Tag: November

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

Last time I hed a wud along with yu I recon that we hid got a new King und Prime Minister, well since then we hev got another new Prime Minister, I aren’t a goin t’say a lot about it cos like me I recon a lot on yu hev got fed up with it all. Them lot up at Whitehall were elected by us t’run the country – the trouble is I recon we must hev voted for the wrong folk cos non on um seem t’know how t’run anything. I was allus told “Never tell a man how to do a job yu can’t du or hant dun yar self” I remembered that when I become a Farm Foreman a few days afore my twenty fust birthday. Them lot us at Whitehall are Minister of suffin one day und then the next they are minister o’suffin else und are spus t’be an expert on it. Yu can tell that by the way they are a runnin this here Avion Flu thing that is affecting a lot o’farmers who keep hins und are fattening turkeys for Christmas. There’s poultry keepers crying out for a vaccine ( there is one about) und all they can waffle on about is that han’t bin tested enough yet, huh. Them who know about these things recon that if your hins get this here flu that teak a day or two for the ministry vets t’git t’see you cos there aint enough of um to cope. If there that busy why don’t they call on local vets t’help. Them up at Whitehall will proberbly say that local vets arnt qualified enough!!!

I tell yu suffin I forgot t’tell yu last time. When the Missus und I were on our trip to Switzerland we see their farmers a’makin hay on their steep fields that I would think twice about walkin up let alone drive a tractor. Well we went past one field where they were a’makin hay und that were to steep for them to drive a tractor up, Du yu know how they were gettin the hay down the slope….. they were a’usin leaf blowers t’blow the loose hay down the slope.

When we got over that there Covid the Missus went away for a few days away in our caravan. We din’t go outa Norfolk this time , we went to Ludham Bridge as I say t’the Missus thas just far enough from home t’feel different. She din’t say anything………she just gi me one o’har looks. We went und looked at the autumn colours at sum gardens und sum members o’the family drawed round t’see us. While we were a’havin a walk along a path called the Weavers Way I was tellin the Missus how I knew the farmer who hed the next farm we were a’comin to cos I used t’go there when he hed cattle und kept Suffolk Hosses. That farmer passed away a few year ago now but do yu know, when we got near the farm there were a couple of Suffolk Hosses a grazen in a grass paddock. They cum over t’eat sum hay so we could see them. When we left Ludham t’come home we hed a rare journey back, there were two accidents on the roads we were a traveling on und then there were hold ups on the A11 where they are digging up the road. All them holdups meant the journey t’where we park our caravan took twice uz long as normal. Arter we hed parked our van our car stopped going so we ha’a come home in a lorry w’the car tied on the back.

I see them boys up at Carra Rood hev won a game on Saturday, less hope that’ll give Mr Smith a few more days in his job. I used t’recon that be-in a Farm Manager were like bein a Football Manager if your team und yu din’t git near the top o’the league (make a profit) yu were outa a job und yer house un all. But now I recon bein a Football Manager is a bit like bein the Prime Minister!! I think there’s a house that go with both them jobs un all?

They tell me that durin November there’s goin to be a du at the Village Hall. Thas on Saturday 26th und run from 12 noon t’4 o’clock. As well as being a Christmas Bazaar the Heritage Group are a’goin t’be opening their Heritage Centre which is attached to the Village Hall. They hev won a grant und hev been spending sum o’the money a tricolating the cabin up so they hev some where t’store their files und things they hev collected . I recon that’ll be a good du so I hope t’see yu there.

Less hope the weather dry up for a day or two, a’fore we went away I emptied my compost bins onto the flower und shrubs beds, now I want some dry weather so I can start collecting the leaves that are falling everywhere.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here we go for the secon time, I am a’talkin about the “lock down” not about Mr Trump a’winin another go in the White House
I say t’the Missus thas a bit like we are a couple of old hedgehogs a’hibinatin for the winter,…. she dint say anything…. she just gi me one o’har looks.

At least we can get out inta the garden & I am still a’gettin out on my old bike every day. Du yu know that today (4th Nov.) is the fust mornin this Autumn that Jack Frorst hev left his callin card. That ount du any harm cos we hev got most o’the Miissus tender plants inta the green house, The Dahlias are still a’flowerin but this here cold weather all soon trim them out. I will dig um up, knock all the earth orf, trim all the green tops orf und turn them upside down in the green house t’dry out, arter that hev happened I bury them in a bed o’sand under one o’the green house benches until next year. I’ll tell yu suffin I hev got forrud with, I hev sown some Sweet Peas inta sum compost, they are in the greenhouse at the moment, as soon as they have chitted I’ll be a’puttin them outside in the cold frame for the rest o’the winter.

Thas bin suffin wet since I last hed a wud a’long w’yu. Tuther day I were a talkin to somebody who farm in “The Saints”. Thas a group o’ seven villages all called arter different Saints. They lie just over the border in Suffolk tuther side o’Bungay. Thas sum heavy old land there und this farmer I were a talkin to recon that were to wet to get on his land t’drill his winter corn so he was spinnin it on with a’fertilizer spreader. When I talk about heavy land I mean that the soil hev got a lot o’clay in it, light land hev got a lot o’sand init. When yu plough heavy land the soil tun over in big lumps und shine when the sun git ion it, my dear old Father used to recon that looked like liver und he used t’recon that you could git hold o’one end o’the furrow und pull the whole lot outa the field cos that were all stuck t’gether , mind yu I never did see him try it?

As I were a sayin earlier they are election a new President over the pond. A time I am a writing this they don’t know who hev got the job. I wonder how many on yu would want a job like that when yu are seventy four year old. I know I won’t. Still That give us suffin else t’talk about und perhaps some folk would recon that we are lucky that neither on um are in charge over here. There are folk, here about, who keep a runnin on about how them up a Whitehall don’t know what they are a’duin. Now hold yu hard cos I recon that none on us would want their jobs, nobody hev ever ha’a face anything like this here coronavirus a’fore. I know they may hev bin a bit slow orf the mark sum times but if we are t’git the better of this here virus we hev got to do our bit und du what they are a tellin us t’du when they tell us. Thas no good a’thinkin that that “won’t happen t’me” cos how du yu know that?

Durin the Autumn the Missus & I hev tried t’git out to some of them gret old parks that we hev got here in Norfolk. One o’un I like is Holkham Park . I hev bin a’goin there for a lot o’years cos I used t’du some business along with the estate when they kept a large flock of sheep ( 1000 ewes) in the park which they grazed along side the Deer. Now the sheep hev gone but the deer are still there & I like takin photos on um. There used t’be Red & Fallow Deer there but now there’s only Fallow deer. At this time o’year when the Deer are a’ruttin we go und stand quietly in the trees in the park und wait for the deer to come towards us so we can photograph them. A year or two ago when we were there the Missus & I were standin about 20yards apart a Farrow Deer Stag cum und walked between us. The thing was the Missus were a facing away from me und I dussont say anything cos I would hev frightened the Stag.

Well them old Canaries are a doin alright, although that du seem funny t’see them a’playin with-out any folk there to cheer them on. I hev bin a’watchin them on my TV & computer. The trouble is I forget I’m not there und start a shoutin und carryon on. The Missus keep a’tellin me t’hold my row cos she recon the neighbours will hear und wonder what we are up to. I tell har she’s lucky that arter Fifty years she lucky she hev still got a husband who hev still got that much go in him. She dint say anything….. she just gi me one of har looks.

Keep save all on ya.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a’troshin.

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?
Well them old clocks hev changed, that don’t half meake a difference. When I draw indoors outa the garden for me fourses thas to dark t’git back outside agin. Mind you thas bin to dawby to do much outside although I hev started a clearing the leaves up und hev got the Missus tender plants inta the green house. I hev tricoliated up another leaf bin cos I wanta keep a compositing the leaves for 2 years afore I use um.
Last month the Missus und I took our caravan t’hev a look at the National Arboretum in
Glorstershire. Afore we went there we stopped near Oxford t’go und hev a look at Blenheim Palace. Thas were where Winston Churchill’s family come from. My heart thas a great old place. Once we got inta the Palace grounds we were standing in the yard a’takin some photos when sum iron gates behind us started a’openin. I could see there a big car a comin in. So we stood back und let it pass. That parked und the driver got out, locked the car und went through a side door inta the Palace. I say the Missus I recon he live here. She told me not t’be s’sorfed . Later when we come outa the Palace the car were still there so I hed a look at it’s number plate, the letters were DOM. There yu are, I say t’the Missus, he du live here cos that were the Duke of Marlborough we see.
The next caravan site we stayed on were a dairy farm. That were ok although there were a bit o’mud about. When I went t’pay the farmer we were a talking about the cows. He recon he thought I knew suffin about farmin cos I hed asked him what breed o’cows he hed. There were 200 on um in the milking herd with another 300 head o’cattle about the yard. They were all indoors und he let me draw about a’haven a look round. I saw that there were 4 on um a looking arter all them stock und a milking the cows twice a day. They seemed t’hev a mechanical machine t’do all their jobs, but they were still a scrapin round t’git everything done. I see the farmer a’eaton his breakfast while he were a driving a tractor.
We were lucky at the National Arboritum, that were a lovely day und the leaves on all the trees hed started a’turnin so we were able to take a lot of photos.
Since I last hed a word along with yu I see the Village hev bin in the newspapers. One of them who farm in the village, but don’t live here ,recon he’s a goin t’farm so up to 1000 folk can live here if society break down. He don’t say who these folk are, where they are a’goin t’live or if that include folk who already live in the village?. I think if he come und talk to folk in the village he would hev found out that most on us could get by if society broke down. I know a lot on us weren’t about during the last war but we can remember how we lived in the late 40s und 50s. We grew our own food in the garden und folk kept poultry und some on us hed a pig or two.
I don’t recon these here 1000 folk he is a talkin about live in the country, I recon he’s a’talkie about them who live in a city und hev no idea about how t’git along with-out a microwave, take-a-ways und a mobile phone.
A’time yu read sum other does will hev happened in the village. One on um is the launching of a book about the village school durin the Second World War. The School record were kept in a Managers Book which was written in every day. A lot of this information with sum photos hev bin put inta a book. This here book is a’goin t’be showed for the fust time this Friday in the Village Hall. The folk who hev done this are the Heritage Group und the book hev bin paid for by the Parish council. There will be books on sale in the village. Another place where yu can see sum o’the history o’the village is in the museum down at Watton. Them folk in the Heritage Group hev put sum o’the village old books, photos & sum armour what they found in the Church, that’ll be on display for sum 3 months. Next time yar in Watton draw in und hev a look.
Well them English Rugby boys fell at the last game, that were a pity cos they hed played s’well when they beat the New Zealand boys. My heart they go at it suffin hard, they used t’recon ,a few year ago, that the New Zealand players were so fit und hard cos they were all sheep farmers! Well I used t’look arter sheep when I played rugby but I don’t know if that made any difference. I dussent ask the Missus if she think I were different when I looked arter sheep….. She’d probably just gi me one o’har looks.
Them boys up at Carra Rood are still a’strugglin, still as long as the supporters keep behind them they could turn the corner arter the turn o’the year.
One o’the most important day o’the year will be on Sunday 10th Nov. That ull be when we remember them who fell in the 2 World Wars. I know I hev said a’for , when yu draw past the Church, just yu stop und hev a look at them names on the War Memorial und remember them words. “They Gave They Tomorrow So We Could Hev Our Today.”
Fare ye well t’gether, und do yu keep a’troshin.

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

I am a’writtin this on the day the clocks go back so that don’t matter what time I finish cos I’ll still git an extra hour in bed t’morrow.

Years ago when farmers were a milkin cows I knew one or two on um who din’t change the time they milked their cows. So if they started a milkin them at 5am duin the summer when them old clocks went back they started a’milkin them at 4am until the clocks changed agen in the spring: Then they went back to a 5am start. I remember a farmer din’t keep to a fixed time und he got leater und leater a startin in the mornin, du yu know what he did t’put that right…….he missed a milkin out!!

Them old cows like a regular routine. If durin the summer when they were out t’grass und yu allus got them f’milkin at 3 o’clock then when yu went t’git them they would be a’stantin at the field gate a’waitin for yu. Thas the same when yu got them into the cowshed or milkin parlour, yu ha’a keep to the same routine cos that would make the old cow release har milk when yu started a’milkin on har. If yu started a’messin a’bout then they(them old cows) would dunt let yu hev any milk.

Since I last hed a’wud a’long with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water a’gin. Not with our caravan this time, we went und hed a look at that place with a lot o’water in har streets, Venice. We ha’a fly there and as sum on yu know I don’t like a’flyin. We ha’a have an early start cos our flight wus at 6am. When we got t’the airport I thought we hed come to a refugee camp cos there were folk a’layin about a’sleep everywhere. I say t’the Missus int anybody a’goin t’come und stir them up. She told me t’hold my row coss she recon they were folk who hed cum in early for their flights…….I still recon they wanted movin…..if I hed my old sheep dog w’me I’d a’soon hed them rounded up.

We were a’flyin w’that Irish lot so we ha’a check ourselves in…then we ha’a walk though a great old shoppin place, there were plenty o’folk a’sleep there und all. When we got onta the plane we had a job t’understand what any of the crew were a’sayin cos they were all from across the water. Cos we were a’sittin in seats next t’the escape door over the wing they cum und asked us if, in the event of an emergency, would we mind operatin the door so folk could git out, I say t’the Missus if we ha’a do that I know who’ll be fust out…….she din’t say anything thing…… she just gi me one o’har looks. Still they got us there und back alright und we hed a good time in Venice .

They tell me that the Parish Council are a’thinkin about knockin down the village bus shelter cos the Police recon thats a place where there is a lot o’any social behavour. There are sum folk in the village who agree w’the Police und there are folk who recon the bus shelter should stay where that is. That were paid for by the village’s WI ladies in 1970 und hev sheltered a rare lot o’folk und school children while that wait for the bus t’teak them t’ Watton. If yu read this afore the end of November und want that bus shelter t’stay then write a letter the Clerk of the Parish Council by 1st December. I recon if they du knock it down that’ll just move the anti-social behavour sum where else in the Village

Them boys up at Carra Rood hev bin a’doin well leartly, they beat them Tractor Boys. I saw my Brother the followin week und du yu know he dint want t’talk about the match…..I wonder why!!!! Then they went t’London did well against them Gunners. One o’our Boys went und he recon they (Norwich) were a’playin agenst twelve players , Eleven from the Gunners und the Ref.

I ha just bin und hed a look at sum hosses a’ploughin. They were a’warkin at a ploughin match bein held on one o’the young masters fields at the back o’the Hall. Yu could see them a’warkin next to a 200HP Tractor. There were sum good ploughmen there a’drawin sum rare straight furrows acroos the field. I recon I hed better git out inta the garden now und do sum diggin: I’ll try and keep a staight furrow wi my old spade.

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

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

Since I last hed a wud along w’yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin. We hev bin und hed a look at Italy agin, only this time we flew there. I know I hev said I don’t a’like flyin but that were the best way t’get there.

We driv down t’Stansted t’get on a flight that took orf at 6 o’clock in the mornin so we hed t’be about early. M’brother,who fly a lot more than I do!, told us what we he’a du t’check in.

That were a goin all right until we come t’the security check. Yu ha’a teak all of yar things outa yar pockets, that were a good job I left my old pen knife at home. The Mawther in charge she made me teake m’shoes orf un all. The wust part was a’for you walk through that there body scanner cos I ha’a teak m’braces und belt orf me trousers.I han’t even got a bit of binder twine t’use t’hold um up. I went though that scanner suffin quick in case m’trousers started to drop down.

When we were a boardin the plane we got wrong cos they recon we should hev come on with the “late boarders” who ever they were.

We were a stayin at Sorrento. My heart that were a rare place for traffic. That took our bus over an hour t’drive through it cos the streets were suffin narra. Nearly every car I saw hed scratch marks down each side und there were scooters every where und they seemed t overtake the bus on both sides. I only see one car with uk number plates the whole time we were there.

While we were there we went und hed a look at that there Mount Vesuvius. They driv us up some o’the way in the bus und then we ha’a walk the last bit. The Missus din’t go but I went und hed a look. That were hard goin but I hed a stick t’help me along. When I got the top yu could see about for a fair way. I hed a look inta the crater but there din’t seem t’be much a’happening. There were a few puffs o’steam coming out’a the rocks just like a kettle a’boilin. That were a good week but we were suffin tied when we got home. The Missus recon we were the oldest folk on the trip! That meake yu think cos I din’t feel like one the oldest.

Just arter we got home I ha’a clean my old chickens out. I store their clean beddin in another little hen coop. I opened the door und started a gettin the new beddin out when there were a’lot o’buzzin und a rare lot o’wasps cum out arter me. I ha’a move suffin quick but not afore one on um hed stung me on the back o’my neck und another one stung me on the top o’my lug. The sting on my neck went down arter a day or two but the one on my ear caused that t’swell up. The Missus kept a puttin some cream on it but I ha’a go und hev a wud along with the Chemist. He gi’me some o’them Histermin tablets t’teake. They started a warkin arter a day or two but they meade me feel suffin funny.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood are a perchin at the top o’the league (16th Oct) Less hope they are still there come May next year. I recon there’ll be one or two ups unds downs afore then though.

Tuther month I were a tellin on yu how the land near the Ovington Road bridge hed been drilled with a crop that I thought they were a’goin t’plough in. Well that look like I were wrong, They hev put some electric netting round the field und tunned sum sheep inta the field. I dunnow how many there are cos yu can only see a few at a time when they get near the edge o’ther field. How they count them or see if one is ill, I say the Missus “I recon they fly one o’them little radio controlled helicopters over them with’a camera on” She din’t say anything………..she just gi me one o’har looks.

Well I ha gotta close now cos our two Grand Children are arriving soon und the Missu ha got sum jobs she want me t’du afore they get here. If that stay fine I’ll get them out inta the

garden so they can run about. Thas a good job I found them wasps cos I would’t want them t’git stung like I did.

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

Well I recon Summer is over, a’time I am a writin this (early October) old Mother Nature seem t’hev tunnned the hot tap orf. Thas wind is suffin cold, I hev had t’put my old vest on.

Since I last hed a wud along wi yar the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin w’our caravan. We he bin und hed a look at Austria und sum parts o’Germany.(Bavaria) We took it steady a gettin there.

We stopped a night or two in the Black Forest. I say t’the Missus “why du they call it that?” she recon thas cos the trees are dark in colour…..I recon they all looked green t’me. We ha’a drive along sum o’them German Motorways. There wernt no speed limit on sum of the ones we driv along. My hart they dont half crowd their old cars along. I were a’takin it nice und steady cos we were a pullin our caravan when sum fella cum past us a’drivin a great old Mercedes with a caravan behind. My Hart he were a’goin und the caravan were a’bobbin about behind the car, I say t’the Missus “I bet he dont hev t’buy new tyres f’his caravan very orften, cos they only a’touchin the road every half a mile”.

When we were in Austria we went und hed a look at the hotel we spent our honeymoon in sum 45 year ago. The Missus recon that hed got bigger since we were there. I told har that I hed got a bit bigger since I were last there………….She dint say anything, she just gi me one o’har looks. (I dussant tell har that she might hev got a bit bigger un all).

The farmers Austria und Germany were scrappin around doin a bit of hay makin while we were there. The fields arnt very big so they use little old tractors, the sort’a like the market garden tractors we hev over here, only they a lot lower t’the ground When the hay is made they pick it up loose inta trailers und cart it back to their barns. They wark on sum funny old slopes. I watch one on un a drivin acroos a slope a pickin up the hay, they drive ever s’slow. Und I’ll tell yu suffin else, they dont waste any on it, parts o’the fields that are to steep f’them t’drive their tractors on, they rake the hay orf w’hand hay rakes.

I recon I’m allus a tellin on yar about farmin. I recon thas acors, a sumbody sed once, farmin int a job thas a way of life. Even though I’m retired I still keep a gawpin over hedges inta the fields t’see was a’goin on und I recon I’ll a carry on a’duin that for the rest o’me life.

I hev told yu afor about how the Missus hev a’bin a doin har family tree. When we were a comin back through France we stopped orf near the Somme so we could go and find the names o’folk that she ha got on har family tree who fell durin World War One. Fust of all we went t’the Thiepval Memorial. Thas a gret old memorial und thas got the names of seventy eight thousand solders carved on it who hev no known grave. We found the names the Missus were a lookin for. We then drawed up the road t’a cemetery where we found the grave of har Great Uncle who was killed on the Somme. The Missus recon that she were the first member of har family t’visit his grave.

That meake yu think when yu are a drivin about that area of France cos that seem as if yu are a’cummin acroos a war memorial und First World War grave yard every mile or so. Und they arnt just for British Solders, thes memorials for the different Commonwealth Countries who sent solders to fight.

Them boys up a Carra Rood seem t’be a makin a good start t’the football season. I know thas a long way till next May but thas best t’be a the top o’the tree cos them other teams ha gotta win more games than yu t’get above yar.

Well I ha betta finish orf und draw back inta the garden cos I hev got t’shift a lot o’lot of last years compost out afor I can tun this years compost over inta an empty bin. Und them old leaves hev a’stated a fallin so I’ll hev t’start a rakin them up cos they meake sum lovely compost if yu keep them a year or two. As I he said afor a garden is just like a’keepin livestock, Yu ha gotta keep a feedin und waterin on it or that ount du.

Fare ye well t’gether und do yu keepa’troshin.

Missing Month

Well that old weather is a’startin t’turn. The old weather glass ha gone back a’lot this week (2nd week Oct). und them old leaves are a’startin t’cum down, still if yu get um raked up put inta a bag und keep um for a year they meake a lovely drop o’compost.

Since I last hed a wud a’ong w’yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin in our Caravan. We han’t bin over the water agin but decided t’hev a look at sum gardens in Kent. the old M25 were alright cos we travelled both ways at the week-end. We went und hed a look at the place where Churchill lived. My hart he did a good job a’buildin walls while he were there. We went und hed a look at the Black Swans that were in sum of his paintins The Cob wern’t in very good fettle und we hed t’keep away from him cos if yu got too close they recon he’d meke a drive at yer, If he did, I told the Missus not t’worry cos arter a’lookin arter 7000 layin geese one old swan wern’t a goin to be any bother t’me.

The farm we were a stayin on w’our caravan hed sheep & cattle. The man in charge asked if we wanted t’hev a look at um, cos I said yes. He took the Missus und I round in a golf buggy und told us he hed only bin a’farmin for five t’six years, afor that he were a sellin houses. In a barn there were a four year old Highland Bull, that han’t got a ring in it’s nose. The man in charge see me a lookin und recon the bull din’t want a ring cos he were ever so quiet. I ha’a tell him that in fifty years the only quiet bull I’d ever cum acroos were a dead one.

Just afor we cum away cum away the headman told the Missus he hoped we would come back und when we did he’ed hev one or two jobs for har husband t’du. I told him I were to old t’start a handlin cattle agin, especially bulls with-out a ring in their nose.

I see the young Master up at the hall hev bin a writin about the cost of new farm machinery. I can remember when tractors cost £550 but that were in the late 1950s. The tractor were a Fordson Super Major, that were only 45hp hed 8 gears und no cab.Still thas no good a lookin back, t’farm t’day yu gotta hev the right tackle for the warkers t’use.

A’time back I were a tellin on yar that I hed a little part time job a testin students on tractor drivin. Well I hev given that up, I recon as I am a gettin near three score years und ten thas time I started t’draw a lighter harra. I still hev a job or two in the village und I want ‘t carry on w’them a bit longer. The Missus ha said about me a givin up one o’my jobs but I recon she’ll be a thinkin I’ll hev more time t’du jobs for har. I hev bin a thinkin about that und all. I recon if I du har jobs a bit slower I won’t get any more dun than I du now.

I hed better be a’gettin back outside cos I want t’cut back the reeds in m’pond und get the net back over it. Last time I left it orf an old Hanser cum a callin und I lorst a lot of me fish.

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

I hope a lot on ya were able tʼdraw along tʼthe village Church durin the Heritage week-end. That were a right good du. The Missus und I were about there most oʼthe two days as we were aʼhelpin. That were good tʼsee folks who hed moved away aʼcummin back tʼhev a look round. On the Saturday two on um went up the tower the hull the parachuting teddies orf. I climbed up the tower several years ago, that wernt sʼbad a goin up but a comin down were worser, that pulled suffin savige on mi leg muscles, durin the next week I hed a job tʼcrowd my old bike along, The Missus recon I looked as if I were a cyclin inta a hed wind all the time. I recon next time I want tʼget tʼthe top of the tower Iʼll use my old thachin ladder.
That were good tʼsee the Church full for the Harvest Thanks Givin on the Sunday and seein the littleʼuns du a little turn durin the service. The only thing I dint see in the Chuch were a sheaf oʼcorn anywhere.
Arter the service were over we all drawed acroos the rood tʼsee the new Village Sign and Hoss Plough unveiled and blessed by the vica. The sign were unveiled a lady who hev lived in the village more than three score years and ten. The old hoss plough were unveiled by the Page boys, John and Richard, whoʼs Granfa hed made the plough up at the foundry on the Norridge road. I hed a good look at the plough and I recon that hed done a bit oʼ wark durin the hundred years since that were made cos the old plough point were worn down und the wheels looked a bit thin.
They recon one man wi two hosses and a single furra plough would plough an acre a day and the man would walk Eleven miles a day. In them days farm warkers worked a six day week. I ha warked out that if the same man, arter ploughing, using two hosses tʼ harrow down the soil tʼmeake a seedbed, drilled the seed & harroed agin arter drillin I recon he would ha walked sum Seventeen miles for every acre drilled, und thas afor he rolled the growin crop agin in the Spring. Tʼday sum on um grumble if they ha ta walk down the garden.
Them old clocks will soon be aʼchangin so perhaps I hed better rig up a light so I can keep a drawin about the garden arter dark cos if I get indoors afor tea is ready the Missus will get me a doin something. Some on yar will remember me a tellin on ya last year about a company who sent the Missus six Christmas cataloges and how she rung them up and giv them a piece oʼher mind well…… so far this year they hev sent her four cataloges, Iʼll let yar know next time what happen if they sent har any more.
Fare ye well tʼgether and du yu keep a troshin.

Missing Month

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

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

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

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

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