Category: Monthly Retrospective

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2014

Missing Month

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2014

Missing Month

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2014 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2013

Since I last hed a wud along with ya the Missus und I ha bin over the water agin with our caravan. Arter last year’s adventure we decided t’drive all the way down t’the bottom of France. As the Missus said “we hev gotta do it while we can”. That were a long way, but we drawed along und hed a couple of stops on the way. That got suffin hot (38c). I ha’a teak me vest orf. The Missus said she din’t mind that but she din’t want me a’teakin me braces orf in case m’belt brook und me trousers fell down. I told her not t’worry cos if me belt brook I’d got a bit o’binder twine in m’pocket that I could use t’hold um up. She din’t say anything……… she just g’me one of har looks.

On the way we stopped t’hev a look around the Rhone Valley, the farmers there busy hay making. I told yer last year about the steep slopes we see the farmers were a’warkin. Well the slopes they were a drivin tractors on this year made last years slopes seem flat. We driv past a field where they hed baled the hay inta round bales, these were all a’layin along the bottom of the field. I say the Missus, I recon they rolled down there when they cum out o’the back o’the baler.

Cos there are still a’lot o’small farms in France, what my father would call ha “little doers”. I wunce asked him why he called um little doers. “Weer” he say, “ they only keep 4 hins a Goat und a Cow. I think the small French Farms ha more stock than that on um. They can keep a’goin cos the French Government look arter um. Thas cos cum an election their 22% o’the votes. At hum our farmers count for 0.2% of the votes at an election. I don’t think I need t’say any more.

Down the bottom o’France there’s this bit of land called the Camarge. Thas flat like the fens but thas the size o’the hol o’Norfolk. The farmers grow rice und keep these black cattle and white hosses. everywhere we druv yu could see the white hosses saddled up ready for folks t’ride, we din’t see anybody a ridin any on um, I think thas because that were s’hot. We stopped so I could hev a look at a field o’rice, that looked like a field of wheat only that were a lot shorter. Sum of it looked fit t’cut but I dint see any combines a goin.

Arter the Camarge we driv along until we were nearly inta Spain. We were a’drivin , with out the caravan, through sum narra roads that hed bin cut out o’the rock. Yu hed t’be careful cos great old lorries were a usin the same roods, we did ha’a back up once t’let one through. When we got home blow me if we din’t see them Tour o’France cyclists a’goin along sum o’the same roods we hed driv along. I say t’the Missus, “that’d bin a job if we’d a met them while we were there, they’d ha’a stop t’let us through”

There’s plenty t’du now we’r home. I could nearly get a crop o’hay orf the lawns. Our Girl and har man ha’bin lookin arter the plants & stock while we ha bin away. Afor we went I set sum eggs down under a broody bantam. I warked out that they should hatch orf just afor we got home. That were spot on cos they hatched 2 days afor we cum home.

That don’t look as if the harvest will be a startin early this year, still as m’father used t’say “there’ll allus be a seed time und harvest”. As I said afor, he wuss allus right.

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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, not for the last time I hope.

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2012

Well old mother nature is playing on us up agin, fust we get a day or two dry then she start a sendin tempists in the arternoon. The farmers ha mead a start on harvest but when I am a writin this (early August) the weather ha made them put brakes on, stiil, as my old father used t’say – ‘there’ll allus be a seed time & harvest… und du yu know….. he was allus right.

The old weather put pay t’the Wayland Show this year. I arnt a goin t’say whose right and whose wrong about a cancellin it but thas a rear shame for all them folks who hed got livestock ready and all them folks who were a lookin forward to a day out. Next year will be the 140th year since that started. I remember m’father a coming to it in the 1950s a showin cows. One year he cum with a red and white Friesian cow und when he went inta the judging ring with her the judge asked him if he were in the right class.. he (the judge) thought m’Father should ha bin in the next door ring with the Ayrshires.

One show what hed a good day were the Sandringham Flower show. That were suffun hot there and there were a rare crowd o’folks a jammin around a havin a look. The Missus & I were there a helpin with the Heavy Horses. They were a givin a display in the ring. I were doin the talkin on the Public Address so folks knew what they were a lookin at. The Missus were a helpin on the Heavy Horse stand a sellin things.. she’s good at that cos she were in selling afor we got married, she recon folk like a bargin when they see one…I reccon she thought I were a bargin when we got married…….though I dussent ask har.
Afor we got goin we hatta line up wi the hosses when Charlie boy and his Missus cum a riding past in they carriage, the Missus were suffin pleased cos the Duchess said good marnin to her as she went a ridin past.
One thing the Missus did notice were that nearly all the folks there were about retiring age, we got a talkin about that and she recon that if yu are under sixty five you wont remember hosses a warkin on farms, she’s rite yu know cos I’m sixty seven and I only used hosses when I were a boy, I don’t get s’meny old boys acomin up t’me now a sayin “I remember when I were a usin Heavy Hosses” as I did twenty year a’go.

I were a readin t’other day that that the average age o’farm warkers is a goin up and over the next ten years 60,000 younguns will be wanted to start a warkin on farms t’replace them as they retire. Thas 6000 a year and folks are a wonderin where they are a comin from . I ha said afor that I ha got a little job a testin folks on tractor drivin arter they ha bin a trainin at Easton College, outa them folks who I test very few on um are a goin t’wark on farms, they are a goin t’be mechanics, go inta horticulture or wark with ridin hosses. I know farmin is long hours but that int such hard work as it was when I started cos everything is lifted for yu mechanicaly, Yu ha got t’get the younguns interested, I wonder how many school job advisors know anything about farmin?.

By the time yu read this the Olympics will be over. I ha bin a’watchin them cyclists, my heart they crowd their old bikes along, the Missus recon I could learn a few lessons from them, I say t’her I’d never git on my old bike on me own if I hed the saddle set that high. Still they are a doin well, less hope that get some of the younguns out a doin some sport instead o’sittin in doors a’playin with their phones or computors.

They tell me there’s agoin t’be a big week-end in the village at the end September when there are goin t’be a showin the old village maps and Bibles in the church and they are a goin t’unveil the new Village Sign and the Hunton Hoss Plough and hev the Harvest Festival in the Church. The Missu and I will be a’drawin along t’that. Lets hope that,by then, “All is Safely Gathered In”.

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

Categories
2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2012

Well by the time you cast your eyes over this swit Summer will ha slipped away an wi inta Autumn. That ha bin a rum year so far, first we hed no rain so they recon so we ha’a stop a usin hose pipes, then that rain s’hard und folk’s who make a livin from holiday makers were a’sayin they wernt a makin any money, at least that kept fine for all them Olympics and the farmers were able t’get the harvest in, cos they can du it a lot quicker with them big old combines than we could with an old binder.
Do you now, they were a writin in the EDP the t’other day about a new combine they were a trying in the county whot could cut 20 acres wheat an hour. The fust combine I driv in the early 1960’s were an old Massey with a 8ft 6in cut, we could never cut enough t’finish any field the same day as we started in it, The farm were about 150 acres in 18 fields. When the master changed the Massey for a 12ft cut Claas we were suffin pleased cos we could cut a whole field in one day. The Master sent two on us on a course to learn how t’drive the new combine, that must ha bin a good course cos I cen still remember sum o’the things thay told us. The Claas hed a alarm on it that told yu if the straw got bunged up in the back, if the straw got bunged up that pressed agen a button that blew a thing like a car hooter, the trouble was the old combine were a makin so much noise yu never heard it. Wi them early combines we hatta ajust everything by hand and yu were a’warkin in the muck all the time cos there were no cabs, cuttin wheat were the wust , when yu finished cuttin yu looked as if yu had stuck yar head up a chimminy.

Cos I were away for the Norfolk Show and the Wayland were cancelled I hed a day at the Aylsham Show at the end of August. There were a rare crowd of folk there. I were a’helpin on the Rare Breed stand and wi the young handlers competition, thas a bin runnin all summer at different shows. The young handlers show sheep at these shows & get marks accordin t’how the judge place them. The younguns sho other folks sheep and the Judges are a’judgin how they handle the sheep. At the Aylsham the marks are added up and the winners get a cup. Thas good t’see the younguns a havin a go and there are several on um. They also hev young handlers competitions wi cattle an all. Thas good t’see the younguns havin a go cos us olduns wont be around f’ever. When yu are a gettin on yu get t’thinkin how much yu know about handlin livestock that yu cant earn outa a book.

Them old evenins are a drawin in so I hatta scrap round t’get all I want t’du afor I draw inside for m’tea. I ha got m’self a little trailer t’go behind the car so I can carry things about w’out havin t’crowd them inta the car. That’ll stop the Missus a mobbin me cause I am a messin up the inside o’the car. The fust thing I will be a’usin the trailer for is t’clear sum stuff outa the garage so I can store the trailer inside.

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

Categories
2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2012

I hope a lot on ya were able tʼdraw along tʼthe village Church durin the Heritage week-end. That were a right good du. The Missus und I were about there most oʼthe two days as we were aʼhelpin. That were good tʼsee folks who hed moved away aʼcummin back tʼhev a look round. On the Saturday two on um went up the tower the hull the parachuting teddies orf. I climbed up the tower several years ago, that wernt sʼbad a goin up but a comin down were worser, that pulled suffin savige on mi leg muscles, durin the next week I hed a job tʼcrowd my old bike along, The Missus recon I looked as if I were a cyclin inta a hed wind all the time. I recon next time I want tʼget tʼthe top of the tower Iʼll use my old thachin ladder.
That were good tʼsee the Church full for the Harvest Thanks Givin on the Sunday and seein the littleʼuns du a little turn durin the service. The only thing I dint see in the Chuch were a sheaf oʼcorn anywhere.
Arter the service were over we all drawed acroos the rood tʼsee the new Village Sign and Hoss Plough unveiled and blessed by the vica. The sign were unveiled a lady who hev lived in the village more than three score years and ten. The old hoss plough were unveiled by the Page boys, John and Richard, whoʼs Granfa hed made the plough up at the foundry on the Norridge road. I hed a good look at the plough and I recon that hed done a bit oʼ wark durin the hundred years since that were made cos the old plough point were worn down und the wheels looked a bit thin.
They recon one man wi two hosses and a single furra plough would plough an acre a day and the man would walk Eleven miles a day. In them days farm warkers worked a six day week. I ha warked out that if the same man, arter ploughing, using two hosses tʼ harrow down the soil tʼmeake a seedbed, drilled the seed & harroed agin arter drillin I recon he would ha walked sum Seventeen miles for every acre drilled, und thas afor he rolled the growin crop agin in the Spring. Tʼday sum on um grumble if they ha ta walk down the garden.
Them old clocks will soon be aʼchangin so perhaps I hed better rig up a light so I can keep a drawin about the garden arter dark cos if I get indoors afor tea is ready the Missus will get me a doin something. Some on yar will remember me a tellin on ya last year about a company who sent the Missus six Christmas cataloges and how she rung them up and giv them a piece oʼher mind well…… so far this year they hev sent her four cataloges, Iʼll let yar know next time what happen if they sent har any more.
Fare ye well tʼgether and du yu keep a troshin.

Categories
2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2012

Missing Month

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2013

Missing Month