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All together now

Posted by Cliff Birchall on March 20, 2008 3:28 PM | 

YOU expect a tractor or two on a country road.
But I wasn't expecting a whole procession of them.
Turning off the A59 in Aughton to take the Formby road across the moss and there in front of me was a digger followed by two tractors, each towing a large muck spreader.
I foolishly assumed they would hare off down a cart track towards Clieves Hills. But no, they kept going. And nothing was passing them, and they were doing 35mph to give them their due.
Towards Downholland a third tractor pulling a seed drill appeared and led the procession at a somewhat more sedate pace as we all drove across Delf Lane past the Scarisbrick Arms.
To give him his due, though, he did pull off the road and allow us quicker mortals to overtake him. A gentleman farmer indeed.
Yet, by the time we reached Hill House a second digger equiped with buckets fore and aft had appeared to lead the parade.
And so it continued. And continued. And continued.
What are the odds on following a tractor all the way from Aughton and past Duke Street Park? Yet that was where they all went.
Looking at the queue of traffic behind me, it was lent an even more surreal air by the van which had a ladder and an upholstered armchair on the roof.
Mind you, it did give me chance to have a good spy round the fields. In Altcar Lane I spotted my first oystercatcher of the year, rooting around in the long grass.
Music On The Moss: Lent is still not quite finished so we are still listening to the sanctified stuff. This week it's some glorious old-style gospel songs from The Blind Boys of Alabama. They might be in their seventies but they can still turn a tune. Their backing musicians are blues legend John Hammond Jr, slide player David Lindley, harmonica wizard Charlie Musslewhaite and bassist Danny Thompson. Their version of Amazing Grace is, well, amazing. And they kick off a storm on I'm A Soldier (of the Lord) and This Might Be The Last Time. Wonderful music.

Comments (1)

Towen wrote...

Cliff, have you heard the Blind Boys of Alabama's collabaration with Solomon Burke on None of us are Free?

It's truly incredible, although not the sort of music you'd associate with a lazy country lane.

Answer: I haven't come across that recording so I'll look out for it the next time I'm browsing the music counters. Thanks for the suggestion

Posted by: Towen  | April 3, 2008 11:11 AM

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