Davies Int. Southampton. With photos (Part 1)

[wrighty]

Evening Buzzer

Sat at home having just eaten my birthday tea, home grown fillet steak with all the trimmings + a couple of nice glasses of valpolicella thanks to Alice.
Late finish tonight typical Friday traffic but weekend off for a bit of farming, off to our local tomorrow night it’s what they call the “gathering” where people bring their instruments and play folk music till the early hours then out for a meal on Sunday night…, it’s all go up ere int dales but alas someone has it to do…

Cheers Wrighty.

[bewick]

Buzzer:
Dennis put the new horse out front as near side leader but when I went to see him he went in the wheel but in the interest of matching length white legs is why he is where he is, the leaders match and the wheelers. Its not uncommon to change them about so they know different drive positions so in the event of maybe one day having to move them some where else they don’t play up, also if you can get them ridden in an open bridle this is also good, don’t ride me self too far to terra firma for my liking, back to normal today checking all cattle making sure every thing is ok and two hours picking flaming beans, another three big washing up bowls full also cleaned out the chooks so well knackered now best nip down the pub for a livener eh, cheers Buzzer.

Very interesting and knowledgeable info Buzzer Thank you! and your comment about riding them but not you ! snap same sentiments with me , I could drive our pacers any where but ride them , no chance ! and I only had about 14:2/15:2 to hit the deck whereas you had another 2 or 3 hands to fall We were a great believer in training under saddle my Girls used to ride all our pacers for miles up on the high Fells . Once we got them racing fit they never had a ■■■■■■■■ them between races and they thrived on the regime whereas other trainers just jogged theirs in training carts every day in day out and then back in the box, very boring eh! We also took them onto the shore and swam them in the channels which they loved ! and it did their legs good Tight ! Tight! all that salt water ! . So come on are you going to dig into the biscuit tin you keep your Ill gotten in under the bed and pay the man for that hoss’ ? Cheers Dennis.

[kerbut]

What a great looking turn out Buzzer , they all look very smart with their white socks . look forward to seeing them at Dorchester Show, 2 days before we return to Spain for the winter !

[bewick]

Iv’e just “clocked” why you don’t ride Buzzer, they aren’t “up to weight” or " Sadly out grown" Cheers Dennis.

[buzzer]

Bewick:
Iv’e just “clocked” why you don’t ride Buzzer, they aren’t “up to weight” or " Sadly out grown" Cheers Dennis.

You cheeky beggar Dennis I will have you know in 2008 I weighed in at nearly 29 stone, I smoked like a train (roll ups) never one out me gob, diabetic with high blood pressure and according to the doctor not long to live if I carried on so I then had a stomach bypass takes your gut from a melon size to a lemon, then came the hard bit as all me food had to be minced up like a baby for three months but I lost half my body weight in six months, gave up the ■■■■ and now no longer diabetic, well worth the effort. Back then would have needed a shire to carry me but too old to ride horses now.

Wrighty happy returns for yesterday sounds like Alice treated you well getting to the mans heart with good food always a winner in my book, what you have planned this weekend sounds right up my street as always liked that type of music and in a pub as well sounds great. Got a five string Banjo when I was 15 but never ever mastered it even with lessons, still got it today tucked away up stairs some where. Off on my rounds in a moment paying the contractor for the baling etc and delivering copious amounts of French & runner beans to friends. Bit duller here today but boy do we need some rain, every thing is dried up and the grass is going brown, it is forecast but bet we don’t get much, you enjoy your relax time mate as you know when the farm is busy you aint got time, cheers Buzzer.

[baldrick1953]

Aah… The old Buzzer we know and love…

I always remember you telling me the Doctor said you were the perfect weight for height … If you were 14’ 3…

[bewick]

Still on the theme of that fine Team of yours Buzzer, have you got a decent Blacksmith ? and does he shoe them hot ? All my horses were shod hot, can’t beat it for the perfect job ! Hope you don’t mind me asking these questions Cheers Dennis.

[buzzer]

Bewick:
Still on the theme of that fine Team of yours Buzzer, have you got a decent Blacksmith ? and does he shoe them hot ? All my horses were shod hot, can’t beat it for the perfect job ! Hope you don’t mind me asking these questions Cheers Dennis.

Dennis my farrier as they are called today as in old days blacksmiths shod horses but also mended all agricultural equipment and any thing else that needed fixing, well he was trained by an ex military man on the IOW, he tells me they lived in and were up at six am and in the morning and in the forge at seven and made shoes for an hour and a half. It was not uncommon he told me for this military man to run his finger across there face to make sure they had shaven that morning and if they had not they were sent back to the house to correct themselves as he insisted that no unshaven apprentice of his would meet his customers so you can tell there were no corners cut with him, thus my farrier says that remains with him to this very day, he may not be as strict as his teacher was with him but with his charges he is definitely on the case. He has one qualified man and two apprentices with him one a girl at that but she is good, they usually come in force as they get vittels when they visit me as I have one awkward horse they have to shoe but never complain and I get charged the same. All my horses are hot shod as I feel this makes for a better fit, in Holland they don’t do this much at all so when I first get a new horse the first thing I do is get him reshod so I am sure things are right. When I have been out for a drive on our return the horses are hot washed down this gets all the dirt out as they are usually a bit sweaty and you can see the crap running out of them, then as a matter of course I spray the frogs with anti sceptic foot rot gear as a precaution, had a horse with canker once and don’t want to go back there. lost him in the end. The longer you have these animals the more you learn about them and there is always something you did not know about, the older you get hopefully the wiser you are in all things and the man who knows it all has not been born yet, cheers Buzzer.

[bewick]

I’ve just got Anne to scan this shot for me of our family friend and good pal the late Great Frank Taylor ( a Director of Robert Taylor & Son Ltd.) taken about 1988/9 at York Harness Raceway standing with our horse Dalestar. Frank was without doubt one of the very finest Farriers in the UK, probably a carbon copy of your man Buzzer, Craftsmen who didn’t stand any bollox off anyone when it came to shoeing and vets had great respect for a good Farrier as I found out nearly 40 years ago when my Vet suggested I take another horse I had to Green Smithy Bentham ( Robert Taylor & Son) And from then on Frank took care of all our horses feet plus we enjoyed many social occasions over the years, we enjoyed many successes with our race horses in throughout England, Scotland and Wales and Frank was always there . Frank passed away about a couple of years ago and you would have appreciated the day Buzzer as Franks coffin was transported down to Church in Bentham from the Cottage where Frank was born and grew up next to the Smithy on a 4 wheel lorry pulled by a Baldy mare, his two Sons and two daughters walked behind the lorry the mile to the Church, a very moving occasion I can tell you and one Frank would have totally agreed with I’m sure ! Unfortunately these “old School” Farriers are a dying breed, same as old school Hauliers eh! Happy memories ! Cheers Dennis.

[bewick]

Not quite in your league Buzzer this is a shot of the Victoria Park Phaeton I owned for a few years and this is a shot at Appleby when I took the young lady who drove our race horses to the Church when she married. The Chestnut horse was one of my first race horses “My Birthday” and this shot was about 1990 when he was retired and 17 years old. He was a great little horse, very versatile as I was told once( on the QT) when he was still racing the Girls that groomed for me use to take him to the local riding school and had him going over 4 ft jumps in the arena ! Cheers Dennis.

[saviem]

Evening all,

Apologies John, (Buzzer), and Dennis, (Bewick), Ive been away for a bit, first it was the second cut of sileage, then the Barley, then a new concrete yard, then a new roof for the one barn, (where I keep my Star, and all the other bits of odd ball machinery that I seem to have acquired)…and that was the bridge too far according to my delightful, (and rather gorgeous), Eastern European Doctor…(female of course)… Those blooming roof sheets are heavy going up and down a ladder, and of course no one but me can lay them correctly…So I now pay the consequence!

Glad you have a new Horse John, and what a looker, You and Dennis have the advantage over me in that I have never driven…my old friend Ted Robson down in London always told me that he would “learn me”…but time passed on. Still fancy it, mind you I quite fancy putting , “Mr Whippy”, the 4ft Donkey to a little cart…but he is of an independent nature…and speed wise…well, your guess is as good as mine!..mid you his ears are so huge that if there was a head wind we would probably have to turn around!

Now my little mistreated, ex diddycoy Mare…well Im making good progress, she is responding, and I can now catch her, and do her feet in the stable… You can see the memories of cruelty are still there, but I can give her all the time in the World, and the next step will be to do her teeth…but when you see her sleeping on the bed of shavings it fair breaks your heart, she seems at last, happy…so so am I.

My DVLA HGV medical papers have just come in the post on Saturday…I was going to let them go, and give up the licence…but my pal in Nice has found a reasonable 4x2 F89 in Toulon for not massive money…almost no rot, and a very presentable lorry she looks…so tommorow I book the £100 with my Doctor, and Specsavers £50…and despite my good lady`s protestations an Easy Jet ticket to Nice…I quite fancy another F89 16 speeder.

Cheerio for now.

Not mega, but considering where we are starting from, its great progress. She is a sweet, but awkward little girl. Conformation…well fairly poor…nature…superb…how can anyone abuse such a sweet little girl?

[buzzer]

Saviem (John) envy is supposed to be a sin but when I here you are of to Francais to view an F89 well I cannot help feeling the envy, if you do purchase it and find you have not enough room in the barn at home feel free to leave it here, I can arrange the ferry crossing as well.
Through the years I have owned several Volvo F89 including one previously owned by Fergie, they were without doubt a powerful motor in there day and there where quite a few of them working International route out of Hampshire, the likes of Armstrong tankers doing wine and spirits and A.S.Rawlings from Alton who carried loads and loads of MT cows as they called them (hides) blues being my favoured variety as there was no vet to do at the border as they where partly cured.
My main memory was of course when abroad how hot they got inside the cab, nice in winter but summer a killer. one I had did have an aircon unit on the roof but we never ever got her gassed up so it was just an ornament but the driver thought it added to his credibility and ime sure he made out some times he went farther afield than he actually did.
Over the years we have had long associations with Volvo & Scania trucks the latter being what we run today, I say we but my sons do it nowadays, when you look inside of todays model you think to yourself have I got a pilots licence to enable me to be in control of this, my own Scania horsebox has a range change box and I suppose I am old school when it comes to trucks, always drove with the window down slightly ever listening for that odd sound that may appear but the that’s after years of running kit that some one else had the best out of and me the second or third owner was never sure if the trip would pass without incident and I must surely not be alone on that score.
Back in the day as had been said many times on these threads the camaraderie among drivers was good and there was always someone to lend a hand if you did encounter a problem on your journey sadly not like that in todays world apart from the fact there aint too many British doing the job anymore.
John good luck with your trip to France and im’e sure you will update us on the progress with this venture, all the best Buzzer.

[wrighty]

Morning Buzzer

Well so much for the relaxing weekend a full day spreading muck yesterday(Alice said it was relaxing)… But we had a grand meal out with the family last night at the CB inn Arkengathdale so that made up for it.
Back at work this morning tipping in Manchester then off to sunny Anglesey this afternoon.

Cheers Wrighty.

[buzzer]

Wrighty that’s a short little muck flinger you got there but when you have tight gateways to negotiate its for the best. Today I turned my talents to jam making as it was forecast to P down all day, well it did not come early and when it did it wer’nt much but just been out to shut the chooks up for the night and it is right giving it some out there now, every thing smells fresh and I hope it keeps going all night as we sure do need it. Been watering the beans every other day but wont need to do that tomorrow now.
Did two batches of 3 fruit jam today to replenish the stocks but I make it to good and every one who has had a jar has come back saying, don’t suppose I can be cheeky and have another one and of course its not in my nature to refuse especially a lady.
Yesterday me and Mrs D did our chores and then went out for a Sunday roast in our local and we walked there but not being used to a dinner and beer in the middle of the day all I wanted to do is have a kip, then later in the evening we went to check cattle and fill the water trough’s much better than fighting the hoards of cars all out for a drive.
Dennis looking at those shots of them racing carts just cant see how the hell you saw where you where going, spose you had to lean out to the side else your just looking up the horses backside and you are in prime position if one decided to lash out behind. When I went to test that new horse I have now paid for the fella had a very high seated carriage and said it’s better to be well out the way with a young horse in because you don’t know if they are going to kick off and you can easy get hurt.
Not sure what’s on the menu tomorrow just hope it keeps raining cuzz its doin a lot of good, cheers Buzzer.

[peggydeckboy]

i would like to say good afternoon,/evening to you all, i have spent the last half hour catching up on the posts that i have missed,!! and what some interesting reading they have been, it would take- me a time to comment on them all, however you are all doing well, that is the main thing, “the Archers” have nothing on these posts.
I have been away,busy, at house renovation in Devon ,helping one of my sons ,dads have their uses…i would like to report that i now have the big three, i have glasses…partial denture… now the proud owner off a pair of ,“no not horses” national health ,care of spec savers “Hearing aids”, that i did not know i needed.

although i liked the telly sound up to about 18/20 the wife cringes her setting is 10, her preference ,so i did it …,i put all my self conscious nonsense aside …,after only 1 hour i came out with hearing so good i could hear Big Ben,well, unbelievable good,i can now hear the indicators clicking in the car…and when you urinate you think ,where is the donkey.

I was dubious about spec savers as i have had their glasses and they were ■■■■■ ,however they have a national health contract, so “subbies do it better” SIEMENS DIGITAL AIDS worth £1000 all for nowt ,thank you very much ,all though i have paid for them over the years, but hey -ho.it would be interesting to know if it is just for us oldies,- and Brits ONLY■■?.PDB.

[rigsby]

Nice to hear you are fully kitted out pdb , as my wife says " there’s more of you on the night stand than there is in bed " . Got to agree with the specsavers hearing aids , i got mine a couple of years ago and they are far better than the old nhs issue . keep an eye out for the postman when he brings a whole years supply of batteries in one package . On the downside you won’t be able to say "sorry love i didn’t hear you " any more . cheers Dave

[bewick]

rigsby:
Nice to hear you are fully kitted out pdb , as my wife says " there’s more of you on the night stand than there is in bed " . Got to agree with the specsavers hearing aids , i got mine a couple of years ago and they are far better than the old nhs issue . keep an eye out for the postman when he brings a whole years supply of batteries in one package . On the downside you won’t be able to say "sorry love i didn’t hear you " any more . cheers Dave

What’s wrong with the old cows horn stuck in your Lug Dave ? Or you should have changed 'ands at 99, no sorry that’s when you need glasses , same firm now Specsavers !! Cheers Dennis

[rigsby]

Funny how you don’t realise how bad for hearing has become . My wakeup was dragging into newark cattle market with the brakes locking and when the fitter came out it was the air dryer and i couldn’t hear the air gushing out . Cow horn would be no good dennis , wife would probably pour something nasty down it . dave

[kerbut]

peggydeckboy
Dont forget you get the batteries free as well , from any doctors surgery or from the hospital.

[rigsby]

You don’t have to worry about batteries with specsavers kerbut , they send you a years supply once a year . In fact they send so many that i keep my neighbour supplied . Dave