Tuesday 1st January 1808

Dear Diary,
Dull again! As far as I see it this year seems very much like the last. However, I did catch a respectable perch in the pond this morning and took it as a gift to the ladies at Cobbler's End. Fanny has been a frequent visitor but it was the first time I had been invited to tea. Miss Mona Lott and Miss Constance Noring are agreeable company indeed and I think I see why Fanny is so drawn to them. I have recently discovered that Miss Lott has a passion for the Parson's organ, much like my own whereas Miss Noring is much more a lady of the outdoors. (She does not ride side saddle!). I presented them with my fish and we settled down to tea. The conversation was a little stilted at first, mainly about the weather. I enquired if they liked fish and they glanced at each other and agreed they did. I informed them that Mrs Crutchlow had recommended lotion for crabs and wondered if it would be the same for fish. There was a moment's silence, until Miss Noring said they were very fond of cucumbers too, at which point Fanny spluttered most of her tea across the rug. They have a very cosy accommodation and they said I was at liberty to finger their knickknacks. There was such an array of ornaments upon the mantle including a small china monkey playing upon a pink oboe which they said was Meissen. I had never heard of it before but I must confess I was very much taken by this Meissen Monkey and thought it delightful. We shall have to invite them back to the Grange soon and I will have to enquire of Mrs Crutchlow if there is indeed something surprising which she can make for our guests from cucumbers.