Here in rural Somerset UK we still use 'septic tank' drainage where the fluids, after treatment, are drained into soakaways and the remaining solids are pumped out by a tanker once a year. Our local tankers are often painted with jolly slogans like "Yesterday's Meals on Wheels".
In the old days of earth floors, someone had a right to dig up the floor in Spring (very unpopular with the occupants) to recover the urine salts. Hence, I assume, the term 'Night soil men'.
In quite a long life I have never been able to come to terms with the cruelty and hatred meted out between people who worship their god(s) in a slightly different way. You would think that their gods might have done something to stop it by now.....
One of the main features of St James's Park was (still is) a canal running down the middle stocked with a variety of watery birds. An early memory as a child was my first sight of a pelican. Presumably, the engines were lifting water to fill it for the first time.
For anyone who can get BBC programmes, may I recommend 'The Alehouse Sessions' which appeared on BBC4 last night and which, presumably, will now be found on BBC I-player. A very jolly group of Scandinavian and British folk musicians playing music from Cromwell's time through to the Restoration including dances, songs, reels, jigs and sea shanties but also from Playford's The English Dancing Master and several pieces by Purcell. It's easy to imagine Sam, William Howe and even My Lord entertaining the assembled company with their fiddles and a glass near at hand.
Bed wetting. Sam's windows had been broken by the enthusiastic firing of cannon salutes and, presumably, could not be re-glazed at sea. I would have thought he would have had them covered up by now but maybe they were the only source of ventilation in a small, smelly cabin.
Slight spoiler? Shelston's production of his pretty wife for inspection by Sam will be repeated by others as a slightly sinister 'bribe' as he becomes more powerful and his weaknesses become better known.
"my eyes being bad with writing my journal, part of it, to-night."
Sam seems clear that the problems with his eyes are due to too little or, occasionally, too much light yet he persists in writing his journal by candle-light instead of during the day. I wonder why - it's not as though he has a 9 to 5 job.
"I sent the coachman to her lodging, and understand she is gone for Greenwich to one Marys’s"
I'm always interested in the minor practicalities of life in Sam's day. Can't imagine a modern cabbie leaving his car in the care of a passenger to run a discreet errand. I wonder if there was some sort of clamp to stop this lustful knave stealing both coach and horses...
It is to have the Captains to account for all stores and victuals;
I get a hint of Sir Humphrey Appleby here: "Stores and victuals are a great burden on the Navy Office and we may need extra staff in due course, but - take it away? Let the captains handle it? Oh no, of course we can deal with it....."
Can't help visualising Sam as played by Buster Keaton:
'Business, business, off to see Pedley - oh!' Sharp left turn into alley, but empty, 180 degree turn, back to Court - 'ah, there she is!' another 180 degree turn, 'Madam, allow me .......' 'Blast! there's the boy! another 180 degree turn..... And so on.
Comments
Third Reading
About Friday 7 December 1660
Tonyel • Link
I wonder if Mr Josselin was gathering seedlings from a neighbour's woodland and then planting (or setting) them on his own land? Just a guess.
About Saturday 20 October 1660
Tonyel • Link
Here in rural Somerset UK we still use 'septic tank' drainage where the fluids, after treatment, are drained into soakaways and the remaining solids are pumped out by a tanker once a year. Our local tankers are often painted with jolly slogans like "Yesterday's Meals on Wheels".
In the old days of earth floors, someone had a right to dig up the floor in Spring (very unpopular with the occupants) to recover the urine salts. Hence, I assume, the term 'Night soil men'.
About Friday 19th October 1660
Tonyel • Link
In quite a long life I have never been able to come to terms with the cruelty and hatred meted out between people who worship their god(s) in a slightly different way.
You would think that their gods might have done something to stop it by now.....
About Thursday 11 October 1660
Tonyel • Link
One of the main features of St James's Park was (still is) a canal running down the middle stocked with a variety of watery birds. An early memory as a child was my first sight of a pelican. Presumably, the engines were lifting water to fill it for the first time.
About Monday 17 September 1660
Tonyel • Link
"... I had looked over the things my wife had bought today, with which being not very well pleased, they costing too much ..."
The modern euphemism is "Dynamic Pricing" - the greater the demand, the higher the price.
About Wednesday 9 May 1660
Tonyel • Link
Sounds like a typical bar room scam to me - let the mark win the first game and then ' Oh bad luck old chap! Double or quits?'
About Monday 23 April 1660
Tonyel • Link
For anyone who can get BBC programmes, may I recommend 'The Alehouse Sessions' which appeared on BBC4 last night and which, presumably, will now be found on BBC I-player.
A very jolly group of Scandinavian and British folk musicians playing music from Cromwell's time through to the Restoration including dances, songs, reels, jigs and sea shanties but also from Playford's The English Dancing Master and several pieces by Purcell.
It's easy to imagine Sam, William Howe and even My Lord entertaining the assembled company with their fiddles and a glass near at hand.
About Thursday 19 April 1660
Tonyel • Link
Thanks SDS and EtB, I'd forgotten Sam's move and have also experienced soggy sleeping quarters on a boat. I stand corrected.
About Thursday 19 April 1660
Tonyel • Link
Bed wetting. Sam's windows had been broken by the enthusiastic firing of cannon salutes and, presumably, could not be re-glazed at sea. I would have thought he would have had them covered up by now but maybe they were the only source of ventilation in a small, smelly cabin.
About Saturday 14 April 1660
Tonyel • Link
Does anyone know what happened to Joan who slept in for Lambert? I would imagine such a blatant act would have been a hanging offence.
About Wednesday 11 April 1660
Tonyel • Link
'I ate a good breakfast'
'The wind all this day was very high, so that a gentleman that was at dinner... was forced to rise from table'
Touch of smugness from Old Seadog Sam, observing someone else's 'squeamishness'
About Friday 23 March 1659/60
Tonyel • Link
Slight spoiler?
Shelston's production of his pretty wife for inspection by Sam will be repeated by others as a slightly sinister 'bribe' as he becomes more powerful and his weaknesses become better known.
Second Reading
About Thursday 6 May 1669
Tonyel • Link
"my eyes being bad with writing my journal, part of it, to-night."
Sam seems clear that the problems with his eyes are due to too little or, occasionally, too much light yet he persists in writing his journal by candle-light instead of during the day. I wonder why - it's not as though he has a 9 to 5 job.
About Tuesday 4 May 1669
Tonyel • Link
"I sent the coachman to her lodging, and understand she is gone for Greenwich to one Marys’s"
I'm always interested in the minor practicalities of life in Sam's day. Can't imagine a modern cabbie leaving his car in the care of a passenger to run a discreet errand. I wonder if there was some sort of clamp to stop this lustful knave stealing both coach and horses...
About Sunday 25 April 1669
Tonyel • Link
A splendid invention Stephane !
I wonder why Google never thought of something similar.
About Wednesday 31 March 1669
Tonyel • Link
Regertz, delighted to learn that you are still hovering in the background. Are you planning a third trip around, Phil permitting?
About Sunday 28 February 1668/69
Tonyel • Link
It is to have the Captains to account for all stores and victuals;
I get a hint of Sir Humphrey Appleby here: "Stores and victuals are a great burden on the Navy Office and we may need extra staff in due course, but - take it away? Let the captains handle it? Oh no, of course we can deal with it....."
About Wednesday 17 February 1668/69
Tonyel • Link
Can't help visualising Sam as played by Buster Keaton:
'Business, business, off to see Pedley - oh!' Sharp left turn into alley, but empty, 180 degree turn, back to Court - 'ah, there she is!' another 180 degree turn, 'Madam, allow me .......'
'Blast! there's the boy! another 180 degree turn..... And so on.
About Wednesday 13 January 1668/69
Tonyel • Link
SDS, I think the reference to Lady Peterborough is a red herring, i.e. it should be read as
"and so home, and there by invitation find Mr Povy, etc.
I wonder if Sam's vagueness about the play is due to his excitement about another piece of technical kit being delivered for him to play with?
About Tuesday 12 January 1668/69
Tonyel • Link
Arabella was only 15 when she became James's mistress. She was ousted when he took up with Catherine Sedley in 1679.
How different from the lives of our own dear royal family - oh, perhaps not.....