Tag: 2021

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – September 2021

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

A’time yu are a’readin this we will hev drawed inta the last three months o’the year. I don’t think August ull be a record month for the weather we hev had unless thas for lack o’sun und warm weather. They recon Autumn hev arrived all ready, I told the Missus I’ll soon be a’puttin my old vest on agin.

Since I last hed a’werd along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin for a few days in our caravan. We went to Hampshire, my heart that were a job a’gettin there the roads were all jammed up wi traffic. I told the Missus I recon I could hev got the just a quick on my old bike, She said I’d hev a job cos you can’t teake a pedal bike on a motorway. That were different this time when we were a goin (slowly) round the M25 near Heathrow, mostly yu see planes a takin orf or landin one arter another, this time I think we see two planes take orf. Another thing yu see when yu git near Heathrow is them gret old grass banks on tuther side o’the road when they hev got them big old water Resevours . That got me thinkin back to the late 1970s when the grass around the water were kept cut back by several hundred sheep. During that time I were a warkin for a firm who made sold sheep medical products und once a year I ha’a drive down there und git an order for the products that would keep them sheep fit und healthy for another year. I wonder who do that now?

While we were away we went und hed a look at the Castle where they film that Downton Abbey. Thas the third time we hev hed tickets , tuther two time the old coronavirus hev beaton us back. We ha’a stand outside for about thirty minutes afore they let us in. Once inside there plenty o’space t’keep away from other folk und they hed big photos in sum o’the rooms so yu could see where they recorded the programme. I asked one fella who were standin about why we weren’t allowed t’teak photos – he recon thas corse thas a private home und the family don’t want that photographed. I din’t say anything but when we hed finished lookin round the Missus bought a book full o’photos o’the rooms we hed just been a’lookin at.
I’ll tell yu suffin they hed a lot of there und that were wasps. Arter we hed bought sum wittles (food) we ha’a find sum where outside t’sit down und eat it. The fust two tables we sat down at we ha’a move arter a minute or two cos them old wasps were everywhere. We ended up sit-in out in the middle o’the park und one or two on um still found us.
Another place we drawed along to were the Weald & Downland Living Museum, thas just over the Hampshire border in East Sussex. Thas a bit like our Gressenhall Rural Life Museum only a bit bigger. Thas also the place where they make that Repair Shop programme. We see the barn they use but you could’t git near it. There were sum farm animals un all , Southdown Sheep und Percheron Hosses. The hosses are used to pull some old farm implements und they grow crops just like they do on the farm at Gressenhall. Do yu now that there’s a Percheron Horse kept in Watton that come from the Weald Museum. I’’ll tell yu suffer else I see in the Shop at the museum, that were a book about the life o’somebody called Jack Juby. Now he come from Norfolk und sum o’his family live in Carbrooke & Jack worked with hosses all his life – just afore he died a book was produced about his life with hosses. That were a few year ago now so that were nice to see his book still bein sold. When Jack were alive if you had suffin about hosses that you could’t find the answer you were told to “Ask Jack”

Well them old farmers hev nearly finished the corn harvest. Mother Nature han’t turned the sun on too much lately so they are havin to wait for the winter wheat to ripen, a’riding about I can see that the young Master here in the village hev still a fare bit on it waiting to be cut.

Them boys up at Carra Rood han’t made too good a start to the season. Cos they hev got sum new players thas a’goin the teak them a bit o’time ti’git t’play well t’gether. Still I see they arnt the only ones t’lose 5-0 t’Manchester City und thas a long while till the end o’the season.

Yu remember how I hev told yu about setting sum hen’s eggs t’hatch under a couple of my bantams. Well the chicks are getting suffin big now und one or two on um hev started a’layin . I hev got two cockerels which I hev ha’a split them up cos they hev started fighting. I recon I shall ha’a find a new home for one on um.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a’troshin

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – October 2021

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

Yu know I were a’tellin on yu about them new hins o’mine well they are really laying now, they aren’t very big yet but there’s allus two or three eggs every morning. The trouble is they aren’t a’layin in the proper nest box, they are a’layin up a corner under the hin house where they are spussed t’be laying. Thas a rare job t’git to cos I ha’a git on my hands und knees t’git to um – when yer my age that arnt easy. T’make the job easier I made up a sorta wooden tray. I then cleaned the straw outa the corner und shoved the tray inta there und hulled the straw back on top on it. The hins still keep a’layin there but now all I ha’a do is pull the tray out ,pick the eggs out und push the tray back a’gin. Once the weather tun a bit colder I recon there’ll be fewer eggs so I hev got a month or two t’think of suffin different t’meake the job easier on my back & knees.

I hev told yu a’fore how I like a’takin photos of hosses – well tuther Sunday I were asked if I could go und photograph sum Suffolk Hosses. They were a’holding a show in the walled garden at Euston Hall, thas just over the border inta Suffolk tuther side o’Thetford. My heart that were a lovely day, the sun were a shining und there were a master turn out of Suffolk Hosses und foals – thas the fust show a lot on um hed bin to since September 2019. Arter the hoss classes they hed the young handler classes. when yu see the hosses a’walkin round the ring let by an 10 year (At that age they have an adult assistant) thas when yu see why them big hosses are called “Gentle Giants” besides leadin them round the ring the judge inspect the hosses un allus ask the young handlers questions about the hoss they are a’leaden. Them young handlers are important cos they’ll be the next generation to keep the heavy hoss breeds a’goin.

We hev bin away in our caravan for a few days, this time we drew down to Essex with three other couples und their caravans, we stayed on a farm on what they call the Dengie peninsular. That were a rare place t’stay und we hed a look round the area for the two day we were there. On one on um we went und hed a look round the garden that were got together by Beth Chato. Thas a lovely garden, the Missus und I hev bin there a few times but not at this time o’year. Thas the trouble w’folk they recon they don’t want t’go und look at a garden cos they hev bin there a’for. But if they han’t bin at that time o’year a’fore there’ll be suffin different to see. Tuther day we went t’Maldon und hed a look at them old Thames sailing barges. They look a bit like our old Norfolk Wherries but hev got a lot o’different sails und I think that they were used for sailing along the coast while the old Norfolk wherries, w’just one sail, stuck to the broads und rivers.

I’ll tell yu suffin what happened tuther day, one o’our boys und our Granddaughter cum to see us und we went up to the millennium green. They went afore the Missus und I and when we drive inta the car park our boy recon that when he were drivin up towards the Church he see sum folk a’walkin on the path with sum little animal a runnin round their feet – he recon that looked like a Ferret, und that had run orf inta the Church yard. We din’t see it but a day or two later there were a photo of it on facebook und folk were askin who it belonged to. Less hope somebody come arter him.

At the moment all folk seem to be worried about is where can they fill their cars up w’petrol or diesel. There were folk a waiting at the garage on the main road tuther day in a great old long line t’git some juice. One thing I thought as I crowded past then on my old bike was “ if they are so short o’fuel why are they all a’sittin in their cars w’the engine runnin! At the same garage there were a sign on the pumps a’sayin No Jerry Cans. In the shop next to the garage they had lined up a special offer in the window……Jerry Cans.

Cos they short of HGV drivers, Them up at Whitehall recon they will git them drivers back who went home across the water when Covid come. I ask yu would yu come back agin t’drive a lorry for only three months finishing on Christmas Eve. There were folk on the TV tonight recon there might be a shortage o’turkeys cos they were short o’folk to look arter them und help git them ready for sale. Until they git that und other staff shortages sorted out folk’ll just ha’a learn to manage w’less.

I started by telling yu about my hins, well last time I told yu there were two cockerels un all, well they did start fighting so I ha’a git one on um out und put him in a separate pen. Well he did’t like that a bein on his own , so I let him out, arter I hed cut one o’his wings so he couldn’t fly. The Missus come with me when I cut his wing feathers, she had never seen that done afore, und I were a’usin har kitchen scissors. She started a mobbin me afore I started, I don’t know what she thought I were a goin t’du. How-sum-ever he’s living in the garden now und he’s got a name. I arn’t a’goin t’tell yu what that is cos I might upset some folk who think they hev the same name of a cockerel. I see today that them folk in Watton who re-home hins that come out of a laying shed hev got 800 hins they want to re-home. I say t’the Missus we could hev one or two or two on um to keep our cockerel company running round the garden……..she dint say anything, she just gi me one o’har looks. I found out later that she thought I meant one or two hundred.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – November 2021

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

Thas sum rum old weather we are a’havin at the moment (29th October)
Mother Nature seem like them lot up at Whitehall, she can’t make a decision about what weather we should be a’havin.
They seem t’be a’havin a rare lot o’rain in other parts o’the country und they recon some on it is a’comin our way. Still thas been a good week for them folk who are a’havin a holiday during the half term. I see in the peaper tuther day that folk are a’bookin up t’hev a camping holiday at Christmas, I wonder what Mother Nature will throw at um then? thas alright in a caravan but that could be a bit drafty in a tent.
Them up at Whitehall recon they und them others who are a cumin to this here meeting at Glasgow about climate change are a’goin to hev t’meake sum big decisions about the climate t’see us through to the end o’the century. I recon that’ll be a job und a’half cos sum on um can’t meake up their minds about was a’goin t’happen in the next five minutes.

Here’s suffin they hant thought through, thas adding this here E5 und E10 t’petrol. Thas a’right w’modern cars but what about folk who hev an older car und what are folk a’goin t’put in the engines of their lawn mowers & hedge trimmers? Luckily folk who meake these engines are selling additives for four stroke or replacement oil for two stroke engines. There’s one product you can git for four stroke engines instead of petrol but that cum in 5L containers und corst……wait for it……..£4.40p/litre. I hev used this product afore but only put it in the petrol tank just afore I lay my mower up for the winter cos that stop the fuel lines gumming up. I hev had a wud along with a man who know about these things und he recon that you can use this here new E petrol in y’mowers und only use the expensive mix every third or forth time yu fill the tank up. He did say that sum folk hed got in a rare muddle this summer with this here E5 und E10 petrol und their mowers engines hed seized up. T ‘be on the safe side I recon the best thing t’du is to ask the folk from where yu got your mower/strimmer. Cos the only thing them folk who use electric motors t’drive their garden tools hev got t’worry about is the cost of the electric.

I’ll tell yu suffin I were a’readin about in the peaper tuther day that is a’goin t’effect sum o’them farmers in the village. Yu know how arter harvest yu see them a spreading farm yard manure on the land. Well according t’what I were a’readin the Environment Agency hev bought suffin in called Farming Rules for Water. Thas now cum inta force und one o’the rules is that farmers aren’t a’goin t’be allowed t’spread farm yard manure on their land in the Autumn (arter harvest) cos that’ll breach the regulations although the inspectors who are goin to enforce it aren’t a’goin t’be about until December.
Autumn has allus been the time when farmers spread manure und plough it in cos that return humus & nutrients back inta the soil. so when are farmers supposed t’spread their farm yard manure und what about these great old outdoor pig units und sheep who graze on stubble turnips during the winter. Are farmers spus t’stop them returning their droppings onto the soil cos thas just the same as spreading muck outa the back of a gret old spreader. Perhaps thas suffin they can think about in Glasgow next week??

One thing I see this week were some sums that were printed about how much more money farmers are a’havin t’spend t’run their farms. Durin the last year up until this September their cost had gone up on average 21%. In this figure there were gret old rises in the cost o’fuel 79% und fertiliser were costing 51% more. Those on us who run a car or use oil for the central heating know how them prices hev shot up.
T’keep their fertiliser costs down sum farmers want to use more organic fertilisers, but them up at Whitehall hev now stopped them a’spreadin it on the land in the Autumn.
What is it they say about farming “You buy at retail price – sell at wholesale price und pay transport costs both ways”

Well them boys up a Carra Rood don’t seem to be a’ doin very well now they are a playin with the big boys. I see the game tuther Saturday when they lost t’Chelsea. None on um seemed t’be a’tryin, they were a’walkin about when they should hev been a’runnin. I thought they were spussed t’be fit! Arter all they only hev to work for ninety minutes a week t’draw their wages.
I wish I could hev had a job like that. We’ll ha’a see how they git on this week-end against Leeds.

Tuther day the Missus und drawed along to a gardening club meeting t’hear a Mawther talkin about Hodmedods, (thas the Norfolk wud for Hedgehogs.) She were a talkin about how their numbers are dropping und how yu can help them live in yar garden. Git a wooden box with sum dry leaves un straw in with the right size entrance so they can hibinat und havin a feeding station made outa a plastic box. I am a’goin t’set one o’them up next Spring cos we hev seen Hodmedods drawn about in our garden this year.

I am a’goin t’close now cos I told the Missus I would git the green house ready t’put har tender shrubs in for the winter so I had better be a’drawin out there a’fore the light go.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – December 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

That don’t seem five minutes since I last hed a wud a’long with yu und thas nearly the end o’the year und all.

Well thas bin a rum old year, I spus yu could say thas the fust full year we hev ha’a live with that there old coronovirus; the trouble is that ain’t going t’be the only year cos I recon that old virus ull be with us for several more years yet. We hev just gotta learn t’live with it even if that mean we hev gotta stop doin things that folk hev taken for granted und we hev gotta think about other folk as well as ourselves.

There’s suffin I hev bin a’meanin t’tell yu about for a month or two. A lady who live in the village recon that when she were out for a walk in Thetford Forest one day she see a bit o’metal layin near the path und she see that hed the word CARBROOKE on the side on it. Well she told me where she see it so the Missus und I went und had a look for it. We jammed about where she told me that lay but we could’nt find it. Next time I see the lady she recon she hed moved it in case somebody else see it und made off with it. I asked har where she’ed put it und she recon she hed put it behind a tree. Well the Missus und I went back und hed another look. Arter we hed walked about half a mile inta the forest along the path we tunned round t’go back only this time I walked along about a chain’s length (22yds) away from the path und I soon see it propped up agin a tree. That were a big old bit o’cast iron und that din’t half weigh suffin, I ha’a keep a’havin a rest a’carrin it back t’the car. Since I hev got it home I hev bin looking at it und I recon thas part of a hoss roller. That hev got part of a round hole in the casting where a bearing could hev bin that held the end o’the shaft in place. I am a’goin the take it up to the foundry where that must hev been cast t’let them hev a look at it. Less hope we can put it some where where folk can have a look at it.

They tell me that they want a bit o’money for the church. Thas stood there for a few years but like all old buildings that want tricolating up t’meake sure thas still there for a few more years, so if these an do for church funds I recon that we should all support it.

Thas bin all change up at Carra Road. Arter four years a Mr Smith is now in charge. I recon he hev got a job und a half t’keep them Canaries singing on the top perch next year although he han’t meade a bad start.

The Missus und I drawed along to Thursford tuther day to see their Christmas show (We wore our masks all the time) that were a good show und that don’t seem real that you are a’watchin suffin like that sittin a barn in the middle o’Norfolk. Those on yu who hev bin there will know that right near the end of the show about twelve white doves are released und fly acrors the audience & land on top of a tracton engine chimney near a picture of a dove-cot. On the was out arter the show I had a werd along with the fella standing near the doves cos we keep one or two on um in our garden. He recon we could stay until all the folk hed left the barn und see how he git the doves back inta the basket they travel about in.
fust of all he talked to the doves und using a long stick he gently got them down und they were perching round the top o’the open basket sitting on a trolley nearby. He then slowly shut the basket’s lid und all the doves hoped down inta the basket. Afterwards I told the Missus thas no good her thinking that I were going to train our doves like that cos I hant got a tracton engine chimney near und handy that they can land on ……she din’t say anything she just give me one o’har looks.

I hev bin busy out in the garden a’gettin the compost outa the bin und onto the flower beds, thas two year old now und looked a drop o’good stuff. Thas the last job t’do afore the garden shut down for the winter although there’s still seem t’be suffin t’do. The old hins are still a’layin although thas tunned colder und the nights hev bin drawn in. One thing yu ha’a du if you are feeding wild birds und hins are to make sure yu keep their food shut away so Mr Rat & Mr Squirrel can’t get to it, I keep mine in galvanised dustbins, I tried a plastic one once und the squirrels soon gnawed a hole in it.

Well thas time I closed but afore I du the Missus would like to join me in wishin yu all a Safe und Happy Christmas und all the best for 2022.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – February 2021

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

Thas a new year und a new way o’doin things. Who would hev thought when I were a’puttin pen t’peaper this time last year things were a’goin t’change so much! I don’t recon life will ever be the same as it was in 2019.
i can’t remember the last time I put any fuel inta the car und hev nearly forgotten what the inside of our local shops look like. The Missus & I do git out t’go for a walk at the Millennium Green und I still git out on my old bike most days. Apart from that we keep close t’home. We hev had our fust jabs but that han’t changed what we do , und won’t even arter we hev had our second jab. One good thing is I han’t gotta t’hev the caravan serviced this year, cos that only went out once arter bein serviced last year.

I still keep a’readin in the peaper about folk who keep a drivin inta the county from other parts o’the country. The local police are a catchin them with a bit o’kit that read their car number plates und that tell them where their car come from. Cos years ago that were easy t’tell where a car cum from cos every county hed set letters on the number plates. When I were a boy I seem t’remember my Father’s AA book hevin a page where all the county’s letters were listed. Norfolk’s registration letters were AH, NG & PW . Great Yarmouth had its own letters EX.

The old ground is still suffin wet, since I last hed a wud along with yu old Mother Nature hev bin a serving up snow, rain, frost und a bit o’sun all with plenty o’wind. The snow only lasted long enough for the youngsters to build a snow man. Do you know ,there’s water a’standin about in our garden where I hev never sin water a’standin during the last fifty years.

I’m pleased I hev got my old hins under cover cos that mean that they aren’t gettin all wet und claggy. That don’t du them any good und that mean when they lay any eggs they are kept clean. Sum on yu may hev heard that there were a local outbreak of Avion (Bird) Flu just a’fore the turn o’the year. That meant that the poultry involved in the outbreak ha’a be destroyed und other poultry keepers nearby ha’a keep their birds inside und couldn’t cart them about.
Cos years ago, afore they were vaccinated, Fowl Pest used to be a real killer for poultry keepers. Fowl Pest were what they call “A Notifiable Disease” which mean’t if your poultry got fowl pest they ha’a be destroyed und the government payed you compensation. They used to recon that there were a large poultry farmer in Norfolk, I arn’t a’goin t’tell yu who that was, who used to git fowl pest t’pay his feed bill. Cos Norfolk hev bin a rare place for big poultry farmers , as well as Turkeys, Duck, Broilers, there used t’be a lot o’layin hins kept just down the road towards Thetford at East Wretham, durin the late 1950s a farmer called Jack Eastwood started keepin layin hins in cages in great old sheds to produce eggs for the supermarkets that were gettin about. He hed his own feed mill und used the manure from the hins on the farm that grew Barley und Wheat t’be used at the feed mill. He also hed his own egg packing station sellin the eggs under the name Day Lay, sum on yu may remember it?
Durin the 1970s I were a warkin for a big Pharmaceutical company und Mr Eastwood was one o’my biggest customers. I used t’sell him products for cleaning dirty eggs, we supplied with a bit of kit to do this called a Roto-maid. We also supplied them with disinfectants und fly control products. Another big customer were Sainsburys who hed an egg packing station at Kenninghall.

I were a’goin t’tell you about one of the presents the Missus give me for Christmas, Thas one o’them things that yu can talk to und ask t’du things. She’s called Alexa, I hev rigged har up in my study und so far I hev asked har to play me sum music und find a local radio station. If I order suffin to be delivered she also tell me when thas a’cumin: I’ll tell yu suffin, she’s ever so polite und don’t give me one o’har looks, like the Missus, if I say or do suffin she don’t agree with.

A’time I am a’writin this (30th Jan) there seem to be a rare old row a’goin on between them up at Whitehall und them over the water about the supply of the coronavirus vaccine. That look as if, for once, them up at Whitehall hed got their act together und signed contracts for the supply of vaccine afore them over the water got round to signing their contracts. You know how difficult that is t’git twenty seven folk to agree on suffin, just imagine what that must be like t’git twenty seven countries agreeing suffin. That may be one good thing to come outa us a’leaven the EEC.

Well Spring is just around the corner, the days are a’drawin out und ,despite all the wet weather, bulbs are a poking through in the garden und some shrubs are budding up und them old Aconites & Snowdrops are in flower. The garden is too dawby to be jamming about on at the moment so I am keeping orf. Thas the RSPB Big Bird Survey this week-end so I’ll be a’doing that tomorrow. Thas a’goin t’be cold tonight so there should be plenty of birds about tomorrow arter the feed I put out. I hev bin trying to photograph the Jackdaws that come inta the garden, they crafty old devils und don’t stay long on the bird table for long, even though I’m hidden away in my old shed a’lookin through some camouflage netting I hev rigged up. Still I recon if they’re hungry enough I should git a photo or two. I’ll let you know if I do.

Stay Safe all on yu und du yu keep a’troshin.

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – March 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Since I last hed a wud a’long with yu them up at Whitehall hev got out a “Roadmap” which they recon is a’goin t’see us out of this here lockdown und keep the coronavirus stowed up in a corner. This here roadmap is suffin that’ll wark as long as all on us are following the same map? We all know that there’ll be some folk who’ll be following a different one, less hope there aren’t to many on um!

Well old Mother Nature hev bin a’hullin some rare cold weather at us durin February. As well as the cold winds there was sum snow as well. That weren’t to bad although the police were a’tellin folk not t’drive unless they hed to. There were pictures in the peaper und on the TV of farmers who were a’helpin keeping the roads open und meakin sure Carers could git to their patients who were stowed up in their homes.
Seeing the snow layin about reminded me of the snow und frorst we hed durin the 1962/63 winter. That froze suffin hard afore Christmas. The old ground got so hard that meant we couldn’t git the old sugar beet outa the ground. Then that started a’snowin hard on New Years Eve I ha’a go t’wark the next morning , (there were no New Year’s day holiday then). I lived about eight miles from the farm I were a warkin on & ha’a git there on my little old scooter. The road were blocked w’snow drifts but I were able t’git round them on my little old bike. That carried on snowing und freezing for sum time but I never missed a day’s wark. Arter we hed run out o’jobs in the farm yard our Master got us sum wark a’helpin the Council a’clearin the snow drifts from the roads. My job was to walk along the top of the snow drifts with a metal rod which I ha’a shove down inta the snow t’meake sure there weren’t a car burrowed in the snow. I’ll tell yu how hard that froze, there a gret old pond in the farm yard which we ha’a clear the snow orf so our Master could hold a skating party on it, to clear the snow we were able to drive a tractor with a snow plough on acrors the ice with-out it breaking.
Cos when the snow went und the ground finally thawed out we were all behind with the land work so to git the ground ploughed we were a’goin from 6 am to 10pm. Two on us shared one tractor und plough – I did the 2pm – 10pm shift. There weren’t a lot o’folk about durin the night but one or two on um complained about the noise the tractor were making arter 8pm. The only mistake I made were when I went into a field I han’t bin in afore I ploughed up a footpath that went right across the middle o’the field.

Talkin about Sugar Beet, I see that the Beet Factories at Cantley & Bury are a stayin open until the middle o’March this year cos that hev bin too wet for some farmers t’git their old beet outa the ground. I wonder how much sugar there goin to be in the beet arter they hev bin standin in water, frozen und then thawed out agen. There must be some or they wouldn’t be a’keeping them two factories open.

Durin the snow the Missus und I hev bin walking round the Millennium Green, that were good to see some children using their sledges on the slope round the out door theatre. Arter the snow hed gone und the weather warmed up that did’t take long for the Primroses long to start flowering.
While the snow were laying in the garden I could see that we were getting Deer in the garden over night. Now I don’t mind deer but I don’t like them a’nibbling the Bluebells that are starting to peep through. I could see that the deer were a’gettin in by pushing through the hedges on both sides o’the garden so I hev bin und got sum posts und a roll of stock fencing t’stop them a getting in, The stock fencing hev got a large mesh so smaller creatures like Hedgehogs could git in and out o’the garden. I hev scrapped round und got the fencing up afore the birds start nesting.

Them boys up at Carra Rood are playin well at the moment , if they keep a’goin like this they could be playin with the big boys next year, thas just a pity that supporters can’t be there t’cheer them on. There don’t seem t’be any good news coming up the A140 from the “Tractor Boys” I han’t heard from my Brother recently!! (He recon he support Ipswich) I see from the news today that the Tractor Boy’s manager, Mr Lambert, is on his way outa the door. That seem a rummin that he could do such a good job with Norwich und then a few years later fail with the Tractor Boys. One difference could be that he han’t got the same two trainers with him this time, one on um is doin a good job at Kings Lynn Football Club at the moment.

Thas goin to be a while before I’ll be gettin out on the garden, thas to wet und the soil hev gotta warm up a bit, these still plenty t’do though, I hev got a list und when I finish that one I know the Missus hev got a list un all.

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

Stay Safe

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – April 2021

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

A’time I hev started a’writin this thas a rare day outside (March 31st) Thas bin up to 24c accordin to my weather station durin the middle part o’the day. For the past couple o’days I hev bin a layin some paving stabs. Do yu know when the old sun hebin up two t’three hours I ha’a take my old jacket orf cos I were gettin suffin hot. Anyhow I hev finished a’layin on um now so I hev drawed inside for me fourses. Afore I come in I ha’a go round und water them plants in pots cos they were getting suffin dry with all this heat. Mind you that aint a’goin t’last cos they recon we could git sum sleet cum Easter Monday. If that had bin a normal Easter there could be a’lot o’folk who would be a’wondering why they decided to go a camping over the holiday week-end!!

Cos this is the time o’year when sheep farmers are busy lambing. Thas a twenty four a day job cos sheep don’t stop lambing just cos thas dark. A time back I were helping with a large (1000) ewe flock in Suffolk durin lambing. The Shepherd he lived in a caravan beside the sheep shed for six weeks while they were a’lambing. Cos thas nothin new cos Shepherds used t’hev huts that they pulled about the farm t’be near the sheep where ever they were grazing on the farm. Durin the 1970s when I were a warkin for a big company who made sheep medicines und I used t’go und see the shepherd at the Holkham Estate und when he were a lambin he still used on o’them old shepherd huts. Them huts were all made the same inside. They hed a stove to keep the hut warm. At the back o’the hut there were a bunk type bed for the shepherd to use. That were well orf the floor cos under it were a pen where the shepherd could keep any sick lambs so they were in the warm und he could keep an eye on um.

Today you can now buy a brand new shepherds hut t’stand in yar garden t’sit in. Sum folk hev them fitted out as holiday homes, that Mawther with a gret lot o’children who farm in the Yorkshire Dales und cum on the TV. she hev got one she hire out for folk t’stay in. I know sumbody who hev bin un stayed in it for a night or two with his Missus: He recon that were alright apart from the fact that han’t got a toilet. I did ask him how he cum on when he wanted t’go, he recon there were plenty o’moorland behind the old hut. I won’t tell yu what else he said cos thas a bit rude.

Now them up at Whitehall hev let the covid brakes orf a’bit there’ll be plenty o’folk wantin t’git out und about over Easter. Thas a’goin t’be nice t’meet up w’folk who you han’t seen for a while. I know a’lot o’folk hev bin meetin acrors the internet but that ain’t the same as seeing them for real. the Missus und I are a’lookin forward to seeing our Grand Children for the fust time since last year. I recon they will hev grown a bit und I recon they’ll be a thinkin that the Missus und I look a bit older.

Them Canaries up at Carra Rood are still top o’the tree, less hope they can stay there until the end o’the season. I know I hev said it a’for but thas a shame that folk haven’t bin able t’go und see them. Only a few more games t’go so less hope they can keep a’winin OTBC. (On The Ball City)

I’ll tell yu suffin I hev just dun, I set sum fertile eggs down under two o’my female Bantams. Game Keepers used t’use Bantams t’set on Pheasant’s eggs in the spring so they would hev plenty o’birds for the Autumn shoots. The reason they used bantams is because they sit tight for the twenty one days that teake to hatch out the eggs und they good mothers. They do git orf the eggs for a drink & suffin to eat but then they go back before the eggs git cold. I got my eggs from somebody in the village who keep a Cockerel with his Rare Breed hins so I know the eggs should be fertile but I don’t know what sort of birds I’ll git until they hatch out. He did ask me if I wanted a fertile duck egg to hatch out, I ha’a say no t’that one. The reason I am a’dewin this is corse the bantams I keep are gettin old (like me) one on um is at least eight year old so she hant got many years left. I say t’the Missus thas a pity she can’t set an egg under an old hin so that’ll hatch out another me…..she didn’t say anything….she just gimi one o’har looks.

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

Stay safe

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – May 2021

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Last time I hed a wud along with yu I were a’goin on about how hot that were: well this time I’m a’goin t’say how cold & dry that hev bin.
That airn’t good growin weather. I hev bin round with the old hose pipe und watering can several times since Easter. The trouble is nothin is growin how it should. Normally at this time o’year I’d be a gettin the Missus’s tender shrubs shrubs outa the green house so I can be a’gettin it ready for my tomato plants.
I hev put my Sweet Pea plants out but they aren’t a movin at all.
While the Missus und I were driving about during last week I see that several farmers hev bin irrigating their winter cereals. Most o’the sugar beet seed hev bin drilled, but they won’t start a’growin without sum warm weather und a drop o’rain. They recon we are a goin t’git sum rain und high winds next Monday but they don’t talk on it getting any warmer! As I hev said afore, thas no good trying t’beat Mother Nature cos she’ll allus win. The only thing yu can du is to hold yar hosses until the wind is blowin the right way. My dear old Father used t’say that yu ha’a wait until the weather were set fare over Will’s mothers.
Another thing I told yu last time was how I hed set some eggs down under my old Bantams. Well the eggs hev hatched orf, out o’the six eggs I set down five on um hatched out. The chicks are a doin alright, they are all different colours so ,at the moment I don’t know how many of um will be hins und how many on um will be cockerels? They are shut up at the moment und I’m am a’goin t’wait until we git sum warm weather before I open the hut door so they can hev a look outside.
If any on yu are a’goin past the Village Hall you’ll see that the old Hunton Hoss Plough that stand twix the hev got sum on it missing. Thas cos the wooden handles hev bin taken orf cos they want tricolating up a bit. Them handles must be suffin old cos they were with the plough when that were bought for the village sum twenty year ago. I bet they could tell sum tales? Talking about hoss ploughing hears a question for you: One ploughman with two hosses und a single furra plough was reckoned to plough an acre a day, if he plough an acre a’day how many miles did the Ploughman walk ? I’ll give yu the answer at the bottom of the page.
Another I see when I were out on my old bike were sum folk a putting rabbit netting round their garden. That got me thinking about the time when sum on us put some rabbit netting up down at the village school. That were when the school were a lot smaller with only fifty little uns on the register so they used the field twix the school und the church to play football on. The Headmaster recon he couldn’t let them run about or play football there cos that were too dangerous cos rabbits were drawin outa the hedge on the far side und scrapping little holes. It the children were running about they might put their foot inta one of them holes und trip over. I were a School Governor at the time und we decided to hev wud with them up at norwich t’see if they could cum und put sum nettin along the fence, they recon they could but that would set the school back ni on £2000. Thas a lot of money now but in the 1980s that were more than the school could lay out. The Governors und the Teacher Parents Association wanted it done so we decided to do it ourselves. I got the wire netting und staples, I think that corst less than £40. One Saturday morning a group on us drawed down to the school und set about diggin a trench along the fence, set the netting in & fixed it to the fence. Yu ha’a set the nettin inta the ground or the rabbits will burrow under it. The Missus und other Mawthers kept us supplied with tea und cake while the little uns helped fill in the trench. By mid-day we hed finished und the children could play games with-out worrying about a putting their foot down a rabbit hole. The trouble is that we did not have camera phones then so I don’t think there are any photos.
I see on the local BBC news tuther night they were a’showin a robot tractor that were working on a farm hoeing on a field between rows of onions. They recon thas the way forward cos once that hev the field edges programmed into it the machine could wark on its own day and night. That could only do light jobs, that weren’t big enough to plough. That cost over £100.000 which is about the same as sum tractors cost today. That weren’t very big so farmers would hev to buy more than one on um. The BBC Man recon that in farming there were the Hoss, then the Tractor und now the Robot. I recon that will happen corse Tractors und Combines already hev self steering using Satellites und Lasers.
While I hev bin a’written this Norwich hev bin a’playin against Reading. they hev wun 4 -1 which mean they are the Championship League Champions OTBC.
Du yu know we hev an old Cock pheasant who cum inta the garden every evening at about the same time , 5.30pm. He allus announce he hev arrived by calling out und rufflin his feathers. He strut around as if he own the place. Sometimes he bring a couple of hin pheasants with him. They pick up any seeds that hev dropped orf the bird feeders. While the hin pheasants are a’feedin he keep a look out for um und only feed himself when they wander orf. Thas is lovely to see um.
Cos since I last hed a wud with yu we hev lost Prince Phillip. 99 year old is a good age for anybody, at least thas nice t’now that he enjoyed most his retirement in Norfolk. I remember somebody, who hed met him, sayin that the Prince recon that if he couldn’t go about his business with-out being disturbed at Sandringham there was no where else he could go.
Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a’troshin
PS. the answer is approx. 11 miles.

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – June 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Well we hev hed a Bank holiday when folk could git about & see each other .
Cos the weather played it’s part by keeping the rain away und given us some rare weather. My old weather station is showin 25.1c while I am a’writin this. (Wednesday 2nd June). Cos the weather hant allus bin like this in early June. Folk were a’talkin on the wireless t’day about how there were snow on this day one year durin the late 1960s. I can’t remember that but I do remember when that snowed while we were a’planting potatoes und when I tunned round at the end of the row the snow hed covered my mark in the ground so I hed a job t’line me work up on the way back across the field.

I’ll tell yu suffin else that should hev a’bin happening t’day if we were in normal times…..that would hev bin the fust day o’the Suffolk Show und that mean that four weeks today would hev bin the first day o’the Norfolk Show. As they can’t be at the shows I see one or two o’them big machinery dealers here abouts are a’havin open days for customers at their depots so farmers can draw along und hev a look at the latest machines the dealers hev in stock.
Talkin about shows got me a thinkin about how they hev changed over the years. When I were a boy in the 1950s I can remember that when we went to the Norfolk Show the fust thing you used t’see as yu driv onto the car park were sum great old thatching ladders on a stand a’sticking up into the sky. I think the firm that were a’shown them cum from Lincolnshire. Our Father used to go to the show a lot earlier in the day than us with his Boss so when we (m’Mother & us two boys) cum later, Fathers Sister-in-law took us cos we dint hev a car, so we ha’a arrange to meet him und that was allus the same place: near the thatched clock that were on the Eastern Electricity Board Stand. This stand were near the middle o’the show ground und yu could see the clock from any where on the ground. Later the show ground hed a stand built with a bigger clock on top und thas were folk arranged to meet each other, I think that were called the Jack Read stand.

Them old Suger Beet aren’t a’growin very quick, they recon the plants should be touching in the rows at the Suffolk Show und across the rows at the Norfolk Show. The way they are a’growin that’ll be lucky if they are meatin in the row by the Norfolk show!
Them old crops in the fields aren’t the only thing to be suffering from the late spring, sum of our nesting birds are a’havin a rare bad time on it. We hev had an old Blue Tit a’nesting in one o’our nest boxes for a few year now. The Missus & I hev seen um a going in und out o’the box several days ago but now they hev stopped. They recon on that there Spring Watch programme thas on account o’the Oak Trees bein late a cummin inta leaf which mean that the caterpillars that feed on the oak leaves are late, the only thing that arn’t late are the Blue Tits a’layin their eggs which mean that when their eggs hatch out there aren’t any caterpillars for then t’feed their chicks on so their are starving t’death.
Thas good t’see that there Spring Watch programme a’drawin back t’Norfolk agin. As sum on yu might know the Young Master up at the Hall hev got a family connection with them who are doin this here Re-Wilding Project at Snettisham.

I’ll tell yu suffin I hev bin a’doin, thas a photographing sum Suffolk Horse foals. The folk who run the Suffolk Horse Society asked me if I could go and take sum photos of a Mare un foal for one o’their members who live nearby in Thetford. While I were a’doin this the lady who they belonged to asked if I could go & take some photos of the Suffolk Horses & Foals for har Boss. So I got up early today und hed a morning photographing all har horses. I ha’a start early cos of the flies that git on the horses as the day warm up und cos thas to bright in the middle o’the day, at the moment, to do much photo taking. I’ll try und send one or two on um to the lady editor of this here webpage so yu can hev a look any um. I ha’a photograph a Stallion this morning, their a bit like Bulls, you don’t trust them so I ha’a photograph him with-out goin inta his paddock. I were a getting on fine until I leant over the wooden rail fence und touched the electric fence wire that were runnin round the inside. My heart that give me a jolt, thas a good job I had my old camera strap slung round my neck cos if not I might hev dropped it.

My dear old Father used to recon that yu knew when summer were here when they started a’playin cricket! Well while I hev bin writin this I hev bin a’watchin England a’playin the New Zealanders at Lords. One o’them New Zealand batsman hev just got a hundred. I see England aren’t a’playin the young Norfolk Bowler Ollie Stone. Less hope he’ll get a game later in the summer.
The good thing is they hev let a few folk in t’watch. I spus I hâd better make the most on it before thas wall to wall football when the Euros start.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – July 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Well thas the longest day gone, them old nights will start a’drawin in now though I don’t recon we’ll notice any difference for a week or two.

Since I last writ suffin the Missus und I hev bin away for a week in our caravan. We din’t go far, well yu don’t hev to when yu live in Norfolk t’see suffin different.. we went all the way to Ludham Bridge. For those of yu who don’t know thas in the Norfolk Broads. We went there last year so we thought we’ed hev a return visit.

I’ll tell yu suffin what happened t’me while we were there. A’fore we went away I ha’a go und see the Doctors about a pain cos that were given me sum jip. Arter looking at me he give me sum tablets t’teake. A day or two arter we got t’Ludham that got suffin hot so I took me old braces orf und rolled me trousers up, (the Missus made me go und buy sum shorts t’wear) und I hed me shirt sleeves rolled up un all. A day or two afore we were coming home my skin started to go suffin red, even the backs of m’hands und the tops o’my ears. We hed a look at the tablet box und that recon that while I were a’takin them I ha’a stay outa the sun. Well boy that were a’job, that were still hot und sunny und I were a walkin about w’me sleeves rolled down,wearin me trousers agin und hevin a wide brimmed hat on’m’ed. Still that worked und arter a day or two my skin were back t’its normal colour.
Apart from that we hed a good time und we hed a sail on a boat my Brother keep moored near where we were a stayin. Thas a sailin boat but he used the engine cos he recon if he put the sail up we would ha’a keep changing seats according t’which way the wind were a blowin.
He let me hev a go at steerin it. That were a job cos I could only see down one side o’the boat as the cabin roof got in the way und I could’t stand up cos I’d hev hit m’hid on the sail boom. Still that were a wide bit o’water we were on und there weren’t many boats about (England were a’playin football) that arternoon.

When we cum home there were plenty t’du in the garden. Them old weeds grow what ever the weather und things hed started a flowerin the Missus even hed sum sweet peas t’cut. We hev hed a big job a goin on in the garden this week, we hev hed a tree cut down, that were a gret old tree that were a startin t’die. I got a man in the village t’do it. He turned up with 3 younguns und a lot of tackle t’du the job. cos where the tree was they din’t hev a’lot o’room t’wark in they ha’a climb the tree & cut bits orf und git them down on the end o’a rope. Well there were ropes u’layin about there every where. The Missus und I were a warkin about in the garden so I told the har t’keep well away from the ropes corse she could find har self caught up in one on um und find herself hanging upside down half way up the tree……….She din’t say anything but I could feel har given me one of har looks.
Thas suffin I wouldn’t want t’du swinging about on a rope up the tree with a chain saw hanging orf your harness. I hed a wud with one o’them fellas arter he cum down, he recon he were 35 years old und he’ed only hev about another five years left t’be swinging about up trees. Chain saws are a very dangerous bit of kit und before any one um cut through one o’the branches up the tree the whole thing was talked through several times before the chainsaw was started up.
I’ll tell yu suffin else we hev hed in the garden und thas an old rat. We see that a’lookin for food under one o’the bird feeders one afternoon und then I see it agin the next morning. I allus hev some bait boxes round the garden so I made sure they were topped up with poison und set a couple o’cage traps t’see if I could catch it. Well they hev bin set nigh on a week now und so far I hev caught three Blackbirds, two Squirrels a Hedge Sparrow und a Hedgehog. (they were all set free with no harm to any of them) I were pleased t’see the old hedgehog, that were in a ball so when I opened the trap that rolled out, I left it be for a minute or two und when I went back that hed unrolled itself und were looking around. I went orf t’get it suffin to eat but when I come back that hed gone. We hev put some food out for it for the last night or two und I hev set up my trail camera t’see if that come. So far all I hev seen is a blackbird helpin itself to the food in the early morning still there’s plenty o’room in the garden for the hedgehog to find food un there’s plenty places where it can hev a rest.
I han’t seen the old rat any more either so I hope it hev either had a taste o’the poison in one o’the bait boxes or hev moved on.

Them young footballers are a’goin well at the moment in the Euros. They recon thas the fust time we hev beaten the Germans since 1966 in a knock out competition. Thas when yu know how old yu are cos I can remember that game un all. Wimbledon hev started un all un for a change several of our players hev got through the fust round. We were a’watchin that fella Murrey last night when he won his match at 10.30pm. The Missus und I recon we were as tired as he was when the game finished. A lot on um seem to be falling about on the grass, I recon they would du better if they wore spikes on their shoes, although I recon the Groundsman would hev suffin t’say before that happened.

As least we aren’t a’havin the hot weather like they are over the water in Canada & America at the moment. We don’t want it that hot here although that would be more like summer if old Mother Nature turned the wick up a bit for us.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – August 2021

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

Cos thas the school holidays now und sum folk will be a’goin away on holiday, they recon a lot on um are a cummin t’Norfolk instead of a’goin over the water, thas good for them folk who ha’a shut down their holiday business last year. That give them a chance the meake up for lost ground.

I’ll tell yu suffin I hev noticed during the last time of two I hev drawed inta a petrol station t’fill up my old car, there’s nearly allus sum o’the pumps covered up cos they hev run out und are awaiting for sum more to be delivered. They recon thas a happening cos there aren’t enough lorry drivers cos them who drive lorries but come from over the water hev gone home und there hant bin any new drivers comin in from this country cos the HGV tests hev bin stopped cos of Covid. Less hope they get them tests a goin agin cos you can earn a tidy wage as a lorry driver , I see in the peaper yesterday one firm advertising for drivers t’cart farm equipment round this country und over the water , the starting wage is £48 -£51000 a year.

That were different in the early 1960s when I driv a lorry , you din’t even ha’a hev an HGV then.
The fust lorry I driv were and old petrol Bedford a’cartin beet inta Bury Beet Factory from Carleton Rode, (thas in South Norfolk) The old lorry used t’burn 12gallons o’petrol every trip. The petrol tank on the lorry only held 16 gallons so I ha’a fill up arter each trip.
On another farm were I worked we hed a lorry for cartin the corn inta a grain store straight off the combine. The only trouble was I ha’a go through Wroxham on every trip. That used t’teak for ever as they were still using the old bridge with no traffic lights. In the middle o’Wroxham they used t’hev a man a’standin on a white box in the middle o’the cross roads a’directin the traffic, He was dressed in white und I don’t think he were a policeman I seem t’remember that he was employed by Roys.

Well them old farmers made a good start with the corn harvest until them tempests cum along this week. They hev bin a’shown one farmer on the TV who hev hed all his field beans cut t’shreds. Farmers who hant cut their Oil Seed Rape will be a wondering how much they will harvest cos you ha’a wait until the rape seed have ripened in the pod before you harvest it. The only trouble is when the crop dry up that become suffin brittle, They recon if you sneeze near the crop sum o’the oil seed will drop out. The last thing you want are hail stones und high winds. Suffin that used t’happen when the corn crops were nearly ripe was that a nigh wind or heavy rain would meak the crops lodge or go completely flat cos the straw stems weren’t strong enough t’hold up the heavy ears of corn. I remember seeing fields of corn completely flat on the ground as if you hev bin over it with a roller. They used r’recon if you on one side of a field o’flat corn you could see a mouse runnin out the tuther side. That were a job t’harvest them und if that stayed wet the ears o’grain would start to sprout. That don’t happen s’much now cos the straw is a lot shorter und the farmers can used chemicals t’strengthen the stems o’the plant.

Well England din’t come home with the cup in them Euros, still they did well t’git t’the finals. Them old Olympics hev started now, The trouble is cos they are so far away they keep a’showin the same events three or four times during the day. I know they recon thas for folk who turn on their TVs at different times. One thing I git fed up with, und that were the same with the Euros, is them so called experts who ha’a keep a talkin about what they would hev done different, we don’t want t’now that, if their so clever why arn’t they our there a telling them who are takin part what t’do. I keep a’runnin on s’much about them the Missus keep telling me t’hold my row, I know where I git it from, my dear old father were just the same when he was a’watchin cricket or football.

The Missus und I hev a’bin busy in the garden, there were one or two day when that got to hot for us und we ha’a draw back indoors. Thas one good thing about living in an old house with thick wall , that keep cool even when that were suffin hot outside. I’ll tell you suffin we seem t’hev a lot on this year und thas that old bindweed. That seem t’be everywhere this year. We are a’doin our best t’keep on top on it but as soon as you tun round thas comin up somewhere else.

One o’our boy were a doin one of there Ultra 100 mile marathons in the Lake District last week-end, My Brother recon he’s mad , how-sum ever he finished in sum 34 hours, we were able t’see how he was a’doin cos they were all wearing trackers. That mead yu tied just t’watch where he was a’runnin. There were sum six hundred on um started und the winner did it in 19 hours.
Tuther week-end the Mrs Und I went und hed a look round a big garden that were open north o’Feaknum. There were a gret old piece o’grass out the front, folk were a’sittin round having tea und cakes und listening to sum live music bein played by five fellas & a mawther. The Missus recon that were like a garden party. on the other three sides o’the house there were a lot o’little gardens all joined up so you walked outa one inta another one. A’fore we come t’leave we went into one o’the farm buildings where there were a lot o’photos on the wall that hed been taken on the farm nearby. Two on um where showing hosses been used during harvest one on um was o’two hosses pulling a binder und tuther other showed a couple o’hisses pulling a wagon full of shoves. The Missus recon I got more excited about these two photos and about anything I hed seen in the gardens. I told har that these photos were part o’our history.

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

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2021 Archives Monthly Retrospective

The Boy Tom – January 2021

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I am a’written this twix Christmas und the New Year. Thas a job now we are in this here lock-down agin. Still if thas what we are a’goin t’hev t’du t’git this here coronavirus in a corner then so be it.

The Missus und I did git out a bit afore Christmas, we met one o’our Sons und his family at Thursford t’hev a look at the light show they were a puttin on cos they ha’a cancel their Christmas concerts. That were a rare good du, fust of all you went inta the sheds they hed tricolated up with traction engines in Christmas scenes, arter that yu went outside into a four acre field where there were life size animals dotted about all lit up, they recon these hed cum from China, there were a fun fair un all. The bit our Grand Daughter enjoyed the most were inside where they hed disco lights shining onto the floor with music coming out of sum speakers und that mist they can git that creep about just orf the floor. Har Father had a master job t’git har outa there.

Arter we hed bin there the Missus und I driv down to coast t’see if we could see the Santa Special Steam Train that were a runnin twix Sheringham und Holt. When we fust see the train that were a’sittin in the station with folk getting ready to git on board so we drew down the road a bit und were able t’see it when that were a’goin along all lit up. We then had a drive round t’see if we could see it agin und we ended a’drivin up a farm track und parkin on the edge of a field. When we were a’sittin there in the dark awaiting for the train I say the Missus “we han’t sat in the dark in a car like this since afore we were married”…..although that were suffin dark I could tell she were given me one o’har looks. Arter we hed seen the train agin on its way back t’Sheringham I ha’a back down the farm track t’the road cos I dussent try und tun round in the field. I recon thas a good job we hev a car with a reversing camera on, then we driv further along the coast t’hev a look at the Christmas tree at Wells made outa crap pots, arter that we driv home.

Well them up at Whitehall hev done a BREXIT deal with them over the water.
Most on um seem happy with it although I recon there’ll be suffin that’ll crawl outa the 1500 page agreement that’ll upset folk. I recon we are a’goin t’see how that’ll wark once folk start a’goin across the water arter January 1st. I don’t recon the Missus und I will be a goin over there next year as our days of caravanning over the water hev finished. I recon you hev gotta know when t’stop und I recon we hev got there – still there’s plenty for us t’see this side o’the water with our caravan for a few more years yet.

These’s bin a rare lot o’rain durin the last ten days, on top o’everything else this year sum folk were tunned outa their houses cos they hed bin flooded. Theres water a’standin about on fields in the village where I hev never sin water a’standin afore. There were a mighty lot on it a’goin under the bridge on the Ovington Road when I drawed down t’hev a look und thas a bit dawby when I crowd my old bike along the footpath twix Caudle Springs & the main road. Thas bin a job und a half for farmers t’git their old sugar beet orf und away to the factory. Still most o’their machines run on these h gret old tyres now that don’t damage the soil to much. That’ll ha’a dry out afore they can travel on it agin in the Spring

Them boys up at Carra Rood are a’playin well at the moment, although they did lose tuther night when they played agin Watford. Still they can’t win every game und they are still top o’the division. As I hev told you afore I can watch most o’the games now on my TV. The trouble is I think I am in the crowd at the ground und when I start a hollering und shouting the Missus git a bit worried cos she recon I might hev a heart attack. That remind me of when I were a watching a rugby match on the TV when our children were small. – I think that were England playing Scotland at Murreyfield. When I started a’shoutin one on um asked their Mother if they could hear me at the ground.

Well I recon that by the time yu read this we’ll hev started drawin a new furrow across 2021. Less hope the furrow stay straight with-out to many kinks in it. But what with the coronavirus und BREXIT I won’t bet against there being a few bends on our furrow. I hope that they can git these vaccines out so that’ll giv us a bit o’protection. Sum folk recon that when we hev hed the vaccination things will return to normal. I recon that the new normal aint a’goin to be like the old normal. If this here virus hev taught us anything thas taught us to value things differently, Health und happiness is more important than the size of your house und car or how many holidays abroad you take in a year.

Stay safe all on ya,

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