Tag: September

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

Since I last had a word a’long with yu we hev hed a drop o’rain. Mind yu that hant bin enough, we did nev a night when there were a few tempests about. There were a rare old clap o’thunder overhead, that woke me up und I could hear the old rain a’cumin down. That finished afore I got up und when I went out on my old bike you could see there hed bin a rare drop o’water cos there were stones und soil a washed out onto the road where the water hed run. Du yu know, when I rode up the footpath t’the Norridge road the water were running suffin fast under the footbridge. I’ll tell yu suffin else, when I rode over the footbridge the following morning the ditch were dry as a bone agin.
Since we had that drop o’rain the land is still dry, I see a tractor cultivating tuther day und there were dust a’blowin. Cos the next thing the farmers are a’goin t’be thinkin about is how are they a’goin t’git them old sugarbeet outa the ground. Mind yu they will be leaving them old beet in the ground as long as possible t’see if they grow a bit more.
still they recon there a’goin the be sum more rain at the end o’this week. Thas hope that don’t affect the Wayland Show which is goin t’be on again this comin Sunday (4th Sept)

The tuther mornin when we got up und looked outa the bedroom window we see the road outside the house had a lot o’water runnin down it, at fust we thought that had bin raining agin but then we noticed that were only wet on the far side o’the road. When we went out und had a look we could see that the water were cummin outa the bank where there were water a bubbling outa the ground. That were reported und somebody cum out und hed a look. They put signs up that said the road were closed, only that wernt cos they dint block the road orf und there were still room t’drive a car past They cum out at about ten o’clock at night und dug a hole in the bank t’repair the leak but arter they’d finished they din’t fill the hole in. We ha’a wait the best part of a week for them t’cum back t’fill the hole in und teak the signs away.

I went up t’Carra Rood tuther week t’see them Canaries play a cup game. That were a good game with plenty o’goals und a penalty shoot out t’decide who went through t’the next round. There were six on us there including our two Grandsons who enjoyed it. Although they live away their Father hev made sure they are still support the Canaries.
Them City players arnt doin to bad in the league at the moment havin won their last four games.

I see they are a’havin an evening o’pig racing at the Village Hall next week. I recon that’ll be like them hoss racing film night we used t’hev a few year ago. I’ll tell yu suffin, pigs can run fast enough when yu are trying t’catch them, there int a lot on a pig t’grap hold of when you do git near enough , at least sheep hev got a bit o’wool or a pair of horns t’git hold of.

They tell me that the village Heritage Group are holding a Harvest Tea in the Village Hall on Friday 23rd September from 2 – 4pm So come along und hev a mardle (chat) along with them und hev a look at what is on display The Missus und I might draw down und hev a look so we might see yu there.
Some on yu may hev seen that the hoss plough hev gone orf the plinth outside the village hall, thas been tricolated up und so that’l look good for a few more years.
Them old nights are starting t’draw in so I hed better finish und draw outside t’git a few jobs finished afore thas to dark t’see what I am a’doin.

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 will hev drawed inta the last three months o’the year. I don’t think August ull be a record month for the weather we hev had unless thas for lack o’sun und warm weather. They recon Autumn hev arrived all ready, I told the Missus I’ll soon be a’puttin my old vest on agin.

Since I last hed a’werd along with yu the Missus und I hev bin away agin for a few days in our caravan. We went to Hampshire, my heart that were a job a’gettin there the roads were all jammed up wi traffic. I told the Missus I recon I could hev got the just a quick on my old bike, She said I’d hev a job cos you can’t teake a pedal bike on a motorway. That were different this time when we were a goin (slowly) round the M25 near Heathrow, mostly yu see planes a takin orf or landin one arter another, this time I think we see two planes take orf. Another thing yu see when yu git near Heathrow is them gret old grass banks on tuther side o’the road when they hev got them big old water Resevours . That got me thinkin back to the late 1970s when the grass around the water were kept cut back by several hundred sheep. During that time I were a warkin for a firm who made sold sheep medical products und once a year I ha’a drive down there und git an order for the products that would keep them sheep fit und healthy for another year. I wonder who do that now?

While we were away we went und hed a look at the Castle where they film that Downton Abbey. Thas the third time we hev hed tickets , tuther two time the old coronavirus hev beaton us back. We ha’a stand outside for about thirty minutes afore they let us in. Once inside there plenty o’space t’keep away from other folk und they hed big photos in sum o’the rooms so yu could see where they recorded the programme. I asked one fella who were standin about why we weren’t allowed t’teak photos – he recon thas corse thas a private home und the family don’t want that photographed. I din’t say anything but when we hed finished lookin round the Missus bought a book full o’photos o’the rooms we hed just been a’lookin at.
I’ll tell yu suffin they hed a lot of there und that were wasps. Arter we hed bought sum wittles (food) we ha’a find sum where outside t’sit down und eat it. The fust two tables we sat down at we ha’a move arter a minute or two cos them old wasps were everywhere. We ended up sit-in out in the middle o’the park und one or two on um still found us.
Another place we drawed along to were the Weald & Downland Living Museum, thas just over the Hampshire border in East Sussex. Thas a bit like our Gressenhall Rural Life Museum only a bit bigger. Thas also the place where they make that Repair Shop programme. We see the barn they use but you could’t git near it. There were sum farm animals un all , Southdown Sheep und Percheron Hosses. The hosses are used to pull some old farm implements und they grow crops just like they do on the farm at Gressenhall. Do yu now that there’s a Percheron Horse kept in Watton that come from the Weald Museum. I’’ll tell yu suffer else I see in the Shop at the museum, that were a book about the life o’somebody called Jack Juby. Now he come from Norfolk und sum o’his family live in Carbrooke & Jack worked with hosses all his life – just afore he died a book was produced about his life with hosses. That were a few year ago now so that were nice to see his book still bein sold. When Jack were alive if you had suffin about hosses that you could’t find the answer you were told to “Ask Jack”

Well them old farmers hev nearly finished the corn harvest. Mother Nature han’t turned the sun on too much lately so they are havin to wait for the winter wheat to ripen, a’riding about I can see that the young Master here in the village hev still a fare bit on it waiting to be cut.

Them boys up at Carra Rood han’t made too good a start to the season. Cos they hev got sum new players thas a’goin the teak them a bit o’time ti’git t’play well t’gether. Still I see they arnt the only ones t’lose 5-0 t’Manchester City und thas a long while till the end o’the season.

Yu remember how I hev told yu about setting sum hen’s eggs t’hatch under a couple of my bantams. Well the chicks are getting suffin big now und one or two on um hev started a’layin . I hev got two cockerels which I hev ha’a split them up cos they hev started fighting. I recon I shall ha’a find a new home for one on um.

Fare ye well und du yu keep a’troshin

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

We’r hed sum rum old weather since I last hed a wud along with yu.
I was a writing last month about how they were a’tellin us how we were a’goin t’git sum rare hot days, well as I hev told yu afore I hev got one o’them weather stations rigged up in my garden – du yu know that on the 7th August that got up to 37.5c if that won’t hot enough on 12th August that got up to 37.8c.
Then acors towards the end o’the month we hed a rare lot o’rain. My old rain gauge overflowed when that got to 2.5ins that had fallen in about 3 hrs. At least that mean that the old water butts are full for the Mrs’s house plants through the winter. The hot weather we hed afore the tempests meant the the farmers could git the corn harvest done although they tell me that the yields hev bin a bit moderate. A’ridin round you could see that cos there weren’t a lot of straw bales a’standin about.

Although we hev bin self isolating the Missus & I hev let the brakes orf a bit und hed a week away in our caravan. We din’t go far, only to Ludham, for those of you who don’t know were that is:- you drive from Norwich t’ Wroxham un turn right, go past Horning to Ludham. We stayed on a camp site near the bridge that go over the river Ant. When we got there the Mawther who were a checkin us in recon that cos we hed got a long caravan, 8 metres, they hed put us on a large pitch. I din’t say anything cos our caravan is only 7.2 m. We pitched the caravan und put the awning up but arter we hed seen the weather forecast we took it down agin. Thas a good job we did cos one or two other folk on the site lost their awnings in the high wind. The only thing I lost were my hat. I were a goin for a walk along a footpath that went along the river to Saint Benets Abbey. I hed stopped t’take a photo und a gust of wind cum along und blew my hat orf my head und into the river. I recon that a’time I got back from my walk my hat was probably goin across Breydon Water towards Yarmouth.

While we were there we got out und see a few things but kept away from crowded places. We went with some o’our family to a wildlife park. They hed a rare collection of animals for folk t’look at including Crocodiles & Tigers. Them Tigers are rare looking animals, their pen hed a overhead walkway with a platform for the Tigers to lay on just tuther side of the fence where you could walk. Thas the closest I hev ever bin to one o’them. Them Crocodiles don’t seem t’do much although I recon they can move fairly sharp when they want to.
Another place we went o’t’meet my Brother were Waxham Barns. Thas one o’the longest Norfolk Barns about und hev bin done up und is now a place where folk can go to get married. In front of the barn there is a couple of cart sheds that hev bin done up und one o’these hev bin converted into a cafe. That were alright although cos there were six on us we ha’a sit a two tables, I sit w’me brother und his two Grand daughters und our two Missies sit t’gether at another table, we noticed that they were a lot slower finishing their food cos they were talking s’much.
Although looking about that were good t’see the buildings hed bin tricolated up I can remember a’goin there when the farmer hed a large herd o’dairy cows, now there arnt a stock t’be seen anywhere. That were the same when the Missus und me were a riding about across the marshes near St Benets Abbey & Thurne we drive past at least four sets of buildings that used to house & milk cows. I know you can’t turn the clock back but I find it very sad that farmers are not paid enough to carry on milking cows. With the Corona Pandemic a’goin on folk seem to be forgetting that at the end of the year the UK leave the European Community und nobody hev worked out yet how we are a’goin to continue t’git 40% of our milk from over the water. As I hev said afore that take 2 years from birth to get milk from a cow!
Another thing I see on the television tuther Sunday were folk re-wilding some of their land. They were talking about going back t’producing meat orf the land using some of our Rare Breeds. I recon that would be a good idea if we could already produce enough food t’feed everybody , the trouble is we don’t. Ever since the year 2000 the world has not been able t’produce enough food t’feed every body.

As far as Norwich City go they are a starting the season next Saturday. They hev bought in ten new players but han’t sold anybody yet. That’ll be interesting t’see how they are all a’goin t’get a game?

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

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

Well they hev nearly finished, I am a’talkin about the Farmers a’gettin in the corn harvest. Old Mother Nature hev her played har part by a keepin the rain away.
I were a watchin the combine a cutting on one of the Young Master’s field near us. My heart there were a rare lot o’dust. Today the combine drivers are in an air conditioned cab so the dust don’t bother them but when I were a’driven a combine in the 1960s there wern’t no cabs so you were getting all the dust. That were ok if your were a cuttin with a croos wind but if you a cutting into the wind that were a job sometimes t’see where you were a goin. Still thas part o’the “Good old Days” I don’t want t’see agin.
I were a readin in the peaper tuther day about a new combine them Germans hev brought out. Thas bigger than any of them combines about t’day and cost about four hundred thousand pounds. Thas a tidy some o’money to pay for suffin that’ll only goin t’wark about six weeks a year. Still thas the way things are goin. Bigger machines mean less men.
Arter the combine hev finished in the field the straw is baled. A ‘riding round the village I hev seen square bales, round ones, oblong ones und sum are wrapped in black polythene. I’ll tell you something, none of them bales are small enough for me to load with a hand fork.

When I were carting straw during harvest in the late 1950s the combine the farmer hed a baler attached to it. This tied the straw into bunches. These were easy to load with a hand fork. The straw carting team took it in turns to drive the loaded trailers to the straw stack so they could unload the straw into an elevator. This was considered the easy job. How-some-ever There was one man who recon he should do all the unloading. That din’t please the rest of the team so they decided to play a trick on him. When they loaded the straw onto the trailer in the field they tied the load on. That mean that, by using a ball of string, as every bale was put on the trailer they tied this string to the string round the bale so all the bales on the trailer were tied together. When the man tried to unload the bales he ha’a cut every bale apart from the rest of the load before he could put it onto the elevator. This meant the men on the stack started shouting at him cos he was s’slow unloading the trailer. I cannot remember what happened next but it seemed good fun at the time.

The Farmers may hev got the harvest in the barn but a lot on um don’t know what that’ll be worth when they come t’sell it. Thas cos of BREXIT. The new man at the top recon we are goin t’leave the EU on October 31st with or with-out a deal. Thas alright for him cos what ever happen somebody will still be paying his wages. (unless he git moved on)
The Missus und I are a’goin t’hev a look over the water agin afore that all happen cos nobody seem t’know what’ll happen if you want t’go over the water arter the end October

Last time I he’d a’word along w’yo I talked about Jan Godfrey a’passing away. There were a rare turn out for har funeral that were held in the Village Church. Several folk stood up und said some nice things about har. Her family invited folk to Broom Hall afterwards for a cup o’tea. That’s allus the same at these does, Folk meet others who they hant seen for years und hev a good mardle. The trouble is you can’t git round und talk t’all the folk you know who are there.

I’ll tell you suffin that hev happened recently, they hev dressed our road with tar & clippings. I thought suffin were on tuther week when the old road sweeping lorry cum drawing past doin one side o’the road und then he cum back a’doin tuther side. We hed
a note through the door a’tellin us that they were a starting next day, only that rained, that went on for a day or two until that were fine enough for them t’do it. That din’t take them long once they got a’going. They ha’a go over the road twice cos the machine they use din’t cover all the road in one go. Cos there were a’lot o’men about with the machines but there were a couple of men, all dressed up in yellow coats und hard hats that looked suffin clean. All they seemed t’be a’doing was watching the other men at work. The only thing I see them do was to sign some papers given to them by the men working on the taring machine.
The Missus und I were a’casting our minds back but neither of us could remember the last time our road had new chipping put down. They hant put the clippings down to thick cos where them big tractors & trailers hev bin turning outa the field they hev started a’cuttin into the clippings, come the winter thall turn into pot holes.

Well them boys at Carra Road hev started playing with the big boys. They hev got one win so far. They seem t’be a’playing in the same style as they played last year. What I don’t like is the way them so called “Pundits” are a writing them off already cos they han’t spent much money on new players this summer. Why should they? spending a lot o’money don’t mean success , ask Fulham?

The summer holidays will soon be over and the schools will soon be open agin. Them nettles on the footpath to the Norwich road will soon be touching across the path. I recon they’ll be cut back afore the children start a’using it t’git to the village school.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Well thas another month gone und we are a’turnin the corner inta Autumn. Mind yu arter the weather we hev hed so far this year thas bin suffin hard t’know when one season end und another begin.

I’ll tell yu suffin I see at the beginin o’the month that made me think suffin funny were a’goin on. That were at the Wayland Show und there I see sum pink sheep. I had drawed down there t’help on the Rare Breed Stand. They hed got t’gither all the Norfolk Rare Breed in a tent for folk t’cum und look at. There were sheep, Turkeys, Hins und Ducks. They even hid a Norwich Canary there in a cage although he wernt in very good fettle cos he were on the moult.

We were a’sharin the tent with Swaffham Young Farmers who hed got a pen o’four fat sheep und a pen o’four fat cattle. Folk ha’a have a go und judge them in order of which they thought were the best down to the wust in each pen. They hed numbers sprayed onta them so folk could sort them out. The Young Farmers hed had a master judge cum and judge the cattle. then they cum over und asked three on us a helpin with the rare breeds if we would be the master judges for the sheep. Well t’judge sheep yu ha’a git in the pen und handle um t’see how fat they are und if they are fit to go to slaughter. The three on us decided to judge them on our own und then see how near we were t’each……..du yu know we all hed them in the same order.

Arter we hed bin there sum while the head lady who look arter the sheep at the show cum und asked me if I could go und hev a look at the pink sheep they hed got there. Sum o’the ladies who were a showin sheep hed started hevin a pink sheep class for Ladies v Cancer at other shows durin the summer und Wayland hed agreed to run a class at their show. To help the charity folk who were a watchin were asked t’put sum money inta a bucket. Well boy the sheep und their handlers looked a job. The sheep hed bin sprayed pink usin hair dye und some of the ladies wore pink coats and one or two hed dyed their hair pink un all. There were about 20 sheep entered und the lady who judged them were a goin the cycle from London t’Paris for the charity.

They recon that were a success und are a’talkin about hevin a Blue class at next years Wayland show for Men v Cancer. So that’ll be suffin t’look forward to. I went home und told the Missus about it und recon I would spray my hair blue for it……. The Missus din’t say anything…..she just me one o’har looks und recon that would be a job cos I hant got enough hair t’dye.

I told yu last month that I were a’goin the Carra Road with my Son-in-Law t’see Norwich play their fust home game agin West Brom. As he is a West Brom supporter he hed got tickets right agin the away supporters. As you may know Norwich lost 4-3. Some of them Norwich players played as if they were on the moult like the Canary we hed at the Wayland Show.

Thas the big one this week-end against the Tractor Boys. Les hope them Canaries are a singing by Monday morning cos if they arnt my Brother will be!!!

I don’t know if any of yu hev noticed them 2 new information boards that hev bin put up round the village. One is near the Millennium Green entrance und tuther one is on the Norwich Road near the Aerolite garage. The boards show a pictorial history of the village. The Heritage Group in the Village hev got them done with the same man who painted the one thas at the entrance to the Church. If you han’t seen them go und hev a look.

I recon that by the time I hev a wud along with yu agin the farmers will be inta harvesting their Sugar beet although they wount be in any hurry cos they’ll want t keep the beet in the ground as long as possible because the dry weather we hev bin a havin mean they have still got a bit o’weight t’put on.

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

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

They recon thas a’goin t’be an early finish t’the corn harvest this year? That were a rare early start und they hev had a good run at it although when I were havin a ride round tuther day I see that The Young Master up at the Hall hev still got a field or two of Wheat t’cut. I see they were a’sayin in the pearper tuther day that that han’t bin a bad harvest und they are a’exporting Wheat und Barley outa Yarmouth t’Spain cos they hev hed a moderate harvest cus that hev bin suffin hot und their corn crops hev just dried orf.

Since I last hed a wud along w’yu I hev bin laid up agin. I hev hed a abscess on m’back for sum time. The Doctor took a look at is a’while ago und recon that hant got a head on it so he recon that would be alright t’leave it alone. Well about 4 weeks ago I got bitten by a old Hoss Fly right on the abscess: that come up suffin big so I drawed down t’see the Doctor. He hed a look at it und recon I’d ha’a go t’hospital the next day t’hev it removed by local anaesthetic . So next day the Missus und I driv up to the Norfolk und Norridge Hospital. Two doctors hed a look at me und recon that were to big for them t’du so I’d ha’a cum the next day und hev it removed under a general anaesthetic, they recon they were a’goin t’put me on the “Abscess Pathway”!! und that I mussunt hev anything t’eat arter midnight. (I hed a gret old plate o’porridge a’for I went t’bed) un be there at 7am.

So away I go agin next day und hed the operation. When I cum round I were in gret old round room with a lot o’other folk who were a’cummin round from their operations. When I got back t’the recovery ward they recon I could hev suffin t’eat, so they gi’me a round o’toast und marmalade. In the middle o’the arternoon they recon I could go home. I got dressed und the Missus come t’fetch me. Just afore they let me go they tested my sugar levels(cos I’m a Diabetic) Well bor my old sugars were suffin high so they recon they ha’a do suffin about it afore they let me go. The Nurses let the Missus in t’see me although she ha’a sit behind the certain cos visitors arn’t normally aloud in the recovery ward. Arter about 3 hours they recon I’d ha’a stay in overnight. So the Missus went home und they rigged up a drip which they plugged inta my arm t’help bring my sugar level down. I got onto a ward at about half nine in the evening but I din’t git a’lot o’sleep cos they kept a’wakin me up every hour t’test me sugar levels, by next mornin they were down und I cum home.

I’ll tell you suffin that old anaesthetic din’t half knock the stuffin out o’me und that took me about a week t’git over it. The trouble is I arn’t aloud t’do any heavy liftin und carrying und I can’t ride my old bike. The Missus she’s a’doin har best t’keep things a’goin in the garden as well as lookin arter me. I hev told har not t’worry about them old weeds cos if they grow up a bit that’ll meake them easier for me t’pull out when I’m finally a’firin on all cylinders.

Well them boys up at Carra Rood arn’t a havin a’good time at the moment. I recon yu can’t meake that many charges to the team und expect them t’play well straight away. Thas a bit like when yu plant suffin in the garden, that teake that a’little while t’get a’goin.

The Missus und I drawed down t’the Village Church tuther evenin t’the concert. My heart that were a good du. There were a young Mawther there, she could’d half sing and there were some more local Mawthers who were good as well. The Church were suffin full o’folk und the Vica asked if we could all cum back to the service on Sunday. They hed a couple o’hosses there und they rid them inta the church through the West Door just like them Knights Templars did all them years ago.

They tell me that the village History group are a’puttin on a talk in the Village Hall on the 22nd September. They hev got sum chap a’commin along t’talk about Farming Today & Yesterday and how that hev affected the Village. The Missus und I are a’goin down to it so I might see yu there.

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

How are yu all a’gettin on t’gether?

Yu know how last time I were havin a wud alon with yu about how the council hant bin round t’fil in them pot holes in Drury Lane. Well they hev bin now. A couple of old boys with a lorry cum along und started a’fillin them in. I drawed down und hed a wud along with um.
The fust thing I asked um was if they hed a large area t’git round. Well bor,I cant tell you all whot they said cos that were a bit rude but yis they do hev a gret old number o’roads t’look arter. They also recon that teake about six months from the time the holes are marked t’them a’gettin the papers a’tellin them which pot holes they hev gotta go und fill in.

Suffin else I want t’tell yu about is the state o’that new footpath the Council hev put down twixt Caudle Springs und the Norridge Rood. Thas only bin finished about six weeks(end July) und theses already a master crop o thistles a pushin up through the path near the Caudle Springs end. Them experts up at County Hall hev bin told about it und some folk hev sent them photos t’look at. They ,the experts, recon thas a’happend cos thistle seeds hev bin blown onta the footpath by the wind und hev germinated. As I go along the footpath most days on my old bike I could’a told them that them old thistle plants are still a’flowin und there ount be any seeds a’blowin on the wind for another week or two.
I recon what hev happened is that when them contractors were a’levellin the old footpath out all they did was skim orf sum top soil a’cuttin the top orf the thistle plants already a’growin. If you try a ‘diggin up a thistle plant, as I hev done several times durin the last sixty years, yu’ll know thas got a tap root that go down a tidy long way, just a cuttin the top orf will only make them shoot up agin. I keep a’wunderin why they din’t put suffin down tu stop them old thistles a’pushin back up through the tarmac chippins they were a’puttin down?…… Still what du I know I arnt a’expert!…….

We hed a rare lot o’rain at the end o’July, accordin t’my rain gauge there were nearly a couple of inches in a couple o’days, A’for we hed all that rain I ha’a replace the tap on one o’my old water butts cos the old one were a’leakin. Arter all that rain had cum down I went und hed a look t’see how much water there were in the butt. Du yu know that were still empty… when I hed a look I seed that I hant tunned the new tap orf arter I’d put it on. Later later on when I were indoors a’havin my foursers I told the Missus whot had happened…….She dint say anything……….she just gi me one o’har looks.

A’time yu are a’readin this the Farmers will hope “all is safely in”. I were a’readin tuther day about a combine that were a’goin in South Norfolk. They recon that in eight hours that could cut sum 80 hectares (197 acres) The width of the cutting header is sum 12.5m (41Ft) I say t’the Missus “thas longer than sum folks garden”. I’ll tell yu suffin else yu would want a suffin deep pocket t’buy one. That’ll set yu back sum £600.000. I know thas a no good a’lookin back but I can remember in the early 1960s when we traded our 8ft 6ins cut Massey in for a 12ft Claas we were suffin pleased cos that meant, if the goin were good, we could harvest a 4.85 hectare (12 acre) field in one day. I ha warked that would teake this here new combine about 17 minutes t’cut the same 12 acres……..if that could git inta the field with out a knockin the geat post down.

Them Dairy farmers are a’havin a hard time at the moment. Folk ha gotta look a head cos if yu pay a bit more now for yar British milk that will mean that’ll still be there when there is a world milk shortage cos that’ll cum one day as sure as day folla night.

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

Thas’a rummun but I forgot all about the Norfolk Show the last time I were a’havin a mardle a’long w’yar. I were there on the fust day a helpin on the Rare Breed Stand. Durin the mornin the lady in charge cum t’me und say that the Show Presidant (The Earl of Wessix) were a comin to visit the stand that arternoon und she wanted me t’meet him. Well Bor I were all of a muck wash cos I never met anybody as important as him afor. I wernt a’wearin a tie und I’d ha’a wash m’hands before I shook his hand. How sum ever a’little arter two away he cum. The head lady met him outside the tent and then bought him in t’meet us. He asked me why I were interested in the Rare Breeds . He listened t’what I were a tellin him: I’ll tell yar suffin though, there int a lot of him… he look as if he could du with a good feed. He stayed with us a lookin round longer than he should, them who were in charge of a’gettin him round the show ground started bussin around like flies on a middun (muck heap). They got him away 10 minutes arter he should hev left.

We hed a good number o’youngsters acomin round askin us questions about the 28 different rare breeds we hed on show. I were a leadin sheep around a little ring we hed set up while the head lady were talkin about them. That were good t’be a leadin sheep in a show ring again though I left leadin the cattle t’them who were younger than me. the last time I led a cow in the show ring were a’few year ago. That were a job cause the cow I were a’leadin were a bullin (on heat). I ha’a keep a goin cos that were the grand parade und there were a few Bulls in the ring as well.
She nearly pulled my arms outa their sockets and cos she were a Highland I hed t’watch her horns und all t’make sure she din’t poke m’eye out. I managed t’get har round the ring und back t’har stall again but that knocked the stuffin out o’me I can tell yu.

I know that since I last had a wud along with yar we hev had a rare drop o’rain in places but that han’t stopped them old combines a gettin on. They seem t’be gettin inta the crops about a fortnight early. A time I am a writin this (Early August) their already cuttin wheat . They tell me that the crops are yieldin well but prices are down on account of there bein good yields over the water.

As soon as them old combines are outa the field there’s a baler a’goin balin up the straw. Most o’the straw in the village seem t’be baled up und used for littering stock in the winter or go t’be burnt at one o’them power stations. That don’t seem that long a’go when a’lot of the straw were burnt in the field.
I remember one harvest in 1976 or 78 when that were suffin hot und there were stubble fires every where. I were a warkin at home one arternoon when the Missus cum in und recon she could smell a fire real close. I drawed up the road t’where an old lady (Mrs Williamson) lived. There where sum smoke a cummin from the back o’har house. I went und hed a look und see her shud were a’fire. Mrs Williamson were a’standin there, she recon that she were a burnin sum papers und sum hed been blown inta har shed. a’settin it a’fire. I scrapped about und phoned the fire brigade. The Mawther who answered reconned all the fire engines were out arter stubble fires und could I see if I could control the fire until they could git a’engine there.
The Farmer from acrors the road he come over with a couple o’buckets und we started hullin water from water butts onta the burnin shud. Mrs Williams told us not t’get to close cus there were a’can o’petrol in the shud. No sooner hed she said that there were a hell of a bang….. the shud roof went up und the sides fell in. The sparks from the shud were a settin fire t’the dry grass in the garden. We were a’scrappin about hullin water tryin t’stop the fire a’spreadin t’har house. We were gettin suffin short o’water when the Watton Fire engine tunned up und put the fire out.

That were suffin hot tuther day when I were warkin in the greenhouse. When I drawed indoors for m’grub, the Missus recon my face were suffin red. I say thas corse I bin a workin in the greenhouse und the sun hev turned me red just like a’tomato……. she din’t say anything………..she just gi’me one of har looks.

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

Well, harvest ha started (second week August) they are a gettin inta the Oil Seed Rape und Winter Barley. A’time yu read this, as long as mother nature du har bit they’ll be a winding up the Winter Wheat. They recon that the crops are a runnin well arter all the rummin weather we hev bin a havin. When they show them tractors und trailers a’runnin beside the combine while thas a unloading the corn that look easy, I’ll tell yu suffin that eant as easy as that look. Yu ha gotta get yar speed right so the corn don’t go over the front or the back o the trailer und yu ha gotta keep a lookin in front t’make sure yu are a drivin straight and yu arnt a cummin to the end o’the field.

Cos when combines were a lot smaller yu used the ordinary farm trailers t’cart the corn in, if the side din’t fit to well und sum corn were a runnin out yu just jammed a wisp o’straw inta the gap. Now they have trailers called “Chasers” , they fitted with great old tyres t’spread the load und they ha their own augers for unloadin.

Yu gotta be careful cos everything is s’dry in the harvest field und a spark could set everything alight. I remember once havin a boy a cartin the corn away from the combine, he were a drivin acroos the field t’ward the combine when he looked down near his feet und see a bit o cloth a spokin (he ha left the hand brake on und the brake shoes hed got hot) well bor he stopped und hulled the hot rag outa the tractor onta the straw und that soon started a burnin. I happened t’be in the field und see what he had dun. I were a lot younger then, but I hev never run s’fast in all my life. When I got t’where the flames were a takin hold I took orf m’shirt und started a beetin the flames…….that put the fire out…………… but I ha’a hev a new shirt……….I wernt married then so the Missus could unt mob me for bunnin me shirt.

When there were more farmers a keepin cattle September were when cattle cum home from marsh for the winter. In April/May time the farmers would hire marsh grazing for the summer. The “Marsh Lettings” were held at Acle or Haddiscoe und farmers would go und bid for the marshes they wanted. Then u’d load up yar cattle onta lorries und orf they’d go. While they were at marsh they were looked after by the Marsh Men. They were sum rum old boys, sum on um used l’live out on the marshes in little huts, their job was t’walk round the cattle every day und make sure they were alright und not stuck in one o’the water filled dykes that separated one marsh from another. When I were a warkin for a vetinary company I used t’go und see a couple o’old shepherd who were a lookin arter sheep on the Reedham und Buckinham marshes durin the summer. Yu ha’a walk a long way t’find um but they were suffin glad t’see somebody und I usually cum away with an order for suffin. T’get acroos the dykes between the marshes u ha’a walk acroos a single plank o’wood that were layed acroos the dyke from one bank t’the other, in Norfolk their called “Liggers”. Beside the cattle on the marshes there were a lot o’Hares a livin there und they knew where the Liggers were if they wanted t’git from one marsh t’another.

In the 1950’s und early 60’s every Autumn there used t’be a bull sale at Norwich Cattle Market , they were mainly Friesians (Black & White)und farmers would go und buy one t’run with their diary cows in the Autumn. I remember m’father goin und buyin a bull for his boss in the early 1950’s, he paid 500 guineas for it. That were a lot o.money in them days. Still he were a good bull, his mother, Smallborough Brenda, hed been Supreme Champion at the national Diary Event that were held in London’s Earls Court every year.

The Missus und I hev had a bit of a sad time leartly, m’dear old mother who were 5 days short of har 94th birthday h’passed away. She hed a good live,although she hed bin moderate for the last year or so. That wernt easy f’har a’bringin up two boys arter the war, what with shortages und rationing, but with the vegetables m’father grew in the garden she could meake a little meat go a long way. Arter we hed left home in the early 1960’s she got inta teachin und har und m’father started a traveling und she kept agoin over the water arter he hed past away. She were suffin disappointed when she could’unt renew har passport when she reached 90. My brother und I were lucky t’hev such good und loving parents.

They recon this might be the last time I’ll be havin a wud along with yar, cos if somebody dont cum along und teake over from the lady editor this ull be the last New Penny News.

I hope somebody draw along und teake over cos,as I said afor, sum on us can remember when that were started by the school.

Well, not for the last time I hope.

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

Well old mother nature is playing on us up agin, fust we get a day or two dry then she start a sendin tempists in the arternoon. The farmers ha mead a start on harvest but when I am a writin this (early August) the weather ha made them put brakes on, stiil, as my old father used t’say – ‘there’ll allus be a seed time & harvest… und du yu know….. he was allus right.

The old weather put pay t’the Wayland Show this year. I arnt a goin t’say whose right and whose wrong about a cancellin it but thas a rear shame for all them folks who hed got livestock ready and all them folks who were a lookin forward to a day out. Next year will be the 140th year since that started. I remember m’father a coming to it in the 1950s a showin cows. One year he cum with a red and white Friesian cow und when he went inta the judging ring with her the judge asked him if he were in the right class.. he (the judge) thought m’Father should ha bin in the next door ring with the Ayrshires.

One show what hed a good day were the Sandringham Flower show. That were suffun hot there and there were a rare crowd o’folks a jammin around a havin a look. The Missus & I were there a helpin with the Heavy Horses. They were a givin a display in the ring. I were doin the talkin on the Public Address so folks knew what they were a lookin at. The Missus were a helpin on the Heavy Horse stand a sellin things.. she’s good at that cos she were in selling afor we got married, she recon folk like a bargin when they see one…I reccon she thought I were a bargin when we got married…….though I dussent ask har.
Afor we got goin we hatta line up wi the hosses when Charlie boy and his Missus cum a riding past in they carriage, the Missus were suffin pleased cos the Duchess said good marnin to her as she went a ridin past.
One thing the Missus did notice were that nearly all the folks there were about retiring age, we got a talkin about that and she recon that if yu are under sixty five you wont remember hosses a warkin on farms, she’s rite yu know cos I’m sixty seven and I only used hosses when I were a boy, I don’t get s’meny old boys acomin up t’me now a sayin “I remember when I were a usin Heavy Hosses” as I did twenty year a’go.

I were a readin t’other day that that the average age o’farm warkers is a goin up and over the next ten years 60,000 younguns will be wanted to start a warkin on farms t’replace them as they retire. Thas 6000 a year and folks are a wonderin where they are a comin from . I ha said afor that I ha got a little job a testin folks on tractor drivin arter they ha bin a trainin at Easton College, outa them folks who I test very few on um are a goin t’wark on farms, they are a goin t’be mechanics, go inta horticulture or wark with ridin hosses. I know farmin is long hours but that int such hard work as it was when I started cos everything is lifted for yu mechanicaly, Yu ha got t’get the younguns interested, I wonder how many school job advisors know anything about farmin?.

By the time yu read this the Olympics will be over. I ha bin a’watchin them cyclists, my heart they crowd their old bikes along, the Missus recon I could learn a few lessons from them, I say t’her I’d never git on my old bike on me own if I hed the saddle set that high. Still they are a doin well, less hope that get some of the younguns out a doin some sport instead o’sittin in doors a’playin with their phones or computors.

They tell me there’s agoin t’be a big week-end in the village at the end September when there are goin t’be a showin the old village maps and Bibles in the church and they are a goin t’unveil the new Village Sign and the Hunton Hoss Plough and hev the Harvest Festival in the Church. The Missu and I will be a’drawin along t’that. Lets hope that,by then, “All is Safely Gathered In”.

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

Missing Month

Dear Sar
That were very nice to read whot you said in the NPN about us whot speak proper Norfolk. there arnt s’ meny on us about now for several reasons. When I went to school in the 1950s there wer a lot on us whot spoke Norfolk cos our fathers warked on the land. Now acors the farms are bigger with huge fields & they dont want s’meny men to drive them gret old tractors. A lot of folks have moved into the county from away & hent been here long enough to lean Norfolk. Our children go away to finish their education, one o’our boys he went to Hull University for 3 years & when he drawed back hom he was a usin sum Yorkshire wuds, he ha hed them knocked out of him now cos he werk in a big office up the city.
My Missus is a Norridge mawther & she talk different, althouth we hev a been ploughin the same furrow for the last 40 odd years she still say things to me I dont understand, although I dosnt tell her.
If you & your missus ar a hevin trouble with some of our wuds I reckon there are still one or two on us in the village who could help you out.
I must close now cos as the weather is fair I want to tricolate my old shud up afor winter set in.
Fare ye well t’gether & do you keep a troshin,
The Boy Tom
(A Carbrooke resident)