Category: 2015
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Yu know how last time I were havin a wud alon with yu about how the council hant bin round t’fil in them pot holes in Drury Lane. Well they hev bin now. A couple of old boys with a lorry cum along und started a’fillin them in. I drawed down und hed a wud along with um.
The fust thing I asked um was if they hed a large area t’git round. Well bor,I cant tell you all whot they said cos that were a bit rude but yis they do hev a gret old number o’roads t’look arter. They also recon that teake about six months from the time the holes are marked t’them a’gettin the papers a’tellin them which pot holes they hev gotta go und fill in.
Suffin else I want t’tell yu about is the state o’that new footpath the Council hev put down twixt Caudle Springs und the Norridge Rood. Thas only bin finished about six weeks(end July) und theses already a master crop o thistles a pushin up through the path near the Caudle Springs end. Them experts up at County Hall hev bin told about it und some folk hev sent them photos t’look at. They ,the experts, recon thas a’happend cos thistle seeds hev bin blown onta the footpath by the wind und hev germinated. As I go along the footpath most days on my old bike I could’a told them that them old thistle plants are still a’flowin und there ount be any seeds a’blowin on the wind for another week or two.
I recon what hev happened is that when them contractors were a’levellin the old footpath out all they did was skim orf sum top soil a’cuttin the top orf the thistle plants already a’growin. If you try a ‘diggin up a thistle plant, as I hev done several times durin the last sixty years, yu’ll know thas got a tap root that go down a tidy long way, just a cuttin the top orf will only make them shoot up agin. I keep a’wunderin why they din’t put suffin down tu stop them old thistles a’pushin back up through the tarmac chippins they were a’puttin down?…… Still what du I know I arnt a’expert!…….
We hed a rare lot o’rain at the end o’July, accordin t’my rain gauge there were nearly a couple of inches in a couple o’days, A’for we hed all that rain I ha’a replace the tap on one o’my old water butts cos the old one were a’leakin. Arter all that rain had cum down I went und hed a look t’see how much water there were in the butt. Du yu know that were still empty… when I hed a look I seed that I hant tunned the new tap orf arter I’d put it on. Later later on when I were indoors a’havin my foursers I told the Missus whot had happened…….She dint say anything……….she just gi me one o’har looks.
A’time yu are a’readin this the Farmers will hope “all is safely in”. I were a’readin tuther day about a combine that were a’goin in South Norfolk. They recon that in eight hours that could cut sum 80 hectares (197 acres) The width of the cutting header is sum 12.5m (41Ft) I say t’the Missus “thas longer than sum folks garden”. I’ll tell yu suffin else yu would want a suffin deep pocket t’buy one. That’ll set yu back sum £600.000. I know thas a no good a’lookin back but I can remember in the early 1960s when we traded our 8ft 6ins cut Massey in for a 12ft Claas we were suffin pleased cos that meant, if the goin were good, we could harvest a 4.85 hectare (12 acre) field in one day. I ha warked that would teake this here new combine about 17 minutes t’cut the same 12 acres……..if that could git inta the field with out a knockin the geat post down.
Them Dairy farmers are a’havin a hard time at the moment. Folk ha gotta look a head cos if yu pay a bit more now for yar British milk that will mean that’ll still be there when there is a world milk shortage cos that’ll cum one day as sure as day folla night.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Last time I hed a wud a’long w’yu I recon that the Farmers would hev it all safely gathered in afor the end o’August. Well that din’t happin did it. Old Mother Nature she made sure o’that w’all that rain that cum down. Still them old wheats don’t go down like they used to years ago. That were a job then cos arter a tempest the old wheat would be a layin flat in the field just as if yu hed gone over it w’a set o’rolls. My heart that took sum cuttin, if that all lay the same way that wernt s’bad but if that lay all ways you hed a job. Yu ha’a drive the old combine real slow und keep a weavin the cutter bar back und forud so the old lifters could get under the straw. When yu did get the corn inta the tank that were only good t’feed to livestock. In them days most farms were mixed w’sum livestock and sum arable so corn that wernt good enough t’sell for malting und millin were kept for winter feed.
I were a’thinkin tuther day about when I warked for a local Corn Merchant durin the 1970s. I would go round at harvest time und try und buy cereals orf my customers. If the Barley were a malting variety I teak a sample to the maltings t’see what they would bid me. If they gi me a price I would go back t’the farm und try und buy it leaving me about £5 a tonne t’cover transport und a bit o’profit. That were the same w’millin wheat. I’d teake a sample inta Read’s at Norwich t’see if they would gi’me a price so I could go back t’the farm und try und buy the wheat for £5 a tonne less that the price Reads hed bid me. Cos I wernt the only one tryin t’buy the farmers corn . In the 1970s I recon that there were 7 or 8 other local merchants as well as the big national feed merchants like BOCM & Pauls of Ipswich all a goin round biddin the farmers prices for their crops either for malting, bread and biscuit flour or for turning inta animal feed cos in them days there were ni on a 1000 dairy herds in Norfolk as well as sum big pig and poultry units und they all ha’a be fed.
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Farmers used t’keep stock as well as hevin arable crops cos they used t’say that they allus hed suffin t’sell that were meakin a bit o’money. They hed a sayin “Up Horn (livestock) down Corn or tuther way round. At the moment I recon they would be a’sayin “down horn and corn cos the prices they are a’gettin for both are moderate. I see that them old french farmers are a demonstrating cos o’bad prices for their crops and milk by a drivin their tractors inta the cities in France t’stop the traffic. I suffin pleased the Missus und I arnt a goin over the water any time soon cos that would teak yu a rare lot o’time t’git anywhere if the roads were bunged up w’angry french farmers und thas afor you try t’git back acroos or under the channel.
They hev put up one o’them solar farms near the Norridge Rood behind them gret old warehouses. Sum folk recon they din’t ort be built cos that teake land outa food production. I recon what they want t’du is t’put them panels up higher orf the ground und sow grass so yu could graze sum sheep or run a few hins on the land underneath. Still I spus that with farm prices bein where they are solar panels are a’meakin more money for a farmer than lamb or eggs.
Well them boys up a Carra Rood hev meade a start a’playin w’the big boys. I recon they’ll du all right cos although they hant got any expensive players what they du hev is team spirit und play for each other. Sum o’them players in sum of them bigger teams are only a thinkin about one player when they git on the pitch……. thas them selves. Another think that dont help is them players cum from all over the world und half on um cant understand what the other half is a’sayin tu them and most of them hev a manager from sum where over the water un all.
Things are a’slowin up in the garden, the Missus und I hev started a’cuttin some things back. The trouble is I seem to hev got a lot more stuff t’put onta my old compost heap. The Missus is hevin a job t’hull anything up onta the top on it. I keep a’gettin up there und jammin about t’try und push the heap down, That ull be alright when I empty last years compost out t’meake more room. Until then I hev told the Missus I were a goin t’meake har a little ladder so she could get onta the top of heap w’me, then we can jam about t’gether . She dint say anything…… she just gi me one a’har looks.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin
Well I recon Summer is over, a’time I am a writin this (early October) old Mother Nature seem t’hev tunnned the hot tap orf. Thas wind is suffin cold, I hev had t’put my old vest on.
Since I last hed a wud along wi yar the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin w’our caravan. We he bin und hed a look at Austria und sum parts o’Germany.(Bavaria) We took it steady a gettin there.
We stopped a night or two in the Black Forest. I say t’the Missus “why du they call it that?” she recon thas cos the trees are dark in colour…..I recon they all looked green t’me. We ha’a drive along sum o’them German Motorways. There wernt no speed limit on sum of the ones we driv along. My hart they dont half crowd their old cars along. I were a’takin it nice und steady cos we were a pullin our caravan when sum fella cum past us a’drivin a great old Mercedes with a caravan behind. My Hart he were a’goin und the caravan were a’bobbin about behind the car, I say t’the Missus “I bet he dont hev t’buy new tyres f’his caravan very orften, cos they only a’touchin the road every half a mile”.
When we were in Austria we went und hed a look at the hotel we spent our honeymoon in sum 45 year ago. The Missus recon that hed got bigger since we were there. I told har that I hed got a bit bigger since I were last there………….She dint say anything, she just gi me one o’har looks. (I dussant tell har that she might hev got a bit bigger un all).
The farmers Austria und Germany were scrappin around doin a bit of hay makin while we were there. The fields arnt very big so they use little old tractors, the sort’a like the market garden tractors we hev over here, only they a lot lower t’the ground When the hay is made they pick it up loose inta trailers und cart it back to their barns. They wark on sum funny old slopes. I watch one on un a drivin acroos a slope a pickin up the hay, they drive ever s’slow. Und I’ll tell yu suffin else, they dont waste any on it, parts o’the fields that are to steep f’them t’drive their tractors on, they rake the hay orf w’hand hay rakes.
I recon I’m allus a tellin on yar about farmin. I recon thas acors, a sumbody sed once, farmin int a job thas a way of life. Even though I’m retired I still keep a gawpin over hedges inta the fields t’see was a’goin on und I recon I’ll a carry on a’duin that for the rest o’me life.
I hev told yu afor about how the Missus hev a’bin a doin har family tree. When we were a comin back through France we stopped orf near the Somme so we could go and find the names o’folk that she ha got on har family tree who fell durin World War One. Fust of all we went t’the Thiepval Memorial. Thas a gret old memorial und thas got the names of seventy eight thousand solders carved on it who hev no known grave. We found the names the Missus were a lookin for. We then drawed up the road t’a cemetery where we found the grave of har Great Uncle who was killed on the Somme. The Missus recon that she were the first member of har family t’visit his grave.
That meake yu think when yu are a drivin about that area of France cos that seem as if yu are a’cummin acroos a war memorial und First World War grave yard every mile or so. Und they arnt just for British Solders, thes memorials for the different Commonwealth Countries who sent solders to fight.
Them boys up a Carra Rood seem t’be a makin a good start t’the football season. I know thas a long way till next May but thas best t’be a the top o’the tree cos them other teams ha gotta win more games than yu t’get above yar.
Well I ha betta finish orf und draw back inta the garden cos I hev got t’shift a lot o’lot of last years compost out afor I can tun this years compost over inta an empty bin. Und them old leaves hev a’stated a fallin so I’ll hev t’start a rakin them up cos they meake sum lovely compost if yu keep them a year or two. As I he said afor a garden is just like a’keepin livestock, Yu ha gotta keep a feedin und waterin on it or that ount du.
Fare ye well t’gether und do yu keepa’troshin.
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether
We havin sum rum old weather leatley. A’time I am a’writin this ( end of second week November) thas bin suffin warm for this time o’year. My old hins are a’settin agin cos they think thas spring already. I wunt mind but that mean they ount lay eny eggs.
Cos o’this weather thas a job t’know what t’du in the garden, I want t’git the Missus ‘s tender plants inta the green house but their still got leaves und flowers on und that dont seem right t’cut um back. But I hev gotta make a start cos if I don’t I now what ull happpen Jack Froost will be a leavin his callin card afore I hev got all them tender plants tucked up for the winter.
A’ridin round a’lookin over the hedge I see that the winter crops the farmers sowed arter harvest are a’growin well. The trouble is the farmers dont want them a’gettin to forrud cos if they du the plants can get fungus spores onta them und that ull knock them back if the farmers don’t spray um. Years ago if corn crops got to forrud in the autumn farmers would turn a flock o’sheep onta the crop und let them graze it back a bit. Today not many farms hev a flock o’sheep t’du the job. Talkin o’farm livestock, I were a’goin t’Dereham the other day und I see some milkin cows a’grazin on a field tuther side o’Shipdham. That were a rare sight, I nearly stopped und counted them, only the Missus were w’me und she would hev only mobbed me. She recon I go a’bit sorft if I see a field o’sheep.
Well I spuse they hev finished a meakin the road safe for the children t’walk along Caudle Springs und Drury Lane. They hev meade a footpath from Caudle Springs along Drury Lane on the wide verge. Then further along when the road get narra und thas got no room for a path their painted a gret old white line along the road. I spus thas meant t’keep the cars one on side o’the line und walkers tuther. That ull still be a rear muddle if two cars meet cos one on um will ha’a crors the white line where the walkers are. If they want t’slow the cars up why dont they put sum o’them sleepin policeman down? That look as if they arnt a’goin t’put any footpath down along Caudle Springs cos the verge is to narra. Arter all this cost I dont reccon many Parents will walk their children t’school. I recon that them up at County Hall should listen to the folk thas a’goin t’affect, T’start with thas our money their a’spendin. Another thing….. The police were agin the whole idea tellin them the road were dangerous for children t’walk along.
Well them boys up a Carra Rood don’t seem t’be settling in to bad a playin with the big boys. I recon they hev got a young manager who seem t’think about the game und is happy t’try a different way o’playin if the one he’s a usin now dont seem t’be warkin. Thas the same w’any job there’s allus more than one way t’du it. Somebody say t’me once “ If you teake a horse t’water, these more than one way t’meake him drink”
Did any on yu see the programme on the tv about the food waste . They shew what the supermarkets hull out and how they only teake about 50% of the vegetables what the farmers grow for um. As I hev said afor that aint right, cos there’s folk in this country who would be glad on it.what ever shape it is. When I think back t’when I were livin at home, M’mother cooked everything that m’Father grew in the garden, she dint hull anything out cos that were the wrong shape. They recon we now live in a consumer society, I recon the trouble is that most folk in this society don’t now where their food cum from und think thas all grown t’that shape. I recon that’ll theake a bit more than a tv programme t’educate them otherwise.
As this is the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yu afor the end o’the year the Missus join me in Wishin Yu All a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
A’time yu are a readin this we’ll be a drawing into the second month o’the new year.
I must tell yu about suffin the Missus und I did afor christmas. We went t’London t’see Andrea Rue und his Orchestra at that there Wembley Arena. We did it properly und stayed in a hotel arter we hed seen the show. The hotel were near Heathrow , that were suffin close t’the runway. When we fust arrived und were a gettin our cases outa the car there were one o’them Jumbo Jets a commin inta land… for a moment I thought he were agoin t’land onta rood aside the car park. The hotel were a gret old place that were open 24 hours a day, that hed a rum lot o bedrooms. I say t’ the Missus that remind me of when we used t’keep hins in battery cages, we were in cage two thousand und suffin. Our room hed two huge old beds in it… the Missus recon they were Queen size, what every that mean. I say t’the Missus I recon I know why they hev got these here beds. “Thas cos if one o’them Arab men come w’all his wives they can all sleep in the same room”……………The Missus din’t say anything…. she just gi’me one o’har looks.
We hed never bin t’Wembley Arena afor, thas a big old place und all. Arter we hed found our seats, I think we were higher up than sum o’them planes I hed seen a’landin at Heathrow. I say the Missus that they could keep a rum lot o’cattle or pigs in a place like this. She told me t’hold my row cos folks who were a sittin near us were a’steerin at me.
Still we hed a good view o’the stage und that were a good show.
I ha bin a hearin about how them at County Hall want t’stop the school buses from them houses on the Norridge Road und meake the children und they parents walk t’school cos thas only 2 miles. They recon they are a goin t’spend forty or fifty Thousand pounds a’doin up the footpath from the Airolite Garage t Caudle Springs. I crowd my old bike along that footpath nearly every day und I recon that ull take all o’that und a bit more t’do it up. Arter that they hev gotta keep it maintained. I wonder whose a goin t’pay for that?. Another thing is that in winter that ul be dark afor they get home. Another thing they recon is that they are a goin t’make steppin orf places along Drury Lane. They’ll ha a meake a rum lot on um cos these’s a rear lot o’cars a’goin to und from the school at the same time as the’ll be a walkin there. I recon thas a lot different a walkin two miles where these’s pavements und street lightin all the way than that is a walkin along narrow country lanes und footpaths.
They ha got a new man in charge up at Carra Rood. They recon the last man could’t get the players motivated. I say t’the Missus if they hed an old sheep dog a runnin behind them a nippin them on the ankles that ud get them a motivated. Still we’ll ha’a give him a bit o’time t get settled in. As long as they finish higher up than the Tractor Boys cos that’ull keep m’Brother quiet. He give me a skull ache last time we got t’gether.
The old garden could du with a few more frorsts t’slow things up. I hev (early January) got shubs wi’leaves on und the old hins are still a layin as if thas in the middle o’summer. As daylight hours git less und that get colder hins normally stop a layin. Thas why farmers who hev hins keep um in a shud w’no windows so they can control the light und keep them a laying.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin
How are yu all a’geetin on t’gether.
Last time I hed a wud a’long wi yu I reconded we could du w’sum hard weather. Well we’r a’havin a bit on it right now. (Feb 16th) but that old froost dont stay in the ground like that used to.
That dont matter t’farmers round here who are a’farmin on light land but them who farm on heavy (Clay) land like in South Norfolk want a bit o’froost t’git inta the ploughed land over the winter. What happen is that any water in the soil freeze und expand, that meake the clods o’soil break up. when the land dry out in the spring that mean the famers don’t hev t’wark the land s’much t’meake a seed bed cos Jack Froost hev done it for um. These a name for it to, thas called frost mold.
While I’m a’talkin about farmers, those on um who are a’keepin pigs are a’havin a tough time on it at the moment, they recon their are a’loosin £10 for every pig they sell orf the farm. Thas all a’cors them super markets can buy their pork cheaper a’broad. Them who now about these things recon thas cors pigs over the water arnt kept up to the same wefare standards as our farms. . Thas the same with them egg producers. A friend o’mine ha spent thousands a bringing his hin houses up t’EU standards white other countries arnt a meakin their farmers do the same so their eggs come over here cos their cheaper than my friends.
That seem like most things in this here EU, Our farmers ha’a farm by the rules set in Brussels but some o’them other EU countries don’t meake their farmers do the same.
They recon we ha got a’vote, afor the end of 2017, about if we want t’stay in the EU or get out. When we fust joined up in the 1960s that were called the Common Market, that seem t’wark for a’while until we hed a grain mountain, They got over that by a’buyin up the farmers corn und puttin it inta storage. A’lot o’corn from Norfolk farms was stored in the hangers on Watton air field. Then there were a butter mountain, they got round that by paying dairy farmers t’get rid o’their cows, when that din’t wark they give each dairy farm a milk quita a’tellin him how much milk he could sell each year. I seem t’remember there were a wine lake un all, I dunnow how they got rid o’that?
Now acors thas called the EU und we seem t’hev more rules a’comin outa Brussels than London. There were a small business man a’talkin on the TV tuther night, he recon that EU rules cost his business £35,000 a year und thas a’for he start a’doin any business w’other EU countries.
Afor we go un decide about wether we want t’stay in the EU or get out them up at Whitehall want t’meake sure we are all gettin along t’gether over here so we can still be called the United Kingdom! And another thing, thas worth remembering that at one time or another,in the past, we hev been t’war with all them Countries who are in the EU except Portugal.
Well them boys up Carra Rood are meakin a rare fist o’trying to keep up w’them big boys. I thought they hed got suffin a’goin at the turn o’the year but they seem t’ha lorst their way agin.
There were a good turn-out tuther Sunday at the sheep farm in Scoulton. The Missus und I drawed up t’hev a look. That were good t’see s’many folk there a’lookin at the lambs and their mothers. They all looked in good fettle und I hear that a tidy sum of money were raised for the local Churches.
Them old evenings are a’startin t’draw out a’bit und that ount be long afor I cen get outside agin arter I hev hed me fourses. My old concrete paths hev turned suffin green so I want to git a cleanin them wi me pressure washer. Cos a lot o’the Missus shrubs und Roses are still a’growin I want t’be given them a drop o’firtilizer t’keep them a’goin. I allus give them a handful o’Epsom Salts like my Father used to. That meake the leaves go a good colour durin the Summer. I say the the Missus “Do you think I’d go a good colour if I h
ed a handful of them salts on my porridge”…………She din’t say anything……… she just gi me one o’har looks.
Fare ye well t’gether und do yu keep a’troshin.
Well here we are t’gether agin.
A‘Time you are a readin this we’ll be over a quarter a’way through another year. I am a’writin this (second week of March) und old mother nature is a doin har best t’git some warm, growin weather, a’goin. The sun a got a bit o’heat about it though that old wind still blow cold und Jack Frorst still keep a’leavin his callin card durin the night.
We ha’a change the clocks at the end o’the Month(March) so the old evenings will start a’drawin out. That ount be long a’for I cen git outside agin arter m’tea.
I remember ni on fifty year ago when I were a’milkin cows I layed late the Sunday arter we put the clocks forrud, The farmer I were a’warkin for he allus helped me a milkin in the mornin so a’time I got inta the dairy he hed milked half the cows. When I said I were sorry for bein late He said that din’t matter cos as he’d hed milked half the cows he were a’goin t’leave me t’milk the other half while he went orf und hed his breakfast.
I see the farmers are a gittin the land ready for planting potatoes. Afor they plant the potatoes they ridge the land up und then go through the field a sivin the soil t’git any stones out so they don’t cut the potatoes when they cum t’start a’liftin them. I used t’wark with a fella who driv one o’them tractors pullin a de-stoner. Thas a slow old job und he recon when he used t’du the night shift he warked out how long that took the tractor t’go acroos the field. When he set in the other end he set an alarm clock und went t’sleep until the alarm when orf und wook him up just afor he got t’the other end o’the field
Cos plantin the seed potatoes is all dun automatically now, I cen remember when there ha’a be somebody a sittin on the machine a’droppin the seed potatoes down a tube onta the ground. The planter were a little two row thing made by Harry Ferguson at Coventry. That hed a hopper for the potatoes und a metal seat each side where yu sat above the ridging mould boards. T’make sure yu got the potatoes the right distance apart the machine had a steel wheel on it that ran in the furra, that hed a hammer on a spring attached to it. When the planter were a’goin along there were suffin on the wheel that made the hammer strike the wheel und that made a noise like a bell bein struck. Yu ha’a drop a seed potato down the tube every time the bell sounded. The men sittin on the planter din’t like it cos that made a rare lot o’noise und give them a skull ake (ear defenders had not been invented then) und when the ground were a little dawby(wet) the bell got clogged up w’mud und din’t wark. I think in the end they took the bell orf und counted up to two between a droppin each potato down the tube.
Well them boys up a Carra Rood got the better of them Tractor Boys from over the border. I hent heard a lot from m’Brother since that happened. That look as if they may be a’gettin themselves back in with the big boys cum September. Still a lot can happen between now und the end o’the season.
I see the Government are allowin tractors t’go faster on the roods now und are allowin them t’pull bigger trailers. If they start a pullin heavier trailers that ull du the roads a’lot o’good. Last summer I see a Mawther from County Hall a sprayin a coloured line around sum pot holes near our house. I drawed out und hed a wud along with har. She recon that were so the repair team could see which holes they were t’repair when they cum round in a week or so time. Since the coloured lines hev disappeared und the pot holes hev got bigger und nobody hev been near nor by t’repair them.
Well I hed better get out inta the garden a’time thas fine. We ha got several shrubs in great old pots und we want t’get get them inta the ground afor they start a’shootin. That ull mean I wont hev s’meny pots t’water this year……… thas a’corse unless the Missus buy suffin else t’put in um.
Fare ye well t’getter und du yu keep a troshin.
The Boy Tom
Categories
The Boy Tom – May 2015
Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
I am a bit moderate at the moment. Just cos old muther nature hev warmed the weather up a bit(mid April) that han’t stopped me a gettin a bit of a’cold und tizzick (cough). The Missus recon thas my fault cos I told har that if the weather stayed warm I were a’goin t’start a wearin my summer vest. She also recon that.if I dint improve soon she’s a’goin t’put me inta a basket und teake me down t’the vetinary’s und let him hev a look at me.
I have read that them up at County Hall hev decided that sum o’the children from the Norwich Road Estates are a’goin t’hev t’walk t’the Village School instead of gettin on a bus t’teake them there und back. They recon that they a’goin t’tricolate up the footpath that run twix the Norridge Road und Caudle Springs. As I hev said afor I crowd my old bike through there most days t’get me peaper. That ull teake a’tidy lot o’wark t’git git that path ready so the Mothers und Fathers can walk through there with their children und may be a’pushin a pram or push chair. Thas afor they ha’a walk down Drury Lane, cos thas suffin narra in places wi high banks und no where t’git orf the road. A’time they get t’school the little -uns are a’goin t’be tired out. They still a goin t’walk back agin arter they cum outa school in the arternoon und the parents are a’goin t’hev t’walk the path 4 times a’day. They recon that a good education will help one und all t’git on in life. How can those children who will now hev to walk t’school concentrate on their leanin when they arrive t’school dog tied?
Yu remember last time I hed a’word along with yu I were a goin on about, how last year, the Council hed marked round pot holes t’be repaired and how nuthin hed happened. Tuther day I see sum new yella lines round sum pot holes near where we live. I’ll be a keepin an eye on um und let yu know what happen.
There seem a rare lot of roadworks here about. Last week I warked out that there were only one road outa Watton (The Brandon Road) that dint hev sum traffic lights a’holdin folk up, und thas a’for yu start a thinkin about the road closed up at Watton Green.
A’time yu are a’readin this the old elections will be about t’happen. They allus recon that politions are the best salesmen out. They promise the earth but deliver nout. Sum folk say that to be a good polition you ha got t’be able the talk about nuthin for 5 minutes while you are a’thinkin of suffin t’say. Hevin said all that I think thas important that yu du vote, cos if yu dont thas no good yu a carryin on about them once they are elected.
Well them boys up at Carra Rood are a still a’winnin. A time yu read this they’ll know if they hev got their pass t’ go inta the Premier Legure with-out hevin t’go inta the play-orfs. Arter the season is over one o’our boys with sum of his friends are a’playin at Carra Rood. They are hevin the pay a’bit t’du so. I recon the Missus und I will draw along und giv him a look.
Well I hed better close now cos the Missus recon she is a mixin suffin up that ull help get rid of my cold und tizzick. I see she ha’got a little old bottle ready. I hope she ent a’goin t’drench me (pore the mixture down my throat) like I used d’do with my old sheep when they hed suffin wrong with um!!!!!
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a troshin.
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The Boy Tom – June 2015
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
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The Boy Tom – July 2015
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether. Theres bin na rare lot a’happenin since I last hed a wurd along w’you.
That old general election got them folk who were a’reportin it all wurked up inta a lather. Just cos that dint wurk out the way they recon that would afore hand. I recon that were a case o’them countin their chickens afore they hatched!
Them boys up at Carra Rood hev done a master job a’beatin them Tractor Boys and them others from up North at Wembley. One o’our boys und his Missis they went t’see um in London. I were a listenin on the wireless. Arter they hed scored two goals I kept a jifflin about in m’chair. The Missus recon I’d got ants in m’pants. I say that’ll be suffin worse than that if the Ref. dont blow his whisle suffin soon – she dint say anything – she just gi me one o’har looks.
My Brother recon he’s a’lookin forud t’seeing the Canaries a’playin his Tractor Boys the season arter next. I told him his team will ha’a plough a straiter furra than they did this year if they are a’goin t’move onta the same field as the Canaries.
I told ya last time that one o’our boys were a’goin t’play on the Carra Rood pitch with sum o’his friends. The Missus und I drawed along t’hev a look at him. That were a good do, I got t’walk round the pitch. I wish I were a few years younger so I could a’bin on the pitch a’playin un all.
Along wi the Canaries I hev hed suffin t’celebrate. I hev reached my three score years un ten. When I got t’forty sum folk told me that I hed suffin t’look back on und suffin t’look forud too. I know I hev got more t’look back on now und hope I hev still got a few more miles left on the clock.
There’s bin sum rum goin ons over the footpath wot the Council are a tricolatin up so children from the Norridge Rood Estates use it t’walk t’village school when the bus stop a’runnin. The Council warkers started a warkin on it then arter a few days they ha’a stop cos sum folk in the village recon there were great crested newts a’livin near the footpath. Them up a County Hall ha’a get permission from suffin called National England who, arter lookin at sum peapers, recon the footpath can go ahead. As well as all this the Council recon that they are a’goin t’keep the school bus a’runnin until the end o’the year. They also recon that they arnt a’goin t’start wark on the footpath alongside the rood that run through Caudle Springs und Drury Lane until leater in the year..
Thas a right old muddle ,as sumbody recon, thas a rummin when newts are more important than children’s safety!
Yu remember a while a’go I told yu on how them highway folk hed sprayed lines round sum pot holes along Drury Lane und Caudle Springs so the road repair folk know which ones t’repair when they cum along. Well them lines are still there, sum hev gone cos the pot holes hev got bigger but nobody hev bin near nor by t’repair tham. Them up at County Hall recon they are short o’money – well that seem a waste o’time und money t’sent somebody round t’spray round pot holes if they arnt a’goin t’repair them.
A’ridin round (Early June)I see that the Wheat und Barley crops are a’runnin inta ear. The farmers ull be a lookin for sum rain now t’swell the grain in the ear. A’time yu read this (early July) harvest wont be far away. The old Oil Seed Rape ull be cut fust. Thas rum stuff the old rape seed, once thas harvested farmers recon thas like tryin t.keep water in a trailer cos thas so small that’ll find any hole t’run out of. When thas in flower yu can see how much thas lost cos thas a’flowin in the middle of motorways.
I were a’readin tuther day that livestock farmers here about are getting worried that there may not be enough straw available for them to buy at harvest time for the coming year. Thas cause a lot on it is bein bought up for them straw burnin power stations. Them who now about thses things recon there’l be enough t’go round. The trouble is the straw thas was burnt will not be returned t’the land as Farm Yard Manure.
They hev been a’showin on the television leatley the trouble farmers are a’havin a’gettin rid o’Black Grass outa their cerial crops. Thas become resistance t’the sprays they are a’usin. They recon farmers arnt a’helpin cos they keep a’growin cereals on the same field year arter year with-out a ploughin the field or growong other crops. The black grass seed can lay dormant in the soil for several years.
I hant got any blackgraas in my old garden but I hev got Ground Elder und arter more than forty years I still hant got rid on it. I hev got it inta a corner though und will try und keep it there. I hev told the Missus if we ha’a move I ent a’goin t’dig up any plants to teake with us cos I dont want t’teake any ground elder with us.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.