Sunshine arrives in Sherborne; and the Rioters Reorg at Fleet Market in Ch LX

Music

Hello and a very good morning. It's 10-20 Wednesday morning. The sun's shining and the birds

are in heaven. Can you hear? I think it's a robin calling to him, fro. And there's just

a nice murmur of being in a towel. I can hear, I don't know, maybe gardeners in the nearby school

just pottering about. And at my feet, trying to cling onto a ball that I'm kicking as I talk,

is puppy. And I've taken doggo inside because poor things, she just gets pestered non-stop so she

can go and have a rest inside. And the grass is looking duly and there are bits of moss where

husband's been trying to rake it all up. And I'm going to sit down now and watch puppy have

fun in the garden and enjoy the sights and sounds of a proper warm spring morning. What's the date

today? I think it's something like the 18th of March. It's distant. I look similar and I know you'll

hear yellow butterflies just gone past. What's the yellow ones called? I should know.

Oh, it's so lovely. The yellow butterflies just come back again. The deaf adults,

deaf adults on their last legs, but still looking so pretty. There's a variety we've got. And I

think husband did most of the planting. But when we arrived, we definitely had butterflies that

will come up every year. And the Peanies have started to come up. The Peanies shoots are so distinctive,

aren't they? There are some shoots that are difficult to spot what they are for me anyway.

But there are others that are really distinctive. And wherever we've lived, we've had Peanies

to come up. And I don't think it's anything to do with us. I think they're just very resilient,

aren't they? Because, you know, we've been in places where we've accidentally

moaned back the roots as they've come up, but they sort of come back up again a week later.

There's that sort of again. I've got a real tick, haven't I? And I can see the heads of people as

they go past our house. And the sky is proper, sort of, Greek there, the sort of. I've got to

stop it. Come on, Gretel. The Greek are blue skies. So beautiful. It's lovely, lovely, lovely.

One of the loveliest things about going to the Mediterranean is seeing blue everywhere. I mean,

no wonder all the art is full of that beautiful blue because obviously you've got the blue sea

as well as the blue sky. And it blows your mind when you arrive in a place like, I don't know,

well, I mean, I was about to say creep, but I've not been to creeps. I don't even imagine

it, but I've been to robes and I've been to Catalonia and I've been to the south of France.

And you're just blown away by it, but I said this before, but after a week, and that's what it

took for me. My eyes were missing then enormously, the colour green, which you don't get. You obviously

get in the big leaves on the trees, but you don't get the fields of green. And after a while,

you miss it. It's, you can't help but miss the things that you're accustomed to. And I don't know,

you have an awful lot of choice about it. And I'm going to just leave you in silence and leave

me in silence as we enjoy the sounds of existing right this moment in 2026.

12 bongs for midday on Wednesday.

12 bongs for midday on Wednesday.

12 bongs for midday on Wednesday.

12 bongs for midday on Wednesday.

Hello, good morning. That's a robin and a red and you just heard then. And it's 942. It's Thursday

morning. The sun is shining here in Dorset and everything's transformed. All it takes is a few

days sunshine. And everyone's needs transformed and everything feels lovely. The garden is gluing green,

the grass is luminous and that's one bird singing to another. There's one bird in the tree above us.

And then there's another bird on the other side of the garden. And as I look up, I'm right underneath

the robin. So I can see it's very thin beaks. You know, they've got quite thin, stumpy beaks.

And as I look up, I can see as it sings its little chest palpitating. And

okay, so pretty. And the reds more like a tomato red, a splash of hinds to multi-soup.

And the daisies I can see and that's a bumblebee. I don't know if you just heard it.

And all is lovely other than as a family, we're not enjoying the trials of the downsides of having

the puppies. It also sounds so wonderful, but of course, as I mean, we all knew, but I think I

I knew the most just how much hard work it was going to be because when we last had a puppy,

the children were too little to understand it really. And you know, they went off to school,

they were very young. And husband wasn't really around. So I think they're quite shocked because

I think they think it's being nauseous. And I knew them to understand. I might try and find a good

program I can show them where people explain actually this is just puppy behavior.

And we've all got to take part. We've all got to be involved in the training. I think that's

the other thing I think that they want me to do the training. But of course, everybody has to train

in the same way that I suppose all adults who are living in a family have to be involved in

making sure that children say their pleases and thank yous. And yeah, so I'm a little bit tired

from it. And I just want to think through how I manage it. I'm going to phone a couple of friends

today because all that anything else seeking advice from friends is what helps me to find a way

through. But this sunshine sure does help. And I'm wondering what you're doing,

like this minute. Are you driving along, having just finished day's work? Or are you listening?

Are you doing a bit of ironing or do you chores? Or have you just grabbed this by accident and

you're thinking, what an earth am I listening to? This can't be a podcast. This is someone's

diary that I've just managed to hack by accident. If so, then don't necessarily stick around to

this episode, go and find an episode on a visit to Durham or something like that, speaking of which

I'm almost afraid to say it because it feels like I'm doing something really naughty. But

this time next week on a third on Thursday, I'm traveling up to Edinburgh.

And I just dread to think how the family are going to cope with the dogs I've put Mr. Cat into

a catchery for that particular period of time. But I'm wondering whether I should put

doggo in with someone who can look after her too. In fact, I might try to arrange that this morning.

I'm not sure if it's easier for them to have doggo about because she does help look after the puppy

a little bit. Or more difficult, again, I need to just think, think it through, give it some thought,

work it out. I'm just going to let you enjoy the sound of the robin for a minute.

And of course that's the ren. It sounds like the ren and the robin are chatting to each other.

I sounded like the robin was copying the ren then. Do you know the sound of the ren? It's very

distinct. If you don't know it, it's just quickly. There it is. Do you hear it? It's got that

and that's the robin. It does sound like they're chatting to each other.

So that's the robin. It really sounds like it's slightly copying the ren sound.

And now this is the ren, yeah? It's got more of a little chill at the end.

More like it, you know this sound like it's doing a raspberry.

There it goes. And now this is the robin.

And let's see, and there we go, that's the ren. That's the ren.

And now there's the robin. How funny. I wonder if it's a theme.

But birds from different species sing to each other.

So that was the robin.

They were now singing over the top of each other then. Just then did you hear?

So the robin, this is the robin, just has its own tune. But the ren has the same tune over and over again.

And I'll be blown, I think it sounds like they're singing to each other.

That's the ren. And now the robin.

And now the ren.

And now the robin.

That was the ren there.

The ren's got tune and then it builds up to the little raspberry sound and then it ends

with a little bit of future at the end.

How do you think Barnaby Ferd is first night in the cells?

I'm going to go and get it, I think, and read you an episode.

So I've just been doing some research about robins and ren singing to each other.

And sadly, it's not the romantic situation I had thought.

But I was right that they were singing to each other.

And in fact, they're doing it now as I carry on.

So let me read to you while they sing to each other and say what it says.

All right. So they're territory marking both robins and rens, especially the European robin

and the Eurasian ren, a highly territorial singers. When one sings, that's the ren there.

The other often replies to defend its space. Songmatching or counter-singing in the males in

particular and they respond immediately to nearby birds. And that creates a back-and-forth

effect, a dawn in particular many birds sing at once, where it's not dawn.

It feels like a conversation because their songs are short and distinct, making the alternation

noticeable and they often sing from nearby patches. The timing can almost be a call and response.

But they're not communicating with each other socially. It's more like saying,

this is my patch. No, it's my patch. No, it's my patch. So there we go.

I don't know. I think they might have got some enjoyment from it.

What do you think? Do you think Gretel's too romantic?

So I've ordered to read after Barnaby Rudge, a book called and American.

Oh, Puppies has fallen off somewhere. Americans might know this. It's called Rural Hours by Susan

Fenemore Cooper. And the blurb about it is Rural Hours is a timeless tribute to the natural world

and the joys of country living written by Susan Fenemore Cooper, daughter of famed American

novelist James Fenemore Cooper. This book is a delightful collection of observations and musings

on rural life in 19th century America. From the changing seasons to the daily routines of farm life,

Cooper's vivid descriptions bring to life the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

Her observations of plants, animals and landscapes reveal a deep reverence for the environment

and an understanding of the delicate balance between human civilization and the wild.

In addition to her observation, Cooper shares stories and anecdotes of her own experiences

living in the rural countryside, providing readers with a charming and intimate look at life in a

bygone era. I feel like I've either got this and I've ordered it unnecessarily or I've got

something similar because it really rings bells and also make because most of you voted for this,

the book we're reading next is Violet by Charlotte Bronte, her finest book People Think Possibly,

her last novel and it changed my life at a time when I didn't know it needed changing,

but I was glad that it did. I felt myself maturing as I read it and in the same way that maybe

I think it was about eight years earlier, I'd read the Pickwick papers at a time when I needed

companionship and it helped me. Novels can sometimes be a bridge, can't they? A bridge over

those that say troubled waters, but it's true, isn't it? You can read a novel and it can get you

through some difficult times when a friend of mine who was close friend, but with lost touch,

she died when she was 20, nearly 21, and a friend of mine called James, who's actually sadly

very sadly, in the last six months lost his grown-up son, he had a sudden death,

but James was a very good friend of mine, used to get a cricket and we were at university together,

and when my friend died and I went through a bit of a bleak time, I saw a lot of him and he

helped me, but he lent me one of his sister's books, and I don't even know if she ever knew that

her book was lost. Hold on, making sure pop is all right. It's funny how much she looks at me now,

she looks to make sure she's okay and it's good because it means all careful, it's going to

hat your leg. It means that she's checking to see whether she's doing the right thing or not,

which is great. Yeah, so he lent me Anna Karenina and I read that and I don't know if you've

read it, it's obviously a very famous book, and while people might have problems with the plot

as I did, it's worth reading because of what it takes you through and maybe similar to the

return of the native. Anyway, if someone said we'll tell me the plot and you told them the plot,

they would think, well that's not for me, but the plot is more a vehicle to take you on a journey

through landscapes that you're glad you've traveled through. We're now going to turn unusually,

we're going to do it first because it's 19 minutes on and I might do this as a first recording,

as I sometimes do, of Barnaby Raj, and then I've got to go meet someone who is a friend of my

mother's and he's asked to meet me and I'm going to take him to the Abbey and then buy him a coffee

and I'm nervous about meeting him because I don't really know him very well, but I know he's an

awfully kind fellow. So yeah, I just go with an open heart and see what he's got to say.

I'll let you enjoy the bird racket. Ooh, what's going on?

Oh, I think that's a, is it sparrows or is it a collection of tits? A collection of tits. Oh dear,

my children would laugh, they heard me say that. They're scampering around. Two things have happened

today that's great. First of all, I have had really good advice about puppy and the training

and second of all, I've had agreement that I'm going to have a little bit of help with looking

after second dog over the next few weeks because she needs some time out. So I feel a little bit

relieved about that. I was, I was, I woke up and I did feel a bit daunted, not only by all the

jobs I've got ahead of me, but by looking after this little bundle of gorgeous naughtiness.

Actually, I recorded all of that with my microphone, but I'm thinking, wouldn't you prefer the ambient

noise and I think you would. So let's carry on. I've got my tea, I've got my book, let's start with

no further ado because we're all worried about Barnaby and of course poor ruffled feathered

grit. Right, as you hear, the Abbey Bells stoke one and the breeze just come up. I realised

that she were not going to pour that Barnaby. We're returning to the scoundrels because we were with

Hugh and his henchman. So can you hear the bells ringing one? Chapter 60. Actually, let me just

read you the last sentence. Hugh thanked him heartily and as he did so, his laughing fit returned

with such violence. That's right, as tapeted, it was assuming capsency over Hugh and Hugh just laughs

about it. You can't get, you help get the feeling. I'm not saying this because I remember I can't,

but at some point Hugh's going to actually show tapeted who's who's in charge, but I genuinely

don't know whether that's going to happen or not. I just feel the tension rising. Chapter 60.

The three were these turned their faces towards the boot with the intention of passing the night

in that place of rendezvous and of seeking the repose they so much needed in the shelter of their

old den. For now that the mischief and destruction they had proposed were achieved and their prisoners

were safely bestowed for the night, they began to be conscious of exhaustion and to feel the

wasting effects of the madness which had led to such deplorable results. Notwithstanding the

lassitude and fatigue which oppressed him now in common with his two companions and indeed with

all who had taken an active share in that night's work, Hugh's boisterous merriment broke out of

fresh whenever he looked at Simon tapeted and vented itself much to that gentleman's indignation

in shouts of laughter as he bade fair to bring the watch upon them and involved them in a skirmish

to which in their present worn out condition they might prove by no means equal,

even Mr. Dennis who was not at all particular on the score of gravity or dignity and who had a great

relish for his young friend's eccentric humours took occasion to demonstrate with him on this

imprudent behaviour which he held to be a species of suicide tantamount to a man's working himself

off without being overtaken by the law than which he could imagine nothing more ridiculous or

impertinent. Not abating one jot of his noisy mirth for these ramen strances and a reminder to

you that I think that Hugh by the way still doesn't know that Dennis is a hangman,

doesn't like to doubt. Hugh reeled along between them having an arm in each until they

hove in sight of the boot and were within a field or two of that convenient tavern.

He happened by great luck to have roared and shouted himself into silence by this time.

They were proceeding onward without noise when a scout who had been creeping about the ditches

all night to warn any stragglers from encroaching further on what was now such dangerous ground

peaked cautiously from his hiding place. There's the rain again and cold to stop for them to stop,

stop and why said Hugh because the scout replied the house was filled with constables and soldiers

having been surprised that afternoon. The inmates had fled or being taken into custody

and he could not say which. He had prevented a great many people from approaching near and he

believed they had gone to the markets and such places to pass the night. He had seen the distant

fires but they were all out now. He had heard the people who had passed and repast,

speaking of them too, and could report that the prevailing opinion was one of apprehension

and dismay. No, he had not heard a word of Barnaby, didn't even know his name,

but he said it had been said in his hearing that Sonman had been taken and carried off to

Newgate whether or not this was true he could not affirm. The three took counsel together on hearing

this and debated what it might be best to do. Hugh, deeming it possible that Barnaby was in the

hands of the soldiers and at that moment under detention at the boot, was advancing stealthily

and firing at the house. But his comrades who objected to such rash measures,

unless they had a crowd at their backs, represented that if Barnaby were taken he had assuredly

been removed to a stronger prison and they would never have dreamed they said of keeping him

all night in a place so weak and open to attack. Yielding to this reasoning and to their persuasions,

Hugh consented to turn back and to repair to fleet market for which place it seemed a few of

their boldest associates had shaped their course on receiving the same intelligence.

Feeling their strength recruited and their spirits roused now that there was a new necessity

for action, they hurried away quite forgetful of the fatigue under which they had been sinking

but a few minutes before and soon arrived at their place of destination. Fleet market at that time

was a long irregular row of wooden sheds and penthouses occupying the centre of what is now

called Farndon Street. They were jumbled together in a most unsightly fashion in the middle of

the road. It's a reminder I'm always fascinated by how towns villages and so on started and it's

a reminder of how they would start which is there's an important road where people travel and say

the locals if they've got any surplus would go to the road set up a stall to give them some

cover because in England obviously it's off from rainy or windy and and these would become more

and more permanent. Sometimes they might be weekly markets and then they would become more permanent

until before long along the side of a road you'd have a little row of places that could then

become dwellings and then of course once the country was Christianised and it was then a

necessity for these people to have a little church and a place where they could drink and before

you could say Jack Sparrow you've got a little place called like Wilton where you've got a green

houses on each corner and the wealthier people would have had smarter houses overlooking the front

where they would have been seen as more central to the village and so on. I just find it so

interesting. I know I've obviously really really simplified it but

right so they were jumbled together in a most unsightly fashion in the middle of the road to the

great obstruction of the thoroughfare and the annoyance of passengers who were feigned to make their

ways best they could among the carts, baskets, burrows, trucks, casks, bulks and benches and a jostle

with porters, hucksters, wagoners and a motley crowd of buyers, sellers, pick pockets, vagrants and

idlers. The air was perfumed with a stench of rotten leaves and faded fruit, the refuse of the

butcher's stalls and awful and garbage of a hundred kinds. It was indispensable to most public

conveniences in those days that they should be public nuisances likewise and fleet market maintained

the principle to admiration. To this place because it sheds its sheds and baskets for a tolerable

substitute for beds or perhaps because it afforded the means of a hasty barricade in case of need

many of the rioters had struggled not only that night but for two or three nights before.

It was now broad day but the morning being cold a group of them were gathered round a fire

in a public house drinking hot pearl and smoking pipes and planning new schemes for tomorrow.

Hugh and his two friends being known to most of these men were received with signal marks of

approbation and inducted into the most honourable seats. The room door was closed and

fastened to keep intruders at a distance and then they proceeded to exchange news.

The soldiers of taken possession of the boot are here, said Hugh, who knows anything about it.

Several people went, several cry that they did for the majority of the company having been

engaged in this sort upon the Warren and all present having been concerned in one or other

of the night's expeditions. It proved that they knew no more than Hugh himself, having been merely

warned by each other or by the scout and knowing nothing of their own knowledge.

We left a man on guard there today, said Hugh, looking round him, who is not here, you know who it is,

Barnaby, who brought the soldier down at Westminster, as any man seen or heard of him.

They shook their heads and murmured an answer in the negative as each man looked round and

appealed to his fellow when a noise was heard without and a man was heard to say that he wanted Hugh

and that he must see Hugh. He is but one man cry Hugh to those who kept the door. Let him come in,

eye eye, much of the others. Let him come in, let him come in. The door was accordingly unlocked and

opened. I think I might put the microphone on, actually, folks, because yeah. Right, microphone

on, it's getting a bit windy. Here he is, replied the person he inquired for, I am Hugh, what do you

want with me? I for message for you, said the man. Do you know one Barnaby? What of him? Did he send

the message? Yes, he's taken. He is in one of the strong cells in Newgate and he defended himself

as well as he could but was overpowered by numbers. That's his message. When did you see him?

Ask Hugh hastily on his way to prison where he was taken by a party of soldiers. They took a

by-road and not the one we expected. I was one of the few tried to rescue him and he called to me

and told me to tell Hugh where he was. We made a good struggle though it failed. Look here.

He pointed to his dress and to his bandaged head and still panting for breath,

glanced round the room and then faced towards Hugh again. I know you by sight, he said,

for I was in the crowd on Friday and on Saturday and yesterday, but I didn't know your name.

You're a bold fellow, I know. So is he, fought like a lion tonight. But it was of no use. I did my best

considering that I want this limb, again he glanced inquisitively around the room or seem to do so

for his face was nearly hidden by the bandage and again facing sharply towards Hugh, grasped his

stick as if he half expected to be set upon and stood on the defensive. If he had any such apprehension,

however, he was speedily reassured by the demeanor of all present. None thought of the bearer of

the tidings, he was lost on the news he brought. Oaths, threats and execrations were vented on all

sides. Some cried that if they bore this tamely another day would see them all in jail. Some that

they should have rescued the other prisoners and that this would then not have happened. One man

cried in a loud voice, oh follow me to Newgate and there was a loud shout and a general rush towards

the door, but Hugh and Dennis stood with their backs against it and kept them back until the

clamour had so far subsided that their voices could be heard when they called to them together

that to go now in broad day would be madness and that if they waited until night and arranged a

plan of attack they might release not only their own companions but all the prisoners and burn

down the jail. Not that jail alone cried Hugh but every jail in London they should have no place

to put their prisoners in will burn them all down make bonfires of them every one of them here

he cried catching at the handman's hand let all who are men here join with us shake hands upon it

Barnaby out of jail and not a jail left standing who joins every man there and they swore a great

oath to release their friends from Newgate next night and to force the doors and burn the jail

or perish in the fire themselves and the next chapter will be this evening in its chapter 61

look forward to seeing you then thank you so much for joining me

you