Tag: October

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

Thas bin a rum old time since I last hed a wud along with yu. We hev got a new King und a new Prime Minister.

Thas a rummin when yu think that the new Prime Minister is that Mawther who live just down the road und is the member of Parliament for sum on yu what read this. I spuse we knew she were doin to do the job for a while afore she were elected. She hant made a very good start cos folk are already complaining about what her und her chief money man hev done t’try und git us outa the financial muddle the country seem t’be in. Acors she hed a bit of a slow start cos only a couple o’day arter she were appointed har Majesty passed away.

The Queen have bin the only person a lot o’folk hev known on the throne as she took over from har Father 70 year ago. Durin that time she earn’t the respect of a lot o’folk both in this country und abroad. I spus because she hed the house up the road at Sandringham she seemed closer to those of us who live here on Norfolk. I never met har but I hev bin close to har a couple o’times. Once I were driven on a road near Sandringham just arter Christmas when I met a couple o’women on hoss back, cos I slowed down for um und as they rode past I see one on um were the Queen und on the other hoss were Princess Anne. Afore yu think that were dangerous for har to be a’ridin out on har own like that I can tell yu that about 25 yards behind them were a large car filled with folk a’keepin an eye on um. About 55 year ago I nearly went for an interview at Sandringham for a job. The man in charge at Easton Collage was contacted by the royal estate und asked if there were anybody who they could put forward for the job of Farm foreman. At the time I were a’goin to Easton for half a day every other week on a course. The head man asked t’see me und recon he wanted t’put me forward for the job if I were interested? Well a’course I were interested but when that come t’lookin at the job spec. I see that they wanted someone aged 25 und over, I were only 24 year old…… so Easton put somebody else forward und he went got the job.
The trouble is King Charles 3rd aint a’goin t’hev s’long to git his feet under the table as his mother hed. While he hev a’bin waiting less hope he hev bin a learning how t’do the job. As I hev said a’fore That int the power he hold, thas the power he will deny other folk.

Since I last hed a wud along with yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water agin. We went on a coach with sum other folk from Norfolk t’Switzerland t’see what they call a Cow down Festival. We should hev gone two year ago but Covid knocked that on the head. We see some other things while we were there un all. They hold these festivals when they bring the cows down from the high alpine pastures at the end o’the summer. We stayed in St. Anton but ha’a go up the road to another place t’see the cows a’comin down. The local farmers tricolate sum of cows up with head dresses und big bells round their necks und lead them through the village, there were also goats & horses und the local folk dress up in national costumes & perform local dances, Some o’the men did a whip cracking demonstration, my heart that made a rare noise und you ha’a give them plenty o’room. I say t’the Missus that I would’t mind having a go at that……She din’t say anything she just give me one o’har looks………..She told me later that I hev a job to crack the top of me boiled egg let alone trying to crack a whip. That were a good trip, the trouble was a day or two arter we hed got home we both cum down with this here Covid. My heart that don’t half knock the stuffing outa you. even though thas several days since we tested negative I still feel as if I am walkin through treacle. They recon that can take a few weeks till I will be pulling a full furrow so I recon my old bike is a’goin t’hev t’stay in the shud for a few more days.

I tell yu suffin I did afore we went over the water, I went to a show to photograph some Suffolk Horses. There were a good turn-out o’horses und there were a fare few folk there t’see them. That were good t’see several young handlers there un all. As long as there are young handlers then these hosses hev a chance o’surviving cos they are the next generation t’keep a breeding und showing them. There were a class for Mares & their Foals, one o’the foals din’t being separated from its mother while she were being walked und trotted up for the judges, My heart din’t he play up, put the man who were a leading him knew what he were a’doin so no harm was done.

Them boys up a Carra Rood hev got a busy month a’cumin up cos there hev got t’be another break in their games for the World Cup. If they are still in the same place in the league at the end o’the month as they are now most o’their supporters will be happy, there are allus those who recon they could hev done better. If they think they could do any better then they should git in the football pitch und try.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That seem that every time I have a wud along with you I allus start by talkin about the weather. Well that seem that every time I git my old computa out put a few wuds down we are either a’goin t’git some rare weather or we hev just hed sum. Thas either a’goin t’be s’hot that thas a’goin t’ burn yu or thas a goin t’rain s’hard that all the dykes will be full t’overflowing und thas a’for the wind start a’blowin. While I am a’wrttin this we are a’waitin for storm “Alex” to arrive. There int no wind yet but thas a’rainin.

Cos all this here wet weather aint any good for the farmers cos the land is all wet und dauby so the tractors can’t travel on the land. Afore that set in wet the Young Master up at the Hall got his beans cut. My hart there were a rare cloud of muck a’comin orf the combine while that were a cuttin & threshin the beans. Cos that don’t matter s; much now cos the combine hev got a cab so the driver aint a sittin out in it.
I’ll tell you suffin else about all this wet weather, that ain’t any good if yu are a’buildin houses. There’s a building site that I crowd my old bike past every mornin und they are havin a master job u’gettin the water away. Afore they started buildin they dug a gret old hole und filled it full o’plastic crates, arter they hed covered it over w’soil they started puttin in the footins for the houses und bungalows they were a’goin t’build. Well arter all this here rain we hev had there were water a standin about there every where. Well they come back with a gret old digger und started a diggin agin. They thought they must hev sorted it out cos they started a laying a road over where they hid dug. Well’ let me tell yu suffin, when I cycled past this mornin they hed got the digger back und that were diggin a-side the road they hed started a’puttin down so they hant got the job sorted out yet.

Durin the last couple o’weeks we hev lost a couple o’folk out’a the village who hed done a lot for all on us durin their lives. Enid Clarke had had har 100th birthday last year und hed lived in the village nearly all har life. She supported village events und will be remembered for the miniature painting that she did. These put Carbrooke on the map cors they were shown at some of the countries leading art galleries in London. Some on us are lucky enough to have some of har paintins t’remember har by. Until recently the Heritage Group in the village were grateful for har remembering village events in years gone by.
John Rogers hed not lived in the village as long as Enid but he also contributed a lot to our village by representing us on Breckland Council, he also served on the Parish Council for a number of years & was recently the Town Mayor at Watton.

A’time when we hev hid some fine weather the Missus & I hev bin gettin out a bit & tuther day we driv past a field where there were sum Sun Flowers a’growin. My hart they looked suffin special. That reminded us of when we hed bin over the water with our caravan und hed seen them a’growin in France. Cos they grow them over there by the field full und combine them when they are fit. The ones we see tuther day were just a strip along one edge of the field, they were put there as cover und feed for Pheasants although other birds will find them un all. I grow a few in our garden every year.
Sum on yu may remember me a’sayin earlier this year that I hed turned part o’the garden over to a wild flower meadow, well that hev done alright und we hed about twelve different wild flowers cum up. I hev cut it down now, I ha’a use my strimmer machine cos I han’t got a scythe any more. Arter I hed cleared all the sward orf I sowed sum Yellow Rattle on sum patches o’bare earth . I hev sown that cos they recon when that chit und grow in the spring that’ll stop the grass a’growin s’quick which will help the wild flowers t’git a’goin bit better.
I’ll ha’a stop a writin this cos the Norwich City game kick orf soon. I see they hev sold one o’their players for twenty five million pound. Thas a rare lot o’money but I suppose that the club what hev bought him see it as an investment. I think if that hed bin my money I would hev invested it in a bit o’land cos that’ll still be there for a few more years than a footballer will be a’playin. That got me a’thinkin about the sort o’money Farmers spend on living things like cattle. In the late 1950s a dairy farmer here in Norfolk bought a pedigree Friesian Bull over from Canada. That cost him ten thousand pounds which were a lot o’money then. I remember a see in it when he hed an open day & I went with a crowd of other students from Easton College. How sum-ever he had’t hed it very long when that were a serving a cow und hurt it’s back, do yu know, that bull never served another cow. Another farmer I knew spent three thousand pound on a Ewe that he bought from over the water. When I went t’see him und asked where it was he recon he hed turned it out with his other home bred sheep. I think if that hed bin mine I’d hev wanted t’keep that where I could see it most o’the time.

That old coronavirus in’t a goin away yet, I recon that’ll be about for a bit o’time yet so we’ll ha’a be a’keepin our distance for a bit longer. I see that there are all sorts of different face masks about now for folk t’where. I hev got one with a Suffolk Horse’s head on it. Somebody tuther day recon that made them laugh but I could’t see if they were a laughing cos they were a’wearin a mask as well. I’ll tell yu suffin though, I can still tell if the Missus is given me “one of har looks” even if she is a wearin har mask.

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

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

A’time yu are a’readin this we’ll will ha turned the calendar over agin und them nights will be a pullin in. That’ll mean I wount be able t’draw out inta the garden arter I’v hed m’tea.

I know there are sum on yar who will a bin a’keepin your eye on how them up at Whitehall are gettin on wi them BREXIT talks with them over the water. Well t’my eyes they don’t seem t’be a’gettin on to sharp. Her who’s in charge hev ha’a get somebody else t’do the negotiations cos har fust man he chucked the job in. The trouble is time is a slippin away und they don’t seem t’be a puttin their backs into it. When they go over the water for a meetin they go on Tuesday und come back on Thursday. I thought yu only warked a three day week when there want enough t’keep yu a’goin for five or seven days?

Tuther day they told the farmers what they were a’goin t’du when the EEC farm payments dry up. They called it a ‘landmark document” Hu. At the moment the farmers receive a acreage/hectare payment . Them up at Whitehall are agoin t’replace this w’payments over a seven year period to a system that’ll pay farmers for “public goods” which mean conservation , higher animal welfare standards or public access to the countryside. There’s nothin in there for increasing food production. At the moment, the farmers in this country only produce 40% o’what we put on our table t’eat! Still what du yu expect cos the man in charge he’s the same one who got rid of 20% of the Prison Officers and look at the muddle their in now?

When yu are a’ridin about yu see a lot o’pigs kept outside, well the farmers who keep them are a’gettin worried cos over the water in Belgium they hev found a case of African swine fever in a wild boar. They don’t want to see that a’comin over here cos if that git inta a pig herd the mortality can be 100%

I see the village hall is closed so they can put in sum new toilets und kitchen. They hev done well t’git the money t’do the wark. Mind yu thay wanted a’doin cos I helped when the old toilets und kitchen were put in ni on forty year ago.

Them boys up a Carra Rood are a’doin well. A’time o’writtin this (end Sept) they hev won 3 matches in a row. Thas good t’see the manager givin some o’the youngsters a go. Thas the only way the’ll learn.

The Missis und I hev bin a’havin a look at sum o’these gardens that open. Tuther day we went und hed a look at a garden right in the middle o’Cambridge. Well bor we hed a job a parkin. Findin a space were alright but there were a notice on the ticket machine saying that yu ha’a pay usin yar mobile phone. Well, that were a job und a half, arter about 20 minutes I were gettin suffin savage cos that wont wark. The Missus she kept a’tryin t’git me t’calm down. How sum ever arter a while we see some folk go to another machine und put sum money und git a ticket out. So thas what we did. Just arterwards a ticket man cum past so I hed a word along a him. He recon that I were the only one he new who hed hev any trouble w’the mobile service. I told him thas cos I cum from Norfolk und we du things differently there. The Missus din’t say anything……….she just giv me one of har looks.

Arter we hed looked round the garden we driv to a place where you could hev yar tea a sittin in a deck chair. The Missus und I recon we would hev a job a gettin outa them so we sit on some plastic garden chairs. The place were near the river und the Missus recon that next time we come to Cambridge we could hire a punt und come to the teas place by punt. I don’t now who she think ull be a drivin the punt cos that ount be me.

Afor I go I must just tell yu suffin what happened to me tuther day….I fell orf me bike. That happened just outside our house. I were a’sittin on me bike ready t’go und git me peaper when I noticed I hant got my yella waistcoat on. So I cocked my old leg over the saddle t’git orf…the only trouble was I din’t git it high enough und that hit the saddle which knocked inta me und down I went onta the hard road. My heart I felt suffin dissy, thas when you know how old yu are. I ha’a crawl t’the side of the road und then get up und git me bike outa the road. I got me self indoors und got upstairs t’see the Missus. Do yu know I ha a lay on the bed for a bit. I hed taken the skin orf me elbow und my behind felt a bit tender. Still the bike were ok und I hev bin out on it agin.

They tell me that the Villages History group are a’havin a meeting in the Church on October 19th at 7pm. They hev got somebody a’cummin along to talk about Farming Today & Yesterday und what effect that hev hed on the village. The Missus und I are a’goin t’draw down there for it so we might see yu there.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Them old nights are a pullin in suffin quick now, that’ll soon be too dark t’git outside un du a bit in the garden arter tea.

I am nearly back inta full harness cos the operation I hed on my back hev nearly healed up. When we went t’see the nus tuther day she recon I could start a riddin my old bike agin. I were suffin pleased t’git back onta the saddle und start a ridin round arter mi pearper.

Since I last hed a wud along wi yu the Missus und I hev bin over the water w’our caravan. Them Nurses down at the surgery showed the Missus how t’re-dress my back every four t’five days while we were away. Du yu know what she ha’a put inta the wound t’keep it clean……seaweed. That dint look or spell like sea weed t’me but that seem t’be a’doin the job right enough.

We driv down France w’our caravan for 3 days till we were about 100 miles south o’Limoges. Thas where them Limousine Cattle come from . I see several on um a grazing in the fields while we were a’drivin along.

Where we stayed there were several caves t’go und look at. We went und hed a look at two um. The fust one we ha’a get inta a boat with six other folk and a young fella on the back paddled us acroos this here underground lake afor we could git t’the caves und at the other one we went to we ha’a get onta a little old train which took us a good mile inta the hill afor we got orf und started a’lookin about. I din’t say anything t’the Missus cos I dint want t’worry har but I were a’wondering how we were a’goin t’git out if the boat sunk or the train brok down??

Another place we went to were a goat farm where they meade cheese. When we got there there wernt meny folk about und yu ha’a hev a look round yar self. The fust shed we went into were where they kept the 400 milking goats. That were like a gret old cattle shud split inta several pens w’goats in .

My heart when we got in there my old eyes started a’stingin cos o’the ammonia in the air. I say t’the Missus they wan’t git some fresh air inta here. The goats looked happy enough a’eatin hay or lyin down chewing the cud. They recon that yu could look through sum windas t’see the cheese a’bein meade und the goats a’bein milked. The trouble was the windas were s’dirty all yu could see were shadows a’movin about. The Missus could tell I went very impressed by the place cos she recon I kept a mutterin. I did buy sum o’their cheese and that taste all right only the Missus keep a mobbin me t’finish it us cos that smell a’bit.

I’ll tell yu suffin we come acroos one arternoon when we were a’drivin up a little old country lane ,, we come round the corner und there were a shepherd a leading his flock of sheep along the rood with his dorg a comin along behind um. I did manage t’git a photo but only arter the shepherd hed past the car.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood seem to hev stopped goals bein scored a’gin um….all they hev got t’du now is start a’scorin them at tuther end o’the pitch. The trouble is them Tractor Boys keep a’winnin un all . My Brother keep on about it when we see in. I’ll tell yu suffin the Missus got him t’hold his row when she reminded him that Ipswich hev been in the same league for 16 years. One o’our Boys say “Nice one Mum”

Yesterday(26th October) when I were a’riddin my old bike along the footpath twix Caudle Springs und the Norridge Road I see somebody from County Hall hed put a notice up a’tellin folk that there were a Hornets Nest along side the path und to keep clear on it. I recon if somebody from County Hall could come out und put three or four notices up thas a pity they dint bring a scythe with um und cut some o’the nettles back. Cos folk are likely t’git stung by the nettles afor they git stung by any hornets.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

I know I reconned we were a’havin sum rare weather last time I hed a wud along with yu but my heart alive the last few days hev bin suffin hot. (12th-15th September). I ha’a take my old braces und vest orf cos I hev bin a’gettin suffin hot a’doin nothin. That hev bin to hot t’get out inta the garden. The Missus recon that this hot weather is my fault cos I reconned tuther month if that got to hot I’d ha’a be like them French Farmers und not do any wark in the middle o’the day.

Well they done it….. them up at County Hall hev finally got round t’trimmin the footpaths back. The one twix Caudle Springs und the Norridge Rood they did the Monday the schools went back. The trouble is….as far as I can see……. there an’t any school children a’usin the footpath now t’get to the village school.

Last time I looked…. they han’t finished trimmin out the path twix Summer Lane und Mill Lane.

There hev bin a bit of a smell in the air leartly as they hev a bi a’spreadin some muck(farm yard manure) onta the stubble ready t’be ploughed in. That’ll put a bit of heart back inta the soil. The Missus don’t like the smell but I tell har you want’t teak a good old sniff on it cos that’ll clear yar lungs out……She recon she’d rather I driv har down t’the coast so she could teak a good sniff o’the sea air.

I see them who farm near the Ovington bridge are a growin a crop w’white flowers on… I recon they will be a ploughin that in as green manure. I remember years ago a sowin mustard seed inta the stubble arter harvest cos that grow suffin quick und then we ploughed that in as green manure.

Tuther day there were a farm machinery demonstration held on a farm tuther side o’Hingham. I drawed along t’hev a look. My heart there were sum gret old tractors a’warkin. One o’the tractor drivers he gi’me a ride in his cab. I din’t even ha’a sit on the mudguard cos there were a spare seat for a passenger. Well bor there a’rare lot o’buttons und levers in the cab and two computer screens for him t’look at. He recon that all he hed pressed a few buttons und put his foot down onta a pedal und the tractor went orf with-out him ha’a do anything else. At the end orf the field that even lifted the machine behind outa the ground und set it back in a’gen once he’d tunned round t’go back up the field agin. He recon the tractor cost £120,000 und the drill behind were another £72,000. Well bor I can tell yu that were an experience. Still thas progress for yu, I’ll tell yu suffin thas a lot easier than walkin behind an old Hoss all day.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood hev make a start tryin t’get back inta the top league agin.

Less hope we see them win more games than they did last season. Sum folk recon they orta hev spent sum more money on new players. At least they arn’t in the red like sum clubs. I recon sum o’them players arnt worth the wages they git. They orta be payed accordin to if they win, lose or draw a game. Still I spus that would mean they would be a divin about even more t’try und get another player sent orf or t’git a penalty.

I still recon they payed to much…. I sound just like m’Father… I can remember him a mobbin when, in 1961, Jimmy Hill got the clubs to drop the £20 a week maximum wage for players and Fulham were a’goin t’pay Johnny Haynes £100 a week.

I’ll tell you suffin, while I am a writing this thas a started rainin suffin hard und that look as if thas a goin t’keep a’goin all day. The Missus will likely recon thas my fault un all, still that’ll meake them old sugar beet grow a bit more even if the Missus cant get har washin dry.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Last time I hed a wud a’long w’yu I recon that the Farmers would hev it all safely gathered in afor the end o’August. Well that din’t happin did it. Old Mother Nature she made sure o’that w’all that rain that cum down. Still them old wheats don’t go down like they used to years ago. That were a job then cos arter a tempest the old wheat would be a layin flat in the field just as if yu hed gone over it w’a set o’rolls. My heart that took sum cuttin, if that all lay the same way that wernt s’bad but if that lay all ways you hed a job. Yu ha’a drive the old combine real slow und keep a weavin the cutter bar back und forud so the old lifters could get under the straw. When yu did get the corn inta the tank that were only good t’feed to livestock. In them days most farms were mixed w’sum livestock and sum arable so corn that wernt good enough t’sell for malting und millin were kept for winter feed.

I were a’thinkin tuther day about when I warked for a local Corn Merchant durin the 1970s. I would go round at harvest time und try und buy cereals orf my customers. If the Barley were a malting variety I teak a sample to the maltings t’see what they would bid me. If they gi me a price I would go back t’the farm und try und buy it leaving me about £5 a tonne t’cover transport und a bit o’profit. That were the same w’millin wheat. I’d teake a sample inta Read’s at Norwich t’see if they would gi’me a price so I could go back t’the farm und try und buy the wheat for £5 a tonne less that the price Reads hed bid me. Cos I wernt the only one tryin t’buy the farmers corn . In the 1970s I recon that there were 7 or 8 other local merchants as well as the big national feed merchants like BOCM & Pauls of Ipswich all a goin round biddin the farmers prices for their crops either for malting, bread and biscuit flour or for turning inta animal feed cos in them days there were ni on a 1000 dairy herds in Norfolk as well as sum big pig and poultry units und they all ha’a be fed.
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Farmers used t’keep stock as well as hevin arable crops cos they used t’say that they allus hed suffin t’sell that were meakin a bit o’money. They hed a sayin “Up Horn (livestock) down Corn or tuther way round. At the moment I recon they would be a’sayin “down horn and corn cos the prices they are a’gettin for both are moderate. I see that them old french farmers are a demonstrating cos o’bad prices for their crops and milk by a drivin their tractors inta the cities in France t’stop the traffic. I suffin pleased the Missus und I arnt a goin over the water any time soon cos that would teak yu a rare lot o’time t’git anywhere if the roads were bunged up w’angry french farmers und thas afor you try t’git back acroos or under the channel.

They hev put up one o’them solar farms near the Norridge Rood behind them gret old warehouses. Sum folk recon they din’t ort be built cos that teake land outa food production. I recon what they want t’du is t’put them panels up higher orf the ground und sow grass so yu could graze sum sheep or run a few hins on the land underneath. Still I spus that with farm prices bein where they are solar panels are a’meakin more money for a farmer than lamb or eggs.

Well them boys up a Carra Rood hev meade a start a’playin w’the big boys. I recon they’ll du all right cos although they hant got any expensive players what they du hev is team spirit und play for each other. Sum o’them players in sum of them bigger teams are only a thinkin about one player when they git on the pitch……. thas them selves. Another think that dont help is them players cum from all over the world und half on um cant understand what the other half is a’sayin tu them and most of them hev a manager from sum where over the water un all.

Things are a’slowin up in the garden, the Missus und I hev started a’cuttin some things back. The trouble is I seem to hev got a lot more stuff t’put onta my old compost heap. The Missus is hevin a job t’hull anything up onta the top on it. I keep a’gettin up there und jammin about t’try und push the heap down, That ull be alright when I empty last years compost out t’meake more room. Until then I hev told the Missus I were a goin t’meake har a little ladder so she could get onta the top of heap w’me, then we can jam about t’gether . She dint say anything…… she just gi me one a’har looks.

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

Well thas nearly “ safety gathered in”(early September) Thas the harvest I’m a talkin about, und thas finished suffin early this year. Ridin about I hev seen a field or two o’Wheat that still want a’cuttin und the Young Master up at the Hall hev still got a field uf Beans t’get in.

I were a thinkin about the different sizes o’bales o’straw yu see about now, thes round uns unds und them brick shaped ones from little uns yu could pick up by hand right through to them gret old big uns that hev nearly 15cwt (750kilos) o’straw jammed in um.
I recollect we hed round bales back in the 1950’s. They were little doddy things. A firm called Allis Chalmers ,from America, bought over a baler that made little round bales. The Farmer where m’Father warked he hed one. As far as I can remember they only used it t’meak hay bales. That hed it’s own engine t’drive it und it hed a lot o’wide belts t’roll the hay inta a round bale. When they were carted t’the barn they took sum stackin cos yu could’unt get um bound tight agin one another. When yu were a stackin little brick shaped bales yu could build them up just like a house wall und bind um it tight. Yu could unt du this with them round bales und a lot o stacks made with um fell over. I think m’Father only used the Allis baler for one year cos another fault with um was if the belts wernt adjusted right they got hot und were likely t’fly a’fire und melt.

A’for them handling systems cum out all the bale cartin were dun by hand. That took two on u t’lift one o’them little brick shaped bales onta a trailer when that got high, Yu looked t’make the load 12 to 14 layers high. When yu went to hull the bale onta the load two on yu stood with yar back t’the load, one on yu ha’a work right handed und one on yu ha’a work left handed. That were handy if yu were both the same height und yar fork shafts were the same length. Yu both drive yar fork tines inta the bale und then yu lifted the bale up und back over yar head inta the load. That wark were part o’whot sum folks, who hev never dun any straw cartin, call “The Good Old Days”!!

They started a’usin them big round balers in the late 1970s. A firm called Farm Hand who hed a place near Wymondham got sum on um over from America. Another thing they bought over, about the same time, were a gret old machine that looked like a round tub on wheels. They called it a Tub Grinder. Yu could drop one of them gret old round bales inta it und teeth in the bottom of the tub would grind up the straw so that could be mixed with silage, Sugar Beet Pulp und Concentrates in a feeder wagon t’be fed to cattle und sheep. They called the mixed feed a Totally Mixed Ration, or TMR for short. They are a’still feedin cattle with TMR rations t’day. All they were a’doin were copying what farmers hed bin a doin for years on the barn floor. They used t’cut straw up through a Chaff Cutter und slice up Mangolds or Turnips on another machine, these machines were often turned by hand. That were hard werk I can tell yar. Yu’ed meake a heap on the barn floor with the chaff, sliced Mangolds/Turnips und sum suger beet pulp und rolled barley. Yu’ed then mix this lot up with a shovel und cart it by hand in a bushel skep und feed it t’the cattle they kept in the bullock yards durin the winter. Yu ha’a go inta the yard with the cattle t’feed um. That’d keep yu suffin warm if u’d got 20 or 30 head o’cattle t’feed every day (includin Saturdays und Sundays)

Well the old football hev kicked orf agin. Mr Adams und them boys up at Carra Rood hev meade a good start though thas a long way till next May. At least they hev beaton them old Tractor Boys . My Bother recon he support them, he lived in Suffolk for a bit, but when yu ask him he dont seem t’know much about who’s a’playin for um. He hant been sayin a lot since Norwich beat um.

Things are a’startin t’slow up in the old garden. Thas bin a long growin season cos a lot o’plants never really hed a rest as last winter were s’mild. The Missus recon we could du with a harder winter this year t’give things in the garden a rest. I say “Can I hev a rest un all if we get a hard winter”. She din’t say anything…… She just gi’me one o’har looks.

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

Thas bin saved…………The lady editor ha handed over this here New Penny News to a new editor. Best o’luck to him und his team und thank yu t’the lady editor who hev kept this a’goin for the last two und a half years.

Well mother nature ha played har part which ha’allowed the old combines t’keep a’goin und get harvest finished. As well as a cartin grain they hev bin a balin the straw und gettin that carted outa the village. Sum on it will be used as ltter for livestock und sum on it will be goin to be burnt at Power Stations. There were a time when straw wernt wanted und were burnt in the fields, when that were stopped a lot o’farmers hed straw choppers fitted on the back of their combines t’chop the straw so that could be ploughed back in. Now there are plenty o’folk a’wantin t’buy the straw. Farmers sell it providing thas shifted orf the field soon arter the combine ha finished. Them big bales cum in all shapes und sizes. The square ones are easier t’stack but if that rain the round ones are best cos the rain water run orf them. I used t’use the round ones t’litter ducks with, once yu cut the string all yu ha’a du was roll them out acroos the shud.

A few weeks ago the Missis und I did suffin we hant dun for a long while……………we hed a day on the Broads. We hired one o’them day boats a Wroxham with our Daughter und har man. The hire man told us how t’drive the boat There were a steerin wheel und one lever which were for forudd un backuds. There wern’t no brakes, if yu want’a stop yu ha’a put it in reverse. When yu tunned the steerin wheel the back end o’the boat cum round, like a combine.

I asked the man how fast we could go, he say, a good walkin pace. Well that were a job to judge cos yu don’t see many folk a walkin on the water. We hed a good day, there wern’t many folk about so we plenty of ducks and several Harnsers (Norfolk word for a Heron). We got as far as Ranworth where we stopped t’hev a bite t’eat. That were a job a gettin near the jetty t’tie-up. I tried a backin in but that dint wark cos yu could-unt steer proply.

How-sum-ever with a bit o’bumpin orf other boats we got close enough for our Daughter’s man t’get ashore und tie us up.

I went up t’Carra Rood tuther night with one o’our boys t’see them Caneries play aginst Bury in a cup game. We see sum goals from both teams. City ha spent sum money this summer and from what I see they h’got sum tidy players. Less hope thas a,goin t’be enough? We’ll know cum next May. Sum o’them players are a’earnin a rare lot of money now, I recon thas got outa hand. arter all thas only twenty two men a runnin about a field a’tryin t’git a ball inta a cupboard,

Things are a slowin up a bit in the garden, although them old weeds keep a’growin. I am a buildin another shud t’put my Bantuums inta for the winter. Thas t’keep them away from Mr Fox. That’ll also keep them bamtum dry cos if they get wet the feathers round their feet will get all matted up und stop them a gettin about. I ha gotta get that finished afor the Missus start a mobbin cos I hev got behind with my jobs indoors.

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

Well by the time you cast your eyes over this swit Summer will ha slipped away an wi inta Autumn. That ha bin a rum year so far, first we hed no rain so they recon so we ha’a stop a usin hose pipes, then that rain s’hard und folk’s who make a livin from holiday makers were a’sayin they wernt a makin any money, at least that kept fine for all them Olympics and the farmers were able t’get the harvest in, cos they can du it a lot quicker with them big old combines than we could with an old binder.
Do you now, they were a writin in the EDP the t’other day about a new combine they were a trying in the county whot could cut 20 acres wheat an hour. The fust combine I driv in the early 1960’s were an old Massey with a 8ft 6in cut, we could never cut enough t’finish any field the same day as we started in it, The farm were about 150 acres in 18 fields. When the master changed the Massey for a 12ft cut Claas we were suffin pleased cos we could cut a whole field in one day. The Master sent two on us on a course to learn how t’drive the new combine, that must ha bin a good course cos I cen still remember sum o’the things thay told us. The Claas hed a alarm on it that told yu if the straw got bunged up in the back, if the straw got bunged up that pressed agen a button that blew a thing like a car hooter, the trouble was the old combine were a makin so much noise yu never heard it. Wi them early combines we hatta ajust everything by hand and yu were a’warkin in the muck all the time cos there were no cabs, cuttin wheat were the wust , when yu finished cuttin yu looked as if yu had stuck yar head up a chimminy.

Cos I were away for the Norfolk Show and the Wayland were cancelled I hed a day at the Aylsham Show at the end of August. There were a rare crowd of folk there. I were a’helpin on the Rare Breed stand and wi the young handlers competition, thas a bin runnin all summer at different shows. The young handlers show sheep at these shows & get marks accordin t’how the judge place them. The younguns sho other folks sheep and the Judges are a’judgin how they handle the sheep. At the Aylsham the marks are added up and the winners get a cup. Thas good t’see the younguns a havin a go and there are several on um. They also hev young handlers competitions wi cattle an all. Thas good t’see the younguns havin a go cos us olduns wont be around f’ever. When yu are a gettin on yu get t’thinkin how much yu know about handlin livestock that yu cant earn outa a book.

Them old evenins are a drawin in so I hatta scrap round t’get all I want t’du afor I draw inside for m’tea. I ha got m’self a little trailer t’go behind the car so I can carry things about w’out havin t’crowd them inta the car. That’ll stop the Missus a mobbin me cause I am a messin up the inside o’the car. The fust thing I will be a’usin the trailer for is t’clear sum stuff outa the garage so I can store the trailer inside.

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

Dear Sar,
Thank-ye kindly for printing my email last month and I will try an have a wud along with-ya agin when I can.
The month (October) started suffin wet & it were a job on the garden with it bein so dawby. The Missus she get suffin savige if I start a dragen mud indoors so now I ha’a leave my old boots in the shud.
The rain ha made it wet for them a getten the old sugar beet orf but they tell me they arnt in no hurry as them old beet are a still a’growin & with them big machines on them floatin tyres they can clear 30 to 40 acres a day what ever the weather. Thas different from when I started a werkin on the land. three on us with 2 trailers and a single row harvester ha a scrap about to clear an acre a day.; When I went to a Farmin College in 1960 they were still a teachin us how to knock & top beet by hand & we ha’a take a test a doing it. You were given a bit’o beet 4 rows acrors by 2 chain(44yds) long. You ha’a pull em ood beet out’a the ground, knock the soil orf & lay em in rows, then come along with yar beet hook,cut the tops orf & hull the beet inta little heaps ready to be forked onto a cart. I remember I got 20 out’a 20 for style. I reckon that was cos I was left handed & the master who was a markin us was right handed &he dint know if I was a doin the job right or not.
The other day I drawed up to the malenium green with my Grandson, my hart han’t them old trees & bushes shot up, some on em look as if they want trimmen out abit , I hope there are some youngans in the village who can do this as it int any good a leavin nature to itself, yer got to give her a hand how an agin. Thas like when a new vica who found his new chuch yard with roses a growin round the chuch door & the grass all mown short said to the verger “what beauty God can create in his acre”. Huh said the verger, yew oughter seen what that were like afore I come, and th’Almighty had it on his own.
Well I must close now cos jack frost a left his calling card this week an I want to get some ‘o my tender plants in’t the greenhouse afor he call agin.
Fare ye well & do you keep a troshin.
The Boy Tom

By the time you read this the clocks will ha’ bin put back & that’ll be to dark to get out inta the old garden arter tea.
Duin September another day whot mean a lot t’farmers will ha’bin an gon, thas Michaelmas day.
This is the day is when farms changed hands, Harvest ha finished & most o’the land will be a lain falla so the new owner or tennent can take over & sow the next crops. When there were a lot o’smaller farms in the county that meant that arter harvest & afor Michaelmas day there were a’lot of farm sales when the live an dead stock(machinery) were sold orf. I used t’like a drawin along t’a farm auction, besides buyin suffin you met other farmers & werkers for a mardle, there used t’be a beer tent at most auctions, acors as farms ha got bigger there arn’t so not s’meny t’change hands now so there arn’t so meny auctions t’go to.

We’r lucky cos there’s an auction every week up at Watton sale yard, I draw up there most weeks t’have a look, If yer a lookin for suffin arter a while that ull tun up, I’m a lookin for suffin at the moment, I arn’t a goin t’tell you what that is,cos if I du, when that do tun up yu might be there & bid agin me.

They keep a sayin that we ha gotta recycle things more, well I recon farmers ha bin a’doin that f’years cos farm sales are a way of recyclin stuff, I remember on one farm I were a werkin on our master took over another farm & when we were a trimmin back a big hedge we found a set of harras & a rib roll what had bin put in the hedge t’stop up a gap so the cattle dint get out, we dragged the harras & roll out of the hedge und got um t’the blacksmith who tricolated them up so we could use um again on the land, now that were 45 year a’go so recyclin ent nothin new.

Durin the harvest they ha bin a cartin a lot of straw through the village, with them big bales that don’t take long t’clear a field. That used t’take a lot longer when we were a usin them little old bales, before there were machines hung on the back of balers t’drop the bales out in groups balin were a 2 man job. There were a man a drivin the tractor a pullin the baler & another bein towed on a sledge behind where the bales cum out. When I were a younun this were a job I used t’do. The sledge were several long planks o’wood bolted t’a head stock that were attached t’the baler by a chain. You ha’a stand on these planks & as the bales cum orf the back o’the baler you stacked them up & when they were 4 or 5 high you stuck a iron bar inta the ground between the planks & pushed the bales orf, you ha’a try & get the stacks o’bales in a’line acroos the field cos this made it easier when the men cum to load them onta trailers. That were a dusty old job a standin on the old sledge a tryin t’keep yar balance & movin the bales about with-out a fallin orf, acors Health & Safety wont allow that t’happin now.

Thas a good job the H & S men wern’t about when my father boss built a bale sledge t’go behind the combine. When combines fust cum about you could have a straw buncher on the back, as the threshed straw cum orf the back o’the combine that tied it inta bunches, rather than hev the bunches layin about all over the field Dad’s boss built a sledge to be towed behind the combine so a man could stack 50 -60 these bunches on the sledge, when yu ha got a full load instead of usin a metal pole t’push the bunches orf the sledge you ha’a pull a lever & the floor behind where you were a standin tipped up like a cart & the bunches slid orf & then swung back inta place so you could start a stakin the bunches again, now that were a filthy job cos you got all the dust, chaff & coulder that the combine were a chuckin out, that wernt s’bad if there were a cross wind a blowin. You ha’a look out cos if the front end of the combine got blocked cos the driver would stop & reverse the combine t’clear the blockage, you ha’a jump outa the way or the combinw would ha driv over yu.

Well I ha better be a gettin outside cos there are one or two jobs I ha got t’get dun before the old weather stop me. I like t’try & keep outside cos I can allus find suffin t’do, if that tun wet I draw inta my shud or the greenhouse cos I am a already thinkin about what I am agin t’plant next year. My old strawberries dint do to sharp this year so I am a goin t’build m’self a wooden trough on legs. I’m a goin t’fill this wi sum soil & compost & plant me strawberries in that and put um somewhere where they’l get more sun. Bein orf the ground ull make picken on um easier un all. I arnt a goin t’tell the Missus I am a goin t’build it cos she recon now I hant got any more room. I keep a tellin her there’s plenty o’room upwards.

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