Month: August 2017

We in Somerset know how to do things properly. If you are thinking of migrating or escaping from London and think there is nothing going on in the country you are incorrect. A lot goes on but it is not advertised widely mainly for economic reasons. This is a car 'meet'. The essence of such a meeting is its lack of formality. It's free to everyone and show cars can come and go as they please. We...

Friday 12 August 1664 ....I to White Hall and did much business at a Tangier Committee; where, among other things, speaking about propriety of the houses there, and how we ought to let the Portugeses I have right done them, as many of them as continue, or did sell the houses while they were in possession, and something further in their favour, the Duke in an anger I never observed in him before,...

It is very nice to be able to arrange one's - as our Queen would say -  own day. We always plan by feel, mostly not deciding until the last moment but it was clear that this was <fanfare of trumpets> Wells day. What finally tipped the balance was the weather, and the fact that there is a model railway exhibition going on in the Town Hall. Model railways, and anything relating to nostalgia...

Thursday 11 August 1664 ....I show him a good countenance, but love him not for his base ingratitude to me.... No one can accuse Samuel Pepys of being unproductive. He has a lot of political situations to deal with and has to consort with people whom he admires and with whom he does not and if you read the diary today by clicking the link you will see the sentence that I have highlighted. I...

Saw a delightful potential customer this morning who is secretary to social services, a division that cares for disabled children which she does three times a week. It is always a pleasure to work for such people and I try to give extra to those who give to others - simple as that. The daughter was the spitting image of the mother and works on a freelance basis for John Lewis as a designer. She...

Wednesday 10 August 1664 ...So I find out Cocker, the famous writing-master, and get him to do it, and I set an hour by him to see him design it all; and strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his first designing it, and read it all over, without any missing, when for my life I could not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it; but it is use. I have always...