Tag: December

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

Thas bin a rummun old year so far und that ain’t over yet. At least since I last had a wurd along with yu we hev still got the same Prime Minister un King Charles is still a’gettin his feet under the table, I see that they are all still a’comin t’Sandringham for Christmas so folk will be able t’draw over there und see um all goin t’church on Christmas Day. They may hev still got a few bumps t’git over afore the 25th cos I read that one o’them ‘online’ companies are a’goin t’start showin suffin about why Prince Harry und his Missus decided to up sticks und move abroad.

Du yu know I hev still got roses und sum tender shrubs a flowering. thas all on account o’the weather, normally this time o’year the weather hev turned a bit moderate und I would hev got all the tender shrubs inta the greenhouse. The day I am a’writin this (December Fust) I hev cut these shrubs back und got them inta the greenhouse, und thas only cos they recon the old wind is a’goin t’start blowin from east over the week-end. This here mild weather mean that my old hins are still a’layin, mind yu if that tun cold they’ll stop und hev a rest until next spring, They recon there’s a shortage o’eggs, cos of the bird flu, so I hope they keep a’layin as long as possible. I have ha’a split my old hins up, I have got an old Bantum livin along with the rest o’the hins but she’s gettin an old lady, we recon she’s 14 year old, und the other hins hev a’started a’pikin on har so I hev moved har inta a pen on har own, she seem happy enough she hev got a warm hut in a covered grass pen so she may keep a’goin a bit longer.

Last month I were a’tellin yu how there was a’goin t’be a Christmas Bazaar down at the village hall, while that were a’goin on they were a’goin t’open the new Heritage Centre. The Missus und I drawed down there und that were a right good du. There were a lot o’folk there und the Heritage Centre was opened by a couple who hev lived in the village for a good few years, the husband hev bin a’pokin about here for all his 90+ years und he und his missus hev bin married over 50 years. They were helped with the openin of the Heritage Centre by their 6 year old Great Grandson ,he wus given a gret old pair o’scissors t’cut a ribbon acrors the door inta the heritage centre. Arter that were opened a’lot o’folk cum in t’hev a look around und started askin about what they were a’seein in the centre.

Hev yu bin a’watchin the World Cup? That seem a rummun time o’year t’hold it when all the local countries here und them over the water are half way though their own league games. That seemed a rum place t’be picked t’hold the matches, Thas hot und they hev had t’build all them stadiums cos they don’t play much football, there’s bin a lot o’talk about how the country treat them folk who were employed with the building wark and about how they would treat certain folk who wanted to visit the country in support o’their teams. I see, tuther day, that the fella who were in charge when that were decided t’hold the world cup there recon, now, that were a mistake t’hold the event there. Thas a bit late for that when everybody were telling him that when he made the announcement that this country was picked out. Still England are still in it so all we can do is support them und hope they go all the way. There are still a few on us about who can remember where they were when England last won the World Cup. I hope that our boys up a Carra Rood play a bit better when they start playin agin.

That’ll soon be the turn o’the year. The Missus und I are a’goin up t’the City one arternoon t’meet a friend und then hev a look at the Christmas lights. That seem a while ago since we drawed up to the city t’du any shoppin. I seem t’remember the last time we went afore Christmas t’buy some presents the Missus got suffin savige with me cos I asked sum young Mawther behind the till for some discount, she ,the Missus recon that were embarrassing, well I din’t feel embarrassed but I were disappointed that I din’t get any discount.

The Missus join me in wishing you all the best for Christmas und the New Year.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a troshin

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I am a’writin this on the last day o’November so tomorrow we’ll be a’movin inta the last month o’the year. Thas bin a rummin old year, I don’t think any on us could hev known what were a’goin t’happen when we tunned the key & opened the door on the fust o’January 2020. Thas a’goin t’be a rummin old Christmas un all, Them up at Whitehall are a’sayin how many folk we can meet und where we can meet them, thas only one Christmas und if we are to git the better of this here coronavirus then we will ha’a follow the rules. Corse they’ll be sum folk who will kick over the traces, good luck to um I say, less just hope there aren’t too many on um. I think these here lockdowns hev drawn the best outa folk, where we live in the village we hev bin keepin an eye on each other und helping out where we can.

Although we are a’keepin away from shops the Missus & I hev bin trying t’git out a bit und going for walks round a bout und I hev bin a’gettin out on my old bike most days. We hev bin doin out bit t’git the better of this here virus. I ha’a fill in a form every week a’sayin if either of us hev got the virus und the Missus hev hed a covid home test. That were a job, the kit arrived und she ha’a stick this here swab up har nose und down har throat . She used a mirror t’see what she was a’doin und when she hed finished the test that ha’a be kept in the fridge until somebody come with a gret old white van t’teake the swab to a labority some where. T’day we give blood samples that are a’goin to be used in experiments und looking t’see if either on us hev hed the virus.

I heard on the TV tuther day that to get as many folk as possible vaccinated they are askin for folk t’help. They recon they want retired Doctors, Dentists & Vets t’volunteer t’help give the vaccinating. When I heard this I told the Missus that I were a’goin t’volunteer und all cos I hev done a lot o’vaccinating. Several year ago I worked for a gret old Pharmaceutical Company und one of my jobs was t’show farmers how to vaccinate their animals. I ha’a go on a course so a company vet could show me how to do it. I ha’a vaccinate a sheep on the Monday & later in the week we ha’a look at the sheep agin t’see if there were any marks at the place where I hed put the needle in. If there no marks then I hed done the job properly, My sheep din’t hev any marks so I hed passed. Another thing, when I told the Missus I were thinkin of volunteering…… she gi me one of har looks… und she recon that folk might not like my bed side matter. I hev also remembered suffin a vet said t’me one day when I asked him if he’ed show me how’ta stick a needle inta the vein in a cow’s neck….he said no cos he recon there were enough amateur butchers about with-out me joining them.

Cos another thing that hev changed is the way folk wark, them who used t’go inta an office every day are now warkin from home. One o’our boys used t’travel to America a lot, he’ed fly over on a Sunday night ,travel about & fly back at the end o’the week, now he do it all from a desk in his home with-out all that gadding about. I’ll tell you suffin, when we hev got this here virus stowed up in a corner und life start ticking over a’gin thas a’goin t’be different to the life we hev left behind.

I see that they are a’goin t’let folk back inta football grounds t’see their clubs play. Them up at Carra Rood could du with some support although they are sittin in top spot they hev got a’lot of players who are injured. Players seen to git injured a lot more that now than a few year a’go. I recon that the pitches they play on now are so lush that the studs on the bottom of their boots grip tight when they try und stop or turn, this must put a lot o’strain on their leg muscles. Tuther thing is that the boots they wear don’t support the feet at all, not like the one we used t’wear. There hev bin a lot o’talk about players heading footballs und how that can damage the brain. I know when I were a’playin we used a leather ball, und that did hurt when you headed it, that were even worse when that were wet. Mind you I din’t head the ball a lot corse I played in goal.

We hev hed a few fine days so I hev bin out in the garden barrowin & spreading the compost on the garden. I then ha’a turn this years compost inta a new bin so that’ll be ready t’spread out next Autumn. Them old sweet pea seeds hev chatted so I hev moved them inta a cold frame for the rest o’the winter. The cold mornings hev meant that the birds are drawin inta the garden arter the bird feed I put out, this include an old Cock Pheasant who hev bin comin for a year or two now.

The Missus join me in wishing you all a Safe Christmas & New Year.

Fair ye well t’gether und do yu keep a’troshin,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

A’time yu get t’read this we’ll be inta the last month o’the year. Cos old mother nature can’t make up har mind about which weather she’s a’goin t’send us but that don’t feel like December at the moment. Still that’ll meake the winter seem shorter when that du arrive.

I’ll tell yu where there is a hot o’hot air, thas up at Westminster. Them who we elected hed two years to sort out this here BREXIT out und what du they du; They wait until they hev nearly got their heads under the water und now they are a’tryin t’see how yu tun the tap orf. If they cant agree amonst them selves then how are they a’goin t’get a good deal for all of us? Them folk in Brussels who they are a’talkin to must recon that their Christmas hev cum early.

The trouble is that don’t help the farmers. They hev got crops a’growin in the field that will be harvested arter BREXIT. A rare lot o’Wheat & Barley git sold und shipped out o’Yarmouth t’other european countries. Will that still happen arter BREXIT? thas the same w’farmers who are keepin sheep. Where will the lambs, that the ewes are already a carrying, be sold. Nobody can g’them an answer.

I were a talkin to the man who’s garage were a servicing my car tuther day. That were meade in this country but every day two hundred lorries come acrors the channel t’deliver parts to the factory. What happen if they git held up corse that teake them more time through customs at Dover? Nobody know!

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin on a day trip t’Windsor Castle. We went on a coach what picked us up at Thetford. We got t’the Castle a little afor midday und the driver recon we ha’a be back for him t’leave at half arter four. We ha’a go through security afore we could git inta the castle. The night afor we went the Missus hed a looked at what we could teake inta the Castle und what we were not allowed t’teake. Thas a good job she looked cos one thing yu could not teake were a pen knife. So I ha’a leave mine at home. That din’t feel right a’not heven my old shut knife w’me all day. The Missus told me I’d just ha’a git used to bein with-out it. The first room in the castle we went into were full o’knives, swords und guns. I say t’the Missus “I don’t know why they were a worrying about me bringing my old shut knife w’me” The Missus dint say anything…….she just gi me one o’har looks.

We hed a good look round what they call the state rooms, they hed meade a good job of tricolating it up arter that big fire they hed there. When we left I thought the coach driver were a’goin t’hev a job a gettin us round London, I’ll tell yu suffin, he knew some back roads und we din’t git held up once afore we got t’that service area near Stansted Airport.

There were a good turnout of village folk to hear the fella who cum to talk about the Commonwealth War Graves. He giv us a good talk about how that were all started and what they are a’doin today t’maintain the graves.

At the Remembrance Sunday Service there were an even better turn out o’folk. When we went outside t’lay the wreaths just a’for eleven o’clock there were the poppies a’strechin down from the top o’the church tower inta the graveyard. There were even one that cum down as far as the War Memorial.

They recon that a knitten them poppies hev got the old village spirit back: Less hope that keep a’goin arter the poppies cum down.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood are hevin a good run at the moment. Thas hope they can keep a’goin till next May.

Even though thas a’gettin near to the turn o’the year things are still a growin in the garden. I hev only just pruned the old roses back und my old hins hev started a’layin agin cos they think thas warm enough for Spring. I am now a’goin t’draw outside und git some old oak leaves swept up for the last time this year.

As this is the last time I will be hevin a word along with yu a’fore the turn of the year the Missus join me in wishing yu all a very Merry Christmas und a Happy New Year.

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

Well how are yu all a’doin then?

Well they arnt a’goin t’du it! I am a’talkin about the Parish Council a’knockin down the old bus shelter.

The Parish Council held their November meeting in the Church where that were talked about. There were a rare lot of Village Folk there un all. I recon the old Vica would like t’hev that many folk in the Church for a Sunday Service. I drawed down t’hev a look un all. The Police were there und they recon that knockin the Bus Shelter down were the last thing they wanted done. A’lot o’folk there stood up und hed their say. Some on um spoke about their children a’waiting in the shelter t’get the School Bus t’Watton. Other folk were a’talkin about gettin the youngsters in the Village involved in a’helpin on the Millennium Green. Another Lady spoke about them WI members who worked hard t’raise the money t’build the bus shelter in the fust place. Arter all this the Council Members hed a vote und most on um voted against the shelter bein knocked down.

I recon that the Council listened to what folk hed t’say, less hope sum o’them ideas spoke about in the Church cum to suffin.

I went t’Carra Rood with one o’our boys last Saturday (18th Nov) t’see them Canaries play Barnsley. Well Bor I don’t know why I went… if I had’a paid for mi ticket I would want me money back cos that wernt much of a game. Them Norwich boys din’t hev any go in um. They were a’walkin about und when they did pass the ball that were nearly allus acroos the field or backust. What they wanted were an old sheep dog a gettin behind them and a nippin their heels. I’ll tell yu suffin: the old pitch looked in good condition wi’a tidy grop o’grass on it. I say t’my boy what they want on there durin the week is get a few sheep on there t’graze it orf. My Boy, who’s 6ft 4ins tall, giv me a look just like his Mother gi me some times.

We seem t’be set t’hev a few sharp frorsts this week. That ull get them last few leaves down orf orf the trees. I recon that ull mean winter hev started. I hev been a’collectin the leaves und puttin them inta a couple o’gret old sacks . This time next year that’ll be sum nice compost that I can put on the garden. As I keep a few old hins this cold weather ull means them old Rats will be a sniffin round t’see if they can find anything t’eat. I hev caught five on um already this month so I recon there could be a few more. As I said once a’for the Almighty were supposed t’put all creatures on this planet for a reason. When I get t’meet him I’ll be a’askin him why he giv us rats….if I can I’ll let you know what he say.

There were a good turn out of folk for the Remembrance Service earlier this month at the Church. When somebody were a readin the names of the boys from our Parish who fell I were a’thinkin that we hev got a lot t’thank them boys for . That were good to see a young Air Cadet there a putting a poppy on the memorial cos thas suffin important that we never forget. We were a’standin in the road for the two minutes silence un there were one or two cars a stoppin rather than try t’drive through us. They put a gret old light a lightin up the tower with a silhouette of a soldier. Old mother nature din’t help by a blowin a gale which tried t’topple the soldier over.

Well we’ll soon be at the turn o’the year und folk will be a wonderin what 2018 hold for us all. One thing I recon we’ll be hearin about und thas BREXIT. They recon we already half way along to the date when we are spus t”leave the EU. Them up at Whitehall han’t made a lot of progress yet so they’ll ha a git a’goin arter Christmas or that’ll never be sorted out in time… I recon they could du with an old sheep dog behind them un all.

As this is the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yu afore Christmas the Missus join me in wishin yu all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

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

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

Well thas another year nearly gan. Thas bin a rummun old year und all. Fust of all we hed them up at Whitehall a’tellin us how we orter stay in the EU und then we voted t’git out. that put them in change all of a muckwash cos they hant thought what t’du if we voted t’leave.

Now them over the water in America ha voted in a new President who them who know about these things recon hed no chance o’winnin. Still I recon that ull all git sorted out next year. That an’t alot o’good worrying about things, I read some where “You carnt keep trouble from cumin, but dornt give it a chair t’set on”.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away in our caravan. We went und hed a look at the Peak District in Derbyshire. We driv over there on a Sunday und went along part o’the M1. My heart that rained suffin hard when we were a drivin along there. I kept a’slowin down but sum on um still kept a commin past as if that wernt a’rainin und they dint hev any lights on. I were suffin glad the git orf there. We stayed near the great old house called Chatsworth.

The day arter we arrived we went und hed a look round. We hed what they called a timed ticket so we ha’a go round with a whole crowd o’other folk. They hed trimmed the house out ready for Christmas. I hed a word w’one o’them helpers who where a standing in one o’the room t’meake sure you don’t touch anything or sit on suffin . He recon they du the whole lot in five days und that include cartin in twenty 25ft Christmas trees. They ha’a be a special sort that dont drop their needles.

We hed a walk round the gardens und see them a clearin up the leaves from under all them trees they hed got dotted about the garden. That were a job I ha’a git on with when we got back home. The trouble is that ha bin so wet und dawby that hant bin an easy job. I hev got one o’them leaf blowers so I can git all the leaves onta the grass und them I go round with my old mower und pick them up. That chop the leaves up und mix a bit o’grass clippins in. When yu put the whole lot inta a compost bin the grass heat up a bit und help the leaves to compost down.

I see they hev got one o’them Difibrilators fixed on the wall up at the garage on the Norwich Road. Thas good t’know thas there und they recon their easy t’use. If that save one life then thas well worth the money.

I see that BT are a gettin rid o’them red phone boxes cos folk arnt a’usin them now cos most on us hev got a mobile phone. I hear that the Parish Council hev bin asked if they want t’buy the one in the village near the Church. That’ll only cost them £1 the buy, I hope they do buy it.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood are a’lettin things slip a bit. Less hope their young manager can turn things around now soon. Once you get inta the New Year all the teams will be a’scrappin for points. At least they are well supported what every league their in. When yu watch some o’them games on the TV from the lower leagues all yu see are acres o’empty seats.

The Norwich Chairman is still a going (15th Nov) on that dancing programme. If them players put as much go inta their games we might see a win or two!!

As this is the December issue the Missus joins me in wishing you all a Happy und Peaceful Christmas und I hope to be hevin a wud along with yu in 2017.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether

We havin sum rum old weather leatley. A’time I am a’writin this ( end of second week November) thas bin suffin warm for this time o’year. My old hins are a’settin agin cos they think thas spring already. I wunt mind but that mean they ount lay eny eggs.

Cos o’this weather thas a job t’know what t’du in the garden, I want t’git the Missus ‘s tender plants inta the green house but their still got leaves und flowers on und that dont seem right t’cut um back. But I hev gotta make a start cos if I don’t I now what ull happpen Jack Froost will be a leavin his callin card afore I hev got all them tender plants tucked up for the winter.

A’ridin round a’lookin over the hedge I see that the winter crops the farmers sowed arter harvest are a’growin well. The trouble is the farmers dont want them a’gettin to forrud cos if they du the plants can get fungus spores onta them und that ull knock them back if the farmers don’t spray um. Years ago if corn crops got to forrud in the autumn farmers would turn a flock o’sheep onta the crop und let them graze it back a bit. Today not many farms hev a flock o’sheep t’du the job. Talkin o’farm livestock, I were a’goin t’Dereham the other day und I see some milkin cows a’grazin on a field tuther side o’Shipdham. That were a rare sight, I nearly stopped und counted them, only the Missus were w’me und she would hev only mobbed me. She recon I go a’bit sorft if I see a field o’sheep.

Well I spuse they hev finished a meakin the road safe for the children t’walk along Caudle Springs und Drury Lane. They hev meade a footpath from Caudle Springs along Drury Lane on the wide verge. Then further along when the road get narra und thas got no room for a path their painted a gret old white line along the road. I spus thas meant t’keep the cars one on side o’the line und walkers tuther. That ull still be a rear muddle if two cars meet cos one on um will ha’a crors the white line where the walkers are. If they want t’slow the cars up why dont they put sum o’them sleepin policeman down? That look as if they arnt a’goin t’put any footpath down along Caudle Springs cos the verge is to narra. Arter all this cost I dont reccon many Parents will walk their children t’school. I recon that them up at County Hall should listen to the folk thas a’goin t’affect, T’start with thas our money their a’spendin. Another thing….. The police were agin the whole idea tellin them the road were dangerous for children t’walk along.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood don’t seem t’be settling in to bad a playin with the big boys. I recon they hev got a young manager who seem t’think about the game und is happy t’try a different way o’playin if the one he’s a usin now dont seem t’be warkin. Thas the same w’any job there’s allus more than one way t’du it. Somebody say t’me once “ If you teake a horse t’water, these more than one way t’meake him drink”

Did any on yu see the programme on the tv about the food waste . They shew what the supermarkets hull out and how they only teake about 50% of the vegetables what the farmers grow for um. As I hev said afor that aint right, cos there’s folk in this country who would be glad on it.what ever shape it is. When I think back t’when I were livin at home, M’mother cooked everything that m’Father grew in the garden, she dint hull anything out cos that were the wrong shape. They recon we now live in a consumer society, I recon the trouble is that most folk in this society don’t now where their food cum from und think thas all grown t’that shape. I recon that’ll theake a bit more than a tv programme t’educate them otherwise.

As this is the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yu afor the end o’the year the Missus join me in Wishin Yu All a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether? thas been a rum year . Old Mother Nature seem t’hev got harself all in a muckwash. Here we are in the middle uf November und the roses ha still got buds on und theres a lot o’leaves still a hangin on the trees . I see a bee a flyin about last week… their normally tucked up in their hive a’keepin the awaitin for next spring. Still as I hev said afor Mother Nature hev away o’gettin things right….so we could still hev a hard winter. As I recollect the autumn of 1962 wernt to bad until we got t’between Christmas und the New Year und then the land froz up und we did’t du any land wark until March/April time.

Since I last hed a word along w’yu the Missus und I hev been over the water agin w’our caravan. We went und hed a look at Austria und Bavaria. We had a go at drivin along them German Motorways. There wernt any speed limit on sum o’the ones we driv along. My heart they don’t half crowd their old cars along. I were a’takin it nice und steady cos we were a’pullin the caravan behind when sum fella cum past us a’drivin a gret old Mercedes with a caravan behind. My heart he were a’goin und the caravan were a bobbin about behind the car. I say t’the Missus “ I bet he don’t hev t’buy new tyre for his caravan very orften cos their only a’touchin the rood every half mile or so”.

I hev told yu afor about the Missus a’doin har family tree. When we were a cummin back from Austria we stopped for a few days near the Somme so we could go und find sum names she hed found on har family tree. Fust we went to the Thiepval Memorial. Thas a gret old memorial with the names o’sum Seventy Two Thousand solders carved on it who hev no known grave. We found the names the Missus were alookin for und then we drawed up the road t’a cemetery where we found the grave of har Great Uncle. The Missus recon that she may be the fust member of har family t’visit has grave. That meake yu think when yu are a drivin about that area o’France cos yu cum acroos memorials und grave yards every mile or so. They arn’t just for British solders cos most o’the Commonwealth Countries sent solders t’fight un all.

I know none on us recon we are a’gettin older. But I were a’thinkin about that tuther day when I were a’warkin in the garden . I were a barrowin compost around the garden und that take me longer than that did a few year a’go. I don’t move su quick und I notice that I don’t fill the old barra as full as I used to. A few year ago afor I retired from the place where I warked part o’my job were t’look arter a flock o’sheep. The head lady o’the establishment cum t’see me one day und asked me if I hed any problems a’lookin arter the sheep. I told har no but I hed noticed one thing, “ at every lambin time when I wanted t’catch an old ewe they seemed t’be runnin a bit quicker” The head lady dint say anything…she just gi me a funny old look,…… that were a bit like the one the Missus gi me sum times.

There a’gettin them old sugar beet out and away t’the factory. They arnt long a’gettin the field tunned over und a drillin the next crop. Years ago that used t’be done a bit slower, for one thing the harvesters wernt s’big und most farmers hev sum cattle t’feed the sugar beet tops to. T’day the harvesters just flail um orf but when the tops were saved the harvesters left them in rows acroos the fields. Yu ha’a let them wilt a bit cos if yu fed um to green that used t’upset the old cows stomachs.(M’Mother allus reconned she knew when their started feedin the cows beet tops cos she could taste it in the milk!) Arter the tops had wilted then yu went inta the field with a tractor und trailer und hulled the tops onta the cart. That were hard work on a Friday yu ha’a load up enough tops t’feed t’the cattle on Saturday und Sunday.

As I ride about I see sum farmers hev sheep grazin orf the beet tops but there arnt as meny of them as there used t’be.

I were a’readin in the peaper tuther day that there wont be s’many beet grown in the next year or two. They recon there’s to much sugar in storage in Europe and the company who buy the beet orf the farmers arnt a goin t’pay them s’much . That seem a rummin t’me that there are folk in the world a goin short o’food und yet that seem as it nobody hev thought o’gettin sum o’this sugar t’them.

Less hope them boys up at Carra Rood meake a New Years resolution t’play better football in 2015 cos if they don’t they wont be playin with the big boys next season und the “Tractor Boys” (Ipswich) might finish above um in the league.

As this is the last time I will be havin a wud along wth yu in 2014 the Missus joins me in wishing yu all the best for Christmas und the New Year.

Fare ye well t’gether und remember for 2015… Du yu keep a’troshin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missing Month

Missing Month

Missing Month