Tag: June

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

A time yu read this that’ll all be over, thas the Platinum Jubilee I am a’takin about. Har Majesty hev done well, thas a pity Prince Phillip aint still here t’see har over the line. Still with all else was a’goin on in the World thas good t’hev suffin t’teake yar mind orf all them troubles und hev suffin t’cheer about. They reckon that the shop keepers are hoping we are a’goin t’spend a bit o’money with um t’help with the celebrations. With the prices of everything on the up I don’t think folk will be loosening their purse strings to much.
Cos sum on us are old enough t’remember har Coronation. That were a moderate day un all with a fare bit o’rain, I seem t’remember that while everybody in the royal procession in London hed the hoods up on their carriages cos o’there rain the Queen o’Tonga kept hars down so she could wave t’all the folk lining the route to Westminster Abbey. Where we lived there were a village party in a farmers barn that we went to. There were a fancy dress competition for the children und my dear old Mother hed been busy for a few weeks a’meakin fancy-dress costumes for m’bother und myself.. He was a drummer boy und I was Sar Walter Raleigh. I remember that there were several on us children dressed up und we ha-a walk round in a circle t’be judged. Neither on us won – that went to the children of the farmer who owned the barn we were havin the party in. Dear old Mum wernt best pleased cos she recon that their fancy-dress costumes hed bin bought where-as the rest on us where wearing home made costumes. Mum meade a lot of clothes for us, she also meade dresses for other folk und when my Brother und I went orf to Agricultural College she got har self a job teachin needle work at a local Girls High School.
Suffin else I remember from the Coronation was that the Norfolk Education committee give all the school children in Norfolk a New Testament Bible, I hev still got mine und thas on a shelf behind me as I am a’writing this.

At the beginning o’the month I were asked t’go und take sum photos o’Suffolk Horses at a one day show been held twix Thetford und Bury. My heart there were a rare crowd o’folk there cos thas the fust time that show hev bin held since 2019. There were a good turnout o’Suffolks there including a this years foal.
Thas a’goin t’be the Royal Norfolk Show in four weeks time und I am a’goin t’be there takin photos of the Suffolk hosses und the Rare Breed Animals on show. They tell me that the Princess Royal is a’goin t’be there so I expect she will be runnin har eye over the Suffolk hosses cos she own one on um although thas looked arter & shown by somebody else.

They tell me that the Heritage Group in the Village hed a good arternoon at the Village Hall when they organised a Tea und Cake event for those who hed lived in the village for a few years so they could git them a’talkin about their village memories. They are a’goin t’be hevin another arternoon at the village hall on June 24th for folk t’come along und help sort und catalogue the artefacts they hev collected t’gether.

A couple o’week ago the Missus und I went with a few other folk t’hev a look at the Rhododendrons at Stody. Thas in north Norfolk just past Melton Constable. We hev been there afore but my heart I recon thas the best we hed seen um. They’ll be over by now but if you git a chance next year du yu go und hev a look.

Another thing I hev noticed while I hev bin a’ridin about on my old bike is that
Winter Wheats und Barleys really seem to be a’runnin inta ear really early, if we keep a’gettin a drop o’rain und warm weather then I recon that’ll be anearly harvest. Talkin about things growin fast, then old weeds in the garden seem t’be shooting up really fast this year, I hev told yu afore that we hev got Ground Elder in the garden und this year that really seem t’be growin so fast that thas a job for the Missus und L t’keep on top on it.

Well them up a Carra Rood will ha’a git ready for life in the Championship league next season. There’s bound t’be some changes in the playin boys und I read that there’s a BaseBall team owner who want’t invest some money in the club. From what I read about him he seem t’be somebody Delia could du business with. I’ll tell yu suffin else at least my Brother will be quiet for another year cos them Tractor Boys are still in league one.

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

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.

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

Well that there old coronavirus is still with us und I recon that’ll be drawin along with us for a few steps yet.

Cos them up at Whitehall are a’lettin the brakes of a bit .They recon today (May 28th) that next week we are a’goin t’be allowed t’meet with sum of yar family, up to six folk but thas only outside in a park or yar garden. Still thas a start but I recon that’ll be a day or two afore there’ll be twenty five thousand folk jammed in t’gether up at Carra Rood watching the City.

I’ll tell yu suffin I did last week I hant done for ni on eight weeks….I driv the car. That were only cause I ha’a go t’git me readin glasses mended. That were a job und a half. Once I had parked up near the shop I ha’a put on a pair of disposable gloves & a mask that were a black muff I hed. I got sum funny looks from folk who were a waiting outside a bank nearby as I walked past. I ha’a stand outside the shop until the mawther (Lady) inside cum t’the door. She were a’wearin a mask und all. She took me glasses und recon if I cum back in about a quarter of un hour they would be fixed.. which they were. That weren’t s’bad as I thought that were a’goin t’be cos most folk kept a couple of yards apart. if thas what we are a’goin t’hev t’do then thas what we hev got t’do t’keep safe
There’s suffin else I wanted t’hev a word along with you about. There’s a rare lot of folk, mainly Mawthers, who are worrying about a’havin their hair cut. I han’t got a lot of hair t’worry about und the Missus hev cut it for several years. In the summer she cut it while I am a’sittin out in the garden. I tell har that the birds can use my clippings for building their nests. I don’t know if they du but the clippings disappear somewhere. How-sum-ever the Missus hev started mobbin about gettin har hair cut cos that hant bin done for several weeks. I tell har I’ll do it for har cos I recon I used t’meake a fare job o’clippin the wool orf my sheep………….she din’t say anything…..she just giv me one of har looks.

While I were warkin in the garden tuther day I started thinkin about how things I were a’doin reminded me of suffin I hed done years ago. I noticed my old compost heap were drawin up towards the clouds so I thought I would git on top of it und jam it down. This would git all the air out on it und help the composting process. While I were a’doin this I smelt the grass clippings I hed mixed in. Du yu know that smell took me back t’when we were making silage & I were at the clamp a’forking the cut grass about t’meake the heap level afore the tractor cum along und roll the grass down tight.
That must be ni on forty year ago since I last did that job but the smell on my compost heap took me back. Thas the same if I watch them a’lambing sheep on that Country File programme, The smell of the lambing shed come back to me.
I see that they Norwich City are a’goin t’start playin their remaining games t’see if they can stay in the Premier division und git any further in the FA cup. Do yu know thas one thing I hant missed, mind yu them football reporters hev bin doin well t’think of suffin different to write about each day while there hant been any matches.

When are we a’goin t’git sum rain, my old water butts are nearly dry. When I am out on my old bike I see that sum of the winter barley is a’runnin inta ear already. Them old sugar beet plants could do with a drink of water as well. If this dry weather keep a’goin that’ll be an early harvest this year but the yields won’t be break-in any records.

I were casting round the other day for suffin t’du when the Missus suggested that I orter build a wild life pond at the far end o’the garden. We hev already got a goldfish pond near the house. There are several fish in there und the wild birds drink outa a little fountain on the side on it. Any how I hed a measure up und started digging the new pond out. That were hard going cos where I were digging there hed bin a ditch that hed bin filled in with brick rubble. I got all of that out making the pond about 2 foot deep at one end und going shallow at tuther end. The Missus helped me with getting the liner in und we then filled it up wi water. We fixed the liner down round the side of the pond with sum great old flints I hed dug up. Afore I dug the pond out I hed moved 2 gret old pots with Hostas in round so they stood at the back on it. A few days arter I hed filled the pond with water I were a’drawin round the garden with my hosepipe a’watering the pots dotted round the garden. To reach these 2 pots on the far side o’the pond I ha’a stretch across the pond with me hose…. that wouldn’t reach so I give the hose a bit of a pull but the hose were jammed up some where so I ha’a give it a harder pull…….. Your guessed it…. the hose pipe suddenly give und I toppled inta the pond. Well boy my trousers und boots were suffin wet. I drawed back up to the house und were a sittin just inside the back door when the Missus cum through. I ha’a tell har what hed happened, Well din’t she laugh….. she were still a’laughin about it when we went to bed that night. I arn’t a’goin t’let it happen agin, I hev got a longer lance to go on the end of my hose pipe.

Fare ye well t’gether und du yu keep a troshin (und stay safe)

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

Last time I hed a wud along with yu I started by a’talki.n about the weather…well I recon I’ll ha’a do the same this time. Thas alright if yu are on holiday but that aint su good if yu are a waitin for rain like most farmers are. Tha bin alright if yu are a’makin hay but that aint su good if yu keep livestock or are a’growin sugar beet. These a crop o’beet at the top o’Gilmans Drift( Muddy Lane) that I hev a look at every day when I crowd past on my bike. My heart the old sugar beet leaves are wiltin and a’touchin the ground. I know the farmer who hev the field hant got any irrigation although he hed sheep a’grazin a catch crop last Autumn so they put a bit o’heart back inta the soil when that were ploughed afore the beet were drilled. (For those who dont know where Gilmans Drift is it is the footpath running between the Norwich Road ,opposite the Watton Green turning and the old Griston Road ).

If Farmers are a’keepin pigs outside they ha’a keep a close eye on them cos pigs only hev little sweat glands and they can get sun burned. Thas why you see on them outdoor pens big troughs of water that the pigs can get in and cool down. they then go und lie in sum mud which sticks to the skin und protects it agin the sun The pigs also keep in the shelters t’keep out of the sun.

They tell me that the corn harvest ha started in some parts of the country. That ount be long a startin round here, the trouble is the farmers want sum rain t’swell the grains in the ears of corn. If they dont git some there be sum low yields about, the only good thing about that is that will increase the price the farmers git when they cum t’sell.

That weather were just what the organisers wanted for the Royal Norfolk Show last week. There were blue skies on both day but there were a nice sea breeze t’keep the heat down for both man and beast. I were there a’helpin on the Rare Breed stand. We hev a nice crowd of folk t’see us. That were good t’see s’many youngsters in school parties. We hed a Story Teller on the stand a tellin a story in-front of a Shepherds Hut, there were a good crowd of youngsters a listening to him every time he come on.

I’ll tell yu suffun I see at the show. That were on one o’them machinery stands where they were a’showin some 1970s farm equipment a’gin t’day models. Well there were this 1970s combine with a 10ft wide cutter bar standin in front of a 2018 model with a 40ft cutter bar. The trouble is I can remember a drivin the 1970s model und we thought that were big machine then.

I hope that sum on yer went to the Village Fete und Flower Festival in the village last week-end (30th June-1st July) The Missus und I drawed down t’hev a look. There were a rare crowd o’folk on the Millennium Green and in the Village Hall where there were a lot of different stalls. The Church hed been trimmed out w’flowers. Each flower arrangement hed a story t’tell about the Teddy Bear a’sittin along side. I recon there were over a couple o’dozen on um. I asked the Missus what flower arrangement she would put a’side me t’tell a story………….She din’t say anything….. she just gi me one of har looks.

Since I last hed a wud with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water with out caravan. We din’t go s’far this year, just down t’the Loire. While we were there we went und hed a look round one o’them Chateau places. That wernt a very big one. How-sum-ever we parked outside the gate where there were a sign t’say that were open. We were heven a look round the garden when this women come arter us a drivin a golf buggy. She wanted t’know if we wanted t’look round the house. She told us which door t’go to und she come und took our money und recon har Husband would come und show us round. That turned that she owned the place. Har Husband dint speak a’lot of english but that were a good visit until he took us out onta a balcany und showed us a bridge over the river which he reckoned had been blown up durin WW 2 by the British. I asked him if the Germans had occupied the house durin the war. He recon they had but he dint want t’talk about it.

We see another Chateau that were for sale. The Missus looked up about it…they only wanted thirty million dollars for it. They recon the man who were sellin it hed spent close to one hundred million dollars a’duin it up so he were a’goin t’lose a bit o’money on the deal.

The Football world cup is still a’goin on und England are still in it. That seem a long while ago when I watched Bobby Moore lift the trophy. Thas good see the England Manager is a’givin sum youngsters a go. I get suffin savige when I see them a’pushin each other about when there’s a free kick or a corner. They look as if they are a’tryin t’play rugby although in rugby if yu tried that the ref would soon send yu orf.

Well the heat o’the day has gone so I suppose I get better draw out inta the garden. I know the grass don’t need cuttin but the weeds keep a’growin.

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

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

My heart thas suffin hot (last week May) we hev just hed a tempist so that might bring the old temperature down a’bit.
That must be a gettin hot corse I hev stopped a wearin me vest und me braces. The Missus she git suffin worried when we go out t’gether corse she recon that would be embarrassing if me trousers come down. I told har t’stop a worrying corse if my old belt break I hev got a bit o’binder twine (string) in me pocket. I told har I hed two bits o’string, one were red und the other were blue so I recon nobody would notice. She din’t say anything…….she just gi me one o’har looks.
Corse all this hot weather mean the farmers are a’having to irrigate their crops t’keep them a’goin. They used t’recon that only payed t’put water onto root crops like beet und spuds but ridin about I hev seen Barley und Wheat a’bein irrigated just t’keep the plants alive. They allus recon that suger beet plants should meet in the rows by the Suffolk Show (end May) and meet acrorse the rows by the Norfolk Show (end June). I don’t think thas a goin t’happen this year corse sum o’the beet I hev seen while a’ridin about will be lucky if they are a’meetin in the row by the Norfolk Show.

Thas a easy job a settin up them irrigating machines now. All they ha’a do is move the machine along the end o’the field und then drag the irrigation gun on the end of a gret old polythene pipe acroos the field und then turn the water on. While thas a’goin the water pressure slowly turn the reel on the machine which wind the polythene pipe back onta the drum and drag the irrigation gun back towards the machine. All the movin about is done usin a tractor. Afore these reel system come about yu ha’a move 30ft aluminium pipes with a sprinkler on a 2ft pipe a’stickin up a one end by hand. Yu ha’a hev enough of these connected up t’go right acroos the field. That wernt s’bad a’carrying the pipes acroos a level field but that were suffin hard when yu ha’a carry them acroos potato ridges. To keep them pipes upright arter yu hed moved them when yu hed connected the first pipe up yu tunned the valve on the feeder pipe open a bit so the weight o’the water kept the pipe in place. The trick wus t’just hev enough water a’running down the pipes so when you connected the last pipe ,with a end cap on, there were enough time t’git outa the way afore the pressure built up und the sprinklers started a warkin.
That used t’teak 4 hours t’put on a inch o’water onta the crop. So we used t’git 4 moves in a day. That ment a startin a 6 am und then moving the pipes by hand at 4 hourly intervals with the last move bein some time arter 6pm. Then somebody ha’a go und tun orf the water pump some time arter 10pm und then yu started again a 6am next day. Some farmers hed an electric water pump a pumpin the water from a river or bore hole but most farmers used a tractor t’drive the water pump so yu ha’a go and look at that the meake sure that din’t run outa fuel. During the early 1970s I remember a farmer told a student who were a warkin for him t’go und check the fuel und oil levels on the tractor a’drivin the irrigation pump. He went und cum back und told the farmer everything were all right: Half an hour leater the tractor seized up . The student hed checked the oil level while the tractor were runnin flat out in stead o’stoppin it so when he drew the dip stick outa the engine there would be plenty of oil a’showin.

I read that Norridge City hev appointed a German coach. They recon he’s the best man for the job. I recon there will be a lot o’cummins und goins a’for the next season start.

Cos all they seem t’be a’showin on the TV at the moment is about the election in June.
When yu watch them leaders a’bein interviewed they never answer the question und they tell yu things that they are a’goin t’du if they get elected und then forget about arter they elected. That remind me o’suffin I were told a few year ago. They reconned to be a good politician yu ha’a be able t’talk for 5 minutes about nothin while yu are a’thinkin o’suffin t’say.

Afore I go I hed better remind all on yar that there is a’goin t’be a 2 day event on in the village on the 31st June und the 1st July. There are a’lot of folk involved und thell be a lot a’goin on on the millennium Green und in the village Hall und the Church. They tell me they’s goin t’be the unveiling of a new information board about the church.
That all kick orf on the Friday night (June 30th) in the Village Hall, the bar will be open, when sum folk from the Village Heritage Group are a’goin t’be talkin about the history of the village. I might see yu there?

That’ll be the Norfolk Show durin the week afore the village du. I’ll be ther a’helpin on Mr Mawkin’s Farm. Thas where are the Rare Breed Livestock are . The Missus still recon I should be in a pen as she recon I’m a Rare Breed! If yu come and hev a look I’ll very likely be the one in a pen!

I hed better stop now cos if I keep a’runnin on I shall start t’sound like one o’them politicians.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

My heart thas bin suffin hot leartly (12th May) I hev teakin my old vest orf cos I was a’gettin all of a sweat. I say t’the Missus these here new vests arn’t like them old string ones cos they use t’hev gaps in um so the heat could get out…………….. I could ask the Missus t’knit me one f’next winter but I dussunt cos I recon I’d get more than one o’har looks.

Well them Canaries up at Carra Rood will be a’sittin on a lower perch next season. Thas a shame but if you don’t score goals yu don’t win games. That were a rummun that the Headman at Carra Rood chucked it in a’for the end o’the season. Less hope them at the top can find somebody quick t’give that young manager their got a helpin hand next season cos I recon he’s wurth keepin.

With the rain und warm weather things in the garden ha started a growin. I hev got sum o’that old Ground Elder in my garden , my heart that teake sum gettin rid off. We ha bin here over forty year und I still can’t get rid on it. I hev tried a sprayin on it und I hev tried a diggin it out, but you only hev t’miss one bit und that’ll start a growin agin. I han’t beatin it but I recon I hev got it inta a corner……as long as I can keep it there that’ll be alright. I hev told the Missus, if we ever move I arnt a diggin up anything t’teake with us cos I dont want t’move that old ground elder un all.

A’riding about there seem t’be a rare lot o’Oil Seed Rape growing this year. That’ll be good news from them who keep Bees. I used t’keep them und yu ha’a keep scrappin about if yar bees were arter oil seed rape nector cos wunce they get that inta the combs in the hive that start t’set suffin quick. I used t’look at my bees about once a week und get the full combs out t’spin the honey out a’for that set. When we are a drivin near fields o’Rape the Missus recon that smell like the honey we used t’git from our bees.

The Missus und I hed a walk a’round the Millennium Green tuther day. My heart sum folk hev bin suffin busy. There seem t’be a lot o’nest boxes on trees und there hev bin a lot of brushin up (trimming out) around the trees. That look as it the maze is a being planted up agin. Thas a shame sum folk are a spoilin things by not clearin up behind their dogs.

Around the front o’the Village Hall I see that the Village Sign und handles on the old hoss plough are a gettin a bit green. I recon thas acors their under them trees a’growin nearby. That want a’washin orf afor next winter cos it not that’ll git inta the wood und that’ll be a master job t’git rid on it.

We hed a birthday party for one of our Grandson’s tuther Saturday. That were held in Thetford Forest at High Lodge. Thas a great old place w’plenty o’different things for folk t’do. There were play areas, you could hire bikes,or bring yar own, und cycle along tracks through the forest. I recon one o’the rummist things I see were a two wheeled platform which yu stood on und held onta a handle. Once yu got balanced und pushed the handles forrud the wheels started turning. They tell me thas called a Segway und a lot of folk are a’usin them……….. I recon I’ll stick w’my old bike cos that dint look to safe t’me

They tell me that sum fella is a’goin t’be givin a talk about Heavy Hosses soon. Thas goin t’be in the Village Hall on June 17th at 7.30pm. The Missus und I are a’goin so I might see yu there.

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

Missing Month

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

The old weather thas a’warmin up. I hev got the old lawn mower out t’keep a’trimmin the grass. I an a’tryin suffun different this year, when the Missus und I go und hev a look at other folks garden I hev bin a lookin t’see how low their cut their grass und hev found that they dont take the cutter right down und leave the grass short. I recon that if yu cut the graas a bit longer that meake the grass wear better where yu keep a’walkin on it. Anyhow I am a’goin t’give it a go this year und see what happen.

The Missu und I hev bin over the water agin t’hev a look at Holland. We went t’hev a look at the tulips but I ha’a keep a’lookin t’see how they farm. Yu dont hev t’look over any hedges cos there arnt any. Instead they hev sum water filed dykes right clus t’the road so yu ha’a keep a’lookin where yu are a’goin. They tidy farmers und hev a lot o’glass houses. The tulips looked a picture in the fields, we ha’a keep a’stoppin so the Missus could teake a picture. We went und hed a look at one o’their flower parades. That started at about 10 0’clock in the morning und they driv the floats along the roads for sum 30 miles und finish about 10 o’clock at night. There were sixteen gret old floats, that must hev taken a far bit o’time t’git all them flowers pinned in place. As well as the floats there were sum tractors in the parade. They were all covered in flowers, thas a wonder them who were driving could see where they were a’goin.

While we were there I ha’a go und hev a look at a cheese farm. The fust one we went to dint gev any cows there, they were kept on another farm. I wernt very pleased so we went und found another cheese farm up the rood. As soon as I got outa the car und hed a sniff I new that were a warkin farm. The Missus recon we’d ha’a mind where we walked cos that wern’t to clean. I told har not t’be su sorft, if she got any muck on har shoes she could allus clean them on the grass afor she got back in ta the car……..she dint say any thing……….she just gi me one o’har looks.
They hed a hundred cows where yu could see um and made 1500 cheeses a’day. I bought sum mature cheese there, the Mawther (girl)who sold it to me recon that’ull keep for 50 years. I recon I’ll ha’a eat it afor then cos the Missus wont let me keep it in the fridge that long.

While we were the other side o’the water we went und hed a look at the Menim Gate in Ypres. The gate hev thousands o’names on of solders on it who hev no known grave. They hold a Last Post ceremony there ever night at 8pm so the Missus und I drawed along t’hev a look. There were a rare crowd o’folk there, they cum from all over the world. I got a talkin to an Australian who hed cum for a look. There were a lot of youngsters there und all. The ceremony dint last long but that dint half leave a lump in yar throat

I were a readin tuther day that twey year ago we produced 80% o’the food we eat in this country, thas now got down t’60% und they recon thas soon a’goin t’be under 50%. Thas all very well while things are a’goin all right but things can change cos theres a growin population in other parts o’the world that will want a’feedin as well. As I hev said a’for farmers here cant just turn a tap on und out ull cum milk, meat und vegetables, they all teake time t’grow.

Well them Caneries are still a’singin. A’time I am a’writin this they hev played them Tractor Boys once und will be a’playin them again a Carra Rood next Saturday. What ever happen they hev done well when yu think where they were at the turn o’the year. (I hope they beat the Tractor Boys cos if they dont me Brother will keep a’goin on about it all summer).

I am a’goin t’finish now cos one o’my old shed roofs is a leakin. As the weather is set fair for the next few day I want ta get a new roof on afor old Mother Nature start a’hullin sum water down on it agin.

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

The Boy Tom

Well, old mother nature ha got the sun t’shine at last (early June) although that old north wind ha bin a blowin the soil ha hed a chance t’warm up und plants are a growing, so are the weeds.

I were a readin in the last NPN that the young master up at the hall were a sayin that, on account of the cold weather, the corn harvest will be two weeks late a startin. He were also sayin on how he like t’hang onta his corn from last years harvest und sell it as late as possible. Cos years ago when corn were stored in sacks yu ha’a sell it afore the rats chewed the sacks t’bits. Instead of havin the grain in great old barns farmers ha’a store their corn in stacks until the old threshin drum cum round. Threshin were mostly done in the autumn and the sacks of corn were stored on the farm, t’be used for feeding the livestock that most farms kept then. Any corn that had been sold left the farm on a lorry or was taken t’the local railway station und loaded onta a wagon. No farmer would hev enough sacks t’store all his corn in so he would hire them. There were a firm at Wymondham called Fermins who hired out thousands of sacks as did the different railway companies.
The Master m’Father worked for durin the 1950s were big enough t’hev sum sacks of his own, they all ha’a be sorted through und mended a’for harvest. If the hole were a small one yu used a sack needle und binder twine t’draw the sides t’gether. If the old rats hed chewed a great old hole you ha’a mend it by cuttin out a piece of sack und sticking it over the hole using Copidex. When yu were a doin this you ha’a remember t’lay the sack over a plank o’wood like an ironin board t’keep both sides of the sack apart, I forgot one day und stuck both sides o’the sacks t’gether ………. I wunt very popular at harvest time that year.

I also see in the last NPN that the lady editor is still a’lookin for somebody t’take over…. she only took the job on until somebody else cum along. Cos not every one in the Village is on the internet so the NPN is an inportant way o’lettin everybody know what’s a goin on. There must be sum body who could take the job on……und afore anybody say anything I hev got enough on my plate already. The NPN hev cum a long way, sum on us can remember when that were called the “Penny News “ so we want t’keep it a’goin.

That wont be long afore the football season start agin. The Canaries can hev another go with the big boys. If they play like they did in the last two games of last season, they’ll do alright.

The Missus and I have bin t’see Cliff Richard’s a’singin. We drove there,hed a bite t’eat und then drawed acroos t’where he were a’goin t’sing. There were a rare crowd there, there were seats for us all t’sit on, they recon yu could unt take any food in w’yar. Thas cos there were stalls a’sellin food at a rum price. I’ll tell yu suffin though, the biggest queues were for the toilets……well,that were a cold evenin.
Well when he cum on there Mawthers down the front who were a screamin und shoutin his name, I ha’a keep an eye on the Missus t make shure she did’t want t’go und join um. I’ll tell yer what, for a oldun he move well. I asked the Mussus if she thought I could move like Cliff if I were t’wear a pair of jeans like him…… she did’t say anything, she just give me one of har looks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missing Month