Category: 2020

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2020

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

We’r hed sum rum old weather since I last hed a wud along with yu.
I was a writing last month about how they were a’tellin us how we were a’goin t’git sum rare hot days, well as I hev told yu afore I hev got one o’them weather stations rigged up in my garden – du yu know that on the 7th August that got up to 37.5c if that won’t hot enough on 12th August that got up to 37.8c.
Then acors towards the end o’the month we hed a rare lot o’rain. My old rain gauge overflowed when that got to 2.5ins that had fallen in about 3 hrs. At least that mean that the old water butts are full for the Mrs’s house plants through the winter. The hot weather we hed afore the tempests meant the the farmers could git the corn harvest done although they tell me that the yields hev bin a bit moderate. A’ridin round you could see that cos there weren’t a lot of straw bales a’standin about.

Although we hev bin self isolating the Missus & I hev let the brakes orf a bit und hed a week away in our caravan. We din’t go far, only to Ludham, for those of you who don’t know were that is:- you drive from Norwich t’ Wroxham un turn right, go past Horning to Ludham. We stayed on a camp site near the bridge that go over the river Ant. When we got there the Mawther who were a checkin us in recon that cos we hed got a long caravan, 8 metres, they hed put us on a large pitch. I din’t say anything cos our caravan is only 7.2 m. We pitched the caravan und put the awning up but arter we hed seen the weather forecast we took it down agin. Thas a good job we did cos one or two other folk on the site lost their awnings in the high wind. The only thing I lost were my hat. I were a goin for a walk along a footpath that went along the river to Saint Benets Abbey. I hed stopped t’take a photo und a gust of wind cum along und blew my hat orf my head und into the river. I recon that a’time I got back from my walk my hat was probably goin across Breydon Water towards Yarmouth.

While we were there we got out und see a few things but kept away from crowded places. We went with some o’our family to a wildlife park. They hed a rare collection of animals for folk t’look at including Crocodiles & Tigers. Them Tigers are rare looking animals, their pen hed a overhead walkway with a platform for the Tigers to lay on just tuther side of the fence where you could walk. Thas the closest I hev ever bin to one o’them. Them Crocodiles don’t seem t’do much although I recon they can move fairly sharp when they want to.
Another place we went o’t’meet my Brother were Waxham Barns. Thas one o’the longest Norfolk Barns about und hev bin done up und is now a place where folk can go to get married. In front of the barn there is a couple of cart sheds that hev bin done up und one o’these hev bin converted into a cafe. That were alright although cos there were six on us we ha’a sit a two tables, I sit w’me brother und his two Grand daughters und our two Missies sit t’gether at another table, we noticed that they were a lot slower finishing their food cos they were talking s’much.
Although looking about that were good t’see the buildings hed bin tricolated up I can remember a’goin there when the farmer hed a large herd o’dairy cows, now there arnt a stock t’be seen anywhere. That were the same when the Missus und me were a riding about across the marshes near St Benets Abbey & Thurne we drive past at least four sets of buildings that used to house & milk cows. I know you can’t turn the clock back but I find it very sad that farmers are not paid enough to carry on milking cows. With the Corona Pandemic a’goin on folk seem to be forgetting that at the end of the year the UK leave the European Community und nobody hev worked out yet how we are a’goin to continue t’git 40% of our milk from over the water. As I hev said afore that take 2 years from birth to get milk from a cow!
Another thing I see on the television tuther Sunday were folk re-wilding some of their land. They were talking about going back t’producing meat orf the land using some of our Rare Breeds. I recon that would be a good idea if we could already produce enough food t’feed everybody , the trouble is we don’t. Ever since the year 2000 the world has not been able t’produce enough food t’feed every body.

As far as Norwich City go they are a starting the season next Saturday. They hev bought in ten new players but han’t sold anybody yet. That’ll be interesting t’see how they are all a’goin t’get a game?

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2020

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

That seem that every time I have a wud along with you I allus start by talkin about the weather. Well that seem that every time I git my old computa out put a few wuds down we are either a’goin t’git some rare weather or we hev just hed sum. Thas either a’goin t’be s’hot that thas a’goin t’ burn yu or thas a goin t’rain s’hard that all the dykes will be full t’overflowing und thas a’for the wind start a’blowin. While I am a’wrttin this we are a’waitin for storm “Alex” to arrive. There int no wind yet but thas a’rainin.

Cos all this here wet weather aint any good for the farmers cos the land is all wet und dauby so the tractors can’t travel on the land. Afore that set in wet the Young Master up at the Hall got his beans cut. My hart there were a rare cloud of muck a’comin orf the combine while that were a cuttin & threshin the beans. Cos that don’t matter s; much now cos the combine hev got a cab so the driver aint a sittin out in it.
I’ll tell you suffin else about all this wet weather, that ain’t any good if yu are a’buildin houses. There’s a building site that I crowd my old bike past every mornin und they are havin a master job u’gettin the water away. Afore they started buildin they dug a gret old hole und filled it full o’plastic crates, arter they hed covered it over w’soil they started puttin in the footins for the houses und bungalows they were a’goin t’build. Well arter all this here rain we hev had there were water a standin about there every where. Well they come back with a gret old digger und started a diggin agin. They thought they must hev sorted it out cos they started a laying a road over where they hid dug. Well’ let me tell yu suffin, when I cycled past this mornin they hed got the digger back und that were diggin a-side the road they hed started a’puttin down so they hant got the job sorted out yet.

Durin the last couple o’weeks we hev lost a couple o’folk out’a the village who hed done a lot for all on us durin their lives. Enid Clarke had had har 100th birthday last year und hed lived in the village nearly all har life. She supported village events und will be remembered for the miniature painting that she did. These put Carbrooke on the map cors they were shown at some of the countries leading art galleries in London. Some on us are lucky enough to have some of har paintins t’remember har by. Until recently the Heritage Group in the village were grateful for har remembering village events in years gone by.
John Rogers hed not lived in the village as long as Enid but he also contributed a lot to our village by representing us on Breckland Council, he also served on the Parish Council for a number of years & was recently the Town Mayor at Watton.

A’time when we hev hid some fine weather the Missus & I hev bin gettin out a bit & tuther day we driv past a field where there were sum Sun Flowers a’growin. My hart they looked suffin special. That reminded us of when we hed bin over the water with our caravan und hed seen them a’growin in France. Cos they grow them over there by the field full und combine them when they are fit. The ones we see tuther day were just a strip along one edge of the field, they were put there as cover und feed for Pheasants although other birds will find them un all. I grow a few in our garden every year.
Sum on yu may remember me a’sayin earlier this year that I hed turned part o’the garden over to a wild flower meadow, well that hev done alright und we hed about twelve different wild flowers cum up. I hev cut it down now, I ha’a use my strimmer machine cos I han’t got a scythe any more. Arter I hed cleared all the sward orf I sowed sum Yellow Rattle on sum patches o’bare earth . I hev sown that cos they recon when that chit und grow in the spring that’ll stop the grass a’growin s’quick which will help the wild flowers t’git a’goin bit better.
I’ll ha’a stop a writin this cos the Norwich City game kick orf soon. I see they hev sold one o’their players for twenty five million pound. Thas a rare lot o’money but I suppose that the club what hev bought him see it as an investment. I think if that hed bin my money I would hev invested it in a bit o’land cos that’ll still be there for a few more years than a footballer will be a’playin. That got me a’thinkin about the sort o’money Farmers spend on living things like cattle. In the late 1950s a dairy farmer here in Norfolk bought a pedigree Friesian Bull over from Canada. That cost him ten thousand pounds which were a lot o’money then. I remember a see in it when he hed an open day & I went with a crowd of other students from Easton College. How sum-ever he had’t hed it very long when that were a serving a cow und hurt it’s back, do yu know, that bull never served another cow. Another farmer I knew spent three thousand pound on a Ewe that he bought from over the water. When I went t’see him und asked where it was he recon he hed turned it out with his other home bred sheep. I think if that hed bin mine I’d hev wanted t’keep that where I could see it most o’the time.

That old coronavirus in’t a goin away yet, I recon that’ll be about for a bit o’time yet so we’ll ha’a be a’keepin our distance for a bit longer. I see that there are all sorts of different face masks about now for folk t’where. I hev got one with a Suffolk Horse’s head on it. Somebody tuther day recon that made them laugh but I could’t see if they were a laughing cos they were a’wearin a mask as well. I’ll tell yu suffin though, I can still tell if the Missus is given me “one of har looks” even if she is a wearin har mask.

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2020

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

Here we go for the secon time, I am a’talkin about the “lock down” not about Mr Trump a’winin another go in the White House
I say t’the Missus thas a bit like we are a couple of old hedgehogs a’hibinatin for the winter,…. she dint say anything…. she just gi me one o’har looks.

At least we can get out inta the garden & I am still a’gettin out on my old bike every day. Du yu know that today (4th Nov.) is the fust mornin this Autumn that Jack Frorst hev left his callin card. That ount du any harm cos we hev got most o’the Miissus tender plants inta the green house, The Dahlias are still a’flowerin but this here cold weather all soon trim them out. I will dig um up, knock all the earth orf, trim all the green tops orf und turn them upside down in the green house t’dry out, arter that hev happened I bury them in a bed o’sand under one o’the green house benches until next year. I’ll tell yu suffin I hev got forrud with, I hev sown some Sweet Peas inta sum compost, they are in the greenhouse at the moment, as soon as they have chitted I’ll be a’puttin them outside in the cold frame for the rest o’the winter.

Thas bin suffin wet since I last hed a wud a’long w’yu. Tuther day I were a talkin to somebody who farm in “The Saints”. Thas a group o’ seven villages all called arter different Saints. They lie just over the border in Suffolk tuther side o’Bungay. Thas sum heavy old land there und this farmer I were a talkin to recon that were to wet to get on his land t’drill his winter corn so he was spinnin it on with a’fertilizer spreader. When I talk about heavy land I mean that the soil hev got a lot o’clay in it, light land hev got a lot o’sand init. When yu plough heavy land the soil tun over in big lumps und shine when the sun git ion it, my dear old Father used to recon that looked like liver und he used t’recon that you could git hold o’one end o’the furrow und pull the whole lot outa the field cos that were all stuck t’gether , mind yu I never did see him try it?

As I were a sayin earlier they are election a new President over the pond. A time I am a writing this they don’t know who hev got the job. I wonder how many on yu would want a job like that when yu are seventy four year old. I know I won’t. Still That give us suffin else t’talk about und perhaps some folk would recon that we are lucky that neither on um are in charge over here. There are folk, here about, who keep a runnin on about how them up a Whitehall don’t know what they are a’duin. Now hold yu hard cos I recon that none on us would want their jobs, nobody hev ever ha’a face anything like this here coronavirus a’fore. I know they may hev bin a bit slow orf the mark sum times but if we are t’git the better of this here virus we hev got to do our bit und du what they are a tellin us t’du when they tell us. Thas no good a’thinkin that that “won’t happen t’me” cos how du yu know that?

Durin the Autumn the Missus & I hev tried t’git out to some of them gret old parks that we hev got here in Norfolk. One o’un I like is Holkham Park . I hev bin a’goin there for a lot o’years cos I used t’du some business along with the estate when they kept a large flock of sheep ( 1000 ewes) in the park which they grazed along side the Deer. Now the sheep hev gone but the deer are still there & I like takin photos on um. There used t’be Red & Fallow Deer there but now there’s only Fallow deer. At this time o’year when the Deer are a’ruttin we go und stand quietly in the trees in the park und wait for the deer to come towards us so we can photograph them. A year or two ago when we were there the Missus & I were standin about 20yards apart a Farrow Deer Stag cum und walked between us. The thing was the Missus were a facing away from me und I dussont say anything cos I would hev frightened the Stag.

Well them old Canaries are a doin alright, although that du seem funny t’see them a’playin with-out any folk there to cheer them on. I hev bin a’watchin them on my TV & computer. The trouble is I forget I’m not there und start a shoutin und carryon on. The Missus keep a’tellin me t’hold my row cos she recon the neighbours will hear und wonder what we are up to. I tell har she’s lucky that arter Fifty years she lucky she hev still got a husband who hev still got that much go in him. She dint say anything….. she just gi me one of har looks.

Keep save all on ya.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2020

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I am a’writin this on the last day o’November so tomorrow we’ll be a’movin inta the last month o’the year. Thas bin a rummin old year, I don’t think any on us could hev known what were a’goin t’happen when we tunned the key & opened the door on the fust o’January 2020. Thas a’goin t’be a rummin old Christmas un all, Them up at Whitehall are a’sayin how many folk we can meet und where we can meet them, thas only one Christmas und if we are to git the better of this here coronavirus then we will ha’a follow the rules. Corse they’ll be sum folk who will kick over the traces, good luck to um I say, less just hope there aren’t too many on um. I think these here lockdowns hev drawn the best outa folk, where we live in the village we hev bin keepin an eye on each other und helping out where we can.

Although we are a’keepin away from shops the Missus & I hev bin trying t’git out a bit und going for walks round a bout und I hev bin a’gettin out on my old bike most days. We hev bin doin out bit t’git the better of this here virus. I ha’a fill in a form every week a’sayin if either of us hev got the virus und the Missus hev hed a covid home test. That were a job, the kit arrived und she ha’a stick this here swab up har nose und down har throat . She used a mirror t’see what she was a’doin und when she hed finished the test that ha’a be kept in the fridge until somebody come with a gret old white van t’teake the swab to a labority some where. T’day we give blood samples that are a’goin to be used in experiments und looking t’see if either on us hev hed the virus.

I heard on the TV tuther day that to get as many folk as possible vaccinated they are askin for folk t’help. They recon they want retired Doctors, Dentists & Vets t’volunteer t’help give the vaccinating. When I heard this I told the Missus that I were a’goin t’volunteer und all cos I hev done a lot o’vaccinating. Several year ago I worked for a gret old Pharmaceutical Company und one of my jobs was t’show farmers how to vaccinate their animals. I ha’a go on a course so a company vet could show me how to do it. I ha’a vaccinate a sheep on the Monday & later in the week we ha’a look at the sheep agin t’see if there were any marks at the place where I hed put the needle in. If there no marks then I hed done the job properly, My sheep din’t hev any marks so I hed passed. Another thing, when I told the Missus I were thinkin of volunteering…… she gi me one of har looks… und she recon that folk might not like my bed side matter. I hev also remembered suffin a vet said t’me one day when I asked him if he’ed show me how’ta stick a needle inta the vein in a cow’s neck….he said no cos he recon there were enough amateur butchers about with-out me joining them.

Cos another thing that hev changed is the way folk wark, them who used t’go inta an office every day are now warkin from home. One o’our boys used t’travel to America a lot, he’ed fly over on a Sunday night ,travel about & fly back at the end o’the week, now he do it all from a desk in his home with-out all that gadding about. I’ll tell you suffin, when we hev got this here virus stowed up in a corner und life start ticking over a’gin thas a’goin t’be different to the life we hev left behind.

I see that they are a’goin t’let folk back inta football grounds t’see their clubs play. Them up at Carra Rood could du with some support although they are sittin in top spot they hev got a’lot of players who are injured. Players seen to git injured a lot more that now than a few year a’go. I recon that the pitches they play on now are so lush that the studs on the bottom of their boots grip tight when they try und stop or turn, this must put a lot o’strain on their leg muscles. Tuther thing is that the boots they wear don’t support the feet at all, not like the one we used t’wear. There hev bin a lot o’talk about players heading footballs und how that can damage the brain. I know when I were a’playin we used a leather ball, und that did hurt when you headed it, that were even worse when that were wet. Mind you I din’t head the ball a lot corse I played in goal.

We hev hed a few fine days so I hev bin out in the garden barrowin & spreading the compost on the garden. I then ha’a turn this years compost inta a new bin so that’ll be ready t’spread out next Autumn. Them old sweet pea seeds hev chatted so I hev moved them inta a cold frame for the rest o’the winter. The cold mornings hev meant that the birds are drawin inta the garden arter the bird feed I put out, this include an old Cock Pheasant who hev bin comin for a year or two now.

The Missus join me in wishing you all a Safe Christmas & New Year.

Fair ye well t’gether und do yu keep a’troshin,

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2020

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Well here we are at the start of a new decade, I don’t suppose that’ll meake a lot o’difference t’what’ll happen but there will allus be folk who recon that du.

Well December were a rare busy time for us. We seemed t’be a scraping about t’git things done. At the start o’the month we und a few other folk went on a coach trip to see the Christmas lights at Audley End. For them that don’t know thas just inta Es-sex where the M11 & the A11 yoke up t’gether. Du yu know that took us ni on three hours t’git there. When we hed got tuther side o’Thetford there were two accidents for we got the that great old round-a-bout at Barton Mills und there were another one just afore they put us down at Audley End. The lights in the park were alright but the Missus und I recon that Blickling Park put on a better show.

I might ha told yu afore that one o’are Sons run these here untra marathons. Well just a’fore Christmas he und one o’ his friends organised one on um. That were 84 miles along the coastal path twin Snettisham und Great Yarmouth und just to meake it in-teresting they ha’a run it during the night. Them that only wanted t’run the half dis-tance started at Cley. Well he asked me if I’d go along und help und take a few pho-tos for him. I told hin I din’t mind what I did as long as I din’t ha’a stay up all night. So I went the Snettisham und then drawed along t’Cley t’help check the runners in afore they started. Well they started orf at Snettisham at sun set und that were dry with some wind behind them. But hold you hard when we got t’Cley und they half Ultra competitors started at about half arter Ten my heart that were suffin wet und the old wind hed got up. That wern’t to easy a’takin photos outside when thas like that. Arter Cley I cum home but they recon that were a success so the y are a’goin to run another one next June tuther way round. They are a’goin t’start at Great Yarmouth at 4.15 am (Sun Rise) und finish at Snettisham. I’ll let yu know how I git on with that one when that happen.

Another thing we hed afore Christmas were the elections. I don’t care how yu voted all I can say is Thank the Lord thas all over und now, hopefully, things ull draw along a bit quicker than they hev bin. I recon them up a Whitehall want t’be a’lookin at oth-er thing as well as the EU like the NHS. The Norridge hospital seem t’be running flat out und we han’t even hed any hard weather yet. They recon yu will ha’a wait over four hours t’be seen und thas arter yu hev found some where t’park y’car.

Them boys up at Carra Rood hev left them selves a’lot o’wark t’du is they want to be playing w’the big boys next season. They don’t seem as if they can play well for the whole ninety minutes. Thas int as as they don’t know how t’play t’gether cos they du that all week when they are a trainin.
Thas as if the man in charge hev got an old engine who play up sometimes but he don’t now how t’fix it. I recon he want t’be putting a stick in the governors so they rev a bit harder. Still thas a long way till the end of the season. My Brother(who supports Ipswich) int a;sayin a lot at the moment cos his team hev slowed down a lot. I’m pleased t’say that our two Grandsons are Norwich Supporters, They both a foot-ball strip for Christmas, one hed the home strip und tuther one hed the away strip. They costed suffin so we mead sure that the strips were big enough so they could grow inta them. That NDR or what ever they call it don’t seem t’be warkin right. That seem t’be looking at things that ent spos t’be looking at und not looking at things that is spos t’be looking at. Why don’t they try a’lookin over the fence at other games like cricket und rugby where that work with-out all this squit.

The turn o’the year is a quiet time on most farms, unless yu keep livestock who ha’a be looked after every day o’the week. Thas nice t’see some livestock in the village, in case any on yar han’t noticed these a nice flock o’lambs a grazing sum stubble tur-nips aside o’Drury Lane. I drawed down und cast my eyes over them. They seem t’be a rare mix o’breeds but they were a’windin them old stubble turnips inta them-selves und seemed happy. Thas when they start t’run outa food that they start t’git unhappy und start a’lookin over or through the fence t’see if there’s any better feed on tuther side. In years gone by there used be thousands o’sheep a’grazin in fields all over Norfolk on turnips, swedes & sugar beet tops. They were called the golden hoof because their feet pulled small weeds out as they grazed and their droppings returned nutrients to the soil.

I wonder what 2020 will bring t’us all? As we start a’ploughin a new furrow across the year I recon that’ll tun up somethings we are a’goin t’like und some things we recon should hev stayed buried.

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2020

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2020

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Well we hev hed three on um so far. Thas these here Gales I am a’talkin about. Why do they ha’a giv um names. I know what I’d call um but that ud be suffin I could unt write down here.
That int only the wind thas caused trouble thas the rain that hev come un all. Thas meade the old ground suffin wet, some Farmers hant been able t’git all their beet outa the ground. I read tuther day that Cantley Beet Factory is a’goin t’stay open a extra day or two so the farmers can git all their beet in, thas if they can git them outa the ground.
Cos that int a’doin them winter sown crops any good a’havin their roots in water. A’ridin about they look suffin yella. That’ll ha’a dry out so the farmers can travel on the land und giv them a drop o’nitrogen fertiliser t’git them a’growin agin und turn green.
In other parts of the country folks houses hev bin flooded more than once this winter so we hev got suffin t’be thankful for.
Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin. We hev bin t’Lapland for a few days. No we din’t see Father Christmas – he were on holiday. We flew orf from Norwich airport. that were suffin cold when we landed -15c. The plane drew up close t’the terminal buildin so we dint hev far t’walk. Arter we hed landed they took us to a gret old shud where they fitted us up w’some thermal suits und boots. We looked a rumum but they kept us warm. The fust night we were there they took us for a ride on sum snowmobiles. We ha’a driv our own snowmobile. The Missus she were on the back und I were drivin. That were like a’drivin suffin on mud so I were alright. We went along a frozen river und got up to 35kph. That were alright until we stopped t’hev a hot drink – when I climbed of inta the snow I dropped down t’me knees und hed a job t’walk cos you kept a sinking inta the snow. Everybody were hevin the same trouble, the Missus she were a’floundering about like a fish outa water. I thought at one stage I were going t’hev t’pull her out with a rope tied onto back of the snowmobile.
Next day we hed a go with some Huskies, The Missus was in the sledge und I were a’standin on the back, there were only five huskies a’pullin us but they were going suffin quick. I were told how t’stop them – you hed a bar on the back near yar feet, und to stop yu ha’a stand on the bar which driv sum hooks on the bar inta the snow und you ha’a should “whoe” just like yu did when driving a horse. The last time I shouted whoe to a cart horse were ni on sixty year ago.
They tell me they are planning suffin in the village for VE day celebrations in a few weeks time, there is a’goin t’be a do in the Village Hall und on the Millennium Green. I know VE day were a’fore most on us were born but we should still remember it cos a lot of folk gave their lives so we could be here today.
Them boys up at Carra Rood are still a’strugglin t’score sum goals und I recon that they’ll be playin in the Championship next season. I’ll tell yu suffin though, I don’t think they will be a’playin the Tractor Boys cos they seem to be a slipping down their division.
That were a rare fire they hed in Watton tuther week. I know thas bad for the businesses that were lost but at least nobody were hurt.
I know I were a talkin last time about how there were sum Cock Pheasants in the garden , well now these only one on um but he hed got three or four Hin Pheasants with him. The shrubs und rose plants are a’shootin so less hope we don’t git any late frosts to cut um back.
One thing I forgot t’tell yu about our trip to Lapland was that we see the Northern
Lights twice although they don’t look like yu see on photos cos most o’them are a 30sec. exposure.
Tuther week the Missus und I went up t’the Forum in Norwich cos the RBST were at the Forum. They were a shearin some sheep und then some Mothers who were there were a’spinnin the wool und them a’makin the yarn into a woolen cloak.
There were a rare lot o’folk there a’watchin und askin questions.
Another thing the Missus und I went und hed a look at were when they hed a light show in Norwich. That were really suffin especially down at the Cathedral.
Well I hed better close this now und draw up t’bed cos I hev gotta be up suffin early in the morning as some fellas are a’comin to replace our fuel tank cos the old one hev got a crack or two on it und thas a’statin t’list a bit on it’s stand.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2020

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

This is a rummin du ent it? This here coronavirus. I wonder who decided t’call it that. I say t’the Missus that would be ok if we could put it back inta a bottle & teak it back und git three pence for it like we used to with them old corona bottles.
Some folk recon thas like that were during the war. I want around then but I recon this is suffin different. During the war you could see or hear the enemy. This un is silent und will creep up on yar any where at any time.

I keep a hearing folk a’grumplin about them in charge a’sayin that they should hev done this und done that different or earlier. I would say t’them now hold you hard a minute, would you want’a be in their shoes a’makin them decisions. This is suffin most on us hev never sin a’for.

One o’the wüst things is the way some folk are a’hoardin food from the shops, not only are they stopping the rest on us from getting some but I bet a’lot o’the stuff their are a’hoardin will be outa date a’fore they can use it und they’ll hull it away & ha’a go und buy some more. Thas the same wi them folk who are a hoarding medicines. That mean that some on us hev now got to wait a week for our prescriptions to be got ready. They’re like them folk who meake an appointment at the doctor’s surgery und then don’t tun up. I heard that has bin a happen down at our surgery here in Watton, do you know that last December over one hundred folk made an appointment there but din’t tun up. Not only did that waste the doctors time but that stopped other folk getting an appointment.

The good thing is that folk are getting t’gether t’meake sure the older folk und those in need are a’being looks after. The Missus und I are what they call ‘self isolatin” cos we both over seventy und I am a diabetic. That seem a rummin t’ha’a sit at home when I want’a be out there doin my bit. But we hev got good neighbours und our Daughter live nearby so they are a’lookin arter us.

Last Sunday (March 22nd) were Motherin Sunday & that were also our grand daughter buthday. Cos we could’t meet them but we we see um by using one o’these face time apps. One o’our Sons , who know about these things, rigged it up so four families could all be on at the same time. He recon thas called a conference call, he use that at work und sometimes he recon he hev up to forty folk from all round the world on the same conference call.
I know we grumble about these here mobile phones und things, but we would be lost with-out um now.

We hev gotta be grateful to all them who are a warkin hard to keep us fed und to all on um in the NHS who are battling against a silent enemy t’keep folk alive.
The Farmers they are a’carrion on sowing crops. Sum on um hev only just got last years sugar beet away to the factory und now they are a drilling this years crop. What ever happen there’ll allus be a seed time and harvest. The sheep farmers are a lambing even though overseas contracts hev bin cancelled und lambs are now a fetching £25 a head when they should be about £50. I remember, last Autumn, sheep farmers were a’sayin that, because of BREXIT , they a’goin t’get their old sheep in lamb but they din’t know what prices they will be getting for the lambs this year. Well they do now und that int anything t’do with BREXIT.

Well at least we hev got the old garden t’wark in. I hev bin out there instead of a’goin out on my old bike. I’ll tell you suffin….we could do with a rain. The old ground is dry und hard to break down. Some folk hev started cutting their lawns, I arnt a’goin t’be s’hasty cos old mother nature could still give us some cold weather und frosts. There’s a rare cold wind a blowin t’day (28th March) thas why I am indoors a’writin this und that talk of some sleet tonight. I hev bin a tidying things up und cleaning the paths down w’my old pressure washer. Once I hev finished that I shall be a’sailin inta sowin some seeds und putting them inta the green house t’chit. I’m not a’bein to hasty t’git the jobs done, for one thing we don’t know how long we a’goin t’be stowed up for but I recon that if I run outa jobs outside the Missus will soon cast round und find me suffin t’du indoors.

The Missus und I wish yu all the best, stay safe und God willin I’ll be havin a wud along with you next month.

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2020

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Thas still a’carryin on, thas that old coronavirus I am a’talkin about und they recon thas a goin t’carry on a bit longer yet. The trouble is once we hev sin the back o’this lot, if we arnt careful there could be another lot on it just around the corner t’cum at us agin. Them in charge recon we hev gotta keep stowed up for a bit longer if we want t’git on top on it.
As I said when I last hed a wud along w’you the Missus & I are a’self isolatin cos of our age und cos I’m a diabetic. We are a managing cos folk who live around here are a’keepin an eye on us und we are gettin our shoppin delivered in.. Thas good t’see there are a group on um in the village who hev got t’gether t’meake sure older folk und others who can’t git out are being looked arter , they are getting their shopping und medicines for um. I hant driven me car for ni on four weeks, when I washed it tuther day, yes that still git mucky even though that hant bin out, I started the engine und run it for a while just the keep the battery charged. They hev got a stall set up near the church where folk can go und git bread & vegetables that hev bin donated by a local supermarket. That shop in Watton what sell garden things & bird feed hev bin delivering orders to yar home. I hev had them deliver a couple o’times wi bird feed, some paint und tomato plants. I know I said last time I won’t a’goin t’be to hasty a cuttin my grass. Well I hev bin over it a few times now. The fust time I went over it I cut it a bit high, then I got my other machine out und give it a good rake und slitted the turf t’let the air in . Arter that I give it a dose of fertiliser. I ha’a do that job by hand cos my spreader brook down. I ha’a remember how my father hed shown me how t’spread by hand while a’walkin . For every step yu teak you swing the opposite arm acrorse infront on yu a’thrown the fertiliser on. The way I am a’talkin yu would think I hev got a great old bit o’grass. Well that’s about as big as half a tennis court so I spuse thas a lot bigger than some folks gardens. The trouble it since I put it on thas hed to wait until today (28th April) t’git a decent drop o’rain on it t’wash the fertiliser in t’start the grass a’growin properly.
As I hev said a’for I keep a few old hins. They spend their time in an enclosed pen so I thought I’d giv them a bit of a treat by puttin them onto sum fresh grass. I hed an old hin hut und run down the bottom of the garden which I hev got out und tricolated up for um. I ha’a move the run onto a fresh bit o’grass every day but the hins seem t’like it but movin on um hev stop them a’layin for a day or two. I’ll tell yu suffin else we hev hed in the garden….. I were a usin my strimmer early one mornin, when I see suffin a’movin out o’the corner of me eye. When I stopped und hed a look, a baby fawn were a runnin across the garden. I could tell that weren’t very old cos that were still wet. I followed down it t’bottom of the garden und that got stowed up between a shud und the fence. I took a picture in it on my phone und then went t’git the Missus so she could hev a look. A time we hed got back that hed dissapeared. I recon that the fawns mother hed left it in garden arter that were born und was a’goin t”come back to arter dark t’let it hev a drop o’milk. We din’t see it agin but next day our next door neighbour recon he had seen a deer & her fawn durin the evening so that looks as if they got back t’gither.
Them old blackbirds hev bin busy in the garden a’gettin nest material und pullin worms outa the lawn t’feed their young. Tuther day I see a female blackbird a’gettin some moss from round the pond for har nest. She got so much moss in har beak she hed a job t’see where she was a goin.
The Young Master up at the Hall get bin a gettin on with sowin his spring crops, they hev bin busy on the fields twix us und the Norridge Road a’sowin Beans. Durin this warm weather what we hev bin a havin they were a’shown above the ground about 15 days arter they were sown. This here rain we are a havin will get them a’goin.
That’ll seem a rummin that there will be no Royal Norfolk Show this year. Thas only the second time since 1945 that hant bin held.
There are other local shows und village fetes that may not be held. Not only are the events that git folk t’gether but thas a time when village groups can raise some money.
I hope you are all a’goin out on a Thursday evenin t’clap for them in the NHS und others who are doin their bit t’keep us a’goin. Thas the least we can du for um.
Do yu all mind how yu du go,
Fare ye well t’tither und du yu keep a’troshin

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2020

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

Well that there old coronavirus is still with us und I recon that’ll be drawin along with us for a few steps yet.

Cos them up at Whitehall are a’lettin the brakes of a bit .They recon today (May 28th) that next week we are a’goin t’be allowed t’meet with sum of yar family, up to six folk but thas only outside in a park or yar garden. Still thas a start but I recon that’ll be a day or two afore there’ll be twenty five thousand folk jammed in t’gether up at Carra Rood watching the City.

I’ll tell yu suffin I did last week I hant done for ni on eight weeks….I driv the car. That were only cause I ha’a go t’git me readin glasses mended. That were a job und a half. Once I had parked up near the shop I ha’a put on a pair of disposable gloves & a mask that were a black muff I hed. I got sum funny looks from folk who were a waiting outside a bank nearby as I walked past. I ha’a stand outside the shop until the mawther (Lady) inside cum t’the door. She were a’wearin a mask und all. She took me glasses und recon if I cum back in about a quarter of un hour they would be fixed.. which they were. That weren’t s’bad as I thought that were a’goin t’be cos most folk kept a couple of yards apart. if thas what we are a’goin t’hev t’do then thas what we hev got t’do t’keep safe
There’s suffin else I wanted t’hev a word along with you about. There’s a rare lot of folk, mainly Mawthers, who are worrying about a’havin their hair cut. I han’t got a lot of hair t’worry about und the Missus hev cut it for several years. In the summer she cut it while I am a’sittin out in the garden. I tell har that the birds can use my clippings for building their nests. I don’t know if they du but the clippings disappear somewhere. How-sum-ever the Missus hev started mobbin about gettin har hair cut cos that hant bin done for several weeks. I tell har I’ll do it for har cos I recon I used t’meake a fare job o’clippin the wool orf my sheep………….she din’t say anything…..she just giv me one of har looks.

While I were warkin in the garden tuther day I started thinkin about how things I were a’doin reminded me of suffin I hed done years ago. I noticed my old compost heap were drawin up towards the clouds so I thought I would git on top of it und jam it down. This would git all the air out on it und help the composting process. While I were a’doin this I smelt the grass clippings I hed mixed in. Du yu know that smell took me back t’when we were making silage & I were at the clamp a’forking the cut grass about t’meake the heap level afore the tractor cum along und roll the grass down tight.
That must be ni on forty year ago since I last did that job but the smell on my compost heap took me back. Thas the same if I watch them a’lambing sheep on that Country File programme, The smell of the lambing shed come back to me.
I see that they Norwich City are a’goin t’start playin their remaining games t’see if they can stay in the Premier division und git any further in the FA cup. Do yu know thas one thing I hant missed, mind yu them football reporters hev bin doin well t’think of suffin different to write about each day while there hant been any matches.

When are we a’goin t’git sum rain, my old water butts are nearly dry. When I am out on my old bike I see that sum of the winter barley is a’runnin inta ear already. Them old sugar beet plants could do with a drink of water as well. If this dry weather keep a’goin that’ll be an early harvest this year but the yields won’t be break-in any records.

I were casting round the other day for suffin t’du when the Missus suggested that I orter build a wild life pond at the far end o’the garden. We hev already got a goldfish pond near the house. There are several fish in there und the wild birds drink outa a little fountain on the side on it. Any how I hed a measure up und started digging the new pond out. That were hard going cos where I were digging there hed bin a ditch that hed bin filled in with brick rubble. I got all of that out making the pond about 2 foot deep at one end und going shallow at tuther end. The Missus helped me with getting the liner in und we then filled it up wi water. We fixed the liner down round the side of the pond with sum great old flints I hed dug up. Afore I dug the pond out I hed moved 2 gret old pots with Hostas in round so they stood at the back on it. A few days arter I hed filled the pond with water I were a’drawin round the garden with my hosepipe a’watering the pots dotted round the garden. To reach these 2 pots on the far side o’the pond I ha’a stretch across the pond with me hose…. that wouldn’t reach so I give the hose a bit of a pull but the hose were jammed up some where so I ha’a give it a harder pull…….. Your guessed it…. the hose pipe suddenly give und I toppled inta the pond. Well boy my trousers und boots were suffin wet. I drawed back up to the house und were a sittin just inside the back door when the Missus cum through. I ha’a tell har what hed happened, Well din’t she laugh….. she were still a’laughin about it when we went to bed that night. I arn’t a’goin t’let it happen agin, I hev got a longer lance to go on the end of my hose pipe.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a troshin (und stay safe)

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2020

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

That don’t seem that long since I last hed a wud along with yu. Cos life int sorta normal thas a job t’keep track o’time. I recon thas cos the normal mile stones through the year aren’t there. Du yu know today (1st July) should’ve bin the first day o’the Norfolk Show. Thas only the second time that hev bin stopped since 2nd World War. I know folk who are new t’the county will wonder what I am a’goin on about. Well to them on us who hev bin about here for a long time thas a meeting place. I recon there are folk I only see once a year und thas at the show, so I won’t be seeing them this year. As we are all a’gettin longer in the tooth another 12 months is a long time until we see each other agin. I were a reading in the peaper t’day that they recon that when the show come back next year that’ll hev changed. They are a sayin there ount be s’many non farming stands, they are a looking to hev more food stands from folk are a’producing local food thas grown here a’bouts. There’s a lot more of them about since we hev all been shut down.

Cos that int only the Norfolk Show thas cancelled, our local Wayland Show that hed to be cancelled cos that were a’goin t’be held in May this year. Still lets hope things will hev settled down so them mile stones will be back next year.

They recon there are a lot more folk a’ridin bikes now. You can tell who they are cos when I am a’ridin about I see several on um. They hev all got shiny new bikes und hev got all the gear t’wear. Yu can still see the creases where that were packed in the packet when they bought it. I’ll tell yu suffin I don’t understand. Yu’ll see a family out on their bikes, the little uns hev all the gear including safety helmets while their parents aren’t a’wearing any sort of head gear. Do they think that they aren’t a’goin t’fall orf or be hit by a car or a motor bike. There’s allus the chance they could come orf if one of the little uns ride into them. What every the reason I recon their sorft not t’wear any helmets. I recon that there should be a law whot meake folk wear cycle helmets. Just to tell yu I wear a cyclin helmet every time I go out on my old bike.

I ha’a take my old bike in for a service tuther day. I hev told you that I bought one of them electric bikes last year und that ha’a be serviced every year. Well that got a puncture und the folk I got the bike from in Dereham recon they would mend it for me und give it a service while they hed it. Well I got that loaded up inta the car und we took it over t’Dereham. The Missus und I left it there while we went und hed a look at Sheringham Park. We collected the bike on the way home und du yu know we hed a master job t’git it back inta the car, that were as if that hed grown and inch or two. The Missus und I were a pushin und shuvin it. Arter a bit we got it in und the back of the car shut. Cos once we hed got the bike in there were a load o’plants, that the Missu hed bought, t’git back in.

As I hev just said the Missus und I went und hed a look a Sheringham Park. That were our fust outing sin ce we hed bin told t’stay at home. We get our tickets a’fore we went und we ha’a arrive during a half hour gap. We took some sandwiches, I backed the old car orf the road inta a hay field so we could hev them afore we went und hed a look at the Rhodedendrums. They were putting on a fine show und there weren’t to many folk about. On the way back home we stopped at a little farm shop where I knew they sold sum farm cheese that I like. There were nobody there t’serve you, that were all done with honesty boxes. they even sold farm fresh milk, yu ha’a bring your own bottle. The cheese were sold out of a machine where you ha’a select the cheese you wanted, then pay with your card und then a door open und you ha’a git your cheese out afore that shut.
When we drawed back onto the road t’cum home we see a rare sight. Walkin along the road were two children a takin a dog for a walk, as well as the dog they were leading two lambs as well. The way they were walking that want the first time they had bin out. The trouble was the road was too narrow for me to stop und take a photo on um.

I’ll tell you suffin else that hev happened, I am a writing this on a new machine. The one I hev bin usin were seven year old. Now I din’t think that were very old but one of our boys , who know about these things, recon that was old und that were why I was hevin a lot o’trouble with it cos that couldn’t download the updates that were a’vein sent. Any way this here new one seem t’be runnin well. Mind yu that took three trips t’Norwich afore I could bring it home. While I were in the shop on one of my visits to the computer shop I see suffin I han’t seen for a long while, I see somebody buy two new mobile phones with cash. Well that were a job, the salesman din’t seem t’know what to do with it, he ha’a go und git another salesman t’help him count it out. Now I weren’t closer enough t’see how much that was but if the tell you I were in the shop that hev a sign that look like suffin you would pick orf a tree in an orchard you’ll know the phones would not be cheap.

That reminded me when I were a representative selling fertiliser to farmers. One of the farmers who I hed sold some fertiliser to rung me up und said he would like to pay for it. Now this farmer sold a lot of eggs for cash und thas how he paid for his fertiliser. He took me into his kitchen where there were a lot of brown envelopes on the table. He emptied the money out onto the table for me to count. When there weren’t enough cash on the table he went into another room und come back with some more envelopes. That were ni on forty year ago now und the fertiliser bill were two or three thousand pounds. I made sure I drive straight back to the mill so they could get get that into the bank on the same day.

While I am a’writin this I am a’listenin to Norwich playing Arsenal. They lost 4-0. I recon that’ll be Championship football next season. At least that’ll be nice t’see them winning a few games.

Next time I have a word with you I recon that harvest will hev started. Somebody told me last night that there were a combine or two already a’goin in North Norfolk.

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2020

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

A’time I am a’writin this (29th July) they recon thas a’goin t’git suffin hot on Friday. Up to 34c they recon. I hev told the Missus that I am a’goin t’stay indoors cos I don’t like the heat. We’r lucky cos our House is an olden with two foot thick solid walls so that stay cool while thas a heatin up outside. Mind you I’ll ha’a make sure that all the plants in the garden are well watered to cope. My tomatoes in the green house are growing well und the tomatoes have just started turnin red so we don’t want them a spoilin so I’ll ha’a meake sure that the doors und windows are open. Another thing I du is to leave a pan o’water on the floor t’try und keep the humidity up. One thing tomato plants don’t like is havin a lot o’water splashed all over them.

Them old combines hev bin a’goin for sum time. I see the young master up at the Hall hev cut his Oil Seed Rape. Them farmers who hev grown Winter Barley are knockin that down & the Winter Wheat won’t be long behind. I see a photograph yesterday showin them cutting wheat near Thetford.

When I am cyclin up the footpath from Caudle Springs to the Main rood I see that they hev grown a rare lot of Broad Beans on the fields neaby. I hev bin keepin an eye on um und they hev bin growin well but during the last couple weeks them beans are been overtaken by suffin thas a growin through them. Thas a weed called Old Fat Hen. I remember my dear old Mother a’talkin about it. She were a Land Army Girl durin the Second World War warkin alongside me Father on the family farm in South Norfolk. She recon she ha’a spend days a’pullin old fat hen outa fields o’Sugar Beet. Du yu know some 14 year arter I were born my Dad were sending me inta a field o’beet t’pull some old fat hen out. I ha’a walk acrors the crop pullin the plant up by the roots und puttin it into a paper fertiliser bag I were carryin. When the fertiliser bag were full I ha’a leave it on the headland to be collected und, as far as I can remember cos thas ni on sixty one year ago, the bags und old fat hen were burnt.
When they come t’cmbine them beans they und the fat hen will be dry so the modern combine harvester they use should be able to separate the beans from the fat hen seed. The last thing any farmer will want to see is fat hen seed in his sample of beans.

Talkin about combine harvesters I read that there are some new ones about now that’ll cut und thresh 100 tonnes an hour. If you hev a combine like that you hev gotta hev sum great old trailers t’git that orf the fields und into the grain stores. When you think when combines fust come about you only ha’a have a little old 3 tonne trailer t’keep that a’goin. Now they hev what they call “Chaser wagons that hold over 20 tonnes. Then you hev got t’hev some gret old barns which will hold several thousand tonnes with some great old doors t’git the corn in and out. still thas progress for yu!

I’ll tell you suffin else I see tuther day when I were a cyclin up the footpath, I see some tyre tracks which mean’t somebody hed bin a’driven a car along there. I followed them until they disappeared near the bridge thas about half way way along the footpath. I din’t think n’more about it until the next day. I see them tyre tracks were still there but near the bridge somebody hed a’bin busy. Where them big warehouses are there are a lot o’cars und vans a’standin about. I recon somebody might hev pinched one und driven it acrorse the field at the back o’the warehouses through the shallow ditch near the bridge und down the footpath to come onta the road at Caudle Springs. Well that ain’t a’goin t’happen agin. They hev dug the ditch out all the way round the field with a gret old machine und hev put a fence up un all.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood are going t’be playin in the Championship next year. For Fathers Day one o’our Boys give me a Nowtv subscription cos he recon I could watch some of the City’s games. Well boy I dint see them win once, I’ll tell yu suffin that hev bin good for watching the Cricket & Motor Racing. How them batsmen hev time t’hit a cricket ball when thas a’cumin at them at 90 mph from 22yard away I never now. When I were a’playin cricket, ni on 60 year ago, I remember batting against a fast bowler who were slingin the ball down at 40 mph und I thought that were plenty fast enough.

Thas time I stopped writing und got out into the garden und do a bit o’waterin t’give the plants a chance agin these high temperatures that are a’comin.

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