Category: Archives

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2016

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2016

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2016

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2015 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2015

Categories
2015 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2015

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Yu know how last time I were havin a wud alon with yu about how the council hant bin round t’fil in them pot holes in Drury Lane. Well they hev bin now. A couple of old boys with a lorry cum along und started a’fillin them in. I drawed down und hed a wud along with um.
The fust thing I asked um was if they hed a large area t’git round. Well bor,I cant tell you all whot they said cos that were a bit rude but yis they do hev a gret old number o’roads t’look arter. They also recon that teake about six months from the time the holes are marked t’them a’gettin the papers a’tellin them which pot holes they hev gotta go und fill in.

Suffin else I want t’tell yu about is the state o’that new footpath the Council hev put down twixt Caudle Springs und the Norridge Rood. Thas only bin finished about six weeks(end July) und theses already a master crop o thistles a pushin up through the path near the Caudle Springs end. Them experts up at County Hall hev bin told about it und some folk hev sent them photos t’look at. They ,the experts, recon thas a’happend cos thistle seeds hev bin blown onta the footpath by the wind und hev germinated. As I go along the footpath most days on my old bike I could’a told them that them old thistle plants are still a’flowin und there ount be any seeds a’blowin on the wind for another week or two.
I recon what hev happened is that when them contractors were a’levellin the old footpath out all they did was skim orf sum top soil a’cuttin the top orf the thistle plants already a’growin. If you try a ‘diggin up a thistle plant, as I hev done several times durin the last sixty years, yu’ll know thas got a tap root that go down a tidy long way, just a cuttin the top orf will only make them shoot up agin. I keep a’wunderin why they din’t put suffin down tu stop them old thistles a’pushin back up through the tarmac chippins they were a’puttin down?…… Still what du I know I arnt a’expert!…….

We hed a rare lot o’rain at the end o’July, accordin t’my rain gauge there were nearly a couple of inches in a couple o’days, A’for we hed all that rain I ha’a replace the tap on one o’my old water butts cos the old one were a’leakin. Arter all that rain had cum down I went und hed a look t’see how much water there were in the butt. Du yu know that were still empty… when I hed a look I seed that I hant tunned the new tap orf arter I’d put it on. Later later on when I were indoors a’havin my foursers I told the Missus whot had happened…….She dint say anything……….she just gi me one o’har looks.

A’time yu are a’readin this the Farmers will hope “all is safely in”. I were a’readin tuther day about a combine that were a’goin in South Norfolk. They recon that in eight hours that could cut sum 80 hectares (197 acres) The width of the cutting header is sum 12.5m (41Ft) I say t’the Missus “thas longer than sum folks garden”. I’ll tell yu suffin else yu would want a suffin deep pocket t’buy one. That’ll set yu back sum £600.000. I know thas a no good a’lookin back but I can remember in the early 1960s when we traded our 8ft 6ins cut Massey in for a 12ft Claas we were suffin pleased cos that meant, if the goin were good, we could harvest a 4.85 hectare (12 acre) field in one day. I ha warked that would teake this here new combine about 17 minutes t’cut the same 12 acres……..if that could git inta the field with out a knockin the geat post down.

Them Dairy farmers are a’havin a hard time at the moment. Folk ha gotta look a head cos if yu pay a bit more now for yar British milk that will mean that’ll still be there when there is a world milk shortage cos that’ll cum one day as sure as day folla night.

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

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2015 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2015

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Last time I hed a wud a’long w’yu I recon that the Farmers would hev it all safely gathered in afor the end o’August. Well that din’t happin did it. Old Mother Nature she made sure o’that w’all that rain that cum down. Still them old wheats don’t go down like they used to years ago. That were a job then cos arter a tempest the old wheat would be a layin flat in the field just as if yu hed gone over it w’a set o’rolls. My heart that took sum cuttin, if that all lay the same way that wernt s’bad but if that lay all ways you hed a job. Yu ha’a drive the old combine real slow und keep a weavin the cutter bar back und forud so the old lifters could get under the straw. When yu did get the corn inta the tank that were only good t’feed to livestock. In them days most farms were mixed w’sum livestock and sum arable so corn that wernt good enough t’sell for malting und millin were kept for winter feed.

I were a’thinkin tuther day about when I warked for a local Corn Merchant durin the 1970s. I would go round at harvest time und try und buy cereals orf my customers. If the Barley were a malting variety I teak a sample to the maltings t’see what they would bid me. If they gi me a price I would go back t’the farm und try und buy it leaving me about £5 a tonne t’cover transport und a bit o’profit. That were the same w’millin wheat. I’d teake a sample inta Read’s at Norwich t’see if they would gi’me a price so I could go back t’the farm und try und buy the wheat for £5 a tonne less that the price Reads hed bid me. Cos I wernt the only one tryin t’buy the farmers corn . In the 1970s I recon that there were 7 or 8 other local merchants as well as the big national feed merchants like BOCM & Pauls of Ipswich all a goin round biddin the farmers prices for their crops either for malting, bread and biscuit flour or for turning inta animal feed cos in them days there were ni on a 1000 dairy herds in Norfolk as well as sum big pig and poultry units und they all ha’a be fed.
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Farmers used t’keep stock as well as hevin arable crops cos they used t’say that they allus hed suffin t’sell that were meakin a bit o’money. They hed a sayin “Up Horn (livestock) down Corn or tuther way round. At the moment I recon they would be a’sayin “down horn and corn cos the prices they are a’gettin for both are moderate. I see that them old french farmers are a demonstrating cos o’bad prices for their crops and milk by a drivin their tractors inta the cities in France t’stop the traffic. I suffin pleased the Missus und I arnt a goin over the water any time soon cos that would teak yu a rare lot o’time t’git anywhere if the roads were bunged up w’angry french farmers und thas afor you try t’git back acroos or under the channel.

They hev put up one o’them solar farms near the Norridge Rood behind them gret old warehouses. Sum folk recon they din’t ort be built cos that teake land outa food production. I recon what they want t’du is t’put them panels up higher orf the ground und sow grass so yu could graze sum sheep or run a few hins on the land underneath. Still I spus that with farm prices bein where they are solar panels are a’meakin more money for a farmer than lamb or eggs.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood hev meade a start a’playin w’the big boys. I recon they’ll du all right cos although they hant got any expensive players what they du hev is team spirit und play for each other. Sum o’them players in sum of them bigger teams are only a thinkin about one player when they git on the pitch……. thas them selves. Another think that dont help is them players cum from all over the world und half on um cant understand what the other half is a’sayin tu them and most of them hev a manager from sum where over the water un all.

Things are a’slowin up in the garden, the Missus und I hev started a’cuttin some things back. The trouble is I seem to hev got a lot more stuff t’put onta my old compost heap. The Missus is hevin a job t’hull anything up onta the top on it. I keep a’gettin up there und jammin about t’try und push the heap down, That ull be alright when I empty last years compost out t’meake more room. Until then I hev told the Missus I were a goin t’meake har a little ladder so she could get onta the top of heap w’me, then we can jam about t’gether . She dint say anything…… she just gi me one a’har looks.

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

Categories
2015 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2015

Well I recon Summer is over, a’time I am a writin this (early October) old Mother Nature seem t’hev tunnned the hot tap orf. Thas wind is suffin cold, I hev had t’put my old vest on.

Since I last hed a wud along wi yar the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin w’our caravan. We he bin und hed a look at Austria und sum parts o’Germany.(Bavaria) We took it steady a gettin there.

We stopped a night or two in the Black Forest. I say t’the Missus “why du they call it that?” she recon thas cos the trees are dark in colour…..I recon they all looked green t’me. We ha’a drive along sum o’them German Motorways. There wernt no speed limit on sum of the ones we driv along. My hart they dont half crowd their old cars along. I were a’takin it nice und steady cos we were a pullin our caravan when sum fella cum past us a’drivin a great old Mercedes with a caravan behind. My Hart he were a’goin und the caravan were a’bobbin about behind the car, I say t’the Missus “I bet he dont hev t’buy new tyres f’his caravan very orften, cos they only a’touchin the road every half a mile”.

When we were in Austria we went und hed a look at the hotel we spent our honeymoon in sum 45 year ago. The Missus recon that hed got bigger since we were there. I told har that I hed got a bit bigger since I were last there………….She dint say anything, she just gi me one o’har looks. (I dussant tell har that she might hev got a bit bigger un all).

The farmers Austria und Germany were scrappin around doin a bit of hay makin while we were there. The fields arnt very big so they use little old tractors, the sort’a like the market garden tractors we hev over here, only they a lot lower t’the ground When the hay is made they pick it up loose inta trailers und cart it back to their barns. They wark on sum funny old slopes. I watch one on un a drivin acroos a slope a pickin up the hay, they drive ever s’slow. Und I’ll tell yu suffin else, they dont waste any on it, parts o’the fields that are to steep f’them t’drive their tractors on, they rake the hay orf w’hand hay rakes.

I recon I’m allus a tellin on yar about farmin. I recon thas acors, a sumbody sed once, farmin int a job thas a way of life. Even though I’m retired I still keep a gawpin over hedges inta the fields t’see was a’goin on und I recon I’ll a carry on a’duin that for the rest o’me life.

I hev told yu afor about how the Missus hev a’bin a doin har family tree. When we were a comin back through France we stopped orf near the Somme so we could go and find the names o’folk that she ha got on har family tree who fell durin World War One. Fust of all we went t’the Thiepval Memorial. Thas a gret old memorial und thas got the names of seventy eight thousand solders carved on it who hev no known grave. We found the names the Missus were a lookin for. We then drawed up the road t’a cemetery where we found the grave of har Great Uncle who was killed on the Somme. The Missus recon that she were the first member of har family t’visit his grave.

That meake yu think when yu are a drivin about that area of France cos that seem as if yu are a’cummin acroos a war memorial und First World War grave yard every mile or so. Und they arnt just for British Solders, thes memorials for the different Commonwealth Countries who sent solders to fight.

Them boys up a Carra Rood seem t’be a makin a good start t’the football season. I know thas a long way till next May but thas best t’be a the top o’the tree cos them other teams ha gotta win more games than yu t’get above yar.

Well I ha betta finish orf und draw back inta the garden cos I hev got t’shift a lot o’lot of last years compost out afor I can tun this years compost over inta an empty bin. Und them old leaves hev a’stated a fallin so I’ll hev t’start a rakin them up cos they meake sum lovely compost if yu keep them a year or two. As I he said afor a garden is just like a’keepin livestock, Yu ha gotta keep a feedin und waterin on it or that ount du.

Fare ye well t’gether und do yu keepa’troshin.

Categories
2015 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2015

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether

We havin sum rum old weather leatley. A’time I am a’writin this ( end of second week November) thas bin suffin warm for this time o’year. My old hins are a’settin agin cos they think thas spring already. I wunt mind but that mean they ount lay eny eggs.

Cos o’this weather thas a job t’know what t’du in the garden, I want t’git the Missus ‘s tender plants inta the green house but their still got leaves und flowers on und that dont seem right t’cut um back. But I hev gotta make a start cos if I don’t I now what ull happpen Jack Froost will be a leavin his callin card afore I hev got all them tender plants tucked up for the winter.

A’ridin round a’lookin over the hedge I see that the winter crops the farmers sowed arter harvest are a’growin well. The trouble is the farmers dont want them a’gettin to forrud cos if they du the plants can get fungus spores onta them und that ull knock them back if the farmers don’t spray um. Years ago if corn crops got to forrud in the autumn farmers would turn a flock o’sheep onta the crop und let them graze it back a bit. Today not many farms hev a flock o’sheep t’du the job. Talkin o’farm livestock, I were a’goin t’Dereham the other day und I see some milkin cows a’grazin on a field tuther side o’Shipdham. That were a rare sight, I nearly stopped und counted them, only the Missus were w’me und she would hev only mobbed me. She recon I go a’bit sorft if I see a field o’sheep.

Well I spuse they hev finished a meakin the road safe for the children t’walk along Caudle Springs und Drury Lane. They hev meade a footpath from Caudle Springs along Drury Lane on the wide verge. Then further along when the road get narra und thas got no room for a path their painted a gret old white line along the road. I spus thas meant t’keep the cars one on side o’the line und walkers tuther. That ull still be a rear muddle if two cars meet cos one on um will ha’a crors the white line where the walkers are. If they want t’slow the cars up why dont they put sum o’them sleepin policeman down? That look as if they arnt a’goin t’put any footpath down along Caudle Springs cos the verge is to narra. Arter all this cost I dont reccon many Parents will walk their children t’school. I recon that them up at County Hall should listen to the folk thas a’goin t’affect, T’start with thas our money their a’spendin. Another thing….. The police were agin the whole idea tellin them the road were dangerous for children t’walk along.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood don’t seem t’be settling in to bad a playin with the big boys. I recon they hev got a young manager who seem t’think about the game und is happy t’try a different way o’playin if the one he’s a usin now dont seem t’be warkin. Thas the same w’any job there’s allus more than one way t’du it. Somebody say t’me once “ If you teake a horse t’water, these more than one way t’meake him drink”

Did any on yu see the programme on the tv about the food waste . They shew what the supermarkets hull out and how they only teake about 50% of the vegetables what the farmers grow for um. As I hev said afor that aint right, cos there’s folk in this country who would be glad on it.what ever shape it is. When I think back t’when I were livin at home, M’mother cooked everything that m’Father grew in the garden, she dint hull anything out cos that were the wrong shape. They recon we now live in a consumer society, I recon the trouble is that most folk in this society don’t now where their food cum from und think thas all grown t’that shape. I recon that’ll theake a bit more than a tv programme t’educate them otherwise.

As this is the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yu afor the end o’the year the Missus join me in Wishin Yu All a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

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

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2016 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2016

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2014

Missing Month