Re Pedro's post on 25 December 2006 about the red sails: in the south of England, cars are sometimes covered in red dust from the Sahara Desert in North Africa. It sounds as if Holmes had a similar experience.
I'm enjoying the Pepys Christmas Carol. Re Bradford's comment about the galloping horse - my mother-in-law, born 1925 in Dorset, had a similar comment from her mother when she complained about a coat as a child. Something like 'no-one's going to turn away from a galloping horse to look at you'.
The same law still applies in the UK today. No one owns the public highway outside their own house. Even parking bays put in for disabled residents aren't reserved. And users of footpaths have the right to pass and repass but not to stand around.
Trying to make sense of the agreement with Trice, I think Trice is being allowed to acquire £40 worth of land from Piggott which is charged with debt so Piggott gets let off £40 of debt but no money changes hands. Then Pepys releases the debt leaving himself £40 down and Trice with £40 of debt-free land but again no money changes hands. Trice is to spend 40s to entertain Pepys and the lawyers who helped broker the deal, and fortunately he has 46/8d in cash so he'll be able to pay it.
Anyone else think that Sam was keeping out of the way while the maids were finishing the washing? It was already dark before he went to the solicitor, where he stayed about an hour before going to his office and writing this long entry. It must have been very late indeed by the time he ventured back home. And surprise, surprise, it was all over.
Extract from Tuesday last: "by coach to the Old Exchange, and there cheapened some laces for my wife, and then to Mr.—— the great laceman in Cheapside, and bought one cost me 4l. more by 20s. than I intended, but when I came to see them I was resolved to buy one worth wearing with credit, and so to the New Exchange, and there put it to making" Did everyone forget this entry with all the gory details about Sam's health issues (or non-issues!)?
Having travelled to Temple for the past 2 weeks to attend Court proceedings I wonder who had the better journey. Sam (by water and/or foot in pouring rain) or I (by overground and underground trains in scorching heat)?
Thinking to have walked it ..... Sam was going to church by coach so I took this to mean that he had expected to walk instead and would have read his book on the way to church and back.
Annuities were compulsory for pension savers reaching the age of 75 until quite recently here in the UK. Pension savings had to be passed over to insurers in exchange for a guaranteed income for life. Different products were available, and still are, providing flat rate amounts, amounts rising in accordance with an agreed % each year or an inflation index, and on joint lives for a couple or a single life. Private annuities have also been used here in the UK but usually payments would continue until the death of the annuitant. If the grantor died first his estate/heirs would have to continue paying.
Terry Foreman: "Sir W. Pen....tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. ". A mistake: they were married on 5 July.
Maybe "to be married" means 'are going to be married' and the banns are being read in preparation for the wedding?
That book looks amazing. Thanks Terry. Some of the problems are the same as those I had to work out at primary school (up to age 11). If it takes 1 man a certain time to do a job how long will 3 men take to do the same etc. I guess Sam's Oxford education was based on classical philosophy, language etc. No wonder he loves to learn about numbers now. It's a fascinating subject for an orderly mind such as his.
It will be interesting to see if 'betimes' is used again much before September if it means 'before daybreak'. Five in the morning sounds early enough to start the day when there is so much packed into it. What energy the man had!
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 22 December 1663
JayW • Link
Re Pedro's post on 25 December 2006 about the red sails: in the south of England, cars are sometimes covered in red dust from the Sahara Desert in North Africa. It sounds as if Holmes had a similar experience.
About Tuesday 15 December 1663
JayW • Link
I'm enjoying the Pepys Christmas Carol.
Re Bradford's comment about the galloping horse - my mother-in-law, born 1925 in Dorset, had a similar comment from her mother when she complained about a coat as a child. Something like 'no-one's going to turn away from a galloping horse to look at you'.
About Tuesday 1 December 1663
JayW • Link
The same law still applies in the UK today. No one owns the public highway outside their own house. Even parking bays put in for disabled residents aren't reserved. And users of footpaths have the right to pass and repass but not to stand around.
About Wednesday 28 October 1663
JayW • Link
Money for Will - £15 to pay for the lodgings and another £20 if I don't have to feed him in future?
About Tuesday 27 October 1663
JayW • Link
Trying to make sense of the agreement with Trice, I think Trice is being allowed to acquire £40 worth of land from Piggott which is charged with debt so Piggott gets let off £40 of debt but no money changes hands. Then Pepys releases the debt leaving himself £40 down and Trice with £40 of debt-free land but again no money changes hands.
Trice is to spend 40s to entertain Pepys and the lawyers who helped broker the deal, and fortunately he has 46/8d in cash so he'll be able to pay it.
About Tuesday 27 October 1663
JayW • Link
As it was washday yesterday I guess there are a lot of damp clothes about and the maids are busy trying to get them dry and probably ironing.
About Monday 26 October 1663
JayW • Link
Anyone else think that Sam was keeping out of the way while the maids were finishing the washing? It was already dark before he went to the solicitor, where he stayed about an hour before going to his office and writing this long entry. It must have been very late indeed by the time he ventured back home. And surprise, surprise, it was all over.
About Sunday 18 October 1663
JayW • Link
Extract from Tuesday last:
"by coach to the Old Exchange, and there cheapened some laces for my wife, and then to Mr.—— the great laceman in Cheapside, and bought one cost me 4l. more by 20s. than I intended, but when I came to see them I was resolved to buy one worth wearing with credit, and so to the New Exchange, and there put it to making"
Did everyone forget this entry with all the gory details about Sam's health issues (or non-issues!)?
About Monday 12 October 1663
JayW • Link
TerryF - I hope the MS is still under control as much as possible?
About Monday 3 August 1663
JayW • Link
Robert, I would agree with your reading. We might say 'closeted together' meaning just the three of us.
About Tuesday 21 July 1663
JayW • Link
There's even a regular river boat service run by Transport for London which is used by commuters as well as tourists.
About Tuesday 21 July 1663
JayW • Link
Having travelled to Temple for the past 2 weeks to attend Court proceedings I wonder who had the better journey. Sam (by water and/or foot in pouring rain) or I (by overground and underground trains in scorching heat)?
About Sunday 5 July 1663
JayW • Link
Thinking to have walked it ..... Sam was going to church by coach so I took this to mean that he had expected to walk instead and would have read his book on the way to church and back.
About Friday 26 June 1663
JayW • Link
Annuities were compulsory for pension savers reaching the age of 75 until quite recently here in the UK. Pension savings had to be passed over to insurers in exchange for a guaranteed income for life. Different products were available, and still are, providing flat rate amounts, amounts rising in accordance with an agreed % each year or an inflation index, and on joint lives for a couple or a single life. Private annuities have also been used here in the UK but usually payments would continue until the death of the annuitant. If the grantor died first his estate/heirs would have to continue paying.
About Sunday 7 June 1663
JayW • Link
Terry Foreman: "Sir W. Pen....tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. ". A mistake: they were married on 5 July.
Maybe "to be married" means 'are going to be married' and the banns are being read in preparation for the wedding?
About Tuesday 26 May 1663
JayW • Link
Isn't Sam reporting Pembleton's words as he left? In which case it was Pembleton who said 'Mrs Ashwell' not Sam.
About Thursday 21 May 1663
JayW • Link
Is this an early manifestation of the curse of 'Strictly Come Dancing'?
About Wednesday 15 April 1663
JayW • Link
And thanks to Bill for his link, too!
About Wednesday 15 April 1663
JayW • Link
That book looks amazing. Thanks Terry. Some of the problems are the same as those I had to work out at primary school (up to age 11). If it takes 1 man a certain time to do a job how long will 3 men take to do the same etc. I guess Sam's Oxford education was based on classical philosophy, language etc. No wonder he loves to learn about numbers now. It's a fascinating subject for an orderly mind such as his.
About Monday 13 April 1663
JayW • Link
It will be interesting to see if 'betimes' is used again much before September if it means 'before daybreak'. Five in the morning sounds early enough to start the day when there is so much packed into it. What energy the man had!