Category: Archives
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.
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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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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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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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.
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.
Categories
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.
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.
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.
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.