By jeannine
25 December 2007

In the year 1664 we celebrated the mid-point of Sam’s Diary, perhaps with a mixture of happiness for all of the time shared together and a touch of sadness too, as we know that in a few years the Diary will end.

On the personal side, Sam faced the loss of his brother Tom which was shockingly accompanied by the discovery that Tom had fathered a daughter. His relationship with Lord Sandwich slowly started to heal after last year’s “letter of reproof” and by the time Lord Sandwich was ready to depart to sea the two seemed on better (although not quite “normal”) terms.

Sam’s “loves and passions” were ignited and sexually fulfilled through trysts with Mrs. Lane and Bagwell’s wife, while Jane kept Sam at bay. While Sam was pursuing the ladies, Uncle Wight revealed his “secret” desire for Elizabeth, which was decidedly not fulfilled. Sam argued with Elizabeth about a pair of earrings but then secured a companion for her (and a boy for himself). Probably the most difficult day for many readers was when Sam, in an act of rage, hit Elizabeth so hard that he blackened her eye, and then later that same day went off to tryst with Bagwell’s wife. Sam kept Elizabeth “hidden” over the Christmas holidays, leaving one to ponder if he did so to spare himself embarrassment, to hide his shame, or a mixture of both.

Sam’s work activities included his usual headaches with the likes of Sir W. Batten and the regular cast of characters. He found himself more adept at structuring deals “for the good of the King” that included some graft on the side. Sam was delighted to receive payments as a result of so many of his dealings. All the while looming in the background the tensions between the English and the Dutch were moving to the forefront.

As we turn to the New Year, history tells us that 1665 was the start of the Second Dutch War. This war will bring with it a “call to action” as the Navy becomes a central focus thus thrusting our hero Sam to the spotlight on several occasions.

I present to you as readers and writers your own “call to action” for the New Year. It’s time for you to become enlisted and join “Sam’s N-A-V-Y”. In that light, I “borrowed” the lyrics from an outstanding group of young men from the 70s and added a little Pepysian style in order to thank all of our Pepys Pals for making 1664 so much fun. May the New Year bring blessings to all of you and your families and may 1665 be another incredible year shared together.

When you’re ready to enlist in Sam’s N-A-V-Y, all you have to do is click here for background music and sing along using the lyrics below. Of course, and most importantly, forgive me when you find you can’t get this song out of your head!

Sam’s N-A-V-Y

Pepys Pals, there’s no need to feel down.
I said, Pepys Pals, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, Pepys Pals, turn your frown upside down
There’s no need to be unhappy.

Pepys Pals, there are more years to come.
I said, Pepys Pals, when we all can have fun.
You can read here, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It’s fun to read of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
It’s fun to read of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.

Sam has everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with Sam’s Navy boys …

It’s fun to read of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
It’s fun to read of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.

You can read about Sam, who has such great appeal,
You can write whatever you feel …

Pepys Pals, are you listening to me?
I said, Pepys Pals, what do you want to be?
I said, Pepys Pals, you can make real your dreams.
But you’ve got to know this one thing!

No man does it all by himself.
I said, Pepys Pals, take your pen off the shelf,
Annotate there, on Pepys’ Diary site.
You can start to write there today.
It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.

Sam has everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with Sam’s Navy boys …

It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.

You can read about Sam, who has such great appeal,
You can write whatever you feel …

Pepys Pals, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no one cared if Sam were alive.
I felt the whole world was so jive …

That’s when Pedro came up to me,
And said, Pepys Pal, write of Catherine of B.
There’s a website called Sam’s Diary.
You can annotate there each day!
It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.

Sam has everything that you need to enjoy;
You can hang out with Sam’s Navy boys …

N-A-V-Y

It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y.
Pepys Pal, Pepys Pal know the Diary’s not through
Pepys Pal, Pepys Pal we’ve got more work to do!

N-A-V-Y

It’s fun to write of Sam’s N-A-V-Y
Pepys Pals, Pepys Pals don’t give me any jive
Pepys Pals, Pepys Pal, it’s almost 1665!

N-A-V-Y

Reader’s “Technical” Note: If you have trouble accessing the song, then this link may be used for a very clever “playmobile” version, although the ending is slightly different.