The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 7)

[Ruskie]

What exactly did Ann mean to NB?

They were publicly stepping out together.  They were kissing etc in public.  Does anyone think that Ann harboured hopes of marriage?

I was re-reading the last day's post...where he said he finally got her drawers off to no purpose....(why would she let him take them off...for no purpose??...)

He ends up marrying a girl closer to his age, so why is he with Ann?  If she was young looking, and gorgeous, you'd think she'd do better than step out with a much younger man with not a lot to offer, unless love was the reason, and she was hoping for marriage?

Any thoughts anyone?  I know it's all just speculation...but their relationship really intrigues me.

We've kindof touched on this here and there throughout the threads. Just a few random thoughts:

The relationship between Nat and Ann intrigues me too. I think I feel a bit sorry for Nat actually but I'm not sure why.

He and Ann genuinely seem to get on well together and have similar interests in books and prints. Maybe this is what first drew them to eachother. Presumably Nat met Ann though Granny Shepard as they both lived in Stephen Street.

I would LOVE to know what Ann looks like.

I don't think that Ann wanted marriage - nor did Nat. Their relationship seems more like a platonic friendship

[nestagj]

In my opinion k Nat wanted more than platonic even if they had similar interests- hence the drawers comment and the previous more suggestive comments made
Nesta

[Ruskie]

In my opinion k Nat wanted more than platonic even if they had similar interests- hence the drawers comment and the previous more suggestive comments made
Nesta

Ooops, sorry Nesta, I mistakenly posted before finishing my sentence .... 

What I meant to say was ... their relationship must have started as a friendship (common interests etc) but I'd like to know at what point it 'progressed' ...

Everyone seems to know that they see each other. They have been caught out (when Ann was seen by ? leaving Nat's room). Nat hasn't made mention of anyone disapproving of their relationship ...

[nestagj]

Its Ok Ruskie ...........this is true - mind you it is a few years before he married so maybe something happened to Ann - we are having enough trouble finding her aren't we - so frustrating that we only have one year of his life !!!

N

[snowyw]

Everyone seems to know that they see each other. They have been caught out (when Ann was seen by ? leaving Nat's room). Nat hasn't made mention of anyone disapproving of their relationship ...

It was Nat's mother and Mattie who saw her...but she was leaving in a hurry, as though she didn't want to be caught out.

[Siamese Girl]

I wonder what Ann's life is like away from Nat - I imagine her as quite a lonely person.

Carole

[Daisy Loo]

I wonder what Ann's life is like away from Nat - I imagine her as quite a lonely person.

Carole

yet....there have been days when she appears to have been too busy/doing other things than see Nat.

[Mongibello]

Today, I replicated Nathaniel's walk to Hendon and ended with a pint in the Greyhound.  And very welcome it was.   I chickened out of walking back, however.
The route was rather different from Nathaniel's as I avoided main roads as far as possible and took in Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Hampstead Heath and one or two other parks.   If any one wants the route, send a message and I will detail it.    It took just a shade under three hours from Richmond Buildings to Hendon.

[Daisy Loo]

That's a great picture Mongibello - what a lovely old pub, look at the size of the chimneys!

Westminster Archives put an 1867 picture of a street that NB walked down with today;s entry...amazing the difference a few cars make!

It always amazes me, the matter of fact way that NB notes disasterous events (hanging as another example) - he remarks on the fire almost offhand, yet if a fire like that took off in today's London, it would be HUGE news.  I suppose in tose times, fires breaking out were really quite common.