A trip to the Shire, or there and back again

Simon on his 1952 Ferguson tractor

So, over Easter weekend I went back to the Shire to visit the Hobbits. In other words, to visit mum and her partner, Brian, in rural Norfolk. I really enjoyed it, and being at the farm made me think a lot about what I love about vintage. The farm has been in Brian's family for over 200 years, and mum brought all sorts of old bits and bobs from my family to it. It was really enjoyable seeing things like old books and even cutlery again, remembering them from decades ago and enjoying using them again. Mum has also collected things, such as an absolute forest of pottery with woodland animals on. I love vintage things because they have a sense of time, and with that comes a sense of stability. Vintage items feel as though they have more connections.

We didn't just stay on the farm, we also pottered off to the North Norfolk coast and took a little road trip from Wells, where we ate fish and chips and looked at how the storm damage was being repaired (the surge was particularly bad this year), then went over to Blakeney and finally down to Sheringham. It's been years since I'd visited those places and it really made me realise how lovely and tranquil they are. (And there was a shop in Sheringham selling over 40 flavours of ice cream! Ay caramba!)

My favourite vintage thing of the weekend was taking the dogs for a walk with mum and seeing Simon, who lives over the road, pottering along on his 1952 Ferguson tractor - they're known as 'Little Grey Fergies' for the obvious reasons. He's restored it, and it still gets used to pull a trailer around. It was delightful to see this vintage vehicle still in use. I suppose that sums up what I love about going to the farm: time moves on, but nothing's ever needlessly discarded.

Oh, and I learned a new bit of Norfolk dialect: dillum. And when I asked what I dillum was, I was informed it's "'alf a wuss". So now you know!