Category: 2016

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2016

Well how are yu all a’goin on t’gether. A’time yu get t’read this that’ll be February Fill Dyke though I don’t think we’ll be a’wantin any more rain for a’while. Thas bin a rum winter so far , all that rain that keep a’cummin down, thas as though somebody up above have left the tap a’runnin . Still we’re better orf than sum folk in tuther parts o’the country who hev hev bin flooded out more than once this winter although I can remember, a few year ago, when there were sum houses flooded at the bottom o’Mill Lane und the water used t’gather acroos the road just past the church,near the Old Crown House Pub, that were s’deep that you could’nt drive through it.

Cos them Politions up in London recon they’r a’goin t’spend a lot o’money t’stop houses a’gettin flooded. The trouble is, as soon as they meake the riverbanks higher in one place the water will cum over somewhere else. I know folk hev gotta live some where but why did they let them developers build on flood planes? Din’t they think there were suffin in the name?. Another thing, I know thas bad when folks houses und shops get flooded but what about the farmers who hev their crops flooded over und hev livestock swept away un drowned, nobody ant a’sayin much about that .

As as well as all that rain we keep a’havin thas bin s’mild up t’now (10th Jan) though they du say we could get sum colder weather soon. All the Missus tender plants I put away in the green house are still a’growin and sum o’our roses are still a’flowin, these here plants hev gotta stop a’growin sum time du they’ll not last through the summer w’out a rest.

Last time I hed as wurd along with’ya I were a sayin how I hed seen sum cows a’grazin on a field twixt Shipdham & Dereham, Well now I see there’s sum sheep a’grazin on a field tuther side o’the bridge a’goin t’wards Ovington. They look as if they are a’grazin sum stubble turnips. The Missus keep askin me it I am a’goin t’count them every day…..I told har not t’be s’sorft cos how can I ride my old bike in straight line und count sheep in the field same time. Still thas good t’see um, that remind you of how farming were several year ago when there were sheep everywhere in Norfolk, the Golden Hoof they used t’call them.

Afor Christmas the Missus und I went on a trip t’London t’go to a carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall. We han’t bin there a’for. My heart thas a gret old place, we hed seats right near the top. Them seats were set suffin steep, when we stood up t’sing a carol the Missus she grabbed hold o’me cos she recon she were a’goin t’pitch forud onta the row o’seats in front of us. That were a good job we only ha’a stand up twice cos my arm would hev bin black un blue from where the Missus kept a’grabbib me.

The next day we went to a Christmas Fair/Market in Hyde Park. There were a lot o’stalls a’sellin stuff. There were a big old wheel a’goin round w’little cabins on that yu could sit in. Now I ha’a say that I don’t like a’goin on anything that take yu orf the ground. The fust time I flew in a plane nobody told me that arter you teake orf the pilot throttle the engines back a bit, I thought he’ed turned the engines orf. How-sum-ever we went on the wheel in Hyde Park twice. The fust time we went on it that started t’rain und that old wind started a blowin the cabin which meade it rock a bit. I din’t like that und cos that were a’rainin yu could’t see far. Leater on the sun come out so we hed another go. I were alright this time a teakin photos until the Missus wanted t’sit on tuther side. Well boy when she started a movin about the cabin a started a rockin about, I hollered at har t’sit still cos I were coming over all funny. When we come orf the wheel we went inta an ice house t’see sum ice sculptures, That were suffin cold in there(-8c) When we come out they give us some little things t’warm yar feet up. I recon we should hed them a’for we went it. Still that were a good couple o’days even though the coach driver din’t know his way round London very well. I think we driv round the Olympic Station 3 times afor he found the M11

Well them boys up atCarra Rood seem to be gettin on a bit better than they were afor Christmas, less hope they can keep it a’goin until May.

I must close now und get outside t’clean my old hins out so their eggs keep nice und clean. Cos the old grounds s’wet und dawby the Missus meake me keep my old boots in the shud near the back door cos she don’t me t’drag any mud indoors. I say t’her “I wish my old hins could have boots they could keep outside the hut, cos that would mean that I wont ha’a clean them out s’often”……………She din’t say anything,she just gimi one o’har looks.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2016

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 hed 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.

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2016

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether. That old weather that keep a choppin und changin. Thas a job t’know what t’wear when yu are a’goin outside. I hev found that as yu git older yu feel the cold a bit more. Cos if yu hev got a job or two in the garden that don’t teake long t’warm yar old self up but you ha gotta t’be careful und rug up agin when yar finished du yu’ll soon catch a chill.

That used t’be suffin cold when yu were a’drivin a tractor durin the winter afore they had cabs on. I used t’wear an old army greatcoat with gloves und a hat und hed a old corn sack acroos m’knees t’keep m’legs warm. Cos in them days yu used sit astride the tractor’s gear box so yu got a bitta warmth from that. When I were a ploughin I used t’git orf the tractor at the end o’each run acroos the field und warm my old hands up on the exhaust pipe afor I set in agin.

I know I keep on about it but that were sad t’read in in EDP tuther week about three Norfolk farmer a’havin t’sell their sheep flocks und dairy herds cos they cant meake any money. I know all on um und their all good farmers who kept sum tidy stock und could git the best out on um. Not only is this country losing the livestock to produce milk, beef, pork und lamb but thas also losing the stockman skills t’look arter them. I suppose somebody up at Whitehall will weake up sum time und notice that we are a’gettin a lot of our food from over the water just the same as we are a’gettin our gas und hevin forineers a’lookin arter our electricity.

Well they hev started a’tellin us all about what would happen if we vote t’leave the EEC und what might happen if we stay in. I recon that by votin day we’ll all be fed up w’all on um. What I want t’know is if we vote t’leave, when du that happun? du that happen the day arter we vote or du they ha’a set a date for that t’happen? cos all them w’jobs in Brussels will hatta pack up und come home first.

Well thas official, I hev told yu afor that I am a member of the Rare Breed Survival Trust und the Missus recon that I am a rare breed anyway. Well when my membership were renewed at the turn o’the year the RBST sent me a car sticker that say on it “I am a Rare Breed”. I hev stuck it on my car windscreen, I han’t said anything t’the Missu about it but I recon when she twig thas there she’ll hev suffin t’say.

We hev bin a’hevin a job wi our old phone leartly. Sum on yar might hev seen that them BT or OutReach warkers hev hed a tent pitched over a hole a the top o’the road at Watton Green for best part o’six weeks. During the last week sum on us around Caudle Springs hev hed our phone & internet cut orf then the phone cum on agin but the internet stay orf, then they both cum on agin, now we hant got a phone but the internet is a warking. I rid past their tent this morning , on my old bike, and ,though thas Sunday, there were seven vans parked near their tent. I thought about a’goin t’hev a wud along with-um but I din’t want the stop them a warkin.

I recon that by the time yu are a readin this Spring will hev properly started und that ull be light anough arter tea to du a bit in the garden. Cos once that old soil heat up a bit things ull start t’grow. I hev bin round und given most o’the shrubs und roses a drop o’ fertilizer just t’get um goin.

Well I hed better get this sent orf a’fore they stop the intered a’warkin agin.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2016

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

We are a’gettin there, thas the weather I am a’talkin about. Mother Nature is a gettin har act t’gether. There ha bin enough warm sun t’git the soil warm enough t’start a’sowin a few seeds. The farmers ha bin able t’git on the land und get sum fertilizer onta the corn thay drilled last Autumn. Some o’them crops looked a funny colour durin January und February. I could see what they looked like cos, since the turn o’the year, I hev bin t’Norrridge a few times by bus cos I hev got one o’them bus passes . If yu sit on the top deck that giv yu a rare chance t’hev a good gawp around und I can tell yu that sum o’them winter sown crops looked poor, they were all yella, I recon thas could we hev hed a mild winter and a lot o’them fungus diseases hev got hold co there hant bin enough cold weather t’trim um back. Other thing is thas bin suffin wet und cereal plants don’t like a’havin their roots in cold water.

Last week (first week April) I were a helpin at the Spring Fling up at the show ground. That were a rare nice day und a good crowd o’folk with their children tunned up. I were a helpin on the Rare Breed stand und this year we hed a little ring where we could lead sum sheep round for folk t’hev a look at. We hev done this afor only this year we tried suffin different .

Our head lady , who were on the microphone, asked it there were any youngsters who would like t’cum inta the ring und touch the sheep. Well a whole drove on um cum in, their parents were a’busy a teakin photos on um.

Then the head lady asked if any on um would like t’hev a go at leadin a sheep. All the sheep were halter trained und hed bin in a ring afore und the ring hed hurdles all round so the sheep could be kept stowed up it any on um got loose. I were on the gate inta the ring so I ha’a kept that shut. Well bor a tidy few on um hed a go und sum on um meade a good job on it once they hed bin shown what t’du. That were suffin good t’see them a havin a go. We ha’a git out o’the ring afor they all hed a go,cos sum other folk w’goats wanted t’use it. We said we would be back in the ring agin in about an hour so those on um who din’t hev a go at a’leadin a sheep should cum back then. Well bor when I went back out t’the ring afor we were a’goin t’start agin there were a gret old line of youngsters all a’waiting the lead a sheep. We kept a’goin this time so them that wanted to, hed a chance t’lead a sheep. I think thas suffin we might try agin next year. Thas a pity we won’t be able t’du the same thing at the Royal Norfolk Show cos most o’the sheep we used ,and their owners, will be in the show ring a’tryin t’win a rosette.

Leately I hev bin a watchin a series o’programmes on the TV about livestock farmers in Scotland. They have t’put up w’longer winters than we du but that showed that their highs and lows o’farmin w’livestock are just the same as farmers w’livestock down here. As one o’the farmers said “That int a job, thas a way o’life”.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood are a’tryin the keep up w’the big boys, a’time yu read this I recon they’ll know where they will be a’playin football cum the start o’the new season at the end o’August. As The Tractor Boys (Ipswich) arnt a duin too well this year m’Brother hev bin fairly quiet.

We hed our Grandsons t’see us at Easter. I got them out inta the garden und we planted sum Pumpkin & Sun Flower seeds. When the seeds chitted und the shoots cum through I took a photo und sent it to um. Thas suffin I dint know how t’du a’few year ago.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2016

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

My heart thas bin suffin hot leartly (12th May) I hev teakin my old vest orf cos I was a’gettin all of a sweat. I say t’the Missus these here new vests arn’t like them old string ones cos they use t’hev gaps in um so the heat could get out…………….. I could ask the Missus t’knit me one f’next winter but I dussunt cos I recon I’d get more than one o’har looks.

Well them Canaries up at Carra Rood will be a’sittin on a lower perch next season. Thas a shame but if you don’t score goals yu don’t win games. That were a rummun that the Headman at Carra Rood chucked it in a’for the end o’the season. Less hope them at the top can find somebody quick t’give that young manager their got a helpin hand next season cos I recon he’s wurth keepin.

With the rain und warm weather things in the garden ha started a growin. I hev got sum o’that old Ground Elder in my garden , my heart that teake sum gettin rid off. We ha bin here over forty year und I still can’t get rid on it. I hev tried a sprayin on it und I hev tried a diggin it out, but you only hev t’miss one bit und that’ll start a growin agin. I han’t beatin it but I recon I hev got it inta a corner……as long as I can keep it there that’ll be alright. I hev told the Missus, if we ever move I arnt a diggin up anything t’teake with us cos I dont want t’move that old ground elder un all.

A’riding about there seem t’be a rare lot o’Oil Seed Rape growing this year. That’ll be good news from them who keep Bees. I used t’keep them und yu ha’a keep scrappin about if yar bees were arter oil seed rape nector cos wunce they get that inta the combs in the hive that start t’set suffin quick. I used t’look at my bees about once a week und get the full combs out t’spin the honey out a’for that set. When we are a drivin near fields o’Rape the Missus recon that smell like the honey we used t’git from our bees.

The Missus und I hed a walk a’round the Millennium Green tuther day. My heart sum folk hev bin suffin busy. There seem t’be a lot o’nest boxes on trees und there hev bin a lot of brushin up (trimming out) around the trees. That look as it the maze is a being planted up agin. Thas a shame sum folk are a spoilin things by not clearin up behind their dogs.

Around the front o’the Village Hall I see that the Village Sign und handles on the old hoss plough are a gettin a bit green. I recon thas acors their under them trees a’growin nearby. That want a’washin orf afor next winter cos it not that’ll git inta the wood und that’ll be a master job t’git rid on it.

We hed a birthday party for one of our Grandson’s tuther Saturday. That were held in Thetford Forest at High Lodge. Thas a great old place w’plenty o’different things for folk t’do. There were play areas, you could hire bikes,or bring yar own, und cycle along tracks through the forest. I recon one o’the rummist things I see were a two wheeled platform which yu stood on und held onta a handle. Once yu got balanced und pushed the handles forrud the wheels started turning. They tell me thas called a Segway und a lot of folk are a’usin them……….. I recon I’ll stick w’my old bike cos that dint look to safe t’me

They tell me that sum fella is a’goin t’be givin a talk about Heavy Hosses soon. Thas goin t’be in the Village Hall on June 17th at 7.30pm. The Missus und I are a’goin so I might see yu there.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2016

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

Well thas still keep a’rainin. Them tempests are suffin sharp when they come. The trouble is that meake the old land su dauby so yu can’t get on und do any thing in the garden. Them old greenfly are a’gettin on my Roses but you want a dry still day t’get on und spray um. I shall ha’a du like I did when I wanted t’du some spraying on the farm, git up early in the morning, five o’clock time, thas nice und still then. I shall ha’a tell the Missus the night a’for cos if I don’t she’ll be a wandering where I am if she weake up und I arn’t a laying a’side har………..She might think I hev run orf w’another women.

Since I last hed a wud along w’yar the Missus und I hev bin over the water a’gin w’our caravan. We driv through France und spent sum time in Switzerland afore going onta the Italian lakes. When we were a leaving Switzerland for Italy we driv through that there St. Gotthards Tunnel. My heart thas suffin long! The Missus recon she knew how a Mole feel when he’s underground. I say t’har that there were one difference. A Mole don’t hev any headlights t’see where he’s a’goin.
Later on we ha’a drive round Milan, I recon all them Italian drivers think their on a race track. As well as the cars there were a rare lot o’scooters und motorbikes a’weaving in and out o’the cars und lorries. Yu ha’a keep yar eyes on the road all the time cos another trick they hed was t’drive inta the traffic from side roads without a’waitin . I were suffin glad when we got back inta Switzerland.

They hed sum tidy farms in Italy, but as I hev said about the French Farmers a’for I din’t any on um warkin in Italy either. I din’t see any livestock but some o’the farms we passed hed sum great old shuds on um so I recon they must be kept inside.
We went und hed a look a some rare gardens ,one on um was so big, about 1000 acres , we went round on a golf buggy. The Missus kept a mobbin me, cos she recon I were a’goin to fast und she wernt strapped in. They hed sum Deer in a paddock, so we drawed up a’gin them so the Missus could teake a photo. I din’t recon much to um,… thas the deer not the Missus…………they looked a bit on the thin side, I recon they wanted wormin.
I’ll ha’a tell yu suffin else what happened while we were in Italy. We hed a bit o’trouble w’the gas in our caravan so I ha’a use a little doddy BBQ we hed with us but I din’t hev a bottle o’gas t’use. I hed a word w’the husband of the Mawther who were a runnin the camp site that we were a staying on, he could speak a bit of english. He sent me to a little corner shop just down the rood . I drawed down there und they hed some gas bottles. The Mawther behind the counter wont sell me one cos I han’t got empty bottle t’giv har. Well bor, she went at in Italion I all I could du were shrug me shoulders. She give har Husband a shout und he cum inta the shop. He din’t speak any english either but I could tell that he wont bothered about me not havin a empty bottle. Well bor they were a goin at it a havin a right old row for about 5 min.w’me just a standin there. I could see how much the gas was so in the end I just got the right money out und the Husband took it I walked out w’me gas leavin them still a’shoutin at each other .

When we got back the things in the garden hed suffin grown w’all the rain. I hev managed t’git the grass cut und most o’the weeds pulled up and the Missus hev bin a puttin in sum beddin plants.
A’time yu read this the Norfolk Show will be over. They tell me there are a’goin t’be sum royal visitors this year. I’ll am a goin t’be there a’helpin on the RBST stand. Them in charge allus bring any royal visitors t’see us so I hed better wear a tie this year just in case I git t’meet any on um. If I du I’ll tell yu about it next time I hev a wud a’long w’yu.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2016

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

I recon a’time yu are a’readin this them old combines will be a’goin….that is if old Mother Nature du har part und we get sum hot sunny weather. A’time I am a’writin this (second week July) thas still suffin humid with sum rain most days. With the wheat und barley a runnin inta ear the rain’ll swell the grain but there ha gotta be sum sun t’get the crop t’dry out und turn t’straw.

Last time I hed a wud along w’yu I said how I wud tell you what happened at the Norfolk Show. Well I did wear a tie und we did hev a visit from His Royal Highness on the Rare Breed Stand. Our head lady asked me if could teake sum photos of HRH a visiting our stand. She had had a word with the Palace und they recon that ud be alright as long as I were “discreet” cos there would be “official” photographers with him.

Well on the fust day o’the show along cum Prince Charles und got introduced t’our head lady. I were busy keeping back und teakin photos. Arter about a couple o’minutes a smart young lady grabbed hold o’my arm. She recon she were from HRH’s press office und could I tell har what peaper I were a warkin for. I told har I were teakin photos for the RBST. She recon she could help me und told me t’follow har…. she started pushin through the crowd of folk round the Prince. She took me right t’the front und got me t’stand w’all them “official” photographers, she put me next t’that fella from the Sun peaper(Arthur Edwards) he recon he hed bin following the Royal Family round since 1977. When HRH moved all them photographers moved un all…so I went with um. I were s’busy a’lookin at their equipment that I nearly forgot t’teake any pictures m’self. Still I recon that if I wanted any more I could ask Arthur for one or two.

I hev hed a job a’ridin my old bike along the footpath t’the Norridge road leatly cos the thistles und nettles are a’meetin acroos the path. Sum folk from the estates on the old airfield are still a’tryin t’git along there with their children t’teake them t’the village school. I were told ( a month ago) that the council were a’cummin durin the next 2 weeks t’trim the path out. They han’t tunned up yet, I’ll let yu now when they du.

Did any on yar watch the football from France. We din’t ha’a wait long for England t’get the plane home. I recon they could learn a thing or two about team wark from the Welsh und Irish boys. That were good t’see the 2 boys from Norridge City duin well though that’ll mean other clubs might want t’meake a bid for um.

That old European election din’t turn out how them up at Whitehall wanted. They recon that were us olduns who wanted out while the youngsters voted t’stay in. I recon thas cos us olduns can remember what that were like afor we joined and don’t like them in Brussels a’tellin us how t’run our lives. Now the two main political parties can’t decide who they want in charge. Thas sorta as if the country hev stopped goin forrud und hev parked up while them up in London git sorted out und put the country inta gear agin. They hed better get a goin soon cos “If yu stand still, thas likely yu’ll git run over”.

The good thing about the rain is that my old water butts are full. I hed a recon up tuther day und I hev got nigh on 1000L stored up. That should keep the Missus a goin as she like usin soft water for har indoor plants.

Well as thas fine at the moment I am a’goin t’teake my old hoe for a walk round the garden.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2016

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2016

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I know I reconned we were a’havin sum rare weather last time I hed a wud along with yu but my heart alive the last few days hev bin suffin hot. (12th-15th September). I ha’a take my old braces und vest orf cos I hev bin a’gettin suffin hot a’doin nothin. That hev bin to hot t’get out inta the garden. The Missus recon that this hot weather is my fault cos I reconned tuther month if that got to hot I’d ha’a be like them French Farmers und not do any wark in the middle o’the day.

Well they done it….. them up at County Hall hev finally got round t’trimmin the footpaths back. The one twix Caudle Springs und the Norridge Rood they did the Monday the schools went back. The trouble is….as far as I can see……. there an’t any school children a’usin the footpath now t’get to the village school.

Last time I looked…. they han’t finished trimmin out the path twix Summer Lane und Mill Lane.

There hev bin a bit of a smell in the air leartly as they hev a bi a’spreadin some muck(farm yard manure) onta the stubble ready t’be ploughed in. That’ll put a bit of heart back inta the soil. The Missus don’t like the smell but I tell har you want’t teak a good old sniff on it cos that’ll clear yar lungs out……She recon she’d rather I driv har down t’the coast so she could teak a good sniff o’the sea air.

I see them who farm near the Ovington bridge are a growin a crop w’white flowers on… I recon they will be a ploughin that in as green manure. I remember years ago a sowin mustard seed inta the stubble arter harvest cos that grow suffin quick und then we ploughed that in as green manure.

Tuther day there were a farm machinery demonstration held on a farm tuther side o’Hingham. I drawed along t’hev a look. My heart there were sum gret old tractors a’warkin. One o’the tractor drivers he gi’me a ride in his cab. I din’t even ha’a sit on the mudguard cos there were a spare seat for a passenger. Well bor there a’rare lot o’buttons und levers in the cab and two computer screens for him t’look at. He recon that all he hed pressed a few buttons und put his foot down onta a pedal und the tractor went orf with-out him ha’a do anything else. At the end orf the field that even lifted the machine behind outa the ground und set it back in a’gen once he’d tunned round t’go back up the field agin. He recon the tractor cost £120,000 und the drill behind were another £72,000. Well bor I can tell yu that were an experience. Still thas progress for yu, I’ll tell yu suffin thas a lot easier than walkin behind an old Hoss all day.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood hev make a start tryin t’get back inta the top league agin.

Less hope we see them win more games than they did last season. Sum folk recon they orta hev spent sum more money on new players. At least they arn’t in the red like sum clubs. I recon sum o’them players arnt worth the wages they git. They orta be payed accordin to if they win, lose or draw a game. Still I spus that would mean they would be a divin about even more t’try und get another player sent orf or t’git a penalty.

I still recon they payed to much…. I sound just like m’Father… I can remember him a mobbin when, in 1961, Jimmy Hill got the clubs to drop the £20 a week maximum wage for players and Fulham were a’goin t’pay Johnny Haynes £100 a week.

I’ll tell you suffin, while I am a writing this thas a started rainin suffin hard und that look as if thas a goin t’keep a’goin all day. The Missus will likely recon thas my fault un all, still that’ll meake them old sugar beet grow a bit more even if the Missus cant get har washin dry.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2016

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

Since I last hed a wud along w’yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin. We hev bin und hed a look at Italy agin, only this time we flew there. I know I hev said I don’t a’like flyin but that were the best way t’get there.

We driv down t’Stansted t’get on a flight that took orf at 6 o’clock in the mornin so we hed t’be about early. M’brother,who fly a lot more than I do!, told us what we he’a du t’check in.

That were a goin all right until we come t’the security check. Yu ha’a teak all of yar things outa yar pockets, that were a good job I left my old pen knife at home. The Mawther in charge she made me teake m’shoes orf un all. The wust part was a’for you walk through that there body scanner cos I ha’a teak m’braces und belt orf me trousers.I han’t even got a bit of binder twine t’use t’hold um up. I went though that scanner suffin quick in case m’trousers started to drop down.

When we were a boardin the plane we got wrong cos they recon we should hev come on with the “late boarders” who ever they were.

We were a stayin at Sorrento. My heart that were a rare place for traffic. That took our bus over an hour t’drive through it cos the streets were suffin narra. Nearly every car I saw hed scratch marks down each side und there were scooters every where und they seemed t overtake the bus on both sides. I only see one car with uk number plates the whole time we were there.

While we were there we went und hed a look at that there Mount Vesuvius. They driv us up some o’the way in the bus und then we ha’a walk the last bit. The Missus din’t go but I went und hed a look. That were hard goin but I hed a stick t’help me along. When I got the top yu could see about for a fair way. I hed a look inta the crater but there din’t seem t’be much a’happening. There were a few puffs o’steam coming out’a the rocks just like a kettle a’boilin. That were a good week but we were suffin tied when we got home. The Missus recon we were the oldest folk on the trip! That meake yu think cos I din’t feel like one the oldest.

Just arter we got home I ha’a clean my old chickens out. I store their clean beddin in another little hen coop. I opened the door und started a gettin the new beddin out when there were a’lot o’buzzin und a rare lot o’wasps cum out arter me. I ha’a move suffin quick but not afore one on um hed stung me on the back o’my neck und another one stung me on the top o’my lug. The sting on my neck went down arter a day or two but the one on my ear caused that t’swell up. The Missus kept a puttin some cream on it but I ha’a go und hev a wud along with the Chemist. He gi’me some o’them Histermin tablets t’teake. They started a warkin arter a day or two but they meade me feel suffin funny.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood are a perchin at the top o’the league (16th Oct) Less hope they are still there come May next year. I recon there’ll be one or two ups unds downs afore then though.

Tuther month I were a tellin on yu how the land near the Ovington Road bridge hed been drilled with a crop that I thought they were a’goin t’plough in. Well that look like I were wrong, They hev put some electric netting round the field und tunned sum sheep inta the field. I dunnow how many there are cos yu can only see a few at a time when they get near the edge o’ther field. How they count them or see if one is ill, I say the Missus “I recon they fly one o’them little radio controlled helicopters over them with’a camera on” She din’t say anything………..she just gi me one o’har looks.

Well I ha gotta close now cos our two Grand Children are arriving soon und the Missu ha got sum jobs she want me t’du afore they get here. If that stay fine I’ll get them out inta the

garden so they can run about. Thas a good job I found them wasps cos I would’t want them t’git stung like I did.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2016

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

Well thas another year nearly gan. Thas bin a rummun old year und all. Fust of all we hed them up at Whitehall a’tellin us how we orter stay in the EU und then we voted t’git out. that put them in change all of a muckwash cos they hant thought what t’du if we voted t’leave.

Now them over the water in America ha voted in a new President who them who know about these things recon hed no chance o’winnin. Still I recon that ull all git sorted out next year. That an’t alot o’good worrying about things, I read some where “You carnt keep trouble from cumin, but dornt give it a chair t’set on”.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away in our caravan. We went und hed a look at the Peak District in Derbyshire. We driv over there on a Sunday und went along part o’the M1. My heart that rained suffin hard when we were a drivin along there. I kept a’slowin down but sum on um still kept a commin past as if that wernt a’rainin und they dint hev any lights on. I were suffin glad the git orf there. We stayed near the great old house called Chatsworth.

The day arter we arrived we went und hed a look round. We hed what they called a timed ticket so we ha’a go round with a whole crowd o’other folk. They hed trimmed the house out ready for Christmas. I hed a word w’one o’them helpers who where a standing in one o’the room t’meake sure you don’t touch anything or sit on suffin . He recon they du the whole lot in five days und that include cartin in twenty 25ft Christmas trees. They ha’a be a special sort that dont drop their needles.

We hed a walk round the gardens und see them a clearin up the leaves from under all them trees they hed got dotted about the garden. That were a job I ha’a git on with when we got back home. The trouble is that ha bin so wet und dawby that hant bin an easy job. I hev got one o’them leaf blowers so I can git all the leaves onta the grass und them I go round with my old mower und pick them up. That chop the leaves up und mix a bit o’grass clippins in. When yu put the whole lot inta a compost bin the grass heat up a bit und help the leaves to compost down.

I see they hev got one o’them Difibrilators fixed on the wall up at the garage on the Norwich Road. Thas good t’know thas there und they recon their easy t’use. If that save one life then thas well worth the money.

I see that BT are a gettin rid o’them red phone boxes cos folk arnt a’usin them now cos most on us hev got a mobile phone. I hear that the Parish Council hev bin asked if they want t’buy the one in the village near the Church. That’ll only cost them £1 the buy, I hope they do buy it.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood are a’lettin things slip a bit. Less hope their young manager can turn things around now soon. Once you get inta the New Year all the teams will be a’scrappin for points. At least they are well supported what every league their in. When yu watch some o’them games on the TV from the lower leagues all yu see are acres o’empty seats.

The Norwich Chairman is still a going (15th Nov) on that dancing programme. If them players put as much go inta their games we might see a win or two!!

As this is the December issue the Missus joins me in wishing you all a Happy und Peaceful Christmas und I hope to be hevin a wud along with yu in 2017.

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2016