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Category: Monthly Retrospective
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The Boy Tom – June 2017
Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
My heart thas suffin hot (last week May) we hev just hed a tempist so that might bring the old temperature down a’bit.
That must be a gettin hot corse I hev stopped a wearin me vest und me braces. The Missus she git suffin worried when we go out t’gether corse she recon that would be embarrassing if me trousers come down. I told har t’stop a worrying corse if my old belt break I hev got a bit o’binder twine (string) in me pocket. I told har I hed two bits o’string, one were red und the other were blue so I recon nobody would notice. She din’t say anything…….she just gi me one o’har looks.
Corse all this hot weather mean the farmers are a’having to irrigate their crops t’keep them a’goin. They used t’recon that only payed t’put water onto root crops like beet und spuds but ridin about I hev seen Barley und Wheat a’bein irrigated just t’keep the plants alive. They allus recon that suger beet plants should meet in the rows by the Suffolk Show (end May) and meet acrorse the rows by the Norfolk Show (end June). I don’t think thas a goin t’happen this year corse sum o’the beet I hev seen while a’ridin about will be lucky if they are a’meetin in the row by the Norfolk Show.
Thas a easy job a settin up them irrigating machines now. All they ha’a do is move the machine along the end o’the field und then drag the irrigation gun on the end of a gret old polythene pipe acroos the field und then turn the water on. While thas a’goin the water pressure slowly turn the reel on the machine which wind the polythene pipe back onta the drum and drag the irrigation gun back towards the machine. All the movin about is done usin a tractor. Afore these reel system come about yu ha’a move 30ft aluminium pipes with a sprinkler on a 2ft pipe a’stickin up a one end by hand. Yu ha’a hev enough of these connected up t’go right acroos the field. That wernt s’bad a’carrying the pipes acroos a level field but that were suffin hard when yu ha’a carry them acroos potato ridges. To keep them pipes upright arter yu hed moved them when yu hed connected the first pipe up yu tunned the valve on the feeder pipe open a bit so the weight o’the water kept the pipe in place. The trick wus t’just hev enough water a’running down the pipes so when you connected the last pipe ,with a end cap on, there were enough time t’git outa the way afore the pressure built up und the sprinklers started a warkin.
That used t’teak 4 hours t’put on a inch o’water onta the crop. So we used t’git 4 moves in a day. That ment a startin a 6 am und then moving the pipes by hand at 4 hourly intervals with the last move bein some time arter 6pm. Then somebody ha’a go und tun orf the water pump some time arter 10pm und then yu started again a 6am next day. Some farmers hed an electric water pump a pumpin the water from a river or bore hole but most farmers used a tractor t’drive the water pump so yu ha’a go and look at that the meake sure that din’t run outa fuel. During the early 1970s I remember a farmer told a student who were a warkin for him t’go und check the fuel und oil levels on the tractor a’drivin the irrigation pump. He went und cum back und told the farmer everything were all right: Half an hour leater the tractor seized up . The student hed checked the oil level while the tractor were runnin flat out in stead o’stoppin it so when he drew the dip stick outa the engine there would be plenty of oil a’showin.
I read that Norridge City hev appointed a German coach. They recon he’s the best man for the job. I recon there will be a lot o’cummins und goins a’for the next season start.
Cos all they seem t’be a’showin on the TV at the moment is about the election in June.
When yu watch them leaders a’bein interviewed they never answer the question und they tell yu things that they are a’goin t’du if they get elected und then forget about arter they elected. That remind me o’suffin I were told a few year ago. They reconned to be a good politician yu ha’a be able t’talk for 5 minutes about nothin while yu are a’thinkin o’suffin t’say.
Afore I go I hed better remind all on yar that there is a’goin t’be a 2 day event on in the village on the 31st June und the 1st July. There are a’lot of folk involved und thell be a lot a’goin on on the millennium Green und in the village Hall und the Church. They tell me they’s goin t’be the unveiling of a new information board about the church.
That all kick orf on the Friday night (June 30th) in the Village Hall, the bar will be open, when sum folk from the Village Heritage Group are a’goin t’be talkin about the history of the village. I might see yu there?
That’ll be the Norfolk Show durin the week afore the village du. I’ll be ther a’helpin on Mr Mawkin’s Farm. Thas where are the Rare Breed Livestock are . The Missus still recon I should be in a pen as she recon I’m a Rare Breed! If yu come and hev a look I’ll very likely be the one in a pen!
I hed better stop now cos if I keep a’runnin on I shall start t’sound like one o’them politicians.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin
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The Boy Tom – July 2017
Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
I am suffin late a’writin this cos I hev bin suffin stowed up wi things t’du leartly. That all started at the’beginnin o’last month (June).
The Missus und I were supposed t’be a goin over the water for three weeks w’our caravan.We din’t go cos I were a bit moderate und got behind with a’lot o’things. When I were a’feelin better we hed a week away up North Norfolk w’the caravan. Old Mother Nature played har cards right weather wise although we hed one day when that rained suffin hard. We got about und hed a look at things twix Cromer & Holkham.
One o’the places we went to were that Animal Sanctuary at West Runton. My heart they hev a rare lot of animals there. Their got 1500 hosses und 350 head o’cattle. thas with-out the Goats, Alpacas, Pigs, Deer und Hins. The wuss thing was a readin how sum folk hed treated sum o’them animals afore they got moved to the Sanctuary. Why du folk keep animals if they are a’goin the treat them badly? We hed a look round und see that yu could adopt a animal. We could only adopt one so we adopted one o’the Shire Hosses there who’s called William. We were able t’see him cos he were one o’the hosses they kept a stable nearby so folk could see a heavy hoss.
Another place we walked up to were Beeston Bump. Thas right on the coast und were a bit of a climb but the view were worth it. There were several folk a goin up the path. I say t’the Missus if yu feel like stoppin t’get yar breath stop und pretend t’teake a photo so folk dont know yu are hevin a rest. She din’t say anything…….. she just gi me one o’har looks.
Since I last hed a wud along w’yu we hev hed the election……. that dint tun out the way they wanted? Thas a’goin t’be an uphill job for har in number 10 t’keep things a’goin und get what she want from these here Brexit talks. I recon that’ll teake sum time cos the other countries hev all got to agree everything between them-selves und thes more than twenty on-um!
I went to the Norfolk Show on the Wednesday t’help on the Rare Breed Survival Trust Stand, or as they called it now “Mr Mawkin’s farm. ( For them who don’t know Mawkin is the Norfolk wud for a Scarecrow). That rained the whol day: They tell me that 2.75ins rain fell on the show ground twix Tuesday aternoon und Wednesday aternoon. but there still a rare lot o’folk about. I recon a lot on um hed bought tickets afore hand. We were suffin busy. Fust o’all the Show Present come t’see us. She seemed a nice Mawther, they tell me she wark at Norwich Cathedreral, I nearly asked har if she could hev a wud with the Al-Mighty t’see if he could get the rain t’stop.
Arter she hed gone we hed the President o’the RBST cum t’see us. He’s that Jimmy Doherty who were on the TV with “Jimmy’s Farm”. He were with us the best part of’an hour. He spent a lot o’time a’talking the folk who were a’lookin a the animals we hed in pens und letting folk tek a photo with-un on their phones.
I’ll tell yu suffin , when I were a driving home from the show I see that the rain hev knocked down Barley, Wheat und Oil Seed Rape crops. Cos the ears o grain are heavy that’s be a job cum harvest time: cos that’ll lay there now until the rest o’the crop ripen und cos thas a lyin flat that ount dry s’quick as the standin corn. That’ll be a job t’harvest und if the rain when the corn is ripe them ears of grain on the ground could rot or start showing green shoots. Still harvest is still a little way orf although when I were out tuther side o’Watton this morning (5th July) I did see a combine in a field a’gettin set up ready t’start cutting sum winter barley.
The were a rare du in the Village tuther week-end. They hed organised a Village Festival. There were a lot’o information in the Church all laid out for folk t’look at und on the Saturday there were a lot o’stalls in the Village Hall. On the Millennium Green there were sum 2nd Word War lorries und some Fella who carve statues outa wood with a chain saw. He hed made a job on it und all. There were a another fella a sittin in the Church Yard a’makin axe heads outa gret old lumps o’flint. That din’t du t’get to close to him cos them old bits o’flint were a flyin about. He hed a look round the church und recon he could tell where the flints used t’build the church come from. He recon that the dark ones round the bottom come from Brandon way und the lighter coloured ones further up the walls come from a pit nearby.
The Week-end started on the Friday evening with the unveiling of a new Church Information Board. That were all drawn up by a fella who live in France.(He’s related to some one in the Village) He hed made a rare good job on it. I recon Carbrooke must be the only village in Norfolk t’hev a sign like it. They tell me he’s a’goin t’du another one showin the places o’interest in the rest o’the village.
This here rain hev made things in the garden grow suffin quick so I hed better stop a writtin und teake my old hoe for a walk round the garden.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a troshin.
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Well that old corn harvest seem to be a stop start one at the moment (last week July). Still them old farmers still hev a bit o’time for sum dry weather. What they don’t want t’du is t’hev t’turn the old corn dryer on that’ll cost money cos them old dryers burn a’lot of fuel when they get goin.
Since I last hed a’wud along with yu I hev bin t’one of them music festivals . No I dint go t’ Glastonbury though I did meet the farmer who run it a few year ago at a agricultural show. I went t’one in Suffolk at Jimmy’s Farm near Ipswich. Them Rare Breed Survival Trust folk had bin invited t’hev a stand ther cos Jimmys the RBST President. As well as havin a stand there they were having a competition to see who could produce the best sausage mead w’rare breed meat. Du yu know they hed 38 different sausages sent in from all over the country t’cook und taste. I wunt a’doin the tastin, they wanted me t’teake a few photographs that they could put on their web site und inta their magazine.
When I got t’Jimmys Farm the fust thing I see near the car part were several acres o’tents that folk were a’stayin in for the week-end. There were also several caravans there und all.
A’fore they started a’tastin the sausages I hed a look round. There a lot o’different Rare Breed animals for folk t’hev a look at, there were a circus that were a’puttin on several performances on the Saturday und Sunday. Then there this gret old stage that hed bin put t’gether for the music festival. In front o’this were an acre or two o’grass where folk could sit und listen to the music. Round this area there a rum lot o’food stalls e’sellin things I hed never heard on a’for; Was Pulled Pork when thas at home? I recon if I asked the Missus for that she’d gi me one o’har funny looks!!
I see Jimmy but he were suffin busy a’doin interviews with the BBC t’try und get more folk t’come through the gate. That were suffin leart when they got a’goin with the sausage tastin. There were 4 on um a’doin it. Arter about a couple o’hours they cum to a verdict about who the winners were. I were to busy a’teakin photos t’get a bite of any on um so afore I cum away I hed t’git suffin t’eat . When I went back t’the food stalls Chas und Dave were a playin und I hed suffin to eat I understood… Fish und Chips.
I’ll tell yu suffin else. When I cum home from Jimmys I found I were still a wearin one o’them wrist bands from the RBST. That say on it “I’m a Rare Breed” The Missus told me t’keep it on. I recon thas cos if she ever lose me she can tell folk t’look for an old fool a’warin a “green Rare Breed” wrist band.
Afore I got down t’writin this I see on the local TV programme a bit about sheep dog trials bein held nearby. Several years ago I helped w’one or two o’them that were organised by the Shepherd who used t’look arter the sheep on the Holkham Park. My job were t’let the sheep outa the pen afore the dog started it’s run. There used t’be several local shepherds a’takin part and they were good. Thinkin about the shepherd at Holkham reminded me o’the time I went t’see him und he took me t’see his dogs. He used t’train them for other folk und allus hed about 10 dogs tied up in an old cow shed near where he lived. When we got in there he told me not t’git to close t’one dog cos that were a bit savige und would bite. He got a talkin und I forgot what he said und stepped to close t’this here dog. Well bor that fanged hold o’my leg. Once he hed got the dog orf me I hed a look und he hed drawn blood on m’leg wi’his teeth. The Shepherd was only interested in where I got me’trousers from cos the dog hadant torn them when he hed fanged hold o’me.
Well the start o’the old football season is only just round the corner now. Norridge hev got the Fulham boys on the fust Saturday. They hant done to well against them in the past but perhaps this here new German coach will be able t’du suffin about that?
I’m goin t’suggest to the Missus that we teake our old caravan t’Jimmys Festival next year. for the week-end………… I’ll let yu know what har reply is.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
They recon thas a’goin t’be an early finish t’the corn harvest this year? That were a rare early start und they hev had a good run at it although when I were havin a ride round tuther day I see that The Young Master up at the Hall hev still got a field or two of Wheat t’cut. I see they were a’sayin in the pearper tuther day that that han’t bin a bad harvest und they are a’exporting Wheat und Barley outa Yarmouth t’Spain cos they hev hed a moderate harvest cus that hev bin suffin hot und their corn crops hev just dried orf.
Since I last hed a wud along w’yu I hev bin laid up agin. I hev hed a abscess on m’back for sum time. The Doctor took a look at is a’while ago und recon that hant got a head on it so he recon that would be alright t’leave it alone. Well about 4 weeks ago I got bitten by a old Hoss Fly right on the abscess: that come up suffin big so I drawed down t’see the Doctor. He hed a look at it und recon I’d ha’a go t’hospital the next day t’hev it removed by local anaesthetic . So next day the Missus und I driv up to the Norfolk und Norridge Hospital. Two doctors hed a look at me und recon that were to big for them t’du so I’d ha’a cum the next day und hev it removed under a general anaesthetic, they recon they were a’goin t’put me on the “Abscess Pathway”!! und that I mussunt hev anything t’eat arter midnight. (I hed a gret old plate o’porridge a’for I went t’bed) un be there at 7am.
So away I go agin next day und hed the operation. When I cum round I were in gret old round room with a lot o’other folk who were a’cummin round from their operations. When I got back t’the recovery ward they recon I could hev suffin t’eat, so they gi’me a round o’toast und marmalade. In the middle o’the arternoon they recon I could go home. I got dressed und the Missus come t’fetch me. Just afore they let me go they tested my sugar levels(cos I’m a Diabetic) Well bor my old sugars were suffin high so they recon they ha’a do suffin about it afore they let me go. The Nurses let the Missus in t’see me although she ha’a sit behind the certain cos visitors arn’t normally aloud in the recovery ward. Arter about 3 hours they recon I’d ha’a stay in overnight. So the Missus went home und they rigged up a drip which they plugged inta my arm t’help bring my sugar level down. I got onto a ward at about half nine in the evening but I din’t git a’lot o’sleep cos they kept a’wakin me up every hour t’test me sugar levels, by next mornin they were down und I cum home.
I’ll tell you suffin that old anaesthetic din’t half knock the stuffin out o’me und that took me about a week t’git over it. The trouble is I arn’t aloud t’do any heavy liftin und carrying und I can’t ride my old bike. The Missus she’s a’doin har best t’keep things a’goin in the garden as well as lookin arter me. I hev told har not t’worry about them old weeds cos if they grow up a bit that’ll meake them easier for me t’pull out when I’m finally a’firin on all cylinders.
Well them boys up at Carra Rood arn’t a havin a’good time at the moment. I recon yu can’t meake that many charges to the team und expect them t’play well straight away. Thas a bit like when yu plant suffin in the garden, that teake that a’little while t’get a’goin.
The Missus und I drawed down t’the Village Church tuther evenin t’the concert. My heart that were a good du. There were a young Mawther there, she could’d half sing and there were some more local Mawthers who were good as well. The Church were suffin full o’folk und the Vica asked if we could all cum back to the service on Sunday. They hed a couple o’hosses there und they rid them inta the church through the West Door just like them Knights Templars did all them years ago.
They tell me that the village History group are a’puttin on a talk in the Village Hall on the 22nd September. They hev got sum chap a’commin along t’talk about Farming Today & Yesterday and how that hev affected the Village. The Missus und I are a’goin down to it so I might see yu there.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Them old nights are a pullin in suffin quick now, that’ll soon be too dark t’git outside un du a bit in the garden arter tea.
I am nearly back inta full harness cos the operation I hed on my back hev nearly healed up. When we went t’see the nus tuther day she recon I could start a riddin my old bike agin. I were suffin pleased t’git back onta the saddle und start a ridin round arter mi pearper.
Since I last hed a wud along wi yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water w’our caravan. Them Nurses down at the surgery showed the Missus how t’re-dress my back every four t’five days while we were away. Du yu know what she ha’a put inta the wound t’keep it clean……seaweed. That dint look or spell like sea weed t’me but that seem t’be a’doin the job right enough.
We driv down France w’our caravan for 3 days till we were about 100 miles south o’Limoges. Thas where them Limousine Cattle come from . I see several on um a grazing in the fields while we were a’drivin along.
Where we stayed there were several caves t’go und look at. We went und hed a look at two um. The fust one we ha’a get inta a boat with six other folk and a young fella on the back paddled us acroos this here underground lake afor we could git t’the caves und at the other one we went to we ha’a get onta a little old train which took us a good mile inta the hill afor we got orf und started a’lookin about. I din’t say anything t’the Missus cos I dint want t’worry har but I were a’wondering how we were a’goin t’git out if the boat sunk or the train brok down??
Another place we went to were a goat farm where they meade cheese. When we got there there wernt meny folk about und yu ha’a hev a look round yar self. The fust shed we went into were where they kept the 400 milking goats. That were like a gret old cattle shud split inta several pens w’goats in .
My heart when we got in there my old eyes started a’stingin cos o’the ammonia in the air. I say t’the Missus they wan’t git some fresh air inta here. The goats looked happy enough a’eatin hay or lyin down chewing the cud. They recon that yu could look through sum windas t’see the cheese a’bein meade und the goats a’bein milked. The trouble was the windas were s’dirty all yu could see were shadows a’movin about. The Missus could tell I went very impressed by the place cos she recon I kept a mutterin. I did buy sum o’their cheese and that taste all right only the Missus keep a mobbin me t’finish it us cos that smell a’bit.
I’ll tell yu suffin we come acroos one arternoon when we were a’drivin up a little old country lane ,, we come round the corner und there were a shepherd a leading his flock of sheep along the rood with his dorg a comin along behind um. I did manage t’git a photo but only arter the shepherd hed past the car.
Well them boys up a Carra Rood seem to hev stopped goals bein scored a’gin um….all they hev got t’du now is start a’scorin them at tuther end o’the pitch. The trouble is them Tractor Boys keep a’winnin un all . My Brother keep on about it when we see in. I’ll tell yu suffin the Missus got him t’hold his row when she reminded him that Ipswich hev been in the same league for 16 years. One o’our Boys say “Nice one Mum”
Yesterday(26th October) when I were a’riddin my old bike along the footpath twix Caudle Springs und the Norridge Road I see somebody from County Hall hed put a notice up a’tellin folk that there were a Hornets Nest along side the path und to keep clear on it. I recon if somebody from County Hall could come out und put three or four notices up thas a pity they dint bring a scythe with um und cut some o’the nettles back. Cos folk are likely t’git stung by the nettles afor they git stung by any hornets.
Fare ye well t’gither und du yu keep a’troshin.
Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether then?
I am a’writtin this on the day the clocks go back so that don’t matter what time I finish cos I’ll still git an extra hour in bed t’morrow.
Years ago when farmers were a milkin cows I knew one or two on um who din’t change the time they milked their cows. So if they started a milkin them at 5am duin the summer when them old clocks went back they started a’milkin them at 4am until the clocks changed agen in the spring: Then they went back to a 5am start. I remember a farmer din’t keep to a fixed time und he got leater und leater a startin in the mornin, du yu know what he did t’put that right…….he missed a milkin out!!
Them old cows like a regular routine. If durin the summer when they were out t’grass und yu allus got them f’milkin at 3 o’clock then when yu went t’git them they would be a’stantin at the field gate a’waitin for yu. Thas the same when yu got them into the cowshed or milkin parlour, yu ha’a keep to the same routine cos that would make the old cow release har milk when yu started a’milkin on har. If yu started a’messin a’bout then they(them old cows) would dunt let yu hev any milk.
Since I last hed a’wud a’long with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water a’gin. Not with our caravan this time, we went und hed a look at that place with a lot o’water in har streets, Venice. We ha’a fly there and as sum on yu know I don’t like a’flyin. We ha’a have an early start cos our flight wus at 6am. When we got t’the airport I thought we hed come to a refugee camp cos there were folk a’layin about a’sleep everywhere. I say t’the Missus int anybody a’goin t’come und stir them up. She told me t’hold my row coss she recon they were folk who hed cum in early for their flights…….I still recon they wanted movin…..if I hed my old sheep dog w’me I’d a’soon hed them rounded up.
We were a’flyin w’that Irish lot so we ha’a check ourselves in…then we ha’a walk though a great old shoppin place, there were plenty o’folk a’sleep there und all. When we got onta the plane we had a job t’understand what any of the crew were a’sayin cos they were all from across the water. Cos we were a’sittin in seats next t’the escape door over the wing they cum und asked us if, in the event of an emergency, would we mind operatin the door so folk could git out, I say t’the Missus if we ha’a do that I know who’ll be fust out…….she din’t say anything thing…… she just gi me one o’har looks. Still they got us there und back alright und we hed a good time in Venice .
They tell me that the Parish Council are a’thinkin about knockin down the village bus shelter cos the Police recon thats a place where there is a lot o’any social behavour. There are sum folk in the village who agree w’the Police und there are folk who recon the bus shelter should stay where that is. That were paid for by the village’s WI ladies in 1970 und hev sheltered a rare lot o’folk und school children while that wait for the bus t’teak them t’ Watton. If yu read this afore the end of November und want that bus shelter t’stay then write a letter the Clerk of the Parish Council by 1st December. I recon if they du knock it down that’ll just move the anti-social behavour sum where else in the Village
Them boys up at Carra Rood hev bin a’doin well leartly, they beat them Tractor Boys. I saw my Brother the followin week und du yu know he dint want t’talk about the match…..I wonder why!!!! Then they went t’London did well against them Gunners. One o’our Boys went und he recon they (Norwich) were a’playin agenst twelve players , Eleven from the Gunners und the Ref.
I ha just bin und hed a look at sum hosses a’ploughin. They were a’warkin at a ploughin match bein held on one o’the young masters fields at the back o’the Hall. Yu could see them a’warkin next to a 200HP Tractor. There were sum good ploughmen there a’drawin sum rare straight furrows acroos the field. I recon I hed better git out inta the garden now und do sum diggin: I’ll try and keep a staight furrow wi my old spade.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
Well how are yu all a’doin then?
Well they arnt a’goin t’du it! I am a’talkin about the Parish Council a’knockin down the old bus shelter.
The Parish Council held their November meeting in the Church where that were talked about. There were a rare lot of Village Folk there un all. I recon the old Vica would like t’hev that many folk in the Church for a Sunday Service. I drawed down t’hev a look un all. The Police were there und they recon that knockin the Bus Shelter down were the last thing they wanted done. A’lot o’folk there stood up und hed their say. Some on um spoke about their children a’waiting in the shelter t’get the School Bus t’Watton. Other folk were a’talkin about gettin the youngsters in the Village involved in a’helpin on the Millennium Green. Another Lady spoke about them WI members who worked hard t’raise the money t’build the bus shelter in the fust place. Arter all this the Council Members hed a vote und most on um voted against the shelter bein knocked down.
I recon that the Council listened to what folk hed t’say, less hope sum o’them ideas spoke about in the Church cum to suffin.
I went t’Carra Rood with one o’our boys last Saturday (18th Nov) t’see them Canaries play Barnsley. Well Bor I don’t know why I went… if I had’a paid for mi ticket I would want me money back cos that wernt much of a game. Them Norwich boys din’t hev any go in um. They were a’walkin about und when they did pass the ball that were nearly allus acroos the field or backust. What they wanted were an old sheep dog a gettin behind them and a nippin their heels. I’ll tell yu suffin: the old pitch looked in good condition wi’a tidy grop o’grass on it. I say t’my boy what they want on there durin the week is get a few sheep on there t’graze it orf. My Boy, who’s 6ft 4ins tall, giv me a look just like his Mother gi me some times.
We seem t’be set t’hev a few sharp frorsts this week. That ull get them last few leaves down orf orf the trees. I recon that ull mean winter hev started. I hev been a’collectin the leaves und puttin them inta a couple o’gret old sacks . This time next year that’ll be sum nice compost that I can put on the garden. As I keep a few old hins this cold weather ull means them old Rats will be a sniffin round t’see if they can find anything t’eat. I hev caught five on um already this month so I recon there could be a few more. As I said once a’for the Almighty were supposed t’put all creatures on this planet for a reason. When I get t’meet him I’ll be a’askin him why he giv us rats….if I can I’ll let you know what he say.
There were a good turn out of folk for the Remembrance Service earlier this month at the Church. When somebody were a readin the names of the boys from our Parish who fell I were a’thinkin that we hev got a lot t’thank them boys for . That were good to see a young Air Cadet there a putting a poppy on the memorial cos thas suffin important that we never forget. We were a’standin in the road for the two minutes silence un there were one or two cars a stoppin rather than try t’drive through us. They put a gret old light a lightin up the tower with a silhouette of a soldier. Old mother nature din’t help by a blowin a gale which tried t’topple the soldier over.
Well we’ll soon be at the turn o’the year und folk will be a wonderin what 2018 hold for us all. One thing I recon we’ll be hearin about und thas BREXIT. They recon we already half way along to the date when we are spus t”leave the EU. Them up at Whitehall han’t made a lot of progress yet so they’ll ha a git a’goin arter Christmas or that’ll never be sorted out in time… I recon they could du with an old sheep dog behind them un all.
As this is the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yu afore Christmas the Missus join me in wishin yu all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
Well how are yu all a’goin on t’gether. A’time yu get t’read this that’ll be February Fill Dyke though I don’t think we’ll be a’wantin any more rain for a’while. Thas bin a rum winter so far , all that rain that keep a’cummin down, thas as though somebody up above have left the tap a’runnin . Still we’re better orf than sum folk in tuther parts o’the country who hev hev bin flooded out more than once this winter although I can remember, a few year ago, when there were sum houses flooded at the bottom o’Mill Lane und the water used t’gather acroos the road just past the church,near the Old Crown House Pub, that were s’deep that you could’nt drive through it.
Cos them Politions up in London recon they’r a’goin t’spend a lot o’money t’stop houses a’gettin flooded. The trouble is, as soon as they meake the riverbanks higher in one place the water will cum over somewhere else. I know folk hev gotta live some where but why did they let them developers build on flood planes? Din’t they think there were suffin in the name?. Another thing, I know thas bad when folks houses und shops get flooded but what about the farmers who hev their crops flooded over und hev livestock swept away un drowned, nobody ant a’sayin much about that .
As as well as all that rain we keep a’havin thas bin s’mild up t’now (10th Jan) though they du say we could get sum colder weather soon. All the Missus tender plants I put away in the green house are still a’growin and sum o’our roses are still a’flowin, these here plants hev gotta stop a’growin sum time du they’ll not last through the summer w’out a rest.
Last time I hed as wurd along with’ya I were a sayin how I hed seen sum cows a’grazin on a field twixt Shipdham & Dereham, Well now I see there’s sum sheep a’grazin on a field tuther side o’the bridge a’goin t’wards Ovington. They look as if they are a’grazin sum stubble turnips. The Missus keep askin me it I am a’goin t’count them every day…..I told har not t’be s’sorft cos how can I ride my old bike in straight line und count sheep in the field same time. Still thas good t’see um, that remind you of how farming were several year ago when there were sheep everywhere in Norfolk, the Golden Hoof they used t’call them.
Afor Christmas the Missus und I went on a trip t’London t’go to a carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall. We han’t bin there a’for. My heart thas a gret old place, we hed seats right near the top. Them seats were set suffin steep, when we stood up t’sing a carol the Missus she grabbed hold o’me cos she recon she were a’goin t’pitch forud onta the row o’seats in front of us. That were a good job we only ha’a stand up twice cos my arm would hev bin black un blue from where the Missus kept a’grabbib me.
The next day we went to a Christmas Fair/Market in Hyde Park. There were a lot o’stalls a’sellin stuff. There were a big old wheel a’goin round w’little cabins on that yu could sit in. Now I ha’a say that I don’t like a’goin on anything that take yu orf the ground. The fust time I flew in a plane nobody told me that arter you teake orf the pilot throttle the engines back a bit, I thought he’ed turned the engines orf. How-sum-ever we went on the wheel in Hyde Park twice. The fust time we went on it that started t’rain und that old wind started a blowin the cabin which meade it rock a bit. I din’t like that und cos that were a’rainin yu could’t see far. Leater on the sun come out so we hed another go. I were alright this time a teakin photos until the Missus wanted t’sit on tuther side. Well boy when she started a movin about the cabin a started a rockin about, I hollered at har t’sit still cos I were coming over all funny. When we come orf the wheel we went inta an ice house t’see sum ice sculptures, That were suffin cold in there(-8c) When we come out they give us some little things t’warm yar feet up. I recon we should hed them a’for we went it. Still that were a good couple o’days even though the coach driver din’t know his way round London very well. I think we driv round the Olympic Station 3 times afor he found the M11
Well them boys up atCarra Rood seem to be gettin on a bit better than they were afor Christmas, less hope they can keep it a’goin until May.
I must close now und get outside t’clean my old hins out so their eggs keep nice und clean. Cos the old grounds s’wet und dawby the Missus meake me keep my old boots in the shud near the back door cos she don’t me t’drag any mud indoors. I say t’her “I wish my old hins could have boots they could keep outside the hut, cos that would mean that I wont ha’a clean them out s’often”……………She din’t say anything,she just gimi one o’har looks.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin.
How are yu all a’geetin on t’gether.
Last time I hed a wud a’long wi yu I reconded we could du w’sum hard weather. Well we’r a’havin a bit on it right now. (Feb 16th) but that old froost dont stay in the ground like that used to.
That dont matter t’farmers round here who are a’farmin on light land but them who farm on heavy (Clay) land like in South Norfolk want a bit o’froost t’git inta the ploughed land over the winter. What happen is that any water in the soil freeze und expand, that meake the clods o’soil break up. when the land dry out in the spring that mean the famers don’t hev t’wark the land s’much t’meake a seed bed cos Jack Froost hev done it for um. These a name for it to, thas called frost mold.
While I’m a’talkin about farmers, those on um who are a’keepin pigs are a’havin a tough time on it at the moment, they recon their are a’loosin £10 for every pig they sell orf the farm. Thas all a’cors them super markets can buy their pork cheaper a’broad. Them who now about these things recon thas cors pigs over the water arnt kept up to the same wefare standards as our farms. . Thas the same with them egg producers. A friend o’mine ha spent thousands a bringing his hin houses up t’EU standards white other countries arnt a meakin their farmers do the same so their eggs come over here cos their cheaper than my friends.
That seem like most things in this here EU, Our farmers ha’a farm by the rules set in Brussels but some o’them other EU countries don’t meake their farmers do the same.
They recon we ha got a’vote, afor the end of 2017, about if we want t’stay in the EU or get out. When we fust joined up in the 1960s that were called the Common Market, that seem t’wark for a’while until we hed a grain mountain, They got over that by a’buyin up the farmers corn und puttin it inta storage. A’lot o’corn from Norfolk farms was stored in the hangers on Watton air field. Then there were a butter mountain, they got round that by paying dairy farmers t’get rid o’their cows, when that din’t wark they give each dairy farm a milk quita a’tellin him how much milk he could sell each year. I seem t’remember there were a wine lake un all, I dunnow how they got rid o’that?
Now acors thas called the EU und we seem t’hev more rules a’comin outa Brussels than London. There were a small business man a’talkin on the TV tuther night, he recon that EU rules cost his business £35,000 a year und thas a’for he start a’doin any business w’other EU countries.
Afor we go un decide about wether we want t’stay in the EU or get out them up at Whitehall want t’meake sure we are all gettin along t’gether over here so we can still be called the United Kingdom! And another thing, thas worth remembering that at one time or another,in the past, we hev been t’war with all them Countries who are in the EU except Portugal.
Well them boys up Carra Rood are meakin a rare fist o’trying to keep up w’them big boys. I thought they hed got suffin a’goin at the turn o’the year but they seem t’ha lorst their way agin.
There were a good turn-out tuther Sunday at the sheep farm in Scoulton. The Missus und I drawed up t’hev a look. That were good t’see s’many folk there a’lookin at the lambs and their mothers. They all looked in good fettle und I hear that a tidy sum of money were raised for the local Churches.
Them old evenings are a’startin t’draw out a’bit und that ount be long afor I cen get outside agin arter I hev hed me fourses. My old concrete paths hev turned suffin green so I want to git a cleanin them wi me pressure washer. Cos a lot o’the Missus shrubs und Roses are still a’growin I want t’be given them a drop o’firtilizer t’keep them a’goin. I allus give them a handful o’Epsom Salts like my Father used to. That meake the leaves go a good colour durin the Summer. I say the the Missus “Do you think I’d go a good colour if I hed a handful of them salts on my porridge”…………She din’t say anything……… she just gi me one o’har looks.
Fare ye well t’gether und do yu keep a’troshin.
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
Categories
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.
Categories
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.
Categories
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
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.