In reply to Post #804
thanks for reading the stories i am glad you like them plenty more to come yet but i have to get the old head round it as most happened many years ago thanks again pete
thanks for reading the stories i am glad you like them plenty more to come yet but i have to get the old head round it as most happened many years ago thanks again pete
In reply to Post #801
You remember i told about the parcel Sam gave me for Christmas it was all wrapped in brown paper well when i opened it on Christmas morning it was a new pair of brown boots he knew i walked a lot and said wellingtons were no good i needed a proper pair of leather boots, looking back they must of cost him a mint how he did it i don't know as his wages were not that much he also gave me another present in that box one i still have today volume one and volume two British birds of today. the photos of birds are in black and white i have treasured those books all my life, what kindness Sam and his wife showed me looking back it was pure love i think i took the place of there son who i think got killed in the war
Not far from sam's house stood some big cherry trees when they became laden with fruit off we would go we could fill a basket in no time we would take them back to his wife if i remember right she used to bottle them and then store them in the pantry to make delicious pies in the winter and believe me her fruit pies were something else but that's how they lived i never saw them waste anything. Sam liked a bit of poaching himself and poached a few of his own birds to eat . or give to friends when i asked him about his little forays he would say perks of the job young UN who's gonna catch me I'm the keeper here and it was true he was a single handed keeper the only time he saw other keepers was on shoot days when they came to help beat the woods.
he said to me one day are e taking some of my birds on shoot days, i told you before i would watch were the shot birds fell and would pick them before the dogs got anywhere near no Sam not yours but i know you did he said in his broad Shropshire voice, saw e once or twice yes but that was before i got to know you, why did you not catch me then he just smiled i did not want to i thought maybe you needed the food as times are hard yes Sam i took them for mum and dad and the neighbours he never mentioned it ever again but would always give me a brace every time i visited give these to mum and dad he would say there be half a dozen eggs in the house take them as well i went every where with him i have told you before how we both poached the trout from the local brook and rivers ,he was very partial to eel so in early summer i would be away with him he would put a couple of eel traps down baited with some stinking meat or fish if he caught a couple he was happy and would be away home to his misses. a bit more latter
You remember i told about the parcel Sam gave me for Christmas it was all wrapped in brown paper well when i opened it on Christmas morning it was a new pair of brown boots he knew i walked a lot and said wellingtons were no good i needed a proper pair of leather boots, looking back they must of cost him a mint how he did it i don't know as his wages were not that much he also gave me another present in that box one i still have today volume one and volume two British birds of today. the photos of birds are in black and white i have treasured those books all my life, what kindness Sam and his wife showed me looking back it was pure love i think i took the place of there son who i think got killed in the war
Not far from sam's house stood some big cherry trees when they became laden with fruit off we would go we could fill a basket in no time we would take them back to his wife if i remember right she used to bottle them and then store them in the pantry to make delicious pies in the winter and believe me her fruit pies were something else but that's how they lived i never saw them waste anything. Sam liked a bit of poaching himself and poached a few of his own birds to eat . or give to friends when i asked him about his little forays he would say perks of the job young UN who's gonna catch me I'm the keeper here and it was true he was a single handed keeper the only time he saw other keepers was on shoot days when they came to help beat the woods.
he said to me one day are e taking some of my birds on shoot days, i told you before i would watch were the shot birds fell and would pick them before the dogs got anywhere near no Sam not yours but i know you did he said in his broad Shropshire voice, saw e once or twice yes but that was before i got to know you, why did you not catch me then he just smiled i did not want to i thought maybe you needed the food as times are hard yes Sam i took them for mum and dad and the neighbours he never mentioned it ever again but would always give me a brace every time i visited give these to mum and dad he would say there be half a dozen eggs in the house take them as well i went every where with him i have told you before how we both poached the trout from the local brook and rivers ,he was very partial to eel so in early summer i would be away with him he would put a couple of eel traps down baited with some stinking meat or fish if he caught a couple he was happy and would be away home to his misses. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #806
I spent most of my time at old sam's house especially in the winter i would go along to most shoots and really enjoyed his company, on shoot days the guns would shoot a few hundred birds, he would have me working tying the birds in twos by the neck then i would then hang them across the side of the game cart, the cart was pulled by a big old cart horse i loved him and he would let me sit on his back and away we would go but i had a job getting down as he was a big animal and i fell off on a few occasions, but it did me no harm only a few bruises. keepers would come come from far and wide the one was right old bugger and even SAM was not to keen on him. well he gave me a clip across the ear what for i don't know well SAM went mad and told him in no uncertain words touch that young UN again you will answer to me. i hated that keeper and i was really frightened of him he was even cruel to his dogs, i would try and keep well away from him . But i vowed i would one day have him away he lived at onny berry court i think at the time he worked for Mr magnuson i was determined i would have some of his pheasants ill teach him it was only four miles from my home ,i cut my self a long piece of fishing line and attached a size eight hook one of those awful black things i used for my fishing in those early years. i raided my mothers sultana and current jars. I watched that cruel keeper feed his birds so i new exactly where, i could catch his pheasant from, and i did i would pop a few currants on the hook leave it in the open so the birds could see it along they would come pick up the hook bang i was in pull it into the hedge where i was hiding, wring its neck and into the bag with it, i i think i caught twenty the first time using this method but it was to many i had a job carrying them home and i had to hide some to fetch latter. Our neighbors were over the moon as we shared them out between every one that lived in the railway terrace, i really did give that place some stick, i caught hundreds from there over the years, i used to smile he would tell Sam he had no poachers on his estate, well that's what he thought funny it was Sam that showed me how easy it was to catch the birds using a hook and a few currants, i put it in to practice on a good many shoots when i was a young man and i never failed to catch a few birds , That old keeper also had a brook to look after that ran through the estate it was stocked full of trout for all the toffs and friends of the owner well did i hit that brook i would spin with a Devon minnow i would catch ten or so and would be away he never knew i had been there they were lovely to eat mum would cook them in the oven beside the fire they tasted great we never starved and always had plenty to eat and it was all free . well a bit more latter
I spent most of my time at old sam's house especially in the winter i would go along to most shoots and really enjoyed his company, on shoot days the guns would shoot a few hundred birds, he would have me working tying the birds in twos by the neck then i would then hang them across the side of the game cart, the cart was pulled by a big old cart horse i loved him and he would let me sit on his back and away we would go but i had a job getting down as he was a big animal and i fell off on a few occasions, but it did me no harm only a few bruises. keepers would come come from far and wide the one was right old bugger and even SAM was not to keen on him. well he gave me a clip across the ear what for i don't know well SAM went mad and told him in no uncertain words touch that young UN again you will answer to me. i hated that keeper and i was really frightened of him he was even cruel to his dogs, i would try and keep well away from him . But i vowed i would one day have him away he lived at onny berry court i think at the time he worked for Mr magnuson i was determined i would have some of his pheasants ill teach him it was only four miles from my home ,i cut my self a long piece of fishing line and attached a size eight hook one of those awful black things i used for my fishing in those early years. i raided my mothers sultana and current jars. I watched that cruel keeper feed his birds so i new exactly where, i could catch his pheasant from, and i did i would pop a few currants on the hook leave it in the open so the birds could see it along they would come pick up the hook bang i was in pull it into the hedge where i was hiding, wring its neck and into the bag with it, i i think i caught twenty the first time using this method but it was to many i had a job carrying them home and i had to hide some to fetch latter. Our neighbors were over the moon as we shared them out between every one that lived in the railway terrace, i really did give that place some stick, i caught hundreds from there over the years, i used to smile he would tell Sam he had no poachers on his estate, well that's what he thought funny it was Sam that showed me how easy it was to catch the birds using a hook and a few currants, i put it in to practice on a good many shoots when i was a young man and i never failed to catch a few birds , That old keeper also had a brook to look after that ran through the estate it was stocked full of trout for all the toffs and friends of the owner well did i hit that brook i would spin with a Devon minnow i would catch ten or so and would be away he never knew i had been there they were lovely to eat mum would cook them in the oven beside the fire they tasted great we never starved and always had plenty to eat and it was all free . well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #1000
©Bob an Pete. to type the copy write sign
put your numbers lock on. then using the numeric keypad hold down ALT as you type numbers 0169 ©
©Bob an Pete. to type the copy write sign
put your numbers lock on. then using the numeric keypad hold down ALT as you type numbers 0169 ©
In reply to Post #808
Thanks very much apprecated i think bob will put it right when he sees what you have put thanks again pete
Thanks very much apprecated i think bob will put it right when he sees what you have put thanks again pete
In reply to Post #807
Well i had to cancel the shoot this morning no way could we go i have one or two elderly gentleman in the shoot who are in there late seventies and early eights some are not to good on there feet, and with the snow and ice it is very dangerous so i discussed it with my mate Tony who helps run the shoot and he thought that some would not be able to make it through the snow so we decided on a big no for today. It has just started to snow again and the weather forecast suggests we could have another 8 inches before tonight i hope not but we can not control the weather.
I think if SAM was here today he would of been proud of what i have achieved i think most came from him how to stalk the fox and watch her cubs without being discovered to watch the wild life birds and the badger. when i was young and went to sam's he was not allowed to shoot or snare a fox they were for hunting and the gentry but he would have the odd one if it was causing him some damage, but he preferred to snare them it caused no damage to the pelt and he could skin it out and sell it to Horace friend the dealer i think he made a few shillings out of a fox skins. i remember going with him one day and he had caught a badger in the snare it had flattened every thing in sight the brambles nettles all flat stay back young un he will bite i don't want to kill her, no more to do he grabbed the badger by the neck and cut the snare with a pair of cutters which he always carried with him, he quietened that animal down just by talking to him he had a away with animals i don't think i would have the courage to handle a badger like that the snare had cut into his neck making it very sore get me that sack young he said ill take him home to the misses , her will no what to do into the sack he went and we took him home. He got the badger out in the front room his wife got a jar from the shelf full of thick green cream it smelt a bit. she smeared it all over the wound put him in the shed tonight sam he should be better by tomorrow he had so much passion for wild things i thought you would have killed that badger Sam i wanna kill anything that does me no damage. when i went the next day we took the badger up the fields and let him go, through the hedge he went no worse for wear he will be alright said Sam. when the estate had the big shoots all the guns would wear plus fours and tweed jackets the ladys usualy dressed in tweed skirts and boots and tweed jackets it was a posh do usualy there were about twelve to forteen guns and would draw for there pegs before they started, you had to call them sir or mam and be respectfull i said to sam what a load of tosers they pais my wages youngun i usualy got two shillings at the end of the day not much but it was then, and maybe a couple of brace off pheasent or duck, the guns had a brace a piece the rest were sold on to the markets and made revenue for the estate but i loved every minute and i supose as a family we always had somthing to eat it all helped as we lived in hard times. a bit more latter
Well i had to cancel the shoot this morning no way could we go i have one or two elderly gentleman in the shoot who are in there late seventies and early eights some are not to good on there feet, and with the snow and ice it is very dangerous so i discussed it with my mate Tony who helps run the shoot and he thought that some would not be able to make it through the snow so we decided on a big no for today. It has just started to snow again and the weather forecast suggests we could have another 8 inches before tonight i hope not but we can not control the weather.
I think if SAM was here today he would of been proud of what i have achieved i think most came from him how to stalk the fox and watch her cubs without being discovered to watch the wild life birds and the badger. when i was young and went to sam's he was not allowed to shoot or snare a fox they were for hunting and the gentry but he would have the odd one if it was causing him some damage, but he preferred to snare them it caused no damage to the pelt and he could skin it out and sell it to Horace friend the dealer i think he made a few shillings out of a fox skins. i remember going with him one day and he had caught a badger in the snare it had flattened every thing in sight the brambles nettles all flat stay back young un he will bite i don't want to kill her, no more to do he grabbed the badger by the neck and cut the snare with a pair of cutters which he always carried with him, he quietened that animal down just by talking to him he had a away with animals i don't think i would have the courage to handle a badger like that the snare had cut into his neck making it very sore get me that sack young he said ill take him home to the misses , her will no what to do into the sack he went and we took him home. He got the badger out in the front room his wife got a jar from the shelf full of thick green cream it smelt a bit. she smeared it all over the wound put him in the shed tonight sam he should be better by tomorrow he had so much passion for wild things i thought you would have killed that badger Sam i wanna kill anything that does me no damage. when i went the next day we took the badger up the fields and let him go, through the hedge he went no worse for wear he will be alright said Sam. when the estate had the big shoots all the guns would wear plus fours and tweed jackets the ladys usualy dressed in tweed skirts and boots and tweed jackets it was a posh do usualy there were about twelve to forteen guns and would draw for there pegs before they started, you had to call them sir or mam and be respectfull i said to sam what a load of tosers they pais my wages youngun i usualy got two shillings at the end of the day not much but it was then, and maybe a couple of brace off pheasent or duck, the guns had a brace a piece the rest were sold on to the markets and made revenue for the estate but i loved every minute and i supose as a family we always had somthing to eat it all helped as we lived in hard times. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #810
- 11 here today really cold icicles under the car it was very much the same in 1962 terrible winter i was living up in hill country then there was so much snow i never got out to work properly for at least three months, we lived on the side of the stiperstones the snow was that deep it covered five bar gates and then it froze from then on you walked over the top of the gates we had no money i did manage to get out as a drivers mate picking milk up for the local creamery we had very little fuel for the fires in the house and had to resort to cutting trees down which were full of ice the sap had frozen but the logs we cut kept us going i can remember another very similar winter that was 1947 it was very cold and i can remember picking the poor pigeon off the Brussels sprouts they had literally frozen to the sprouts i think it was one of the worst i can remember i was only five years old and my grandad would carry me down the garden to feed the pigs and hens. Another was 1982 that was bitter but did not last as long but did severe damage to the wild life killing many small birds and it really decimating the big flocks of pigeon it was a cruel few weeks that did untold damage to the country side.
it really looks as thought this may be a bad one i notice the rea brook has partly frozen over and parts of the severn has also started to freeze over i think it was 1982 i saw some idiot drive a car down the centre of the river on the ice i think he went all the way to the weir and back not somthing i would do i can remeber it being in the local paper mind you the ice was very thick at that time but i dont think i would of chanced it we did no shooting or fishing for some time the poor rabbits had nowt to eat only the bark from young saplings they could not get at the grass as it was deep below the frozen snow even if you could have caught a few there was no meat on them the amount of water fowl i picked up was emence they were frozen to the ground poor things when you look back you really wander how they survived at all but they did.
When you live in the countryside in those conditions it can be really hard we had no central heating in those days only coal and log fires and our main priorty was to keep warm and keep those fires burning night and day most people also did there cooking on the range which was part of the fire grate so we had to make sure that at all times we had enought fuel . if you ran out you would get no more coal as they could not get through to yo, so as i have already stated you had to cut trees down and saw into logs to help out the washing was also done in a bolier which was fired by wood and in an out house. so you can see most of our time was spent looking for and cutting wood for fuel it was a hard time i was then 20 years old and was married with a young child to look after so they were my priorty. well a little bit more latter
- 11 here today really cold icicles under the car it was very much the same in 1962 terrible winter i was living up in hill country then there was so much snow i never got out to work properly for at least three months, we lived on the side of the stiperstones the snow was that deep it covered five bar gates and then it froze from then on you walked over the top of the gates we had no money i did manage to get out as a drivers mate picking milk up for the local creamery we had very little fuel for the fires in the house and had to resort to cutting trees down which were full of ice the sap had frozen but the logs we cut kept us going i can remember another very similar winter that was 1947 it was very cold and i can remember picking the poor pigeon off the Brussels sprouts they had literally frozen to the sprouts i think it was one of the worst i can remember i was only five years old and my grandad would carry me down the garden to feed the pigs and hens. Another was 1982 that was bitter but did not last as long but did severe damage to the wild life killing many small birds and it really decimating the big flocks of pigeon it was a cruel few weeks that did untold damage to the country side.
it really looks as thought this may be a bad one i notice the rea brook has partly frozen over and parts of the severn has also started to freeze over i think it was 1982 i saw some idiot drive a car down the centre of the river on the ice i think he went all the way to the weir and back not somthing i would do i can remeber it being in the local paper mind you the ice was very thick at that time but i dont think i would of chanced it we did no shooting or fishing for some time the poor rabbits had nowt to eat only the bark from young saplings they could not get at the grass as it was deep below the frozen snow even if you could have caught a few there was no meat on them the amount of water fowl i picked up was emence they were frozen to the ground poor things when you look back you really wander how they survived at all but they did.
When you live in the countryside in those conditions it can be really hard we had no central heating in those days only coal and log fires and our main priorty was to keep warm and keep those fires burning night and day most people also did there cooking on the range which was part of the fire grate so we had to make sure that at all times we had enought fuel . if you ran out you would get no more coal as they could not get through to yo, so as i have already stated you had to cut trees down and saw into logs to help out the washing was also done in a bolier which was fired by wood and in an out house. so you can see most of our time was spent looking for and cutting wood for fuel it was a hard time i was then 20 years old and was married with a young child to look after so they were my priorty. well a little bit more latter
In reply to Post #811
I did not know about this thread, crikey its brilliant, very good work Pete this is going to take some reading 
I did not know about this thread, crikey its brilliant, very good work Pete this is going to take some reading
In reply to Post #812
thanks i hope you enjoy my stories
thanks i hope you enjoy my stories
In reply to Post #800
more classics to come pete i hope kep m coming.
more classics to come pete i hope kep m coming.
In reply to Post #814
reply to Post #800
more classics to come pete i hope kep m coming.
thanks arfer i am glad you still like the stories
reply to Post #800
more classics to come pete i hope kep m coming.
thanks arfer i am glad you still like the stories
In reply to Post #811
How wonderful nature is a spiders web built so intricately they now stand out with the white of the hoar frost. its now time to get the camera out so much to see on a winters day, i was watching the birds feeding on the feeder hung on the shed it is full of sunflower seed and i caught glimpse of a little head appear from under the shed it was a field mouse which has come into the garden in search of shelter and food as long as he does not get into the shed he will be OK the ones i don't want are rats we had a couple last year but they did not last very long out with the rifle both head shots dead instantly best Way to deal with the furry critters, since then i have not seen one the problem is just below my house is a bakery and he throws most of the stale bread into a horse box to take to the tip and the bread really encourages the rats we have the council vermin officer down he has killed a number of over the years but they soon come back as the bread attracts them from far and wide its like any animal when there habitat becomes cold and water logged they move from the fields to a warmer place and where food is more accessible.
Reading the thread about otters this morning will they starve through lack of food fish because the rivers and lakes freeze over no they wont otters are predators and will eat most things rabbit pheasant partridge duck and it is not past there predatory skills to take the farmers chickens they have no enemies and are not really afraid of man they are top of the food chain as they have no predators to keep them in check, the difference between the fox and otter is the fox will kill for pleasure killing everything in a pen and will only take one, but the otter will only take what it needs usualy one but if he finds it easy will return for more another day. but they are like any animal they only kill to survive i think most animals will be finding it difficult in this weather the poor old kingfisher a most beautiful bird will really struggle the weather in 1982 nearly wiped them out and i really have not seen the dipper in quality since that winter.
i was going down the woods today but my wife has some sort of virus so she must come first, i like to take the camera and take a few shots as the woods are very pretty with the hoar frost really standing out on the tree branches. I love to track the animals in these conditions and it is surprising what you may come across i came from a family who loved photography my father was professional for most of his life and when i was a youngster i was encouraged to spend hours in the dark room but i really did not like it very much and would rather of been out fishing. i prefer the digital camera but my father was one of the old school and stuck by the old film cameras i have his old Nikons and would never part with them i really must get them out and give them an airing, i have just bought a new camera and cant wait to get out and use, its a sony Hd with ditachable lenses so i really want to try it out down the woods and fields well i hope im have not bored you to much with my rambling on about cameras. a bit more latter
How wonderful nature is a spiders web built so intricately they now stand out with the white of the hoar frost. its now time to get the camera out so much to see on a winters day, i was watching the birds feeding on the feeder hung on the shed it is full of sunflower seed and i caught glimpse of a little head appear from under the shed it was a field mouse which has come into the garden in search of shelter and food as long as he does not get into the shed he will be OK the ones i don't want are rats we had a couple last year but they did not last very long out with the rifle both head shots dead instantly best Way to deal with the furry critters, since then i have not seen one the problem is just below my house is a bakery and he throws most of the stale bread into a horse box to take to the tip and the bread really encourages the rats we have the council vermin officer down he has killed a number of over the years but they soon come back as the bread attracts them from far and wide its like any animal when there habitat becomes cold and water logged they move from the fields to a warmer place and where food is more accessible.
Reading the thread about otters this morning will they starve through lack of food fish because the rivers and lakes freeze over no they wont otters are predators and will eat most things rabbit pheasant partridge duck and it is not past there predatory skills to take the farmers chickens they have no enemies and are not really afraid of man they are top of the food chain as they have no predators to keep them in check, the difference between the fox and otter is the fox will kill for pleasure killing everything in a pen and will only take one, but the otter will only take what it needs usualy one but if he finds it easy will return for more another day. but they are like any animal they only kill to survive i think most animals will be finding it difficult in this weather the poor old kingfisher a most beautiful bird will really struggle the weather in 1982 nearly wiped them out and i really have not seen the dipper in quality since that winter.
i was going down the woods today but my wife has some sort of virus so she must come first, i like to take the camera and take a few shots as the woods are very pretty with the hoar frost really standing out on the tree branches. I love to track the animals in these conditions and it is surprising what you may come across i came from a family who loved photography my father was professional for most of his life and when i was a youngster i was encouraged to spend hours in the dark room but i really did not like it very much and would rather of been out fishing. i prefer the digital camera but my father was one of the old school and stuck by the old film cameras i have his old Nikons and would never part with them i really must get them out and give them an airing, i have just bought a new camera and cant wait to get out and use, its a sony Hd with ditachable lenses so i really want to try it out down the woods and fields well i hope im have not bored you to much with my rambling on about cameras. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #816
snow and more snow ive seen it all before when i first got married and lived with my in laws in the hill country you could expect big snows nearly every year it was a hard life living up there . you would stock up most years with the basics matches tins of beans peas anything to keep you going in case you got snowed in one thing you got was bread flour a valuable commodity if you could not get to the village shop for bread you made your own nothing nicer than fresh bread baking in the oven beside the fire then eating it smeared with fresh home made butter. On the ceiling of the house would hang home cured bacon and hams from the pig you had reared a few months before nothing nicer than a couple of slices of home cured bacon with two eggs and home made bread and butter as long as you had a full belly and warm cloths you would be alright.
it was nineteen sixty when i got married and moved in with my in laws and young brother in law, times were hard and my father in law was a very ill man suffering from a disease from working down the local pits i found it quite hard as i was only 18 years old one of my jobs was to fetch fresh water from the well sometimes with snow up to my knees i would drop the bucket down the well on the end of a rope and when full wind it back up with a handle i would carry back two buckets at a time the well was a good quarter of a mile from the house i would do this before i went to work and when i came home in the evening in the winter it was dark, it was about 16 feet deep and the water was very cold it never froze up because of the depth, after we had got enought water we would put the top back on to stop anything falling into the water. another job was making sure there was enought fire wood to keep the house warm and to do the cooking there was no elecricity only oil lamps and candles it was certainly a different life than what i was used to, i have gone to bed and it had froze that much that the frost would glisen on the walls it was very cold and at times we would throw an old army coat on the bed for exrta warmth.
but i loved these people they did not have much but gave you unlimited love i would do anything for them i soon got to know the woods and would borrow the old chaps gun i managed a few pheasent and rabbits which was always exepted with gratitude, so we did not starve i managed to get a few snares and would set them for the rabbits the hills were over run with hairs and i manged to shoot one or two but as i said once before they were a bit to strong in taste for me some of the woods were heavely keepered the hills were also used for grouse shoots i would go and watch them shooting the grouse the guns all dressed up in there plus fours i would lie in the heather and watch from afar the guns would stand in the butts made especaliy for shooting the grouse, i kept my distance as it could be quite dangerous but this was my way of life, i loved the hills and the valleys i got to know the wild life, and would walk for miles i would also find the curlews nest the lapwing i would find the grouse and her nest, lie in the heather and listen to the sky lark way above watch the buzzard drifting on the thermal i loved it all.. well a bit more latter
snow and more snow ive seen it all before when i first got married and lived with my in laws in the hill country you could expect big snows nearly every year it was a hard life living up there . you would stock up most years with the basics matches tins of beans peas anything to keep you going in case you got snowed in one thing you got was bread flour a valuable commodity if you could not get to the village shop for bread you made your own nothing nicer than fresh bread baking in the oven beside the fire then eating it smeared with fresh home made butter. On the ceiling of the house would hang home cured bacon and hams from the pig you had reared a few months before nothing nicer than a couple of slices of home cured bacon with two eggs and home made bread and butter as long as you had a full belly and warm cloths you would be alright.
it was nineteen sixty when i got married and moved in with my in laws and young brother in law, times were hard and my father in law was a very ill man suffering from a disease from working down the local pits i found it quite hard as i was only 18 years old one of my jobs was to fetch fresh water from the well sometimes with snow up to my knees i would drop the bucket down the well on the end of a rope and when full wind it back up with a handle i would carry back two buckets at a time the well was a good quarter of a mile from the house i would do this before i went to work and when i came home in the evening in the winter it was dark, it was about 16 feet deep and the water was very cold it never froze up because of the depth, after we had got enought water we would put the top back on to stop anything falling into the water. another job was making sure there was enought fire wood to keep the house warm and to do the cooking there was no elecricity only oil lamps and candles it was certainly a different life than what i was used to, i have gone to bed and it had froze that much that the frost would glisen on the walls it was very cold and at times we would throw an old army coat on the bed for exrta warmth.
but i loved these people they did not have much but gave you unlimited love i would do anything for them i soon got to know the woods and would borrow the old chaps gun i managed a few pheasent and rabbits which was always exepted with gratitude, so we did not starve i managed to get a few snares and would set them for the rabbits the hills were over run with hairs and i manged to shoot one or two but as i said once before they were a bit to strong in taste for me some of the woods were heavely keepered the hills were also used for grouse shoots i would go and watch them shooting the grouse the guns all dressed up in there plus fours i would lie in the heather and watch from afar the guns would stand in the butts made especaliy for shooting the grouse, i kept my distance as it could be quite dangerous but this was my way of life, i loved the hills and the valleys i got to know the wild life, and would walk for miles i would also find the curlews nest the lapwing i would find the grouse and her nest, lie in the heather and listen to the sky lark way above watch the buzzard drifting on the thermal i loved it all.. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #817
love this thread,
it would make a good book Pete, every thought of it ??
similar ones have been done, some from years back, might be easier now with pc's etc to get a draft and publish
love this thread,
it would make a good book Pete, every thought of it ??
similar ones have been done, some from years back, might be easier now with pc's etc to get a draft and publish
In reply to Post #818
In reply to Post #817
love this thread,
it would make a good book Pete, every thought of it ??
similar ones have been done, some from years back, might be easier now with pc's etc to get a draft and publish
hi martin yes i have thought of a book its a bit expensive to get it published lots of members on here have suggested the same ken townley x pat in Poland and many more some of the stories are going to appear in print in jason's new book who is known on here as milk protein A1 baits his book should be launched latter this next year i think i at the bentwood show he even says himself its worthy of a book in its own rights i am now an old age pensioner and really cant afford it unless i could get sponsers which has been mentioned thanks for reading my stories and i am glad you have enjoyed them there is more to come the problem is rembering every thing that has happened over the years i have had a most enjoyable life and would not of missed it for the world i hope i can continue for some time to come thanks again god bless pete
In reply to Post #817
love this thread,
it would make a good book Pete, every thought of it ??
similar ones have been done, some from years back, might be easier now with pc's etc to get a draft and publish
hi martin yes i have thought of a book its a bit expensive to get it published lots of members on here have suggested the same ken townley x pat in Poland and many more some of the stories are going to appear in print in jason's new book who is known on here as milk protein A1 baits his book should be launched latter this next year i think i at the bentwood show he even says himself its worthy of a book in its own rights i am now an old age pensioner and really cant afford it unless i could get sponsers which has been mentioned thanks for reading my stories and i am glad you have enjoyed them there is more to come the problem is rembering every thing that has happened over the years i have had a most enjoyable life and would not of missed it for the world i hope i can continue for some time to come thanks again god bless pete