Tuesday 26 November 2013

Oh the glamour, the opulence...

Anyone who thinks there is anything glamorous about being the wife of a farmer needs to read this.   You see below the picture of my transport today.

I wished to spend the afternoon with friend M, and to this end asked the farmer if he could take me round there.  (sadly I can no longer drive).   He told me he was going that way anyway and I could have a lift with pleasure - there was a seat beside him in the tractor.

What he didn't tell me until I got outside and saw for myself, was that behind the tractor was the muck spreader.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.   What an elegant vehicle to travel in.   The lane is very bumpy and I had to hold on tightly.  If you think I was inelegant getting up into the tractor you should have seen me getting out!

But the most colourful part of the whole afternoon was still to come.   He collected me (again on the tractor and muck
spreader) but when we reached the lane end we kept going along the Main Road.   We were going to the field to spread the last load of muck before it got dark, so my afternoon with M (which had been lovely by the way) ended by the farmer and I gliding slowly up and down the field spreading the last muck of the day.

Still I had a nice afternoon out and I am not proud - after all, beggars can't be choosers can they?   Any ride is better than no ride at all and it is not everyone who can say they have been taken to visit a friend riding on a much spreader is it?

19 comments:

Dominic Rivron said...

Sounds great. "The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure." DH Lawrence

Terry and Linda said...

I love riding next to Terry. It doesn't get to happen often but when I do get to I feel like we are dating all over again.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Arija said...

A bit like James Bond commandeering the tractor . Surely he would not have cared what was hanging on behind. Gently trundling up and sown a field enhanced by a definitely agricultural aroma, what a romantic vision! i am just glad it was a muck spreader and not a sh-one-T flicker :)

jinxxxygirl said...

That must have been wonderful spending the time with the Farmer. I 'm sure he enjoyed your company on what must normally be a lonely job.. Hugs! deb

angryparsnip said...

Have you ever had such a charming ride before ?

Love this post today.
cheers, parsnip

George said...

You are a real trooper, Pat, with an amazing ability to keep things in perspective. My farm experience has been rather limited, though, metaphorically speaking, I witnessed a great deal of muck spreading during my career in Washington.

Irene said...

There is nothing more down to earth than the smell of muck being spread, so you were in a privileged position.

Mary said...

I just hope you had your wellies on - and a good warm anorak.

How stinky was it? I almost get a feeling of 'sundowners' on an African safari - where at the end of the game drive out comes one's drink of choice as one settled between the elephant dung!!!!! Did the farmer treat you to an aperitif?

Laughing - Mary

ChrisJ said...

There have been days in my life when I would have given anything to have driven up and down the fields of the Wolds -- even on a muck spreader.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Reminds me of a lady who used to live in my village. She always drove herself down to the village shop on a tractor, hanging her shopping bags on the three-point linkage on the way home. Happy muck-spreading!

Heather said...

I have a job getting in and out of some cars! I think you must have looked rather regal riding up there beside the farmer. Hope you gave any neighbours a suitable wave as you passed by!

Linda Metcalf said...

An exciting ride to be sure (how funny)! Still better than walking and you had good company...

Barbara said...

Great story! I'll bet none of your town friends ever got to ride in what my husband calls "the farmer's limousine".

MorningAJ said...

If you squint at the photo you can sort of make it look like a sports car. Sort of. :)

Crafty Green Poet said...

I think it would be great to arrive at a friend's house on a muck-spreader!

Robin Mac said...

I'm still laughing, and I think the sight of you getting down off the tractor would have been just about as good as the sight of me trying to get out of the punt at Christchurch Botanic Gardens!

Em Parkinson said...

There are many young boys who would give their right arm to be travelling in a tractor!

Elizabeth said...

I think a video of this would be a big hit on you-tube.

And yes, we do need muck
as in
'where there's muck there's brass

not to mention the nitrogen cycle which I dimly remember .
American Thanksgiving today and I have much to be thankful for!
Warm winter greetings.

The Weaver of Grass said...

After Elizabeth's comment I do rather wish that there had been somebody around to video the whole affair.