Sunday 3rd July 1811

Dear Diary,
Such a glorious day it has been today with the sun shining down upon my dear Knob End.
We excused ourselves from attending Church as Willow has been a little unwell of late and I feared that his sudden barking cough and involuntary expectoration may not be conducive to quiet contemplation in the house of the Lord. We spent some time reviewing and titivating our plans for the garden and then I left him to continue writing his school reports. Yes, Willow is now the school master in Cobblers Bottom. He is in substitution of my sister Jane whilst she is travelling on the Continent. 
I wandered up to the Grange and engaged in merry intercourse for some time with Mrs Crutchlow, my parent's housekeeper and Titty Reckson, their parlour maid. Some might say that I am too familiar with the common folk but I am a free spirit and I do as I please and I spurn such snobbery as I would spurn a rabid badger! 
On my return I encountered Ned playing with Annie Reckson, his daughter, by the gate to Clamp's Farm.
"Hello Ned. How are you settling into your new endeavours?" I enquired.
Since the tragic demise of Titty's father, Farmer Clamp, crushed by the combined weight of his own bullocks, Ned has forsaken his employment at the Grange and taken on the task of managing the farm for Titty and her mother.
"Champion, Mr Austen," he replied, "just champion."
"And how many acres do you have again, Ned?" I asked at the very instant that little Annie thwacked her father firmly in the crotch with her hand carved wooden dolly.
Ned gasped sharply and then, bent double with scarce enough breath left to speak, wheezed;
"Just the two that concern me at the moment, Mr Austen."