Category: Monthly Retrospective

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2020

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2020

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2020

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2020

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

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2020 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2019

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2019

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

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2019

Categories
2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2019

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

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2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2019

Categories
2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
2019 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2019