestock will cost more un all.
All that ull mean is that food, milk & bread we buy will cost more. As well as think about all this there is another thing Farmers ha’a think about und thas dear old Mother Nature und what she is a goin t’throw at us.
Last week we hed sum right old warm weather und now they are a’forecastin at the end o’this week (2nd April) thas a’goin t’git suffin cold agin und we could git a snow shower or two. While I get been a’gettin about on my old bike I see folk who hev cut their lawns really short und I am a’thinkin, yu don’t want t’be a’duin that just yet cos we could still git some cold weather. Cos I hev lived a few more years than sum on yu I hev just run the mower of the lawn t’top any grass that hev grown up in sheltered corners or under seats. I han’t got the Missus’s tender plants outa the green house yet cos old Jack Frost could still be leaving us his calling card. I hev bought some sweet Pea plants though cos they can stand the cold weather but I hant bough me tomato plants.
I might hev told yu this before but I remember several year ago when I were planting a field o’potatoes in April that snowed s’hart one day while I were a’goin across the field when I tunned round at the end the snow hed covered up my marker furrow so I din’t know where t’drive.

Yu can tell that old Mother Nature hav got har self in a muddle cos one o’our neighbours were a’tellin me this week that he hev got a robin nest in one o’his shuds und that hev got three chicks in it. Less hope Mr & Mrs Robin can keep them warm und fed during the next few days.

I see they hed got a couple o’old tractors at the auction next week so I ha’a draw there und hev a look at them. One on um were an old Nuffield tractor just like the model I used t’drive in the 1960s. There were an old Fordson Major there und all, Yes I have driven one o’them und all. I were standing there a’lookin at um ……I say the the Missus “yu can see how simple they were to drive compared with todays tractors. Back then everything were controlled by levers un push rods”………….She din’t say anything but I know what she were a’thinkin…… that that would hev to be simple for somebody like me t’drive it.

Tuther week u’group on us drawed up to Wells with our cameras t’hev a look t’see if there were any birds about. We got there as the tide were a’turning und see the birds a’feeding on the mud flats as the water were a running out. Later on a group some on us went und hed a look on a some water scrapes where there were a few Lapwings. There were a Marsh Harrier about but they hev suffin good eye sight und they see you a’fore you see them.

Cos that’ll soon be our Queens Golden Jubilee celebrations. I hear that there is a’goin to be a Jubilee Picnic on the Millennium Green, I recon we’ll hear more about it nearer the time. I can remember we ned a party in the village Hall for her Silver Jubilee. I am old enough t’remember the party that were held in the village where I lived for har Coronation. That were a cold wet day un all, let’s hope old Mother Nature play har part better this June.

Cos that were hot last week-end we met some o’our family at that there High Lodge place in Thetford Forest. My hart there were a rare crowd o’folk there. While the Missus und I were sit-in in the sun awaiting for the rest on um t’turn up,(they allus late) there were s’many folk a walk-in past the Missus recon that were like bein on Yarmouth sea-front. When they all arrived we hed a good walk round with the dogs und Grand Children. When we come t’leave I went t’pay at one them machines but that didn’t recognise my car number plate(that were spossed t’be read on the way in) arter a couple o’goes I went t’see a young Mawther in an office nearby, She put my number in und I paid. She recon thas unusual for that to happen…I told har she’d ha’a tell that to the line o’folk behind me who were havin the same problem. Und I’ll tell yu suffin else when we got the barrier t’git out with the car that didd’t wark un all so I ha’a press the button on a nearby post und tell somebody that the barrier weren’t warkin, The fust thing they asked was hed I paid. Arter a minute or two the barrier cum up und we drive out but not before I see that they were havin the same trouble at tuther barrier.

Less hope that next time I hev a wud along w’you the weather will hev settled down and Russia und Ukraine will hev stopped fighting und got round a table t’settle their differences.

Fare yes well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin,

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Thas a rum old time at the moment, That there man in charge Russia recon he want t’free them folk in Ukraine cos their polatitions are actin like them folk in Germany did durin the Second Wold War but them folk in Ukraine recon they are alright uz they are und don’t want him a’movin in und are a’putti up a fight. I recon we’d du the same if that happened over here.

Yu hev gotta field sorry for all them folk who are a’tryin t’get away, the look on some o’their faces is enough to bring yu to tears. One thing I hev got t’say is that all them reporters & tv cameras don’t help. I know thas terrible was a’happenin but if you are a tryin t’move out of danger with yar family the last thing you want is somebody a’tryin t’interview you. I think them tv stations are a’havin a competition t’see who can have the most reporters in one country.

They were sum rare storms we had tuther week-end, I drawed round the garden afore them winds started t’meake sure we hant got anything that could take orf when the wind started t’git up. I told the hins t’stay inside or they could end up in next door’s garden. With this here Bird Flu still about yu can’t be to careful I hear today (2nd March) that there hev bin another outbreak of it on a farm down near Diss. What surprised me durin the high winds were that the little old garden birds kept a cummin arter the food in the bird feeders even though they were a swingin about like bells bein rung. The power went orf three times so we ha’a git our old picnic stove out t’hev a cup o’tea und I lit the fire for the fust time in several years, I hev allus kept sum coal und wood in the shud just in case. The only thing I ha’a du was chop sum kindlin, that took me a rare long time t’find my little axe t’do this , cos I hant used it for a while that hed got right t’the back o’cupboard, I ha’a give that a sharpen up with my old rub afore I used it. I remember an old fella a’showin me how t’sharpen a axe und scythe in the late 1950s, un I can still remember how t’du it. Although I still hev an axe or two I dout I could buy a scythe now to sharpen

I hev heard that the village’s History Group are a’goin t’hev a permanent home in the village. They are a takin over the old porta’cabin next t’the village hall. That used t’be used by the play group but since they hev moved over the rood to be nearer the school that hev bin redundant. There’s a bit o’wark t’du to meake it right but I recon the group will be able to tricoliate it up so thas right for their needs.

That were nice t’see sum sheep down in the middle o’the village tuther day. I hed drawed down Drury Lane t’where that meet Summer Lane und on one side o’the road there were a flock o’sheep folded on a crop o’turnips, then I tunned round und on the tuther side o’the corner were a flock o’ewes with sum lambs a’foot grazin on sum grass. Cos years ago folk would hev seen a lot more sheep about as nearly every farmer hed a flock. Cos that were when most farms were what they called mixed farms, that meant that they hed both livestock & arable crops. That way they recon that there would be a profit in when that cum to sell either fat cattle, sheep or pigs or if the prices for livestock were down there would be a profit in the arable crops when they cum to be sold. They used to call it Up Horn down Corn or Up Corn down Horn. Yes I know pigs don’t hev horns but they were rolled in w’sheep un cattle.

I’ll be a watchin the TV t’night cos Norwich City are in a FA Cup game agin Liverpool. If they play how they played last time they were on the TV they don’t need to be a’watch the draw for the next round. I recon they could du with a bit o’luck so I told the Missus I were a goin t’send the Manager a rabbit’s foot cos if he kept that in his pocket while watching the team play that would bring them a bit o’luck. The Missus din’t say anything……….she just gi me one o’har looks…She also recon that she din’t know where I were a’goin t’git a rabbit’s foot from.
I just see that their last manager (Mr Farke) hev left his new managers job in Southern Russia. I don’t know if that hev anything t’du with what I were a talkin about earlier but I recon that might.

Well thas all for now cos thank time for me fourses (tea und a biscuit) thas nearly light enough to git back out in t’the garden arter m’fourses, there’s plenty d’du out the but thas still a bit dauby underfoot.

Du yu all keep save und i’ll hev a word along with yu next month. I were a’havin a look back tuther day und I recon I hev bin havin a wud along with yu all for ni on ten years. I don’t know if I can keep a’goin for another ten years but God willin I might be able t’put a dent in it.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Thas suffin cold out there today (31st Jan) so I thought I’d draw inside und hev a wud a’long with you all.
That old north wind thas a’blowin straight from the North Pole, I recon that’d be fit t’flare yu if you were walkin on Holkham Beach this afternoon.

Yesterday morning the Missus und I were countin the birds that cum inta our garden for the RSPB GardeN Bird Watch. There din’t seem to be s’many about this year. There were plenty o’Blue Tits un Long Tail Tits but not s’meny Finches or Starlings. We hed plenty o’Gold Finches last year but they all seem to hev disappeared along with the Black Birds und Robins.
The old Cock Pheasant hev started drawing into the garden for sum feed, tuther day he und another black cock pheasant , who I han’t seen a’for ,were havin a scrap. I recon the gold one must hev won cos I han’t seen the black one any more. Over the month I hev bin getting in my old bird hide down at the bottom o’the garden t’see if I can git a few bird photos. I hev bin puttin a bit o’feed down t’see what I can draw in. Cos there hev bin plenty wood pigeon about, they hev bin on the young Master’s crops over the road but he keep them on the move with one o’them gas bangers. I managed to git a photo or two of a Jackdaw und Jay but I missed a Magpie . You hev goota be suffin quick to get a photo cos they swoop down und crab a beak full o’food with-out really landin. I like a’gettin in my old hide cos the Missus know she mussant come und disturb me down there, if she do that’ll frighten the birds. Just in case she think o’ringing me my mobile phone I turn that off un-all.

Them up at Whitehall are a’gettin in a rare old muddle , when is a party not a party? I recon if you the one who meake the rules you can’t very well say yu don’t know what they are. They recon they were taking drinks inta Number 10 in a luggage case. If that were true what were them security folk thinkin when they opened the case at the entrance to Downing Street und saw that were full of drink.

They recon that the price o’houses are a going up, I’ll tell yu suffin, so is the price o’farm machinery. I see that there were a demonstration on a farm near Norwich tuther day o’the latest sugar beet harvesters. Folk cum from all over the country t’hev a look at um. if yu wanted t’buy one yu hev gotta hev a deep pocket cos they started at £500.000. Thas more than most folk pay for a house. The difference is a house ull last yu a lifetime but a sugar beet harvester won’t. arter five t’ten years you’ll ha’a buy another one cos the old one ull be worn out.

Hev any on yu bin a watching that TV programme about an Actor (I think he won Strictly a year or two ago) und his family moving onto a farm. They hev always lived in a town und now nothin about farming. That hant stopped them a’buyin sum sheep und pigs. He recon he thought you just turned the sheep inta a field und let them get on with it. There’s a mawther who farm next door who keep a comin in t’give him a bit of advice. The fust time he went und hed a look at har sheep one on um hed a touch o’foot rot so she got him t’help har deal with it; he recon he couldn’t do it cos that made him feel ill, then she showed how to give the sheep a dose o’worm drench. Arter he hed done a few he ha’a stop cos he come over all tired.
When you turn sheep out to grass und afore the adult sheep are shorn they git a bit dirty round the back-end so you ha’a clip that orf t’stop the old flies a’layin eggs on it ,these will then hatch out into maggots. Well boy he recon he’could’nt do that either. This week they got sum pigs, when they went to collect them they asked the folk who were a’sellin them how much feed the pigs should hev they dint write the answer down. But I recon the best one is training their sheep to be halter led at a local show. Two days afore the show they han’t even put a halter on some of the sheep they hev entered. Now afore I retired I used to show sheep at the Norfolk, Wayland & Aylsham Shows und I used to start Halter training eight to ten weeks afore the fust show und they were led every week-day right up to the show I could keep a runnin on but the Missus hev told me t’stop watching the programme cos she recon I’ll hev a heart attack. All I’ll say is that int the way t’treat sheep or pigs just fore the sake of’a tv programme.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2022 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2022

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Here we are t’gether then , 2021 hev shut it’s door und 2022 hev opened it’s door for us to step through. We’ll ha’a see what this year will throw at us, I’ll tell yu suffin that ain’t a’goin t’be easy, Covid ull still be with us which won’t meake anything we want t’du easy. I’ll recon that folk ha’a gotta start thinkin about how what they do will affect other folk, every-one hev gotta ’pull t’gether in the same direction t’keep us all safe und healthy.
During the end of the year I met a’couple o’folk from separate families who aren’t a pullin in the same direction as the rest on us. I aren’t a goin t’tell yu who they are but one couple ,who between um are now a’goin t’five different clubs, don’t do any covid testin und another fella told me he han’t had any covid jabs even though his very elderly mother were a’comin t’stay for Christmas.

Durin December the Missus und I did get out und go und see them lights they had rigged up at Sandringham. My heart they were a rare sight, that were ok until we got about half way round und then Old Mother Nature pulled har chain und the heavens opened.
That were the same tuther day when I went for a walk in the Forest with my Son-in-Law t’hev a look at them Highland Cattle they hev got a’drawin about in there. That started a’rainin hard just as we were a’gettin out of the car, My Son-in Laws dog din’t even want t’git outa the car at all und ha’a be persuaded t’git out inta the rain und go for a walk und see the cattle which were,when we found them, a sheltering under sum trees un were’t a’goin t’move out for us so I ha’a photograph them where they were. I see some o’the cows were a’wearin what looked like cow bells a’hanging round their necks. Now I know they are aren’t bells but are a tag that give orf an electric signal which the farmer use to find um. I’ll tell yu suffin else I lean’t whlle out in the forest …..that my old wax coat want re-waxing cos that were lettin the water in.

If any on yu hev bin through the village arter dark durin December you’ll hev seen the old Church Tower und a Christmas tree all lit up. That were a lovely site as were the houses in the village that folk hed tricolated up with lights.

Them boys up at Carra Road still aren’t playin well, I know that injuries und covid mean that a’lot of the team aren’t fit the play but the thing is some o’the other teams in the same league hev got sum of their players unable t’play but they keep a’winnin a few games. Less hope them canaries hev made the right new years resolutions. Cos folk keep a’sayin that the club orta be a buying some new players during January, the trouble with that is that other clubs at the bottom of the same league (Newcastle) hev a bigger cheque book than Norwich.

I know that I were talkin about the door of 2022 bein open und how the year will go on for us, Cos them farmers will be wondering how thas a goin t’be once they start a’plowin a furrow across 2022. Pig farmers with them gret old herds you see when drivin about still hev plenty o’fat pigs a runnin about cos there’s still a shortage of slaughter house staff und lorry drivers. Farmers with sheep that lamb in the spring will be a wondering what the lambs will be worth later in the year when they cum t’sell them. Arable Farmers will be looking at the weather hoping that mother nature will help them with the right weather at the right time to help them sow, grow ind harvest their crops. I know a’lot on yu who read this aren’t anything to du with farming but I recon buying food grown in this country is part of “all on us a’pullin in the same direction”

At the moment thas to dauby (wet) for me git on the garden but there are still one or two jobs I want t git on with, The roof is a’leakin on one o’my shuds so I want git up the sale yard t’buy some wood so I can re-roof it with new wood und felt. Cos thas still warm out them spring bulbs are a poking their heads through, though I recon thall wish they hant cos they talk of there bein sum cold weather at the end o’the week. (I’ll ha’a check the heater in the green house ) cos thas where I keep the Missus’s tender shrubs durin the winter. If anything happen to them the Missus will only start a mobbin me und I’ll ha’a replace them later in the year.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

That don’t seem five minutes since I last hed a wud a’long with yu und thas nearly the end o’the year und all.

Well thas bin a rum old year, I spus yu could say thas the fust full year we hev ha’a live with that there old coronovirus; the trouble is that ain’t going t’be the only year cos I recon that old virus ull be with us for several more years yet. We hev just gotta learn t’live with it even if that mean we hev gotta stop doin things that folk hev taken for granted und we hev gotta think about other folk as well as ourselves.

There’s suffin I hev bin a’meanin t’tell yu about for a month or two. A lady who live in the village recon that when she were out for a walk in Thetford Forest one day she see a bit o’metal layin near the path und she see that hed the word CARBROOKE on the side on it. Well she told me where she see it so the Missus und I went und had a look for it. We jammed about where she told me that lay but we could’nt find it. Next time I see the lady she recon she hed moved it in case somebody else see it und made off with it. I asked har where she’ed put it und she recon she hed put it behind a tree. Well the Missus und I went back und hed another look. Arter we hed walked about half a mile inta the forest along the path we tunned round t’go back only this time I walked along about a chain’s length (22yds) away from the path und I soon see it propped up agin a tree. That were a big old bit o’cast iron und that din’t half weigh suffin, I ha’a keep a’havin a rest a’carrin it back t’the car. Since I hev got it home I hev bin looking at it und I recon thas part of a hoss roller. That hev got part of a round hole in the casting where a bearing could hev bin that held the end o’the shaft in place. I am a’goin the take it up to the foundry where that must hev been cast t’let them hev a look at it. Less hope we can put it some where where folk can have a look at it.

They tell me that they want a bit o’money for the church. Thas stood there for a few years but like all old buildings that want tricolating up t’meake sure thas still there for a few more years, so if these an do for church funds I recon that we should all support it.

Thas bin all change up at Carra Road. Arter four years a Mr Smith is now in charge. I recon he hev got a job und a half t’keep them Canaries singing on the top perch next year although he han’t meade a bad start.

The Missus und I drawed along to Thursford tuther day to see their Christmas show (We wore our masks all the time) that were a good show und that don’t seem real that you are a’watchin suffin like that sittin a barn in the middle o’Norfolk. Those on yu who hev bin there will know that right near the end of the show about twelve white doves are released und fly acrors the audience & land on top of a tracton engine chimney near a picture of a dove-cot. On the was out arter the show I had a werd along with the fella standing near the doves cos we keep one or two on um in our garden. He recon we could stay until all the folk hed left the barn und see how he git the doves back inta the basket they travel about in.
fust of all he talked to the doves und using a long stick he gently got them down und they were perching round the top o’the open basket sitting on a trolley nearby. He then slowly shut the basket’s lid und all the doves hoped down inta the basket. Afterwards I told the Missus thas no good her thinking that I were going to train our doves like that cos I hant got a tracton engine chimney near und handy that they can land on ……she din’t say anything she just give me one o’har looks.

I hev bin busy out in the garden a’gettin the compost outa the bin und onto the flower beds, thas two year old now und looked a drop o’good stuff. Thas the last job t’do afore the garden shut down for the winter although there’s still seem t’be suffin t’do. The old hins are still a’layin although thas tunned colder und the nights hev bin drawn in. One thing yu ha’a du if you are feeding wild birds und hins are to make sure yu keep their food shut away so Mr Rat & Mr Squirrel can’t get to it, I keep mine in galvanised dustbins, I tried a plastic one once und the squirrels soon gnawed a hole in it.

Well thas time I closed but afore I du the Missus would like to join me in wishin yu all a Safe und Happy Christmas und all the best for 2022.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2021

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Thas sum rum old weather we are a’havin at the moment (29th October)
Mother Nature seem like them lot up at Whitehall, she can’t make a decision about what weather we should be a’havin.
They seem t’be a’havin a rare lot o’rain in other parts o’the country und they recon some on it is a’comin our way. Still thas been a good week for them folk who are a’havin a holiday during the half term. I see in the peaper tuther day that folk are a’bookin up t’hev a camping holiday at Christmas, I wonder what Mother Nature will throw at um then? thas alright in a caravan but that could be a bit drafty in a tent.
Them up at Whitehall recon they und them others who are a cumin to this here meeting at Glasgow about climate change are a’goin to hev t’meake sum big decisions about the climate t’see us through to the end o’the century. I recon that’ll be a job und a’half cos sum on um can’t meake up their minds about was a’goin t’happen in the next five minutes.

Here’s suffin they hant thought through, thas adding this here E5 und E10 t’petrol. Thas a’right w’modern cars but what about folk who hev an older car und what are folk a’goin t’put in the engines of their lawn mowers & hedge trimmers? Luckily folk who meake these engines are selling additives for four stroke or replacement oil for two stroke engines. There’s one product you can git for four stroke engines instead of petrol but that cum in 5L containers und corst……wait for it……..£4.40p/litre. I hev used this product afore but only put it in the petrol tank just afore I lay my mower up for the winter cos that stop the fuel lines gumming up. I hev had a wud along with a man who know about these things und he recon that you can use this here new E petrol in y’mowers und only use the expensive mix every third or forth time yu fill the tank up. He did say that sum folk hed got in a rare muddle this summer with this here E5 und E10 petrol und their mowers engines hed seized up. T ‘be on the safe side I recon the best thing t’du is to ask the folk from where yu got your mower/strimmer. Cos the only thing them folk who use electric motors t’drive their garden tools hev got t’worry about is the cost of the electric.

I’ll tell yu suffin I were a’readin about in the peaper tuther day that is a’goin t’effect sum o’them farmers in the village. Yu know how arter harvest yu see them a spreading farm yard manure on the land. Well according t’what I were a’readin the Environment Agency hev bought suffin in called Farming Rules for Water. Thas now cum inta force und one o’the rules is that farmers aren’t a’goin t’be allowed t’spread farm yard manure on their land in the Autumn (arter harvest) cos that’ll breach the regulations although the inspectors who are goin to enforce it aren’t a’goin t’be about until December.
Autumn has allus been the time when farmers spread manure und plough it in cos that return humus & nutrients back inta the soil. so when are farmers supposed t’spread their farm yard manure und what about these great old outdoor pig units und sheep who graze on stubble turnips during the winter. Are farmers spus t’stop them returning their droppings onto the soil cos thas just the same as spreading muck outa the back of a gret old spreader. Perhaps thas suffin they can think about in Glasgow next week??

One thing I see this week were some sums that were printed about how much more money farmers are a’havin t’spend t’run their farms. Durin the last year up until this September their cost had gone up on average 21%. In this figure there were gret old rises in the cost o’fuel 79% und fertiliser were costing 51% more. Those on us who run a car or use oil for the central heating know how them prices hev shot up.
T’keep their fertiliser costs down sum farmers want to use more organic fertilisers, but them up at Whitehall hev now stopped them a’spreadin it on the land in the Autumn.
What is it they say about farming “You buy at retail price – sell at wholesale price und pay transport costs both ways”

Well them boys up a Carra Rood don’t seem to be a’ doin very well now they are a playin with the big boys. I see the game tuther Saturday when they lost t’Chelsea. None on um seemed t’be a’tryin, they were a’walkin about when they should hev been a’runnin. I thought they were spussed t’be fit! Arter all they only hev to work for ninety minutes a week t’draw their wages.
I wish I could hev had a job like that. We’ll ha’a see how they git on this week-end against Leeds.

Tuther day the Missus und drawed along to a gardening club meeting t’hear a Mawther talkin about Hodmedods, (thas the Norfolk wud for Hedgehogs.) She were a talkin about how their numbers are dropping und how yu can help them live in yar garden. Git a wooden box with sum dry leaves un straw in with the right size entrance so they can hibinat und havin a feeding station made outa a plastic box. I am a’goin t’set one o’them up next Spring cos we hev seen Hodmedods drawn about in our garden this year.

I am a’goin t’close now cos I told the Missus I would git the green house ready t’put har tender shrubs in for the winter so I had better be a’drawin out there a’fore the light go.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2021

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Yu know I were a’tellin on yu about them new hins o’mine well they are really laying now, they aren’t very big yet but there’s allus two or three eggs every morning. The trouble is they aren’t a’layin in the proper nest box, they are a’layin up a corner under the hin house where they are spussed t’be laying. Thas a rare job t’git to cos I ha’a git on my hands und knees t’git to um – when yer my age that arnt easy. T’make the job easier I made up a sorta wooden tray. I then cleaned the straw outa the corner und shoved the tray inta there und hulled the straw back on top on it. The hins still keep a’layin there but now all I ha’a do is pull the tray out ,pick the eggs out und push the tray back a’gin. Once the weather tun a bit colder I recon there’ll be fewer eggs so I hev got a month or two t’think of suffin different t’meake the job easier on my back & knees.

I hev told yu a’fore how I like a’takin photos of hosses – well tuther Sunday I were asked if I could go und photograph sum Suffolk Hosses. They were a’holding a show in the walled garden at Euston Hall, thas just over the border inta Suffolk tuther side o’Thetford. My heart that were a lovely day, the sun were a shining und there were a master turn out of Suffolk Hosses und foals – thas the fust show a lot on um hed bin to since September 2019. Arter the hoss classes they hed the young handler classes. when yu see the hosses a’walkin round the ring let by an 10 year (At that age they have an adult assistant) thas when yu see why them big hosses are called “Gentle Giants” besides leadin them round the ring the judge inspect the hosses un allus ask the young handlers questions about the hoss they are a’leaden. Them young handlers are important cos they’ll be the next generation to keep the heavy hoss breeds a’goin.

We hev bin away in our caravan for a few days, this time we drew down to Essex with three other couples und their caravans, we stayed on a farm on what they call the Dengie peninsular. That were a rare place t’stay und we hed a look round the area for the two day we were there. On one on um we went und hed a look round the garden that were got together by Beth Chato. Thas a lovely garden, the Missus und I hev bin there a few times but not at this time o’year. Thas the trouble w’folk they recon they don’t want t’go und look at a garden cos they hev bin there a’for. But if they han’t bin at that time o’year a’fore there’ll be suffin different to see. Tuther day we went t’Maldon und hed a look at them old Thames sailing barges. They look a bit like our old Norfolk Wherries but hev got a lot o’different sails und I think that they were used for sailing along the coast while the old Norfolk wherries, w’just one sail, stuck to the broads und rivers.

I’ll tell yu suffin what happened tuther day, one o’our boys und our Granddaughter cum to see us und we went up to the millennium green. They went afore the Missus und I and when we drive inta the car park our boy recon that when he were drivin up towards the Church he see sum folk a’walkin on the path with sum little animal a runnin round their feet – he recon that looked like a Ferret, und that had run orf inta the Church yard. We din’t see it but a day or two later there were a photo of it on facebook und folk were askin who it belonged to. Less hope somebody come arter him.

At the moment all folk seem to be worried about is where can they fill their cars up w’petrol or diesel. There were folk a waiting at the garage on the main road tuther day in a great old long line t’git some juice. One thing I thought as I crowded past then on my old bike was “ if they are so short o’fuel why are they all a’sittin in their cars w’the engine runnin! At the same garage there were a sign on the pumps a’sayin No Jerry Cans. In the shop next to the garage they had lined up a special offer in the window……Jerry Cans.

Cos they short of HGV drivers, Them up at Whitehall recon they will git them drivers back who went home across the water when Covid come. I ask yu would yu come back agin t’drive a lorry for only three months finishing on Christmas Eve. There were folk on the TV tonight recon there might be a shortage o’turkeys cos they were short o’folk to look arter them und help git them ready for sale. Until they git that und other staff shortages sorted out folk’ll just ha’a learn to manage w’less.

I started by telling yu about my hins, well last time I told yu there were two cockerels un all, well they did start fighting so I ha’a git one on um out und put him in a separate pen. Well he did’t like that a bein on his own , so I let him out, arter I hed cut one o’his wings so he couldn’t fly. The Missus come with me when I cut his wing feathers, she had never seen that done afore, und I were a’usin har kitchen scissors. She started a mobbin me afore I started, I don’t know what she thought I were a goin t’du. How-sum-ever he’s living in the garden now und he’s got a name. I arn’t a’goin t’tell yu what that is cos I might upset some folk who think they hev the same name of a cockerel. I see today that them folk in Watton who re-home hins that come out of a laying shed hev got 800 hins they want to re-home. I say t’the Missus we could hev one or two or two on um to keep our cockerel company running round the garden……..she dint say anything, she just gi me one o’har looks. I found out later that she thought I meant one or two hundred.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.