The family's complete dependence on Sam has often come up in this journey. My assumption has always been that Bess was not (fully) aware of either the precarious nature of Sam's position or of their finances. I often wonder what would have been her behaviour had she known.
"A very happy new year to Phil and all annotators and lurkers."
Thank you on behalf of us all. This is my second round, which I resolve to be complete. (I read L&M first and then the annotations on this wonderful site.)
I live in a rural area with the nearest lamp-post a good 10km away. One really appreciates the moonshine in such environs, an appreication possibly lost to (sub)urban dwellers.
@arby There are many instances in the diary where Pepys takes his wife's concerns and opinions in mind. He did not burn the letter unopened so that may have been petulance at the moment writ down. I note that he thought about whether or not to open it rather than simply dismissing it.
"making them lay all my boards but one" -- I presume that these were toungue-and-groove so that the last board needs to be face-nailed. They still need staining or painting, however, before use.
@Bridget: Where one slept depended on one's status. His boy Will usually slept on a truckle bed but his man Will sleeps in a separate bed.
I still wonder about the previous riders' assistance, though. I have ridden at night and despite horses having extraordinarily good eyesight, darkness on horseback is extremely unsettling.
@GrannieAnnie: Methinks Pepys had gas cramps brought on by anxiety at having the house ready. As to the use of the word nowadays, colic is still used in reference to horses and babies with painful gas cramps.
"Did they not take into account [...]?" I daresay that they did -- there were several linguists among them. Part of the pleasure of reading Pepys is seeing how the language changed and discussing it.
Loss of Leades should not be taken lightly if we go by the number of times that he and Elizabeth walked upon them for pleasure. Presumably, only one access point exists.
If the swordstrike were reported accurately, Ferrars would have lost the use of those fingers. Remember, these are the days before antibiotics and micro-surgery.
Castles had their garderobes and London had night-soil men emptying the pits (in the basement), those of his neighbour's occasionally overflowing (viz. entry of 20 Oct 1660).
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 18 January 1662/63
john • Link
The family's complete dependence on Sam has often come up in this journey. My assumption has always been that Bess was not (fully) aware of either the precarious nature of Sam's position or of their finances. I often wonder what would have been her behaviour had she known.
About Tuesday 13 January 1662/63
john • Link
Well put, Sasha.
GrannieAnnie, comments on fruit and veg may be found via the Pepys encyclopedia. Further discussion in Tomalin (a tome well worth buying and reading).
About Friday 9 January 1662/63
john • Link
On the discussion of diaries private or not, how many who argued for public have kept a diary? Reasons for keeping one are varied.
About Wednesday 7 January 1662/63
john • Link
To add to Australian Susan's exmple, most flight crews are not paid until push-back, regardless of the time spent befote then.
About Wednesday 31 December 1662
john • Link
"A very happy new year to Phil and all annotators and lurkers."
Thank you on behalf of us all. This is my second round, which I resolve to be complete. (I read L&M first and then the annotations on this wonderful site.)
About Thursday 18 December 1662
john • Link
An undercooked meal would have greater risks then. Cooks did not understand bacteria (mind, not some do now).
About Wednesday 10 December 1662
john • Link
L&M report that his salary went from £33 and change to £350. Unless that is an error, that is quite a raise.
About Friday 5 December 1662
john • Link
"... so took a turn or two in the garden, being very pleasant with the snow and frost."
And so it was this morning with frost covering the spyrea in a white sheath, feeling Sam's pleasure across the centuries.
About Monday 17 November 1662
john • Link
I live in a rural area with the nearest lamp-post a good 10km away. One really appreciates the moonshine in such environs, an appreication possibly lost to (sub)urban dwellers.
About Saturday 15 November 1662
john • Link
Painters finishing this night: Painting by candlelight seems risky on various grounds (if he means it literally).
About Thursday 13 November 1662
john • Link
@arby There are many instances in the diary where Pepys takes his wife's concerns and opinions in mind. He did not burn the letter unopened so that may have been petulance at the moment writ down. I note that he thought about whether or not to open it rather than simply dismissing it.
About Friday 31 October 1662
john • Link
"making them lay all my boards but one" -- I presume that these were toungue-and-groove so that the last board needs to be face-nailed. They still need staining or painting, however, before use.
About Wednesday 22 October 1662
john • Link
@Bridget: Marriage then was a business deal, Pepys being quite the exception. (For example, read the commentary of 29 August 1661.
About Thursday 9 October 1662
john • Link
@Bridget: Where one slept depended on one's status. His boy Will usually slept on a truckle bed but his man Will sleeps in a separate bed.
I still wonder about the previous riders' assistance, though. I have ridden at night and despite horses having extraordinarily good eyesight, darkness on horseback is extremely unsettling.
About Monday 22 September 1662
john • Link
@GrannieAnnie: Methinks Pepys had gas cramps brought on by anxiety at having the house ready. As to the use of the word nowadays, colic is still used in reference to horses and babies with painful gas cramps.
About Friday 19 September 1662
john • Link
If we are talking about the earliest non-native temporary settlements, one should note l'Anse aux Meadows.
About Monday 15 September 1662
john • Link
"Did they not take into account [...]?" I daresay that they did -- there were several linguists among them. Part of the pleasure of reading Pepys is seeing how the language changed and discussing it.
About Saturday 13 September 1662
john • Link
Loss of Leades should not be taken lightly if we go by the number of times that he and Elizabeth walked upon them for pleasure. Presumably, only one access point exists.
About Friday 12 September 1662
john • Link
If the swordstrike were reported accurately, Ferrars would have lost the use of those fingers. Remember, these are the days before antibiotics and micro-surgery.
About Tuesday 9 September 1662
john • Link
Castles had their garderobes and London had night-soil men emptying the pits (in the basement), those of his neighbour's occasionally overflowing (viz. entry of 20 Oct 1660).