Cake overdose

We've been in Thaxted all day. In fact we came up here yesterday night, and have done very little other than sit in front of an open fire, drink tea and eat enormous slabs of cake ever since. 

There's little else to say. It was our monthly craft and cake meeting today, and a number of wonderful people descended on my parents' house to knit, stitch, bitch and trough. 

I've spent the day sticking photographs in an album. I've recently had about 300 pictures developed which go back to February. It's been such an extraordinary year and I've genuinely not had an opportunity within the last six months to sit down and take stock. It's therefore been quite a privilege today to look through all the photos and remind myself of the many good times I've had. 

350 years ago, London was under a considerable amount of snow and Pepys was taking great pleasure in going to St James' Park to watch people skating. 

Winifred Gosnell, the woman who'd recently been employed as a glamorous companion for Elizabeth was already playing up, saying she'd been told she could expect regular visits to the theatre and as much time away from the position as she wanted. 

Pepys was not at all happy about the situation, and when the girl announced she needed to go away again to live with her Uncle for a period, he took great delight in firing her! She left the following day...