Wednesday 9 December 2009

Big Boys' Toys.











The farmer's long-awaited new toy has arrived today and he has played with it all afternoon.
You can see it in the photographs - arriving on the low-loader, being unloaded by the farmer in his tractor (I must say it was pretty scary seeing him backing up that ramp to the lorry.) Then I took a photograph as he passed the kitchen window, tootling off to the top pasture.
In case you don't know what it is (clue: I have not mentioned manure on this blog for at least a fortnight) it is a slurry spreader/tanker. That means it sucks up the liquid manure (which includes the water from any washing out of cowsheds) stores it in the tank and then - on command- shoots it out into a spray across the field. If you haven't caught the sharp edge of this when driving past a field then you haven't lived! It is (or rather was) a bright royal blue - but after three tootles it is already showing signs of splattering.
What is really making me laugh is that our neighbour, Steve, has also got a new slurry tanker - his is red - and guess what - he is also spreading this afternoon, so they are riding up and down adjacent fields spreading like mad. Don't tell me that farmers grow up into men - they are all boys at heart with their great big machines.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

Red is so appropriate for the festive season! But I like the farmer's blue one. Pity the bright shininess can't last. Glad I'm upwind!

Heather said...

What a super toy Weaver - you'd never have got it into the farmer's Christmas stocking! I hope the two farmers never fall out or it will be muck spreaders at dawn!!

Anonymous said...

You are so right, big boys and their toys indeed. A picture of the two boys spreading in neighbor fields with their shiney new toys would be hilarious.

It's miserable miserable wet weather here, some of what you've already experienced. Think I'm gonna bake.

PurestGreen said...

Reminds me of when my dad retired and he got an air compressor. You cannot imagine a happier man than my father with a brand new (and on sale, too!) air compressor.

Granny Sue said...

You are exactly right. Guys love these big machines.

We used to have a manure spreader that was pulled behind the tractor. Joking aside, it did a very good job of some dirty work.

Arija said...

I'll second that last sentence, mine at the moment is wanting a new tractor, but will just have to wait 'till nex July and financial year.

Helsie said...

My city boy's man toy is a blower! It blows leaves and stuff like that a bit like a reverse vacuum cleaner. Makes an awful noise and covers everything with dust but all men seem to love them!
Cheers

Caroline Gill said...

I think these two spreaders should have names (and faces?) like Thomas the Tank Engine!

steven said...

hi weaver - it'd make a neat video to see the two lads from the air in speeded up footage as their red and blue wagons race up and down the fields! have a lovely evening in the dale. steven

Titus said...

Lovely post Weaver, we are in the thick of it up here at the moment too.
Though I must say my heart is with the Forage Harvesters...

Unknown said...

My word verification for this comment is "pressed". I guess "sprayed" might have been more to the point. With the red and blue, the farmer and his neighbor must have looked very patriotic! It's good the sprayer arrived when it did. It was too big a toy for under the tree! Thanks for spreading the news, Weaver! =D

SG said...

Aha! Indeed a great toy!

Elisabeth said...

Speaking of Thomas the tank, you could call yours Steve the slurry truck. I suspect the other trains and trucks might want to steer clear, however bright and shiny his coat of paint.

Robin Mac said...

My engineering husband just gets bigger and noisier power tools!! You are right, they all have to have their toys - he has an air compressor too. Our previous dog was terrified of it, but we haven't started it since Jock appeared on the scene, can't imagine him being frightened though. I would love to see the video of the two muck spreaders!! Cheers,
Robin

Pat Posner said...

LOL, a very visual post. Plus, I can smell it, too, but can't think of the word for that.

Hope Tess is behaving? Tim and ted send tail wags.

xxPat

The Weaver of Grass said...

Your comments made me smile. So much so that I am recommending that the farmer paint a smily face on the side of his tanker. As for calling it a name - I think he often calls it a name when something goes wrong - but maybe not a name I could publicise!

Thanks as usual for all you have to say.

Bovey Belle said...

If your husband's anything like our Next Door farmer, then he will have had his mates round to show it off to them! When he got his Uni-Mog there was a queue to check it out!! Bet your husband's like a dog with two tails now, especially as he can compare notes with the farmer with the RED one!

mrsnesbitt said...

Oh the smell! You didn't mention the smell! lol! We live in a farming community and can recognise who is tootling along in the tractors by the way they drive! lol! We are always right!

Bob said...

I hope he hasn't got it dirty!!!

BT said...

Oh lovely poo spreader!! It's so blue, but not for long I guess!! Happy farmer.