Month: May 2017

Much worse than conceit – phrases like “have a nice day”

Monday 30 May 1664 Pepys - Lay long, the bells ringing, it being holiday, and then up and all the day long in my study at home studying of shipmaking with great content till the evening, and then came Mr. Howe and sat and then supped with me. He is a little conceited, but will make a discreet man. He being gone, a little to my office, and then home to bed, being in much pain from yesterday’s...

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mental preparation for an important occasion – fussy yeast

Pepys was obviously in a very creative mood – on a Sunday at that. His diary is far too voluminous for me to reproduce so if you wish click on the date below to read the whole thing. Sunday 29 May 1664 .....He (Mr Povy) do, as to the effect of the warr, tell me clearly that it is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade if we will, we having so many advantages over them, of winds,...

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A human fruit machine in Kilmersdon, Somerset

Kilmersdon is a tiny little village with a few hundred souls, actually about 550, which nevertheless has the requisite basic needs of a community namely a lively church, a pub and a village hall. It is just lacking a village shop. Not a million miles - a whole 7 minutes - by car  from Mells there is  the ideal post card - local ads - grocery - bakery - newspaper shop - post office - cafe all in...

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Pepys aches and pains – a DIY garden customer

28 May 1664 Up pretty well as to pain and wind, and to the office, where we sat close and did much business. At noon I to the ‘Change, and thence to Mr. Cutler’s, where I heard Sir W. Rider was, where I found them at dinner and dined with them, he having yesterday and to-day a fit of a pain like the gout, the first time he ever had it. A good dinner. Good discourse, Sir W. Rider especially much...

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negotiating a fair price – car boot fairs – homelessness USA style

27 May 1664 Up, not without some pain by cold, which makes me mighty melancholy, to think of the ill state of my health. To the office, where busy till my brains ready to drop with variety of business, and vexed for all that to see the service like to suffer by other people’s neglect. Vexed also at a letter from my father with two troublesome ones enclosed from Cave and Noble, so that I know not...

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Thunder during the night – a garden quote – a dead frog

26 May 1664 Up to the office, where we sat, and I had some high words with Sir W. Batten about canvas, wherein I opposed him and all his experience, about seams in the middle, and the profit of having many breadths and narrow, which I opposed to good purpose, to the rejecting of the whole business. At noon home to dinner, and thence took my wife by coach, and she to my Lady Sandwich to see her....

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Welcome to The World of Brian Snellgrove

1,418,623 words across 1,545 articles
Inspired by Samuel Pepys’ Diary 1633-1703

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