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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2013

Well, harvest ha started (second week August) they are a gettin inta the Oil Seed Rape und Winter Barley. A’time yu read this, as long as mother nature du har bit they’ll be a winding up the Winter Wheat. They recon that the crops are a runnin well arter all the rummin weather we hev bin a havin. When they show them tractors und trailers a’runnin beside the combine while thas a unloading the corn that look easy, I’ll tell yu suffin that eant as easy as that look. Yu ha gotta get yar speed right so the corn don’t go over the front or the back o the trailer und yu ha gotta keep a lookin in front t’make sure yu are a drivin straight and yu arnt a cummin to the end o’the field.

Cos when combines were a lot smaller yu used the ordinary farm trailers t’cart the corn in, if the side din’t fit to well und sum corn were a runnin out yu just jammed a wisp o’straw inta the gap. Now they have trailers called “Chasers” , they fitted with great old tyres t’spread the load und they ha their own augers for unloadin.

Yu gotta be careful cos everything is s’dry in the harvest field und a spark could set everything alight. I remember once havin a boy a cartin the corn away from the combine, he were a drivin acroos the field t’ward the combine when he looked down near his feet und see a bit o cloth a spokin (he ha left the hand brake on und the brake shoes hed got hot) well bor he stopped und hulled the hot rag outa the tractor onta the straw und that soon started a burnin. I happened t’be in the field und see what he had dun. I were a lot younger then, but I hev never run s’fast in all my life. When I got t’where the flames were a takin hold I took orf m’shirt und started a beetin the flames…….that put the fire out…………… but I ha’a hev a new shirt……….I wernt married then so the Missus could unt mob me for bunnin me shirt.

When there were more farmers a keepin cattle September were when cattle cum home from marsh for the winter. In April/May time the farmers would hire marsh grazing for the summer. The “Marsh Lettings” were held at Acle or Haddiscoe und farmers would go und bid for the marshes they wanted. Then u’d load up yar cattle onta lorries und orf they’d go. While they were at marsh they were looked after by the Marsh Men. They were sum rum old boys, sum on um used l’live out on the marshes in little huts, their job was t’walk round the cattle every day und make sure they were alright und not stuck in one o’the water filled dykes that separated one marsh from another. When I were a warkin for a vetinary company I used t’go und see a couple o’old shepherd who were a lookin arter sheep on the Reedham und Buckinham marshes durin the summer. Yu ha’a walk a long way t’find um but they were suffin glad t’see somebody und I usually cum away with an order for suffin. T’get acroos the dykes between the marshes u ha’a walk acroos a single plank o’wood that were layed acroos the dyke from one bank t’the other, in Norfolk their called “Liggers”. Beside the cattle on the marshes there were a lot o’Hares a livin there und they knew where the Liggers were if they wanted t’git from one marsh t’another.

In the 1950’s und early 60’s every Autumn there used t’be a bull sale at Norwich Cattle Market , they were mainly Friesians (Black & White)und farmers would go und buy one t’run with their diary cows in the Autumn. I remember m’father goin und buyin a bull for his boss in the early 1950’s, he paid 500 guineas for it. That were a lot o.money in them days. Still he were a good bull, his mother, Smallborough Brenda, hed been Supreme Champion at the national Diary Event that were held in London’s Earls Court every year.

The Missus und I hev had a bit of a sad time leartly, m’dear old mother who were 5 days short of har 94th birthday h’passed away. She hed a good live,although she hed bin moderate for the last year or so. That wernt easy f’har a’bringin up two boys arter the war, what with shortages und rationing, but with the vegetables m’father grew in the garden she could meake a little meat go a long way. Arter we hed left home in the early 1960’s she got inta teachin und har und m’father started a traveling und she kept agoin over the water arter he hed past away. She were suffin disappointed when she could’unt renew har passport when she reached 90. My brother und I were lucky t’hev such good und loving parents.

They recon this might be the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yar, cos if somebody dont cum along und teake over from the lady editor this ull be the last New Penny News.

I hope somebody draw along und teake over cos,as I said afor, sum on us can remember when that were started by the school.

Well, not for the last time I hope.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2013

Thas bin saved…………The lady editor ha handed over this here New Penny News to a new editor. Best o’luck to him und his team und thank yu t’the lady editor who hev kept this a’goin for the last two und a half years.

Well mother nature ha played har part which ha’allowed the old combines t’keep a’goin und get harvest finished. As well as a cartin grain they hev bin a balin the straw und gettin that carted outa the village. Sum on it will be used as ltter for livestock und sum on it will be goin to be burnt at Power Stations. There were a time when straw wernt wanted und were burnt in the fields, when that were stopped a lot o’farmers hed straw choppers fitted on the back of their combines t’chop the straw so that could be ploughed back in. Now there are plenty o’folk a’wantin t’buy the straw. Farmers sell it providing thas shifted orf the field soon arter the combine ha finished. Them big bales cum in all shapes und sizes. The square ones are easier t’stack but if that rain the round ones are best cos the rain water run orf them. I used t’use the round ones t’litter ducks with, once yu cut the string all yu ha’a du was roll them out acroos the shud.

A few weeks ago the Missis und I did suffin we hant dun for a long while……………we hed a day on the Broads. We hired one o’them day boats a Wroxham with our Daughter und har man. The hire man told us how t’drive the boat There were a steerin wheel und one lever which were for forudd un backuds. There wern’t no brakes, if yu want’a stop yu ha’a put it in reverse. When yu tunned the steerin wheel the back end o’the boat cum round, like a combine.

I asked the man how fast we could go, he say, a good walkin pace. Well that were a job to judge cos yu don’t see many folk a walkin on the water. We hed a good day, there wern’t many folk about so we plenty of ducks and several Harnsers (Norfolk word for a Heron). We got as far as Ranworth where we stopped t’hev a bite t’eat. That were a job a gettin near the jetty t’tie-up. I tried a backin in but that dint wark cos yu could-unt steer proply.

How-sum-ever with a bit o’bumpin orf other boats we got close enough for our Daughter’s man t’get ashore und tie us up.

I went up t’Carra Rood tuther night with one o’our boys t’see them Caneries play aginst Bury in a cup game. We see sum goals from both teams. City ha spent sum money this summer and from what I see they h’got sum tidy players. Less hope thas a,goin t’be enough? We’ll know cum next May. Sum o’them players are a’earnin a rare lot of money now, I recon thas got outa hand. arter all thas only twenty two men a runnin about a field a’tryin t’git a ball inta a cupboard,

Things are a slowin up a bit in the garden, although them old weeds keep a’growin. I am a buildin another shud t’put my Bantuums inta for the winter. Thas t’keep them away from Mr Fox. That’ll also keep them bamtum dry cos if they get wet the feathers round their feet will get all matted up und stop them a gettin about. I ha gotta get that finished afor the Missus start a mobbin cos I hev got behind with my jobs indoors.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2013

Well that old weather is a’startin t’turn. The old weather glass ha gone back a’lot this week (2nd week Oct). und them old leaves are a’startin t’cum down, still if yu get um raked up put inta a bag und keep um for a year they meake a lovely drop o’compost.

Since I last hed a wud a’ong w’yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin in our Caravan. We han’t bin over the water agin but decided t’hev a look at sum gardens in Kent. the old M25 were alright cos we travelled both ways at the week-end. We went und hed a look at the place where Churchill lived. My hart he did a good job a’buildin walls while he were there. We went und hed a look at the Black Swans that were in sum of his paintins The Cob wern’t in very good fettle und we hed t’keep away from him cos if yu got too close they recon he’d meke a drive at yer, If he did, I told the Missus not t’worry cos arter a’lookin arter 7000 layin geese one old swan wern’t a goin to be any bother t’me.

The farm we were a stayin on w’our caravan hed sheep & cattle. The man in charge asked if we wanted t’hev a look at um, cos I said yes. He took the Missus und I round in a golf buggy und told us he hed only bin a’farmin for five t’six years, afor that he were a sellin houses. In a barn there were a four year old Highland Bull, that han’t got a ring in it’s nose. The man in charge see me a lookin und recon the bull din’t want a ring cos he were ever so quiet. I ha’a tell him that in fifty years the only quiet bull I’d ever cum acroos were a dead one.

Just afor we cum away cum away the headman told the Missus he hoped we would come back und when we did he’ed hev one or two jobs for har husband t’du. I told him I were to old t’start a handlin cattle agin, especially bulls with-out a ring in their nose.

I see the young Master up at the hall hev bin a writin about the cost of new farm machinery. I can remember when tractors cost £550 but that were in the late 1950s. The tractor were a Fordson Super Major, that were only 45hp hed 8 gears und no cab.Still thas no good a lookin back, t’farm t’day yu gotta hev the right tackle for the warkers t’use.

A’time back I were a tellin on yar that I hed a little part time job a testin students on tractor drivin. Well I hev given that up, I recon as I am a gettin near three score years und ten thas time I started t’draw a lighter harra. I still hev a job or two in the village und I want ‘t carry on w’them a bit longer. The Missus ha said about me a givin up one o’my jobs but I recon she’ll be a thinkin I’ll hev more time t’du jobs for har. I hev bin a thinkin about that und all. I recon if I du har jobs a bit slower I won’t get any more dun than I du now.

I hed better be a’gettin back outside cos I want t’cut back the reeds in m’pond und get the net back over it. Last time I left it orf an old Hanser cum a callin und I lorst a lot of me fish.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2013

Thas been suffin wet han’t it. Thas bin a job a gettin about on the old gardin. I ha got all stuff out’o the ground und I ha tunned the old soil over. Less hope we get sum frorsts t’break it down. We hant hed any hard frorsts yet but Jack Frorst ha left his callin card once or twice already.

I he got my old hins inta a new shed und run. I built it m’self. Thas down the bottom o’the garden where the Missus carnt see it……..she cum und hed a look when I were a buildin on it…. she dint say nothin so I must ha painted it the right colour. I ha built an outside run und put bark chippins down for the hins t’scrap in und that should keep um drier than if they are a’standin about in a load o’muck & slop. I thought I hed made it so no old rats could get in…..well they found a way und started eatin the hins meal. I hev caught four o’the old beggers so far…..they ount be a seein the New Year in. I were a lookin on that there internet t’buy a new rat trap und I were a readin what folks were a sayin about them. Sum body recon there should be sum where t’put a water bottle und sum other folks recon when they he caught a old rat they drive outa the town und let it go u’gin in the country side…Huh.

There were a good du in the village tuther week. The young Master up at the Hall giv the Norfolk Farm Machinery Club permission t’hold their ploughin match up Cuckoo Lane. I drawed along t’hev a look. Well Bor, the ther over fifty on um a ploughin. Sum on um hed cum the best part of a long way t’hev a go….und they were a makin a good job on it und all. There were several of us olduns a hevin a look und a talking about how cold that were a ploughin before tractors hed cabs on. Still yu kept yar self warm cos all the adjustments on the plough he’a be dun by hard, so yu were a pullin this lever or a windin another one.

That were good t’see the young uns a hevin a go und the young Master hed given a trophy for the best work done by a young ploughman. On another field the local machinery dealers were a havin a go agin each other wi their gret old machines und ploughs… my hart they cover a lot o’ground in one go…und thas easy wi them old one way ploughs, you jest start a’gin one hedge und wark yar way acroos the field.

I ha bin a bit moderate lately. My old teeth ha bin a playin me up. I hed suffin bad tooth ake one day……. The Missus she kept a givin me suffin to stop it but din’t wark, she recon she were a goin t’take me t’the vets. How sum ever I drawed down t’the dentist. He got me a layin in his chair und started a knockin on mi teeth t’see which one that was that hurt. When he found it I suffin swore at him und there were a young lady there und all. I arn’t a goin t’tell you which wud I used but that suffin t’du with a puff o’wind??. He gimmi sum pills t’take und that warked. I hatta go back agin tuther week for a check up. That were a young Mawther whot see me. She recon the old tooth would hatta cum out, so away I went akin last Monday… Well Bor that were a jorb und a half. That took her sum 20 minutes t’get it out, she kept a pushin & twistin on the old tooth. She recon I’d ha’a help har by pushin me head towards har. I told har that were like gettin an old tree stump out. That cum out arter about 20 minutes but that ha left me mouth suffin sore when I eat. The Missus is a doin har best t help by givin me grub that don’t teake a lot o’chewin. I told har I were like an old broken mouthed sheep. She say “Yu used take them t’market din’t yu”. I told har,” thas no good yu a thinkin o’doin that cos yu don’t like a’drivin the car with the trailer a’hind”.

Well we are a drawin t’ward the tun o’the year. The next time I hev a wud along wi yar that’l all be over und sum folks will be a wonderin how they are a’goin t’pay for it all. . The Missus join me in wishin yu all a Happy Christmas und we’ll see yu agin in 2014

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

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2014

Missing Month

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2014

Well we’r started agin…..thas another New Year. There’s sum on um who han’t hed a good start. There’s them who lorst their homes when that tempist und sea come onta the land around the coast afor Christmas and there’s them who hev had their homes flooded since the tun o’the year.

Corse all this rain ha made that a job a’gettin about on the land. Most farmers ha got them old beet out of the ground, but instead of worrying about them old beet gettin frorsted afor they get carted to the factory, this year, acors thas so mild their a’worrying about them old beet a heatin up und rotting away. When a lot of farmers were a keepin cattle yu ha’a get inta the land to cart beet tops orf t’feed them. That were a job when the old ground were dawby, I remember once a gettin stuck with a tractor und trailer load o’beet tops, that took another two tractors yoked up t’gether t’pull me out.

I ha got one o’them new tablet computas, that seem a rum name t’call a computa. I know their small but t’me a tablet is suffin you swalla with a drop o’water. The Missus ha given me a thing that look like a pen, only that aint, thas got a rubber end und she tell me, cors I ha got big hands, that I ha gotta use it t’touch the screen t’get it a’goin, that seem t’wark. I told the Missus, I were a goin t’try it on my old bike t’see if that’ll it a’goin any quicker…she din’d say anything….. she just gi me one o’her looks.

Them boys up at Carra Rood will ha’a get goin a bit if they are t’stay up with the big boys. At least them in charge han’t dun like a lot of other clubs and got rid of the manager. Sum of them owners want instant results. That remind me of a man who thought that if he bought up all the best Sheep of a certain breed he’d win all the classes when he showed them at the summer shows. That dint wark cos he dint hev time t’get t’know the sheep afor he took them inta the ring t’show um…. they hant become a team.

Cos thas bin s’mild so far this winter(early January) sum o’my old roses hev still got buds on und m’old hins are still a’layin. Still there still be time for the weather t’turn cold. A lot o’plants hev got to go through a dormant stage a’for they start a’goin agin in the Spring. They sorta hibinate, I wish I could du that sum times when the Missus keep a findin jobs for me t’du.

I agoin t’close now cus the Editor recon he h’a got a lot t’crowd in this month.

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

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2014

Missing Month

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2014

Well I ha’a scrap round t’git this mardle dun afor the dead line. I recon thas a cos o’this warm weather (mid March)mean I ha bin a warkin in the gardin all day. When I draw back in doors I ha bin to warn out t’git me old computa out. I told the Missus, if this warm weather keep a’goin I’m a goin t’teak my old string vest orf now instead o’waitin til the 1st April………She dint say anything….she just gi me one o’har looks.

I hant bin a gettin things to forad in the garden cos old mother nature have a nasty habit of catchin you out. Thas bin a wet winter but this bit o’sun und wind hev dried the old land out. I see a tractor a’pullin sum land down tuther day and there were sum dust a’blowin behind it. That seem a rummin but we ha got Catkins, Primroses und Daffodils all a showin at the same time. As I hev said afor old mother nature could still send us sum cold weather that could nip orf all the new shoots.

Farmers a lambin sheep will be suffin pleased t’see this warm weather. Most on um will hev the sheep inside t’lamb but arter the lambs are born thy’ll want t’git them und their mothers out onta grass as soon as possible. There’s nothin worse than havin the weather tun bad once yu tuned them out. The little old lambs ull get cold und wet, even if the old ewe is givin plenty o’milk, any weak lambs will soon become tucked up. The thing is once the ewes und lambs are tunned out that ull du them more harm than good if yu bring um back in agin,….. even it yu hed the room.

I know yu shount look back…. but I were a havin a look at a Norfolk Young Farmers year book for 1964. Yis I am in it . What I were a lookin at were the advertisements by local agricultural firms. There were thirty one on um. Only four on um are still a’goin fifty year later. One on um sell cars now, one’s in Insurance, another is a Builder und the last an Auctioneer, who my Missus’s Father warked for, thar still agoin although they dont hev any weekly livestock markets. All them firms provided wark. What that du show is how Norfolk farms hev got bigger und livestock hev disappeared.

Them boys up a Carra Rood seem t’be a hangin on, they seem t’be a meakin a rear job on it though. I recon even if they du keep up w’the big boys there’ll be new new man in charge cum September.

They tell me they want sum more help on the Millennium Green in the village. Sum folk hev left the committee. The Green is well established and is a growin livin thing. You ha got t’give Mother Nature a hand sum time. There must be sum on yar who could lend a’hand so we can pass the Green onta the next generation.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2013

At the beginnin of February they were a’remembering the 1953 floods. We were a livin on a farm ny on 2 miles inland from the East Coast when that happened. I remember M’Father hed t’go out a couple o’times that night to look at’an old cow that were arter calvin. he cum back in and recon that were a moderate night und how he could hear the waves a breakin on the beach at Walcot. Acors we din’t hev a TV, most folks din’t hev a phone then and there were no local radio t’tell us what were a happening all along the coast, we leant about it next day by a listin the wireless and a readin about it in the pearper Afor the floods at Walcot yu ha’a push yar old bike orf the road und through sand dunes t’reach the beach and the sea. When we cycled down t’hev a look arter the floods the beach, sand dunes and road hed all bin washed away. We ha’a bring a letta home from school a’askin our parents t’send in spare clothes und blankets so they could be given out t’them who hed lost their homes. Everybody helped even though rationin were still on some things.. That were true then und thas true now… “theres allus somenone wuss orf than yarself”.
A lookin at the old photos of the floods yu can see how every thing were done by hand then, there were no mechanical diggers and forklifts t’help bung up the gaps where the sea hed cum through. As I hev said’a’for Mother Nature will allus keep yu on yar toes cos yu never know what she is a’goin t’du next and you’ll never beat har.

I went a walk acroos the old airfield t’other day(along the new footpath), my heart they are, a makin a mess on it a pullin up the run ways, that seem along while ago now when there were planes a flyin there, still thas good t’see it going back to farmin though they’ll want t’make the fields bigger than they were in 1939 as 2 Hosses have bin replaced by 250 horse power tractor and equipment that want the best part of a acre t’tun round in.

At least then old nights are a startin t’pull out now, I’ll soon be able t’draw outside again arter I hev hed my tea. As I said in last time the garden is still t’wet t’get about on although as I am a writin this (Early Feb) the old Snow Drops & Primroses are a peepin through und a’time yu read this the’ll be over und the old Daffs will be a breakin out on the verges around the village.

While that ha bin moderate outside the Missus ha’a started a doin har family tree, She ha bin a’doin it on har new computa that I got har for Christmas, my hart she’s ha rearly got the Bit between har teeth und so far she ha found over 150 relations, I told har that I wern’t a’goin t’start a t’sending them all a Christmas card,…… she say that I hant got t’worry about that cos sum on un ha bin buried for two hundred years und more. So far she hant found any who ha bin t’prison and, more’s the pity, she hant found any on um who ha’got a bob or two. Still the good thing while that while she’s a doin this family tree she hant a bin findin jobs for me t’du so I ha bin a pullin a bit of a light harra lately, I recon that ull soon change so I am a’meakin the most on it while I can.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2013

Well bor we hev had sum rum old weather leatly, a time I am a writin this (mid March) there ha bin sum snow , the ground is frooz und thas a blowin hard straight from the North Pole, thas one o’them lazy winds whot go straight through ya rather than round ya.Yet at the beginin o the month that brook out warm und the Missus and I were a gettin busy in the old garden a cuttin back sum shrubs and a tidyin things up arter the winter. Our Grandson he were with us und he sowed sum lettice und raddish seed inta the ground under sum cloches, when he cum on Motherin Sunday he wanted t’go und hev a look t’see if they were a peepin through yet, I told him they were a holdin hard until the weather warmed up a bit.

Cos this weather is a puttin the farmers behind, they want t’be a gettin on a top dressin winter corn so it will start a’growin agin when the soil warm up. If the weather hed bin a bit kinder I recon there would h’bin sum sugar beet drilled by now. Once the weather du change that ount teke them long t’catch up with them great old machines they hev now.

When fields were smaller and there were a lot more men a warkin on the land this were the time of year, when the weather were moderate, to go a hedging und a ditchin by hand, that were cold wark but if yu were a hedgin yu would meake a bonfire outa the hedge trimmins so yu could go und hev a warm up when yu stopped t’eat yar grub. Another job were a muggin out the yards and boxes where the cattle were a layin in for the winter, a good team o’men with three or four hosses und tumbrills recon to move thirty t forty tumbrill loads in a day. The manure were carted out onta the field where that were cromed orf inta little heaps which would then be spread about by hand t’be ploughed afor the crop,mostly beet, were drilled. I remember when the fust machine cum out that would spread the muck about the field when it was towed over the heaps by a tractor, the trouble wus that hulled the muck up into the air und if the wind were a blowin the wrong way that cum down all over the tractor…… there were no tractor cabs then so that wernt a very popular job.

There h’bin a lot o’talk lately about hoss meat a bein put inta pies what them supa markets sell. The Missus recon we et hoss meat when we went t’France for the fust time ni-on thirty five year ago, yu don’t see much on it over there now. That ha reminded me of a story an old boy told me when rationin were on durin the second world war, he recon that his baker told him her were a puttin hoss meat inta his rabbit pies. The old boy asked him how much hoss meat he were a puttin in, the baker say ‘Bout fifta-fifta’ the old boy say what du yu mean “fitfa – fifta. ‘Oh! One hoss, one rabbit say the baker. I’ll tell yu what that hev shown, how the meat get carted around afor that get inta the shops, they recon beef want t’hang for twenty one day afor yu eat it, I recon thas a lot older than that a’time that ha bin carted around Europe afor that git t’the shops, I recon yu should buy meat that ha bin grown in this country und not half way round the world.

The Missus told me t’other day that that were forty one years since we moved inta our house, I dunnow where the time ha gone, I’ll tell yu suffin though.. even though I hev pulled up weeds in the garden every year since we ha bin here they still keep a comin.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2013

That look as if we are a’goin t’get sum warmer weather at last (second week April), that old wind ha bin suffin fit t’flare yar these past few weeks, nothin has bin a growin. Tha ha put the land wark all a’hind, at least now the old soil will a’bein warmed up now und things ull start a’growin.

I hant bin able t’get inta my old green house cos thas all bunged up with the Missus tender plants, I’ll soon be a movin them out so I can get it ready for my old tomato plants. I ha start a few seed orf on a heated sand bed I tricolated up but that ha bin too cold to move them out so I ha bin stowed up for room, still if we git a week or or two good weather we’ll soon forgit them cold winds.

Sum time last year I were a sayin on how there wernt meny yougsters a goin inta farmin, well they recon thas the same wi horticulture, they were a interviewin sum younguns on TV und they recon thas dirty work a muckin about wi plants. Well, they took them to a great old green house were everything were bein controlled by computers and they were a usin bugs t’kill other pests insted o’sprayin everything. Arter seein that the youngsters recon they might be interested in a lookin at horticulture as a job. But they recon on this programme that thas a gettin serious und they want the government t’du suffin a bout it cos there arnt any scientists a comin along t’stop things like Ash Dire Back a agettin inta the Country.

Tuther day I were a drivin past one of them gret old outdoor pig units yu see about here. I recon thas a job a warkin on one of them durin the frorsty weather, that arnt so bad a feedin the old sows cos they hev machines what hull the feed out as thas drawed past the pens behind a tractor, if yu feed sows dry food they gotta hev water as well und I recon most of the water pipes will ha bin frozen up, so yu gotta cart water to’un un all and thas a lot of water cos an old sow with a litter o younguns on har will want a gallon or two a day.

Cos keeping pigs outside int nothin new, I remember my grandfather a keepin pigs out side in the early 1950s. They wernt kept behind electric fences then, the old sow wore a harness and were tethered to a long chain that were attached to a long spike that yu driv inta the ground. Yu ha’a make sure that when yu driv the spike inta the ground the old sow could get just git inta her hut but could not get round behind it cos if she could the old begger would git hung up. Most of the old sows then were black und white (Saddlebacks) but they lost favour when they started a keepin pigs inside cos they did not hev very big litters und the piglets did not grow fast enough so farmer switched to white pigs ( Large White & Landrace). They kept pigs in the late 1950s where m’father was Foreman und their pigs went t’ the Wall’s factory in London where they made pork pies und ice cream.

Them boys up at Carra Rood are a makin a rum job on it this year, I recom they’ll stay up but that arnt a goin t’be easy, still at least where every they finish that’ull be higher than the Tractor Boys. (Ipswich).

While the weather ha bin moderate the Missus und I hev abin decoratin agin, We turned out a lot of stuff, I found a book of pressed wild flowers und grasses I hed collected when I were at Agricultural Collage, we ha’a find 40 different wildflowers/weeds press um and put them inta a book along wi’ their latin names un what chemicals would kill um. Along wi that we ha’a find 12 different grasses. I dunno what folks thought when they cum acroos these 17 year old boys a carrin bunches o’wild flowers. The Missus recon she would ha liked to ha sin me, I told har I could still pick wild flowers but I might ha forgottun some o’their latin names.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2013

Well, old mother nature ha got the sun t’shine at last (early June) although that old north wind ha bin a blowin the soil ha hed a chance t’warm up und plants are a growing, so are the weeds.

I were a readin in the last NPN that the young master up at the hall were a sayin that, on account of the cold weather, the corn harvest will be two weeks late a startin. He were also sayin on how he like t’hang onta his corn from last years harvest und sell it as late as possible. Cos years ago when corn were stored in sacks yu ha’a sell it afore the rats chewed the sacks t’bits. Instead of havin the grain in great old barns farmers ha’a store their corn in stacks until the old threshin drum cum round. Threshin were mostly done in the autumn and the sacks of corn were stored on the farm, t’be used for feeding the livestock that most farms kept then. Any corn that had been sold left the farm on a lorry or was taken t’the local railway station und loaded onta a wagon. No farmer would hev enough sacks t’store all his corn in so he would hire them. There were a firm at Wymondham called Fermins who hired out thousands of sacks as did the different railway companies.
The Master m’Father worked for durin the 1950s were big enough t’hev sum sacks of his own, they all ha’a be sorted through und mended a’for harvest. If the hole were a small one yu used a sack needle und binder twine t’draw the sides t’gether. If the old rats hed chewed a great old hole you ha’a mend it by cuttin out a piece of sack und sticking it over the hole using Copidex. When yu were a doin this you ha’a remember t’lay the sack over a plank o’wood like an ironin board t’keep both sides of the sack apart, I forgot one day und stuck both sides o’the sacks t’gether ………. I wunt very popular at harvest time that year.

I also see in the last NPN that the lady editor is still a’lookin for somebody t’take over…. she only took the job on until somebody else cum along. Cos not every one in the Village is on the internet so the NPN is an inportant way o’lettin everybody know what’s a goin on. There must be sum body who could take the job on……und afore anybody say anything I hev got enough on my plate already. The NPN hev cum a long way, sum on us can remember when that were called the “Penny News “ so we want t’keep it a’goin.

That wont be long afore the football season start agin. The Canaries can hev another go with the big boys. If they play like they did in the last two games of last season, they’ll do alright.

The Missus and I have bin t’see Cliff Richard’s a’singin. We drove there,hed a bite t’eat und then drawed acroos t’where he were a’goin t’sing. There were a rare crowd there, there were seats for us all t’sit on, they recon yu could unt take any food in w’yar. Thas cos there were stalls a’sellin food at a rum price. I’ll tell yu suffin though, the biggest queues were for the toilets……well,that were a cold evenin.
Well when he cum on there Mawthers down the front who were a screamin und shoutin his name, I ha’a keep an eye on the Missus t make shure she did’t want t’go und join um. I’ll tell yer what, for a oldun he move well. I asked the Mussus if she thought I could move like Cliff if I were t’wear a pair of jeans like him…… she did’t say anything, she just give me one of har looks.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2013

Missing Month

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2012

By the time all on yer read this that’ll be getting near the old corn harvest agin. When the jubilee were a’goin on and they were all a’goin on about how things ha changed in the last 60 years I got a thinkin how farmin ha changed. Well back then in 1952 there were a lot o’hosses still bein used, farms and fields were smaller and there were a’lot more on us a warkin on the land cos everything were done by hand. That were durin the sixties and seventies that things started a changing, farms and fields got bigger and so did the machines we were a usin, the big difference were that then nearly all the farm machinery yu used was made at the local blacksmiths or in this country, now we make nothin, everything cum in from abroad.

When there were a lot more cattle kept this were the time o’year when yu were a’makin hay or silage. T’make hay yu wanted a weeks fine weather, the grass were cut and left a laying until the sun had dried the top of the swath, then yu turned the grass so the other side o’the swath could dry, before balers cum along, when the grass were dry the hay was carted and stacked loose, this were a’skilled job as dry grass is slippery which make it a job t’stack. Later when hay were baled, before it was really dry that would heat up and sum times the old stack would fly a’fire.

Arter trying t’make good hay f’years in the early 1950s farmers started a’makin silage cos they reccon that were easier. The grass were cut and then carted green onta a’great old wedge shaped heap where yu ha’ta spread it out with a hand fork, that were suffin hard wark cos the old grass were long and heavy. Once yu ha got the grass level the heap were rolled by drivin a tractor over it t’get rid o’the air, arter that yu ha’a use a watering can t’spread molasses over the grass, this sorta kept it sweet while it were a turnin inta silage. When all the grass were on the heap that were covered with soil t’keep the air out. Later instead o’covering the heap w’soil yu ha’a drag a poly sheet over and use old tyres t’keep it down. I used t’like the smell of silage when yu were a feeding it in the winter but the smell sorta hang to yu and the Missus dint like it so I ha’a leave my wark clothes in the shud a’for I could cum indoors, that were just the same when I were a muckin out the pigs.

Another job they are a’doin on sum farms this time o’year is a shearin the sheep. Thas a back breakin job, I allus reccon you wanta be low t’the ground and have arms like a monkey t’be a good shearer. I could shear sheep but my shearing days are over, my old back would soon go and the sheep would look like they do on that TV advert for spectacles, them old sheep allus used t’look a lot more comfortable arter they had been sheared and that stopped them a gettin that old fly strike, thas where blow flies lay they eggs in the sheeps fleece and when they hatch out the maggots start a eatin inta the sheep.

I told onya sum time ago that I were a goin t’make a wooden trough t’grow my old strawberries in, well bor y’orta see um, thas the best crop I ha’had f’years. I tried a’growin sum spuds in bags this year……that seem t’be a warkin an all. Thas still a job a draggin round the gardin wth a waterin can, at least the rain we are a havin ha kept my old water butts full, Arter the rain if the weather warm up yu ha’a keep an eye out for them old green fly on yar roses, I spray mine afor I see any greenfly cos by the time yu see um they ha bin upt’no good. Thas the same wi blight on yar spuds, yu got a keep an eye open for that, cos I ha seen what that can du to a right good field of spuds if yu dont keep on top on it.
Well thas all for now cos I ha gotta git tricolate the old caravan up for our trip over the water, I’ll tell yu how we get on next time I write.

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

Categories
2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2012

I told yar that would happen, all the rain we have bin a havin mean they recon we can use hose pipes agin, old mother nature nearly allus put things right, the trouble is that don’t allus fit in wi what you want t‘du on the land. That’ll make them old beet grow but that aint any good if yu want t’be a meakin hay.

The Missus and I have bin over the water a’gin with our caravan. We went a rare long way this time, that took us 3 days t’get there, we drawd along travelling more than a few miles a day, I ha’a du the drivin cos the Missus dont like a drivin with the old caravan yoked up behind, that don’t worry me cos I ha bin towing trailers about for ni on fifty five years. The only thing yu ha’a get used to is drivin on the wrong side o’the rud, on the main roads thas alright but on the side roads where there arnt no markins yu can make a mistake, I did once this time over there until the Missus hollered at me t’get on t’the tuther side. While I am a’drivin the Missus du the map readin, we ha got one o’them sat.nav. things but I tun that orf cos thas bad enough a’havin one woman a’tellin yu what t’du, I dont want two on um a tellin me what t’du while I’m a drivin.
That were suffin hot while we were over there, up to 35C, thas about 100F for those on yar who hant converted yet. The farmers were busy a meakin hay, they use the same sorta kit as yu see on farms over here, but sum o’the fields they were a workin in I would have a’job t’walk up cos they were so steep but they were a drivin their tractors about as if the fields were flat. They recon there were a lot o’sheep where we were but I never see none of’um, I recon they must keep them inside.
At one o’the places we stopped for few days there were Vultures a nestin nearby, the locals told us they only fed on dead meat but t’be on the safe side I told the Missus if she were a sittin outside the caravan not t’go t’sleep.
We went and had a look at a garden where there were over 150,000 boxwood shapes, there were only four gardeners who ha’a cut all on um a couple’o’times a year and they were a’doin on it w’hand shears cos they recon if they used electric ones that bruise the leaves, my hart they had a job on, I see um a cuttin a hedge, they were doin it properly by using a bit o’binder twine to keep the top level.

While we were over there I did see one combine a’goin, but I recon old mother nature will hatta change her tune a’for the corn will be fit t’cut here any time soon. Still that were fine for the Norfolk Show and the Village Fete, they recon both events were well supported. I hear there’s a new man in charge o’our Millennium Green and he is a gettin folks t’gether t’tricolate the place up a bit.

Mr Lambert ha gone from Carra Rud, we’ll ha’a see how the new man get, he seem to ha worked well with teams that hev birds as mascots, Magpies (Newcastle), less hope he can get on with Canaries. Afor they start a playin agin we ha got the Olympics in London, that’ll be a job a gettin about up there, I know sum folks ha got tickets t’go, good luck to um, I wont want t’go, I recon the best place t’see what happening will be on the TV.

Now I’m back from over the water there’s plenty t’du in the garden. The rain ha made everything grow, that include the weeds, my old Dad used t’say you ha’a keep the old hoe a goin so thas what I’ll be a doin and the old hedges want a trimmin back now the birds ha finished nestin, so these plenty t’keep me in the garden and out’a the house, all I want is a bit o’help from mother nature.
Fare ye well t’gether and du yu keep a’troshin.