Category: 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2019

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

Well thas done for another year. I am a’talkin about a’gettin all them old leaves a’cleared up. We hev got a rare lot of great old trees around us und they don’t half shed a funny lot o’leaves. As I said when I last hed a word along with yu I hev tricolated up a new place t’store the leaves so they can rot down for two years until I use um.

Old Jack Frost hev left his calling card on a couple o’days this week (first week Dec) That ount du no harm at all. Thas want them farmers who work on heavy farm will want cos that’ll help t’break the ploughed land down. Mind yu they hev bin a havin a hard time a’gettin them old beet orf cos the land hev bin s’dawby. I’ll tell yu suffin a friend told me tuther day about sugar beet. He recon he hed bin t’one o’these village quizzes in another part of Norfolk und one of the questions was about Sugar Beet Factories. They wanted t know which of the Whissington & Cantley factories were mothballed. He recon the answer were Cantley. Well that were news t’me und I recon that were news t’them farmers who are a cartin beet to it. One o’our Sons live that way und when we hev bin t’see him lately there were plenty o’lorries full o’beet a’goin that way.

The Missus und I drawed down t’the village hall tuther Saturday t’hev a look at the Christmas bazaar. My heart there were a rare lot o’folk there, less hope they were a spending a bit o’money. We were a helpin on the heritage stall und There were a fella next t’us who were a’sellin honey und he seemed t’be a’doin alright. You could buy a jar of thick or runny honey.
On our heritage stall we hed sum old tools for folk t’hev a look at. One on um were a hammer und adjustable spanner t’gether. You could use the hammer head for drivin nails in or you could turn the handle for the head split open so yu could use it as an adjustable spanner. I remember usin on um, we used t’call it “A London Screwdriver”. I think I hev still got one somewhere in my old shud.
Another bit o’kit we hed on the stall were suffin that you could use for strainin barbwire when you were a’puttin up a new fence or mendin an old one. I hev used one on um but I din’t like a’usin it as you ha’a be suffin careful cos if you strained the wire up to tight that could break. If that did break the barbwire would spring back suffin fast und could coil itself around you. I never see that happen but my fences allus seemed tight enough.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood seemed to hev turned a bit of’a corner. Less hope that carry on inta the New Year. I don’t think much o’this VAR. Why don’t they show it at the ground, like they du in Rugby, so the supporters can see was a’goin on.

I suppose I hev gotta say something about the election. I dunno about the rest on yar but I am a’gettin fed up with it all. The trouble is once thas over that’ll be back t’Brexit.
Every time yu turn on the TV there they are a’promising this und that. Du they think we a sorft or suffin cos we know that int a’goin t’happen. I’ll tell yu suffin they will ha’a do suffin about: Thas them waiting lists at the hospitals. They recon their sum forty six thousand folk on the waiting lists up at the Norwich Hopitial. I’ll tell yu suffin else I read in the paper about folk who don’t keep their appointments down at the Watton Surgery. They recon in September 162 folk din’t keep their appointments with the Doctors und Nurses. That mean there were 162 other folk who could’d get an appointment.

Another thing I recon is suffin sorft , thas this here Black Friday. The trouble is that int just Friday they start a sellin a’for the Friday und carry on afterwards un all. The rouble is un all thas do good a going inta a shop und ask for extra discount for cash. The last time I did that the Mawther a servin me din’t know what I were a’talkin about und the Missus, who were wi me, gi me one o’har looks.

Well thas time I stopped a’writin cos that’ll soon be dinner time. A’fore I du go the Missus would like to join me in Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas und a Happy New Year.

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

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2019

Well how are you all a’gettin on together?
Well that arrived!……. Thas t’old snow I’m on about. A time I am a’writin this (Jan 30th) there’s sum on it a’layin about. You know what they say “thas a layin there a’waitin for sum more t’join it”
They recon we arn’t a’gonin t’git another “Beast from the East” this year but we might git more than we want. That’ll du good t’git sum hard weather for a day or two. That’ll git rid o’all them colds un coughs folk seem t’be a’gettin und the arable farmers will be pleased cos that’ll help t’git rid o’all them viruses that hang about on Autumn sown crops. Mind you if any on um hev got any sugar beet in a heap the’ll ha’a make sure they hev got them covered up so the beet don’t git any frost into them, cos if they do that’ll be no good him a’carton them t’the factory cos the whole load will be chucked out.
A fare while ago I knew a farmer who he’d a load rejected. When he’d got the beet loaded onto the lorry he thought they looked a bit dirty so he give them a wash. The trouble was the loaded lorry stood in the yard overnight und that fros suffin hard. When he got the factory the next morning he went t’tip the load orf but the old beet wound’t move cos they were fros on.
I don’t know if any on yar hev bin a’watchin that programme thas been on the TV during the afternoon about farmers who getting their stock riddy for a show. Well I hev bin a watching on it und tuther week they were a’shown folk near here who were a’gettin their sheep ready for the Norfolk Show. I knew one or two on um who were filmed und thet were good t’see the Norfolk Show getting some publicity.
What about the Wayland Show then!… They recon that a’goin t’be cancelled this year und then come back next year on Sunday May 3rd. They say that’ll help the Farmers cos they wont be after the Harvest then und them in charge o’the show are a’goin t’try und attract more folk to attend by a’puttin on new events that’ll get folk involved.
Cos there’s another show what they could learn a thing or two about getting visitors involved und thas the Spring Fling at the Norfolk Show Ground. This year thas on Thursday April 11th. Tickets are on sale now. I’m a’goin t’be on the Stand thas called the Ark. Children can touch the animals we hev there und can get a chance to lead sum on um round in a little ring. The Missus is coming this year t’keep an eye on me so i’ll ha’a be on me best behaviour
Well the old BREXIT saga keep a rumblin on. That remind me of when the Missus und I used t’teake our 3 younguns out in the car. They used t’keep a’askin “Are we there yet”. Thas a bit like that w’them up a Whitehall who are supposed t’be driving while the rest on us are a’sittin in the back asking i “Are we there yet”. The trouble is them who are a driven are lost und don’t know which way they are a’goin. Tha’ll soon ha’a start a driven along the right rood cos the end a’March will soon be just round the next bend!!!!
The Village Hall her re-opened after the toilets & kitchen hev bin tricolated up. Less hope folk keep a’usin on it cos thet hev cost a bit t’get the work done. I hed a walk up Summer Lane tuther morning. My heart there were a rum lot of rubbish in the hedge rows. Thas folk a hulling it outa their cars after they hev finished eating their take-a-way. There were enough beer cans t’fill a skip. Why can’t folk take their rubbish home? I see down the Ovington Road somebody hev hulled an old fridge into the bottom o’the ditch. I know I hev said it a’for but when the Missus und I are a travelling about over the water you don’t see litter about like you do here. Perhaps that is suffin we can learn from um before we leave?
Them boys up at Carra Rood are still going strong. They play every game right till the final whistle. Thas how they win a’lot of their games. They hev still got the big one a’comin up in a week or two. Thas the one against the
Tractor Boys. They don’t seem to have got going yet despite hevin Mr Lambert in charge!
I hed better close now cos that’ll soon be time for me fourses. That’ll soon be light enough t’draw outside after I hev hed be cup o’tea. Mind you that’ll ha’a be suffin warmer than that is now.
Fare ye well t’gither und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2019

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Well thas nearly another month gone since I last hed a would a’long w’yu.
I’ll ha’a tell yu I han’t bin in to good a’fettle since then. I ha’a hev a couple nights in hospital just a’for Easter. I aren’t a coin t’say to much about it except t’say I were well looked after und them doctors und Nurses work suffin hard 24 hours a day.. They did a good job und got me sorted out so I were home in time for Easter. That really knocked me back und I am still pulling a light Harra. That mean the Missus ha’a teak up the slack. She hev done well und I hope t’be in full harness before to long although I don’t I’ll be a riding my old bike for a while yet.
Right at the beginnin o’the month the Missus und I went to see our eldest Grandson on his Birthday. He were havin a party at a go-cart track near Newmarket. Well that were a rare place. There go-cart racing, motor cycle scrambling, drivin 4x4s & trikes.
There were five friends with our Grandson. They were kitted out wi racing suits & helmets. They ha’a watch a safety film a’for they went out t’the go-carts. They then went out onto the track for ten laps. The go-carts were governed down to 20mph. Then they come in again und ha’a hev another talk a’fore they went out und hed a proper race. Them in charge let me go out onto the track t’teak sum photos. Mind yu I won’t hev wanted t’be out there when the older folk were a’goin round cos their carts were governed at 40 mph
That were a good du und the boys enjoyed it.
I remember several year ago I went on one o’them corporate dues at a go-cart track. I hed a go but I dint du to well cos I were heavier than a lot on um there un they could go quicker cos all the engines were the same size. I recon I would hev bin a’right if I could hev put a stick in the governor on the motor t’open the engine up a bit.
Afore I were ill the Missis und I went to the Spring Fling at the Show Ground. That were suffin cold und most folk there were rugged up . Our Son und his Missus und our Grand Daughter cum and hev a look . They recon they enjoyed it will be back agin. The Missus she went round w’them t’hev a look. I hev bin a goin since that started sum 20 year ago I did’t think there were the same feelin about the place that hev bin other years….perhaps that were just the cold weather. But the organisers hed made one or two changes und I don’t think they warked. That’ll be interesting t’see what they do next year?
Thas bin rum old weather t’git on in the garden. The main thing is that we want sum rain. Thas still to cold at nights t’git the Missus’s tender plants out o’the green house. The trouble is thas bin warm duin the day so yu ha’a leave the green house door open t’let the heat up. Thas alright as long as yu remember t’shut the door at night.
The farmers are havin a job cos the land is s’dry. Some on um are already irrigating their winter cereals t’keep them a growin. On the heavy land their are heaven a job a’breakin the land down cos thas s’dry. Most o’the sugar beet seed hev bin drilled but that’ll want sum rain t’git them a’growin. They recon if that keep dry that’ll be an early harvest. I
recon old Mother Nature will hev a few more tricks up har sleeve a’for we git there.
The Missus und I drawed down t’the village hall this arternoon,(27th April) cos there were a du on t’celebrate a reunion of the Smith Family. There were three sisters und a brother who were all born in the village und all went t’the village school. They were all there und
their total ages were 377 years. Two o’the sisters ha’a travel t’git here. One on um come from America und another one come down from Scotland. That were a rare good du w’plenty of folk there from their family und some folk from the Village who knew them. The Missus und I recon thas was village life is about. Folk a’sittin round havin a good mardle und lookin at some old photos und remembering things that happened several year ago.
While I hev bin a’writin this I hev bin a’listen to BBC Radio Norfolk commentary on Norwich City’s game against Blackburn Rovers. If they win this that’ll mean they will be playing with the big boys in the premier league next year. They hev won. OTBC Fare ye well together und du you keep a’troshin

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2019

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
My heart hant that bin suffin hot t’day (June 29th) The Missus und & drawled down t’the Village Fete this morning afore old Mother Nature tunned the heat up. There were a tidy few folk there und there were plenty of stalls there for them t’hev a look at, und there a ring where sum ladies were a’flinging their arms und legs about. The Missus recon that were called Zoomba dancin. I recon that don’t matter was that called they shount hev bin a dancing about in that heat. Arter them a bloke cum inta the ring w’sum Ferrets. He put sum long tubes out und started racin them ferrets along um. Folk around the ring recon they were a bit slow a comin out tether end. I say if you want’t see them move somebody auta put a couple o’rabbits inta them tunnels, that’ll meake um move.
I’ll tell yu where that weren’t s’hot this week. That were at the Norfolk Show on the fust day (Wednesday) I were up there early t’help on Mr Mawkins Farm, thas run by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. I went up there with-out a coat. As soon as I got outa the car that old eastly wind were a cuttin across the show ground so as soon as I got inta the show ground I ha’a go und buy a coat (Fleece). When I got home the Missus din’t half mobbed me for not a’takin a coat wi me und for spendin money on another coat when I hed got plenty at home. I told har that when I set out I thought I would be warm enough cos I hed my old vest on as well as me shirt. She dint say anything…. she just gi me one of har looks.
Any how I hed a good day at the show u’takin plenty of photos on the Rare Breed Stand. The Show President (Countess of Wessex) she come along to look at the animals und poultry on the Stand. She spent a lot o’time with a Suffolk Horse und with some School Children who were takin part in a school project t’get them closer t’where their food cum from. I’ll tell yu suffin: Why do them folk who arrange for the President t’go round the show und meet folk never allow enough time for them on each stand. When the Countess were only half way though har visit t’our stand them in the bowler hats who were with har started a’lookin at their watches und started a’sayin how they would ha’a hurry har along cos she were a’gettin behind schedule. I’ll give the Countess har do she din’t move on until she were ready to.
A couple o’weeks a’fore the show the Missus und I hed a few days away in our caravan. We hed decided that we weren’t a’goin over the water this year. Thas corse I hed bin a bit moderate a few weeks ago und we recon if I were a’goin t’be ill agin that would be best if
I were this side of the water if that happened agin. So we went und hed a look at the New Forest. We recon that were nigh on nearly forty year ago when we last stayed there. The weather were a bit moderate while we were there but that din’t stop us a’doin the things we wanted t’du while we were there. We hed a’look round sum big gardens und houses. One garden we hed a look round were suffin special und hed a indoor swimming pool, tennis court und a great old indoor gym that were bigger than my house.
That were with-out the stables, paddocks und exercise area for the horses.
We did go over a bit o’water while we were there….we went t’the Isle o White for the day t’look at Osborne House where Queen Victoria spent a lot o’time. There were a rare lot o’folk there as well as us. A’lot on um seem t’be Germans who were there cos the Queen’s Husband were a their Country. We ha’a take our time a’drawin round, The only trouble is that them from over the water don’t seem t’like queuing like we do und there were a bit of pushin und shuvin once or twice. I sorta held back a bit corse I din’t want upset um.
Well they tell me that them Footballers at Carra Rood will be back in trainin next week in preparation for their go at the big boys. Good luck to them, if they play like they did last season I recon they’ll du all right. I hev bin a’watchin them girls a’playin in the World Cup. Them English Girls are a’doin all right at the moment. Well ha’a see how they git on next week when the play the Americans in the semi-finals. I’ll tell yu suffin you don’t see them girls a’doin thas divin und rollin about like the men do. Although the German Women were a’doin it a bit this afternoon, but they were loosing so I recon they thought they might git a free kick or penalty.
Well them up at Whitehall are a’tryin t’pick a new Leader/Prime Minister. What I want t’now is why is it all a’takin s’long? Here we are a’waitin for them Brexit talks t’git a’goin agin und they are a carrion on as if nothing else matter except a’gettin a new man in charge. Don’t they know that that folk are a’gettin fed with the lot on um, Din’t they learn anything from them recent Council/ European elections?
Well harvest will soon be here, When I were down on the south coast tuther week I see sum winter barley that were really turning. With this here hot weather I recon there will be sum crops on the lighter lands in Norfolk that will be getting ripe. Less hope the farmers get a good yield although with Brexit a’goin on they won’t know what prices they will be a’gettin cos the grain merchants wont know if the can sell the grain for export to the EU.
What ever is a’goin t’happen with Brexit that won’t stop then old weeds in my garden a grown und the grass will still want a’cuttin. That hev reminded me my old mower is broken down so I’ll hev t’git it repaired…..I just hope the spare parts hant got t’cum from Europe!!!
Fare ye well t’gether un du yu keep a’troshin.

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2019

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

Well they hev nearly finished, I am a’talkin about the Farmers a’gettin in the corn harvest. Old Mother Nature hev her played har part by a keepin the rain away.
I were a watchin the combine a cutting on one of the Young Master’s field near us. My heart there were a rare lot o’dust. Today the combine drivers are in an air conditioned cab so the dust don’t bother them but when I were a’driven a combine in the 1960s there wern’t no cabs so you were getting all the dust. That were ok if your were a cuttin with a croos wind but if you a cutting into the wind that were a job sometimes t’see where you were a goin. Still thas part o’the “Good old Days” I don’t want t’see agin.
I were a readin in the peaper tuther day about a new combine them Germans hev brought out. Thas bigger than any of them combines about t’day and cost about four hundred thousand pounds. Thas a tidy some o’money to pay for suffin that’ll only goin t’wark about six weeks a year. Still thas the way things are goin. Bigger machines mean less men.
Arter the combine hev finished in the field the straw is baled. A ‘riding round the village I hev seen square bales, round ones, oblong ones und sum are wrapped in black polythene. I’ll tell you something, none of them bales are small enough for me to load with a hand fork.

When I were carting straw during harvest in the late 1950s the combine the farmer hed a baler attached to it. This tied the straw into bunches. These were easy to load with a hand fork. The straw carting team took it in turns to drive the loaded trailers to the straw stack so they could unload the straw into an elevator. This was considered the easy job. How-some-ever There was one man who recon he should do all the unloading. That din’t please the rest of the team so they decided to play a trick on him. When they loaded the straw onto the trailer in the field they tied the load on. That mean that, by using a ball of string, as every bale was put on the trailer they tied this string to the string round the bale so all the bales on the trailer were tied together. When the man tried to unload the bales he ha’a cut every bale apart from the rest of the load before he could put it onto the elevator. This meant the men on the stack started shouting at him cos he was s’slow unloading the trailer. I cannot remember what happened next but it seemed good fun at the time.

The Farmers may hev got the harvest in the barn but a lot on um don’t know what that’ll be worth when they come t’sell it. Thas cos of BREXIT. The new man at the top recon we are goin t’leave the EU on October 31st with or with-out a deal. Thas alright for him cos what ever happen somebody will still be paying his wages. (unless he git moved on)
The Missus und I are a’goin t’hev a look over the water agin afore that all happen cos nobody seem t’know what’ll happen if you want t’go over the water arter the end October

Last time I he’d a’word along w’yo I talked about Jan Godfrey a’passing away. There were a rare turn out for har funeral that were held in the Village Church. Several folk stood up und said some nice things about har. Her family invited folk to Broom Hall afterwards for a cup o’tea. That’s allus the same at these does, Folk meet others who they hant seen for years und hev a good mardle. The trouble is you can’t git round und talk t’all the folk you know who are there.

I’ll tell you suffin that hev happened recently, they hev dressed our road with tar & clippings. I thought suffin were on tuther week when the old road sweeping lorry cum drawing past doin one side o’the road und then he cum back a’doin tuther side. We hed
a note through the door a’tellin us that they were a starting next day, only that rained, that went on for a day or two until that were fine enough for them t’do it. That din’t take them long once they got a’going. They ha’a go over the road twice cos the machine they use din’t cover all the road in one go. Cos there were a’lot o’men about with the machines but there were a couple of men, all dressed up in yellow coats und hard hats that looked suffin clean. All they seemed t’be a’doing was watching the other men at work. The only thing I see them do was to sign some papers given to them by the men working on the taring machine.
The Missus und I were a’casting our minds back but neither of us could remember the last time our road had new chipping put down. They hant put the clippings down to thick cos where them big tractors & trailers hev bin turning outa the field they hev started a’cuttin into the clippings, come the winter thall turn into pot holes.

Well them boys at Carra Road hev started playing with the big boys. They hev got one win so far. They seem t’be a’playing in the same style as they played last year. What I don’t like is the way them so called “Pundits” are a writing them off already cos they han’t spent much money on new players this summer. Why should they? spending a lot o’money don’t mean success , ask Fulham?

The summer holidays will soon be over and the schools will soon be open agin. Them nettles on the footpath to the Norwich road will soon be touching across the path. I recon they’ll be cut back afore the children start a’using it t’git to the village school.

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

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2019

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Well them old clocks hev changed, that don’t half meake a difference. When I draw indoors outa the garden for me fourses thas to dark t’git back outside agin. Mind you thas bin to dawby to do much outside although I hev started a clearing the leaves up und hev got the Missus tender plants inta the green house. I hev tricoliated up another leaf bin cos I wanta keep a compositing the leaves for 2 years afore I use um.
Last month the Missus und I took our caravan t’hev a look at the National Arboretum in
Glorstershire. Afore we went there we stopped near Oxford t’go und hev a look at Blenheim Palace. Thas were where Winston Churchill’s family come from. My heart thas a great old place. Once we got inta the Palace grounds we were standing in the yard a’takin some photos when sum iron gates behind us started a’openin. I could see there a big car a comin in. So we stood back und let it pass. That parked und the driver got out, locked the car und went through a side door inta the Palace. I say the Missus I recon he live here. She told me not t’be s’sorfed . Later when we come outa the Palace the car were still there so I hed a look at it’s number plate, the letters were DOM. There yu are, I say t’the Missus, he du live here cos that were the Duke of Marlborough we see.
The next caravan site we stayed on were a dairy farm. That were ok although there were a bit o’mud about. When I went t’pay the farmer we were a talking about the cows. He recon he thought I knew suffin about farmin cos I hed asked him what breed o’cows he hed. There were 200 on um in the milking herd with another 300 head o’cattle about the yard. They were all indoors und he let me draw about a’haven a look round. I saw that there were 4 on um a looking arter all them stock und a milking the cows twice a day. They seemed t’hev a mechanical machine t’do all their jobs, but they were still a scrapin round t’git everything done. I see the farmer a’eaton his breakfast while he were a driving a tractor.
We were lucky at the National Arboritum, that were a lovely day und the leaves on all the trees hed started a’turnin so we were able to take a lot of photos.
Since I last hed a word along with yu I see the Village hev bin in the newspapers. One of them who farm in the village, but don’t live here ,recon he’s a goin t’farm so up to 1000 folk can live here if society break down. He don’t say who these folk are, where they are a’goin t’live or if that include folk who already live in the village?. I think if he come und talk to folk in the village he would hev found out that most on us could get by if society broke down. I know a lot on us weren’t about during the last war but we can remember how we lived in the late 40s und 50s. We grew our own food in the garden und folk kept poultry und some on us hed a pig or two.
I don’t recon these here 1000 folk he is a talkin about live in the country, I recon he’s a’talkie about them who live in a city und hev no idea about how t’git along with-out a microwave, take-a-ways und a mobile phone.
A’time yu read sum other does will hev happened in the village. One on um is the launching of a book about the village school durin the Second World War. The School record were kept in a Managers Book which was written in every day. A lot of this information with sum photos hev bin put inta a book. This here book is a’goin t’be showed for the fust time this Friday in the Village Hall. The folk who hev done this are the Heritage Group und the book hev bin paid for by the Parish council. There will be books on sale in the village. Another place where yu can see sum o’the history o’the village is in the museum down at Watton. Them folk in the Heritage Group hev put sum o’the village old books, photos & sum armour what they found in the Church, that’ll be on display for sum 3 months. Next time yar in Watton draw in und hev a look.
Well them English Rugby boys fell at the last game, that were a pity cos they hed played s’well when they beat the New Zealand boys. My heart they go at it suffin hard, they used t’recon ,a few year ago, that the New Zealand players were so fit und hard cos they were all sheep farmers! Well I used t’look arter sheep when I played rugby but I don’t know if that made any difference. I dussent ask the Missus if she think I were different when I looked arter sheep….. She’d probably just gi me one o’har looks.
Them boys up at Carra Rood are still a’strugglin, still as long as the supporters keep behind them they could turn the corner arter the turn o’the year.
One o’the most important day o’the year will be on Sunday 10th Nov. That ull be when we remember them who fell in the 2 World Wars. I know I hev said a’for , when yu draw past the Church, just yu stop und hev a look at them names on the War Memorial und remember them words. “They Gave They Tomorrow So We Could Hev Our Today.”
Fare ye well t’gether, und do yu keep a’troshin.