Category: Monthly Retrospective

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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2013 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2013

Well we ha’a started a ploughin a furra acroos 2013, less hope we dont get t’meny bends in it and can keep a straight furra until t’end o the year .

I recon that 2012 were a good year for the village cos there were plenty a goin on, first we hed the Jubilee day & the village fete und arter harvest we hed the heritage week-end and finished wi the Spirit of Christmas, thas good t’see a lot of new folks in the village a helpin at these does cos sum of us olduns want t’be a pullin a light harrow now. That were good t’see them folks from the Norridge road houses a drawin down t’the village and ajoining in.

The Missus & I drawed down the the Spirit of Christmas , there were all them bits o ice t’see a dotted round the millennium green, that must ha’bin a job a holden them things in the ice steady while the water frooz, we bought sum draw ticket & I wum a car cleaning kit, the Missus recon that if I use that on my old bike that’l fall t’bits cos thas only mud a holdin it t’gether.

They recon last year were one o’the wettest on record, I ha got a rain measure in my garden und I ha totted up that we hed a fare few inches, thas arter they were a lellin us last spring that were a’goin t’hev a drought. Thas still to dawby on the garden t’go a jammin about on it. If you go a jammin about on it while thas wet when that du dry out that’ul go down as hard as contrete und you’ll never be able t’knock it down t’get a seed bed. I say t’the Missus that want I want is a pair of boots like them big floatin tyres they hev on tractors so I dont du any harm if I go on the garden while thas a bit dawby…..she din’t say anything…she just gi’me one of her looks. I sowed my Sweet Pea seeds a’for Christmas, they hev all chitted und are growin nicely, that should please the Missus cos she like a cuttin the flowers for indoors.

I ha got an old mole a warkin in the garden, he ha bin a rifflin under the lawn, I can’t catch the old begger, I’ll ha’a do what my old father used t’do, if he knew an old mole were a warkin he’d go & get his old 12 bore und stand still near where that were a warkin und when that used t’start a pushin the soil up he would shoot inta the mole hill…I don’t think he ever shot one und one day he shot all the soil onto Mother’s washin that were a hangin on the linin line, cor she were suffin savige with him……….if I try that trick I’ll ha’a make sure the MIssus han’t got any washin out.

Well I am a’goin t’close now cos the lady Editor don’t want to much this month cos she ha’a got t’get two months inta one.

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

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2011 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2011

Missing Month

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2012

A’time yu read this we’ll a’started another year. We’ll ha’a see whot old father time ha got in store for us this time round. We know we got a’celebrate her Majesteys Golden Jubilee, yu can say what yu like but I recon she ha done a good job, I know there are them whot are all for a’gettin rid of the royal family but I say du yu hold hard, that int the power she have… thas the power she stop others a’havin, we better of with har than sum president or dictator.

I recon sum on um are now a countin the cost o’Christmas, that seem that these days if the youguns keep a crazin their parents for suffin they get it.
When I were a’youngun my old dad used t’say t’me “what yu want and what yu get are two different things” .

I see thar a’gettin them selves in a muddle over the water with their money, thas all acors their ha bin a spendin money whot they hant got and they hant a’bin puttin anything in the mattriss for a rainy day.

The weather still cant makeup it’s mind what that want t’du, as I am a’writin this in early December thas got mild agin but they recon we a’goin t’get sum rare winds t’night and then thas a’goin t’tun cold agin.
The fust year I started wark we had a rare winter. That started t’get cold and we had sum sharp frosts up until Christmas and then on New Year’s Eve that started a snowin and by new year’s day that were a driftin. We dint get a bank holiday then so I ha’a travel t’work on my little old mota-bike and that were eight miles from where I were a livin to the farm, there were snow drifts every where but I got though where cars were a gettin stuck. They recon I looked a job when I got to work cos my old army great coat were a’covered in snow and sum snow had frose on m’ eyebrows. I recon the wust weather we had that winter wus freezin rain. The tractors we were drivin had canvas cabs on with a glass windscreen, well the rain frose on the screen and yu count see where yu were a goin so yu ha’a open the door and stick yar head out, yu count do that for long cos the rain holy stung yar face, still that were worsa for one of the other tractor drivers I were a warkin with, he were a wearin glasses so when he stuck his head outa the cab door t’see where he were a goin the rain frose on his glasses.

Cos if you had livestock t’look arter in the winter frost & snow made the job harder. Stock allus ha’a have fresh water so if the water troughs were frozen yu ha’a get the old blow torch t’thaw the pipes, if that dint wark yu ha’a cart water to the stock in milk churns Gettin food to um were hard wark, cuttin marrowstem kale was the wust, that grew t’over six foot tall and when yu bent down t’cut it orf at the base the snow on the leaves fell onta yar head and shoulders., yu ha’a be careful yu dint cut yar self when yu were a’doin this cos yar hands got s’cold yu wont ha felt it. If the weather were moderate that were good t’be in a loose box or barn with cattle as they made the place warm. When yu cleared the muck outa the bullock yard during the winter y’always left a foot or two of muck in the bottom of the yard so the cattle still had a warm bed t’lay on for the rest of the winter. The old cows warmed the cowshed up when yu got them in t’be milked although that wernt s’good if they slapped yu about the head with their cold mucky tails when yu got down to put the milking machines on.

There ent a lot yu can do in the garden this time o’year, just a bit o’tidying up and I ha’a make sure the missus’s tender plants in the greenhouse are alright. I ha’a keep an eye out for vermin cos moderate weather is when they draw inta buildings, they recon yar never more than six foot from a rat, the trouble is they arnt frightened on us and they recon these more o’them in the world than us.

While I carn’t get on outside the missus ha got a list o’things she want me t’du indoors………….. the trouble is as fast as I keep a knockin the jobs orf the top o’the list she keep a’adden others on the bottom……….I hope spring int to long a’comin so I can draw back inta the garden.

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2012

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2012

As I am a writin this (mid February) thas suffin cold outside, that got down’t minus 12 outside my old greenhouse last night, I dussant open the door t’have a look inside as that’l only let the heat out. We had sum cold old winters afor. I remember the fust year I started warkin arter I had bin to farming collage we had sum rum weather, I recon the freezin rain were the wust. The tractors we were a drivin had canvas cabs on with a glass windscreen, well, the rain that froz on the screen and the only way you see where yu were a’goin was to open the door and stick yar head out, yu cont do that f’long cos the rain holy stung yau face, still that were worsa for one o’the other tractor drivers I were a’warkin with, he were a wearing glasses so when he stuck his head outa the cab door t’see where he were a goin the rain fros on his glasses. That tractor driver, he were a master one for losing things, one year when he were a ploughin he lorst his leather Jerkin , (that were like a body warmer) he recon that must a’fallin orf the back o’the tractor and he ha plough’d in, du you know the next year when he were a ploughin the same field he ploughed it out agin it out a’gin……. and that were good enough for him still t’wear.
Yu ha’a put up w’the cold if yu ha’a drive a tractor w no cab on at all, thas how that was a’for they ha’a put safety cabs on tractors. Yu might have a canvas cab but they were drafty. I remember askin my Boss (in 1966) why he dint hev cabs on his tractors, he recon that yu shount be a warkin on the land when that were a’rainin so there wernt any need for cabs, he dint ha’a sit on the tractor when that were a blowin from the North Pole and all yu ha’a keep yu warm were an ex-army great coat: thas another one o’them ‘good old days”I dont want t’see back agin.

I hear that the Watton air field ha bin sold back t’local farms, they’ll hev a job a breakin up all that contrete and a’gettin rid on it, perhaps sum on it will be used when they start a buildin the new bit of the A11. One farm I were a warkin on in the 1960s had part of a old air field on it, when we started a ploughin on it we dragged up sum cables that still alive so when yu ploughed through um sparks were a comin orf the back o’the plough, we ha’a stop until somebody cum and turned orf the current.

I hope a lot on’yer took part in the bird watch at the end o’January, I did, well that meant I could sit down for an our t’do that with out the Missus a findin me a job cos I kept a’tellin har I were a concentratin on a countin the birds, I tried t’stretch the our out as long as I could an all. The trouble is w’this cold weather I cant get outside so the Missus keep a findin me inside jobs t’du……..the trouble is as fast as I knock the jobs orf t’list she keep a’’addin more on.

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2012

Well thas official, we are a’havin a drout. I recon those of us hu ha warked on the land or have a garden could ha told them that months a’go. Thas tu easy these days to just tun on the tap. If they want t’get folks a’saving water they orta tun off the taps and get folks t’start a’usin water from a well. When I were a growin up Father used t’draw two bucket full outa the well afor he went t’wark in the mornin, he draw another 2 bucket fulls when he cum home arter his dinner and another two when he cum home for his tea, and he ha’a go inta next door’s garden t’get it outa the well. When mother did the washin on a Monday he used t’fill the copper in the shud & light a fire under it afore he went t’work. We ha’a mind how we used the water cos that ha’a last til father cum home t draw some more cos the old well were suffin deep and Mother wunt able to turn the handle t’draw a full pail up a’gin.

Saturday were bath night so Father would fill the old copper agin and light a fire t’heat the water, when that were hot enough the old tin bath were put in front of fire and we all hed a bath in the same water, starting wi the youngust and finishin wi father. Our next door neighbours had their baths in the shud where the copper were I bet that were suffin cild in the winta. Arter we had all had a bath the dirty water got hulled out onta the garden to water the vegitables.

Cos the farmers want sum rain as well, a time you read this they will ha bin drillin them old sugar beet agin, I hear they hav done all right outa the 2011/12 crop, that’ll make up for what they lorst to the frost the year a’for. If farmers want t’keep moisture in the soil they ha gotta get humus mixed in, that were alright when most farms carried stock and they hed plenty of FYM (Farm Yard Manure) t’plough in. Now accors most farms dont have any stock on um, I recon that yu can drive from Carbrooke t’Norwich and not see any cattle or sheep out in the fields. Not puttin any FWM on the land make that hungry and that wunt hold moisture. I see one o’the farms in the village ha started cartin in pig muck t’use on their land. The land here about is right on the edge of the Brecks and have a lot’o sand it so that soon dry out, they used t’recon that sort’o land want a shower o’rain on it every day and a shower of FYM on it every other day only they dint say FYM but the wud they used is too rude t’use here.

Old Turnip Townsend knew what he were a doin all them years ago (about 1750) when he invented the Norfolk Four Course Rotation: Wheat, Beet (Turnips), Barley and Hay. (Grass). Sheep fed of the turnips and grass, the droppings they left behind were ploughed in and provided nutrients and humus for followin wheat and barley crops. They dint call sheep the “Golden Hoof” for nuthin.

My old water butts ha still got sum water in but I ha told the Missus that if we dont get n’rain I am a goin t’open up our old well in the garden and a start usin the water in there cos they might stop us a usin hose pipes in the garden, I am a lookin for one of them two wheeled water barras, they hold twenti five t’thirty galluns, that ul be easier than a jammin about wi a little old two gallun waterin can
Them old evenins are a’pullin out so I can get out inta the garden arter tea. In Norfolk we hev our food at different times t’the rest on um. Dinner time for us old Norfolk boys and is in the middle o’the day and we hev our tea in the evenin. If yu hev anythin t’eat or drink durin the arternoon thas called foursus.

Well I ha betta close now cos the Miissus ent to good at the moment and I’m doin a lot o fetchin and carryin for her till she get back inta harness agin.

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

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2012

Missing Month

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2012 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2012

Well we’r nearly half way through another year, the time that is a’goin suffin quick agin. I am a writtin this while the Missus and I are away in our Caravan for a few days, we hant gone over the water this time. The camp site we booked wernt to good when we got there. For the money they wanted we were expectin suffin good, all we got were a meadow wi long grass and a load o’stingin nettles, I had a jam round t’see what the other things were like- and they wernt a lot better. There he’bin a’lot o’rain and that made it job a’gettin the car and caravan on the field and a’gettin orf agin. we stayed the two nights we had a’paid for and then we moved to a better site f’less money.

That’l soon be time for the old Norfolk Show agin, I ha been a up t’the show ground twice already this year a’helpin on the Rare Breed Stand. The fust were afor Easter when there were a Vintage Tractor and Hoss week-end. There were a lot a’makes o’vintage tractors there, the trouble was when I went round a’lookin at them old tractors I recon I hed driven half on um and nearly all on um.
The other du at the showground wus just arter Easter, that were the Spring Fling when children cum and see how their grub is produced, they could hev a’go at milkin a cow, spinnin wool and holdin a day old chick. Thas a right good day, this year I were a’showin on um a sheep’s fleece and a lettin on um take a little bit home with um.

They recon them old sugar beet plants should be a meetin in the row by the Suffolk Show,(beginin June) and meetin acrors the rows by the Norfolk Show(end June). Them old beet will ha’a grow suffin if they are get there by either show this year. We hev had the rain now all we want are sum warm weather. I remember a’horse hoeing beet with m’father on a warm day– the old Sky Larks were a singin and Father recon you could hear them old beet a’growin. When I were agoin t’get m’peaper t’other day I herd an old Sky Lark a’singin, du u now, thas the fust one I hev herd for a year or two. when the Missus and I were out for a drive the other day, when on the tuther side o’Watton we see a Red Squirrel run acrors the rode infront on us. When we got home I rung up them wildlife people and told them about it cors yu dont see to meny on um in Norfolk.

Last time I writ the Missus wernt to good, She’s back in harness now so I hev been able t’get out inta the garden, thas a job this year cos old mother nature keep blowin hot then cold so thas a job t’know when t’put yar tender plants out. That dont du them any good a keep a’takin them in and out o’the green house, I ha decided t’keep them in and ha made up a door frame with that green netting on so I can put that up in the open door t’let the air in and any vermin out. I ha got sum shrubs in the garden that dint stop growing much durin the winter so tha’ll want a lot o’feedin in the summer t’keep them a’goin. The rain we ha bin a havin ha kept my old water butts full so I’ll hev enough water t’keep agoin in the garden for a while.

A’time yu are a readin this them Jubilee celebrations will be a’goin on. I here there’s a’goin to be suffin on the Millennium Green for us all t’draw along to celebrate har Magesty’s Sixty years on the throne I can remember her a bein crowned. We hed a du in the village where we lived, cos thar were a wet day that hat’a be moved inta a farmer’s barn. There were a fancy dress competition for us children. Our mother spent ages a makin our costumes, me brother went as a drummer boy and I went as Sir Walter Ralegh, we din’t win but Mother was suffin savage cos the winners were the son and daughter of the farmer whose barn we were a usin. Sum folks recon we dont orter hev a Royel Family cos that cost to much, I recon we’r better orf wi them than sum president whot get changed every five years or so. Somebody say t’me once about the Queen, “That int the power she hold, thas the power she deny other folk”, I recon there’s a lot o’truth in that.
Fare ye well t’gether and du yu keep a’troshin

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2011 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2011

I don’t now what I were a runnin on about last month a talkin about them clock’s a changin at the end o’ September instead of October, The Missus recon thas du with me age, I recon age han’t got nothin t’du with it, I recon thas t’du with the weather we a gettin. Yu used t be able t’tell the time o’year by the weather yu were a gettin. Arter harvest the sun started t’lose its heat, leaves started a droppin orf the trees & nights a’started t’draw in and y’new where yu were. Derin the last few years the summer weather hant bin nothin like that, this year we had hotter weather at the end o’ September than we had durin July an August, no wunder I were a’gettin in a muck wash about the clocks a changin.
That were a job in the early 1970’s when thay put the clocks back two hours in the autumn, thay recon that wus t’make it safer for chrilden a comin home from school. Thay din’t think about them what were a workin early in the morning a trough feedin cattle in the field, I used t’go inta the field with a bag o’feed and a little old torch, as soon a the cattle heard the nuts a rattlin inta the trough they cum a runnin, I could a hear um a’commin but I could’t see um until they were a’top on me, I never got knocked over but cum clus a time or two.

Acors this is the time for Guy Fawkes, I know I ha got that right cos I asked the Missus. Cos we lived on a farm when I were a boy we din’t ha’a build a bonfire, when they were a hedge trimmin on the farm arter harvest they used t’burn the trimmins as they went but Dad used t’save one lot for us to burn on November 5th. In them days fireworks were only sold in October, my brother & I were given five shillins each (25p) t’buy our fireworks. We would bike three miles inta North Walsham and buy our fireworks, what we bought used t’ fill a shoe box, the box were a biggun cos we both had size 9 or 10 feet even then. On November 5th Dad would get the bonfire a goin with sum waste oil or derv. and we und the other children who lived at the farm would let orf our fire works, we all had a good time and no body got hurt or were a botherin about health & safety.

By the time yu read this the Missus and I should ha bin away wi’ our caravan agin, not over the water this time but down t’the other side o’London. Thas a job a’gettin there cos yu ha’a drive on them motorways, yu ha’a keep yar eyes on the road all the time cos if yu start a farming over the hedge thas likely yu’ll soon end up over the hedge an all. While we away, if we get sum decent weather, the Missus and I want t’visit some gardens t’ see the Autumn colours & t’get some ideas we can use in our garden, I know we han’t got a big garden here in Carbrooke but in the big gardens where they a usin a hundred plants yu can use five or seven in yars. Yu got t’remember that a garden is a livin thing & that were here afor we come along and that’ll be here arter we’r gone.

There’s allus plenty t’do in the garden puttin it t’bed for the winter although as I were a’sayin earlier thas a job t’now when winter will be a startin. I got on by a sivin out the leaf mould I put inta a big bag last Autumn, that ha made inta sum lovely stuff. I am a fillin the big bag agin wi this years leaves, I collect um w’me mower cos that chew um up a bit and thas easier than usin a rake and barrow. I ha given the hedges a little trim & shredded up the trimmins for mi compost heap & cleared the green house out ready the stow away the Missus tender shrubs, Durin the summer I allus try and take sum cuttins orf these in case some on um don’t make it through t’next spring.
The Missus were suffin savige t’other day, she buy her Christmas cards from one of them charities and so far they ,since August, ha sent har six Christmas cataloges, she ha rung them up and ha give them a piece o’her mind. They recon thay are a doin it so she don’t miss out on any new items. I’m suffin glad the Missus din’t get me out of a cataloge cos if she had she might a found a better model when a new cataloge come along .

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

Categories
2010 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2010

Dear Sar,
Thank-ye kindly for printing my email last month and I will try an have a wud along with-ya agin when I can.
The month (October) started suffin wet & it were a job on the garden with it bein so dawby. The Missus she get suffin savige if I start a dragen mud indoors so now I ha’a leave my old boots in the shud.
The rain ha made it wet for them a getten the old sugar beet orf but they tell me they arnt in no hurry as them old beet are a still a’growin & with them big machines on them floatin tyres they can clear 30 to 40 acres a day what ever the weather. Thas different from when I started a werkin on the land. three on us with 2 trailers and a single row harvester ha a scrap about to clear an acre a day.; When I went to a Farmin College in 1960 they were still a teachin us how to knock & top beet by hand & we ha’a take a test a doing it. You were given a bit’o beet 4 rows acrors by 2 chain(44yds) long. You ha’a pull em ood beet out’a the ground, knock the soil orf & lay em in rows, then come along with yar beet hook,cut the tops orf & hull the beet inta little heaps ready to be forked onto a cart. I remember I got 20 out’a 20 for style. I reckon that was cos I was left handed & the master who was a markin us was right handed &he dint know if I was a doin the job right or not.
The other day I drawed up to the malenium green with my Grandson, my hart han’t them old trees & bushes shot up, some on em look as if they want trimmen out abit , I hope there are some youngans in the village who can do this as it int any good a leavin nature to itself, yer got to give her a hand how an agin. Thas like when a new vica who found his new chuch yard with roses a growin round the chuch door & the grass all mown short said to the verger “what beauty God can create in his acre”. Huh said the verger, yew oughter seen what that were like afore I come, and th’Almighty had it on his own.
Well I must close now cos jack frost a left his calling card this week an I want to get some ‘o my tender plants in’t the greenhouse afor he call agin.
Fare ye well & do you keep a troshin.
The Boy Tom