Tag: July

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

As I am a’written this I recon yu could say we are a’havin Wimbledon weather, Sun und a few showers, mind yu there’s plenty on us who recon that the showers o’rain don’t last long enough. The Missus und I hed a fews days away tuther week und I’ll tell yu suffin I din’t ha’a do when I cum back und that were cut the lawn , mind yu that’ll soon grow agin if we git a nice steady rain for an hour or two. The old ground is suffin hard, I wanted t’move a bird feeder tuther day, thas one o’them with a spike on that you ha’a just drive inta the ground. Do yu know the old lawn were so hard I ha’a water the ground und leave it an hour or two t’soften the ground up so I could push the feeder spike in. When I told somebody about a’doin this they recon I should hev used hot water, he told me where he get his warm water from but I aren’t a goin t’tell yu what he said cos that were a bit rude.

The old Jubilee seem a while a go now, That were the Missus Buthday over that week-end so I took har to Sandringham t’see Cathrine Jenkins a singing. We took sum grub und a couple o’chairs t’sit on. There were a good turn-out t’see har and them Military Wives . They all sung well und Miss Jenkins entered into the spirit o’the Jubilee by singing songs with the world Queen in or by the group Queen. As there is allus a rare lot o’cars on the carpark at these does I allus look about when I park up so I can find the car when we come back to it in the dark. When we come t’leave at about half arter ten there were folk a’wanderin about a’tryin t’find their motors, I spus they found them arter a while

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin in our caravan. We din’t go outa the county this time, we drawed over t’Ludham Bridge, there’s a site there that we hev bin to a time or two. We allus find enough places t’visit und the family can come und see us. We went und hed a look at them poppies at Cromer Church, most on um were red but there were one or two purple ones among them to represent the animals that were killed during the wars.
Another day I went out early in the morning for a walk along the riverbank w’me camera t’see what was about. I see several insects, butterflies und Reed Warblers. While I were photographing one on um I looked over m’shoulder und there were a Barn Owl flying along looking for a late breakfast. I were suffin surprised t’see it und that were surprised t’see me. hos-sum-ever I were quick enough t’git a photo or on it afore that changed course. When we were out a’havin a look about one day I say t’the Missus that I can’t understand folk who keep a’worrying about goin abroad on holiday when we hev got s’much t’see in our own country.

This here fine weather seem t’be suitin our cricketers und tennis players. Our boys beat the New Zealanders 3-0 in the test matches und our tennis players are a doin better than usual at Wimbledon. Thas good t’see sum young players coming through.
My hart don’t them men hit a tennis ball suffin hard, Serving at about 125 mph, I won’t even see it let alone hit it,

For one reason und another I din’t git t’the Royal Norfolk Show und my Brother din’t git there either cos he hev got Covid. I were a talkin to him this morning und we recon that must be the fust time for over sixty years since there han’t bin one or both on us there.
Still there’s allus next year und the Wayland Show cumin along soon.

I see they hev started a building the new supermarket on the Norwich Road, the other supermarket up the road must hev run outa ideas on how to try und stop um. Competition is good und the new one ull be a bit closer, I hope they are a’goin t’put in somewhere where I can chain my old bike up.

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

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

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

That don’t seem that long since I last hed a wud along with yu. Cos life int sorta normal thas a job t’keep track o’time. I recon thas cos the normal mile stones through the year aren’t there. Du yu know today (1st July) should’ve bin the first day o’the Norfolk Show. Thas only the second time that hev bin stopped since 2nd World War. I know folk who are new t’the county will wonder what I am a’goin on about. Well to them on us who hev bin about here for a long time thas a meeting place. I recon there are folk I only see once a year und thas at the show, so I won’t be seeing them this year. As we are all a’gettin longer in the tooth another 12 months is a long time until we see each other agin. I were a reading in the peaper t’day that they recon that when the show come back next year that’ll hev changed. They are a sayin there ount be s’many non farming stands, they are a looking to hev more food stands from folk are a’producing local food thas grown here a’bouts. There’s a lot more of them about since we hev all been shut down.

Cos that int only the Norfolk Show thas cancelled, our local Wayland Show that hed to be cancelled cos that were a’goin t’be held in May this year. Still lets hope things will hev settled down so them mile stones will be back next year.

They recon there are a lot more folk a’ridin bikes now. You can tell who they are cos when I am a’ridin about I see several on um. They hev all got shiny new bikes und hev got all the gear t’wear. Yu can still see the creases where that were packed in the packet when they bought it. I’ll tell yu suffin I don’t understand. Yu’ll see a family out on their bikes, the little uns hev all the gear including safety helmets while their parents aren’t a’wearing any sort of head gear. Do they think that they aren’t a’goin t’fall orf or be hit by a car or a motor bike. There’s allus the chance they could come orf if one of the little uns ride into them. What every the reason I recon their sorft not t’wear any helmets. I recon that there should be a law whot meake folk wear cycle helmets. Just to tell yu I wear a cyclin helmet every time I go out on my old bike.

I ha’a take my old bike in for a service tuther day. I hev told you that I bought one of them electric bikes last year und that ha’a be serviced every year. Well that got a puncture und the folk I got the bike from in Dereham recon they would mend it for me und give it a service while they hed it. Well I got that loaded up inta the car und we took it over t’Dereham. The Missus und I left it there while we went und hed a look at Sheringham Park. We collected the bike on the way home und du yu know we hed a master job t’git it back inta the car, that were as if that hed grown and inch or two. The Missus und I were a pushin und shuvin it. Arter a bit we got it in und the back of the car shut. Cos once we hed got the bike in there were a load o’plants, that the Missu hed bought, t’git back in.

As I hev just said the Missus und I went und hed a look a Sheringham Park. That were our fust outing sin ce we hed bin told t’stay at home. We get our tickets a’fore we went und we ha’a arrive during a half hour gap. We took some sandwiches, I backed the old car orf the road inta a hay field so we could hev them afore we went und hed a look at the Rhodedendrums. They were putting on a fine show und there weren’t to many folk about. On the way back home we stopped at a little farm shop where I knew they sold sum farm cheese that I like. There were nobody there t’serve you, that were all done with honesty boxes. they even sold farm fresh milk, yu ha’a bring your own bottle. The cheese were sold out of a machine where you ha’a select the cheese you wanted, then pay with your card und then a door open und you ha’a git your cheese out afore that shut.
When we drawed back onto the road t’cum home we see a rare sight. Walkin along the road were two children a takin a dog for a walk, as well as the dog they were leading two lambs as well. The way they were walking that want the first time they had bin out. The trouble was the road was too narrow for me to stop und take a photo on um.

I’ll tell you suffin else that hev happened, I am a writing this on a new machine. The one I hev bin usin were seven year old. Now I din’t think that were very old but one of our boys , who know about these things, recon that was old und that were why I was hevin a lot o’trouble with it cos that couldn’t download the updates that were a’vein sent. Any way this here new one seem t’be runnin well. Mind yu that took three trips t’Norwich afore I could bring it home. While I were in the shop on one of my visits to the computer shop I see suffin I han’t seen for a long while, I see somebody buy two new mobile phones with cash. Well that were a job, the salesman din’t seem t’know what to do with it, he ha’a go und git another salesman t’help him count it out. Now I weren’t closer enough t’see how much that was but if the tell you I were in the shop that hev a sign that look like suffin you would pick orf a tree in an orchard you’ll know the phones would not be cheap.

That reminded me when I were a representative selling fertiliser to farmers. One of the farmers who I hed sold some fertiliser to rung me up und said he would like to pay for it. Now this farmer sold a lot of eggs for cash und thas how he paid for his fertiliser. He took me into his kitchen where there were a lot of brown envelopes on the table. He emptied the money out onto the table for me to count. When there weren’t enough cash on the table he went into another room und come back with some more envelopes. That were ni on forty year ago now und the fertiliser bill were two or three thousand pounds. I made sure I drive straight back to the mill so they could get get that into the bank on the same day.

While I am a’writin this I am a’listenin to Norwich playing Arsenal. They lost 4-0. I recon that’ll be Championship football next season. At least that’ll be nice t’see them winning a few games.

Next time I have a word with you I recon that harvest will hev started. Somebody told me last night that there were a combine or two already a’goin in North Norfolk.

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

Well how are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
My heart hant that bin suffin hot t’day (June 29th) The Missus und & drawled down t’the Village Fete this morning afore old Mother Nature tunned the heat up. There were a tidy few folk there und there were plenty of stalls there for them t’hev a look at, und there a ring where sum ladies were a’flinging their arms und legs about. The Missus recon that were called Zoomba dancin. I recon that don’t matter was that called they shount hev bin a dancing about in that heat. Arter them a bloke cum inta the ring w’sum Ferrets. He put sum long tubes out und started racin them ferrets along um. Folk around the ring recon they were a bit slow a comin out tether end. I say if you want’t see them move somebody auta put a couple o’rabbits inta them tunnels, that’ll meake um move.
I’ll tell yu where that weren’t s’hot this week. That were at the Norfolk Show on the fust day (Wednesday) I were up there early t’help on Mr Mawkins Farm, thas run by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. I went up there with-out a coat. As soon as I got outa the car that old eastly wind were a cuttin across the show ground so as soon as I got inta the show ground I ha’a go und buy a coat (Fleece). When I got home the Missus din’t half mobbed me for not a’takin a coat wi me und for spendin money on another coat when I hed got plenty at home. I told har that when I set out I thought I would be warm enough cos I hed my old vest on as well as me shirt. She dint say anything…. she just gi me one of har looks.
Any how I hed a good day at the show u’takin plenty of photos on the Rare Breed Stand. The Show President (Countess of Wessex) she come along to look at the animals und poultry on the Stand. She spent a lot o’time with a Suffolk Horse und with some School Children who were takin part in a school project t’get them closer t’where their food cum from. I’ll tell yu suffin: Why do them folk who arrange for the President t’go round the show und meet folk never allow enough time for them on each stand. When the Countess were only half way though har visit t’our stand them in the bowler hats who were with har started a’lookin at their watches und started a’sayin how they would ha’a hurry har along cos she were a’gettin behind schedule. I’ll give the Countess har do she din’t move on until she were ready to.
A couple o’weeks a’fore the show the Missus und I hed a few days away in our caravan. We hed decided that we weren’t a’goin over the water this year. Thas corse I hed bin a bit moderate a few weeks ago und we recon if I were a’goin t’be ill agin that would be best if
I were this side of the water if that happened agin. So we went und hed a look at the New Forest. We recon that were nigh on nearly forty year ago when we last stayed there. The weather were a bit moderate while we were there but that din’t stop us a’doin the things we wanted t’du while we were there. We hed a’look round sum big gardens und houses. One garden we hed a look round were suffin special und hed a indoor swimming pool, tennis court und a great old indoor gym that were bigger than my house.
That were with-out the stables, paddocks und exercise area for the horses.
We did go over a bit o’water while we were there….we went t’the Isle o White for the day t’look at Osborne House where Queen Victoria spent a lot o’time. There were a rare lot o’folk there as well as us. A’lot on um seem t’be Germans who were there cos the Queen’s Husband were a their Country. We ha’a take our time a’drawin round, The only trouble is that them from over the water don’t seem t’like queuing like we do und there were a bit of pushin und shuvin once or twice. I sorta held back a bit corse I din’t want upset um.
Well they tell me that them Footballers at Carra Rood will be back in trainin next week in preparation for their go at the big boys. Good luck to them, if they play like they did last season I recon they’ll du all right. I hev bin a’watchin them girls a’playin in the World Cup. Them English Girls are a’doin all right at the moment. Well ha’a see how they git on next week when the play the Americans in the semi-finals. I’ll tell yu suffin you don’t see them girls a’doin thas divin und rollin about like the men do. Although the German Women were a’doin it a bit this afternoon, but they were loosing so I recon they thought they might git a free kick or penalty.
Well them up at Whitehall are a’tryin t’pick a new Leader/Prime Minister. What I want t’now is why is it all a’takin s’long? Here we are a’waitin for them Brexit talks t’git a’goin agin und they are a carrion on as if nothing else matter except a’gettin a new man in charge. Don’t they know that that folk are a’gettin fed with the lot on um, Din’t they learn anything from them recent Council/ European elections?
Well harvest will soon be here, When I were down on the south coast tuther week I see sum winter barley that were really turning. With this here hot weather I recon there will be sum crops on the lighter lands in Norfolk that will be getting ripe. Less hope the farmers get a good yield although with Brexit a’goin on they won’t know what prices they will be a’gettin cos the grain merchants wont know if the can sell the grain for export to the EU.
What ever is a’goin t’happen with Brexit that won’t stop then old weeds in my garden a grown und the grass will still want a’cuttin. That hev reminded me my old mower is broken down so I’ll hev t’git it repaired…..I just hope the spare parts hant got t’cum from Europe!!!
Fare ye well t’gether un du yu keep a’troshin.

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

I am suffin late a’writin this cos I hev bin suffin stowed up wi things t’du leartly. That all started at the’beginnin o’last month (June).

The Missus und I were supposed t’be a goin over the water for three weeks w’our caravan.We din’t go cos I were a bit moderate und got behind with a’lot o’things. When I were a’feelin better we hed a week away up North Norfolk w’the caravan. Old Mother Nature played har cards right weather wise although we hed one day when that rained suffin hard. We got about und hed a look at things twix Cromer & Holkham.

One o’the places we went to were that Animal Sanctuary at West Runton. My heart they hev a rare lot of animals there. Their got 1500 hosses und 350 head o’cattle. thas with-out the Goats, Alpacas, Pigs, Deer und Hins. The wuss thing was a readin how sum folk hed treated sum o’them animals afore they got moved to the Sanctuary. Why du folk keep animals if they are a’goin the treat them badly? We hed a look round und see that yu could adopt a animal. We could only adopt one so we adopted one o’the Shire Hosses there who’s called William. We were able t’see him cos he were one o’the hosses they kept a stable nearby so folk could see a heavy hoss.

Another place we walked up to were Beeston Bump. Thas right on the coast und were a bit of a climb but the view were worth it. There were several folk a goin up the path. I say t’the Missus if yu feel like stoppin t’get yar breath stop und pretend t’teake a photo so folk dont know yu are hevin a rest. She din’t say anything…….. she just gi me one o’har looks.

Since I last hed a wud along w’yu we hev hed the election……. that dint tun out the way they wanted? Thas a’goin t’be an uphill job for har in number 10 t’keep things a’goin und get what she want from these here Brexit talks. I recon that’ll teake sum time cos the other countries hev all got to agree everything between them-selves und thes more than twenty on-um!

I went to the Norfolk Show on the Wednesday t’help on the Rare Breed Survival Trust Stand, or as they called it now “Mr Mawkin’s farm. ( For them who don’t know Mawkin is the Norfolk wud for a Scarecrow). That rained the whol day: They tell me that 2.75ins rain fell on the show ground twix Tuesday aternoon und Wednesday aternoon. but there still a rare lot o’folk about. I recon a lot on um hed bought tickets afore hand. We were suffin busy. Fust o’all the Show Present come t’see us. She seemed a nice Mawther, they tell me she wark at Norwich Cathedreral, I nearly asked har if she could hev a wud with the Al-Mighty t’see if he could get the rain t’stop.

Arter she hed gone we hed the President o’the RBST cum t’see us. He’s that Jimmy Doherty who were on the TV with “Jimmy’s Farm”. He were with us the best part of’an hour. He spent a lot o’time a’talking the folk who were a’lookin a the animals we hed in pens und letting folk tek a photo with-un on their phones.

I’ll tell yu suffin , when I were a driving home from the show I see that the rain hev knocked down Barley, Wheat und Oil Seed Rape crops. Cos the ears o grain are heavy that’s be a job cum harvest time: cos that’ll lay there now until the rest o’the crop ripen und cos thas a lyin flat that ount dry s’quick as the standin corn. That’ll be a job t’harvest und if the rain when the corn is ripe them ears of grain on the ground could rot or start showing green shoots. Still harvest is still a little way orf although when I were out tuther side o’Watton this morning (5th July) I did see a combine in a field a’gettin set up ready t’start cutting sum winter barley.

The were a rare du in the Village tuther week-end. They hed organised a Village Festival. There were a lot’o information in the Church all laid out for folk t’look at und on the Saturday there were a lot o’stalls in the Village Hall. On the Millennium Green there were sum 2nd Word War lorries und some Fella who carve statues outa wood with a chain saw. He hed made a job on it und all. There were a another fella a sittin in the Church Yard a’makin axe heads outa gret old lumps o’flint. That din’t du t’get to close to him cos them old bits o’flint were a flyin about. He hed a look round the church und recon he could tell where the flints used t’build the church come from. He recon that the dark ones round the bottom come from Brandon way und the lighter coloured ones further up the walls come from a pit nearby.

The Week-end started on the Friday evening with the unveiling of a new Church Information Board. That were all drawn up by a fella who live in France.(He’s related to some one in the Village) He hed made a rare good job on it. I recon Carbrooke must be the only village in Norfolk t’hev a sign like it. They tell me he’s a’goin t’du another one showin the places o’interest in the rest o’the village.

This here rain hev made things in the garden grow suffin quick so I hed better stop a writtin und teake my old hoe for a walk round the garden.

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

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

Well thas still keep a’rainin. Them tempests are suffin sharp when they come. The trouble is that meake the old land su dauby so yu can’t get on und do any thing in the garden. Them old greenfly are a’gettin on my Roses but you want a dry still day t’get on und spray um. I shall ha’a du like I did when I wanted t’du some spraying on the farm, git up early in the morning, five o’clock time, thas nice und still then. I shall ha’a tell the Missus the night a’for cos if I don’t she’ll be a wandering where I am if she weake up und I arn’t a laying a’side har………..She might think I hev run orf w’another women.

Since I last hed a wud along w’yar the Missus und I hev bin over the water a’gin w’our caravan. We driv through France und spent sum time in Switzerland afore going onta the Italian lakes. When we were a leaving Switzerland for Italy we driv through that there St. Gotthards Tunnel. My heart thas suffin long! The Missus recon she knew how a Mole feel when he’s underground. I say t’har that there were one difference. A Mole don’t hev any headlights t’see where he’s a’goin.
Later on we ha’a drive round Milan, I recon all them Italian drivers think their on a race track. As well as the cars there were a rare lot o’scooters und motorbikes a’weaving in and out o’the cars und lorries. Yu ha’a keep yar eyes on the road all the time cos another trick they hed was t’drive inta the traffic from side roads without a’waitin . I were suffin glad when we got back inta Switzerland.

They hed sum tidy farms in Italy, but as I hev said about the French Farmers a’for I din’t any on um warkin in Italy either. I din’t see any livestock but some o’the farms we passed hed sum great old shuds on um so I recon they must be kept inside.
We went und hed a look a some rare gardens ,one on um was so big, about 1000 acres , we went round on a golf buggy. The Missus kept a mobbin me, cos she recon I were a’goin to fast und she wernt strapped in. They hed sum Deer in a paddock, so we drawed up a’gin them so the Missus could teake a photo. I din’t recon much to um,… thas the deer not the Missus…………they looked a bit on the thin side, I recon they wanted wormin.
I’ll ha’a tell yu suffin else what happened while we were in Italy. We hed a bit o’trouble w’the gas in our caravan so I ha’a use a little doddy BBQ we hed with us but I din’t hev a bottle o’gas t’use. I hed a word w’the husband of the Mawther who were a runnin the camp site that we were a staying on, he could speak a bit of english. He sent me to a little corner shop just down the rood . I drawed down there und they hed some gas bottles. The Mawther behind the counter wont sell me one cos I han’t got empty bottle t’giv har. Well bor, she went at in Italion I all I could du were shrug me shoulders. She give har Husband a shout und he cum inta the shop. He din’t speak any english either but I could tell that he wont bothered about me not havin a empty bottle. Well bor they were a goin at it a havin a right old row for about 5 min.w’me just a standin there. I could see how much the gas was so in the end I just got the right money out und the Husband took it I walked out w’me gas leavin them still a’shoutin at each other .

When we got back the things in the garden hed suffin grown w’all the rain. I hev managed t’git the grass cut und most o’the weeds pulled up and the Missus hev bin a puttin in sum beddin plants.
A’time yu read this the Norfolk Show will be over. They tell me there are a’goin t’be sum royal visitors this year. I’ll am a goin t’be there a’helpin on the RBST stand. Them in charge allus bring any royal visitors t’see us so I hed better wear a tie this year just in case I git t’meet any on um. If I du I’ll tell yu about it next time I hev a wud a’long w’yu.

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

I hant had a wud along w’yu leartly cos I bin suffin busy. Thas bin the yar end with that little job I du in the village und the Missus und I hev bin away in our caravan. We ha’a go to a weddin in the Lake District so we thought we’d stay arter that were over und hev a look round. That were a job a gettin there, I thought the old M25 were bad enough but the M62 & M6 near Manchester ha got that beat. The Missus din’t ha’a du a lot o’map reading cos we got one o’them sat.nat things so she spent har time “a keepin the car on the rood”. I told har , “She’ed be suffin clever if she could, cos I hed hold o’the steerin wheel”.

When we got there we park the old caravan on a farm wth a’few sheep t’keep us company. The farmer recon they hed 1500 ewes, They hed all lambed und were turned out onta the fells. They get um back down t’shear um and wean the lambs in the Autumn. They only grow grass up there cos there arnt to many flat fields where yu could get a plough in.
I got wrong orf the Missus cos I kept a garping over the stone walls while I was a drivin und kept a gettin her side of the car to clus t’the wall on har side o’the rood.
One o’our boys und his family were a’stayin up there un all. when we drawed round t’see um they asked us if we’d like t’go for a walk t’see sum waterfalls. Our Boy recon that were only “4 miles”. Well Bor that were the longest 4 miles I’v ever walked: that took 3 hours. I recon that were 4 miles on the flat but w’all that climbin up & down on them footpaths I recon we did ni on 8 miles. Our boy recon he knew where we were cos he ha got one o’them GSP things. That nearly did the Missus in, she ha’a hev a rest once or twice. I say t’her “U’ll ha’a keep a goin cos I’ll never get a wheel barra up here t’get u out”. Still the waterfalls were worth sein and there were a good place for sum foursers (tea & cake)at the end.

Since I last wrote them old crops around here hev grown suffin fast. The old winter barley thas in ear already(late May they recon thas 6 weeks from ear to shear(combine).The oil seed rape thas a dun flowering, so that’ll be early und all und the old sugar beet thas a meetin acroos the rows about 4 weeks early un all.
Thas the same w’things in the garden, I hev got sweet peas in flower und the grass seem t’want t’be cut every other day. But hold you hard, like I ha sed afor Old Mother Nature can blow hot und cold so don’t start a talkin about an early harvest just yet cos you never know what weather she ha got for us just round the corner.

One o’our boys is a gettin married now soon. He hed his stag night tuther night in Norridge. I drawd along for a bit o’golf und a bite t’eat but when they started a dressin him up in a woman’s dress with a coloured wig afor they went inta a pub I regon that were time t’draw on home. I rung him up the next day und he seemed alright. He recon his brother hed looked arter him!

A’time yu read this tha’ll a’dun celibratin the 70 years since D-Day. I ha bin t’them beaches in France where they landed. I won’t want to h’run acroos them und up the dunes a carryin my kit with-out what the Germans were a hullin at them. We’r also a remembering the Great War un all. Next time yu go past the Church du yu stop und read the names on the War Memorial. Thas true what they say: “They gave their tomorrow for our today”.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether. Theres bin na rare lot a’happenin since I last hed a wurd along w’you.

That old general election got them folk who were a’reportin it all wurked up inta a lather. Just cos that dint wurk out the way they recon that would afore hand. I recon that were a case o’them countin their chickens afore they hatched!

Them boys up at Carra Rood hev done a master job a’beatin them Tractor Boys and them others from up North at Wembley. One o’our boys und his Missis they went t’see um in London. I were a listenin on the wireless. Arter they hed scored two goals I kept a jifflin about in m’chair. The Missus recon I’d got ants in m’pants. I say that’ll be suffin worse than that if the Ref. dont blow his whisle suffin soon – she dint say anything – she just gi me one o’har looks.
My Brother recon he’s a’lookin forud t’seeing the Canaries a’playin his Tractor Boys the season arter next. I told him his team will ha’a plough a straiter furra than they did this year if they are a’goin t’move onta the same field as the Canaries.

I told ya last time that one o’our boys were a’goin t’play on the Carra Rood pitch with sum o’his friends. The Missus und I drawed along t’hev a look at him. That were a good do, I got t’walk round the pitch. I wish I were a few years younger so I could a’bin on the pitch a’playin un all.

Along wi the Canaries I hev hed suffin t’celebrate. I hev reached my three score years un ten. When I got t’forty sum folk told me that I hed suffin t’look back on und suffin t’look forud too. I know I hev got more t’look back on now und hope I hev still got a few more miles left on the clock.

There’s bin sum rum goin ons over the footpath wot the Council are a tricolatin up so children from the Norridge Rood Estates use it t’walk t’village school when the bus stop a’runnin. The Council warkers started a warkin on it then arter a few days they ha’a stop cos sum folk in the village recon there were great crested newts a’livin near the footpath. Them up a County Hall ha’a get permission from suffin called National England who, arter lookin at sum peapers, recon the footpath can go ahead. As well as all this the Council recon that they are a’goin t’keep the school bus a’runnin until the end o’the year. They also recon that they arnt a’goin t’start wark on the footpath alongside the rood that run through Caudle Springs und Drury Lane until leater in the year..
Thas a right old muddle ,as sumbody recon, thas a rummin when newts are more important than children’s safety!

Yu remember a while a’go I told yu on how them highway folk hed sprayed lines round sum pot holes along Drury Lane und Caudle Springs so the road repair folk know which ones t’repair when they cum along. Well them lines are still there, sum hev gone cos the pot holes hev got bigger but nobody hev bin near nor by t’repair tham. Them up at County Hall recon they are short o’money – well that seem a waste o’time und money t’sent somebody round t’spray round pot holes if they arnt a’goin t’repair them.

A’ridin round (Early June)I see that the Wheat und Barley crops are a’runnin inta ear. The farmers ull be a lookin for sum rain now t’swell the grain in the ear. A’time yu read this (early July) harvest wont be far away. The old Oil Seed Rape ull be cut fust. Thas rum stuff the old rape seed, once thas harvested farmers recon thas like tryin t.keep water in a trailer cos thas so small that’ll find any hole t’run out of. When thas in flower yu can see how much thas lost cos thas a’flowin in the middle of motorways.

I were a’readin tuther day that livestock farmers here about are getting worried that there may not be enough straw available for them to buy at harvest time for the coming year. Thas cause a lot on it is bein bought up for them straw burnin power stations. Them who now about thses things recon there’l be enough t’go round. The trouble is the straw thas was burnt will not be returned t’the land as Farm Yard Manure.
They hev been a’showin on the television leatley the trouble farmers are a’havin a’gettin rid o’Black Grass outa their cerial crops. Thas become resistance t’the sprays they are a’usin. They recon farmers arnt a’helpin cos they keep a’growin cereals on the same field year arter year with-out a ploughin the field or growong other crops. The black grass seed can lay dormant in the soil for several years.
I hant got any blackgraas in my old garden but I hev got Ground Elder und arter more than forty years I still hant got rid on it. I hev got it inta a corner though und will try und keep it there. I hev told the Missus if we ha’a move I ent a’goin t’dig up any plants to teake with us cos I dont want t’teake any ground elder with us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missing Month

Missing Month