What will people hundreds of years from now make of the British of the early 21st Century?
Last week, 40,000 people in Britain made history by logging a day in their life on the web.
Some of them are funny and others were painfully honest.
The Sunday Times
October 22, 2006
Our lives revealed in a blizzard of blogs
Last week 40,000 of us made instant history by logging our day on the web. Here is a selection of the best contributions
Last Tuesday, 40,000 people sat down at their computers to write about their day as part of the History Matters campaign. It was supposed to provide a snapshot of modern life that would fascinate future historians: but, 500 years down the line, what will they make of us?
One Day in History, in the year 2006, revealed us to be a nation obsessed with ourselves, logging in detail all the items we consumed for breakfast, the kinds of shampoo we used in the shower and musing over whether autumn was already bringing on the first cold.
The monotony of most of our lives was all too painfully obvious. Many people wrote of getting up, commuting, what they did at lunchtime and getting home again with scarcely a reference to what filled the greatest number of hours in their day — work. Careless spelling mistakes gave testament to our failing education system and hours spent in front of the TV or computer explained why so many of us are obese. The authors demonstrated that the class system is alive and well: it was possible to tell most contributors’ background by reading no more than a few lines.
But among the thousands of dull commutes and pre-packed sandwiches were some gems. After “fantastic sex” on her lover’s sofa, Sarah Dodd, from Wiltshire, said that despite being a vegan she could suddenly understand the appeal of leather furniture.
Some were painfully honest, others wry, trenchant, and amusing.
How the British live their lives......Here are some of the best.
Grant Methieson, Scotland
I guess most days start the same for lot of people.
06.15 Alarm goes off — sounds of Radio 2’s Sarah Kennedy gently prise me from the arms of Morpheus.
06.30 Mobile phone alarm now goes off — just to make
sure.
Finally stretch out, give a big sigh and then head for the bathroom. Into the shower, temptation is to dwell under the shower head too long and feel the hot water flow down...
Nick Elsley, London
4.25am Got up.
6.45am Swam 280 lengths.
9.30am Work. Nothing much.
4.30pm Went home, ate, got ready for tomorrow’s swim. Anything up to 400 lengths on a non-work day.
7.30pm slept.
Hayley Restall, London
Every day starts the same: groaning, followed by continual robotic pressing of the snooze button on my alarm clock. Finally, when I can’t leave it any longer, I get up.
I drink coffee and eat a piece of toast with honey. Despite the fact that I am 34 years old I play Animal Crossing on my Nintendo DS for 20 minutes before I leave the house.
I work in a museum, so am surrounded by history every day. On arrival I discuss the previous night with my colleague, Sarah. I tell her about the printmaking reception I went to with the lovely canapés.
This really has been a very quiet, ordinary day, quite boring really. I’ve spent a lot of it thinking about what I’ll write in this blog, wondering what will be of interest to future generations. Will they think I’m a complete loser? I decided to keep a copy of this for my own children to read. That’s if I have any. I wonder if I will. . .
Sebastian Faulks
Woken by alarm at seven, drenched by sweat of sleepless night. Bath, strong coffee and into car to go to BBC. Arrive in Today studio. Catch J Naughtie’s incredulous eye as American general refers to billions of US dollars spent on Iraq invasion as “investment”.
I am here to talk about History Matters. You may feasibly live in ignorance of history, but your life is like that of an ant beneath a stone. Or you may roam over highlands and survey all, in knowledge, like a stag. If entire Homo sapiens’ time on earth represented as 365 days, then single life lasts less than half one second. Worth being stag. Take tube to Waterloo, Eurostar. An announcement says we must all evacuate for a security scare. No one else takes any notice at all. People say Al-Qaeda have made us live in fear but the average Brit just wants his consumer rights: latte, duty-free, text messages — and no evacuations.
Pierrette Squires, Lancashire
I live on a narrow boat. Had a shower, used tea tree and mint Alberto Balsam shampoo, Body Shop honey conditioner, Original Source almond and coconut shower gel, Body Shop face scrub and Venus razor . . . Took my beta-blocker tablet (for vertigo/migraine) with a glass of water. Grabbed my purple furry handbag and denim jacket. 8.04am left the boat and walked quickly to the station, caught the 8.09am train from Adlington to Bolton. Chatted to a friend on the train who had come to watch me “morris dance” on Saturday.
Hannah McGee, London
I am 12 years old and live in a house in London with my mum, two cats and a tortoise that we have had for over 52 years. I walk to school with my friends, sometimes if it’s rainy I get the bus. People are being encouraged to walk and use public transport because of pollution and environment, but most people have cars.
Jane Watts, Hampshire
Typical car journey on the M27 to Portsmouth, as bumper to bumper traffic, so was already stressed when I arrived at the office. The day itself went quickly as I had to leave early to collect Libby from school due to no childminder being available today. We had a quick meal in Pizza Hut, as we had to get to Brownies where I am unit leader.
Catreeny Harkin
Got on the bus as usual and listened to Ruby’s iPod; she kept flicking through the songs and it was well annoying. Our bus takes an hour to get to school cause it goes everywhere. It would probably be quicker to walk but seeing as it rains quite a lot I’d rather not. Got to school and decided Grace had loads of hairspray in and it was making her hair fall out, she said it was blow drying but it’s so not.
Neville Ward, North Yorkshire
At lunch time I went for a run. I love it — get some fresh air, a break in the day and invest in my good health. Before I went I checked my mobile messages. One from Melanie wondering if I got to work safely. I popped back to my desk to phone (because I’m tight-fisted) and there was a crash on the A64. It was worrying her. Nice to speak to her. She’s lovely.
Shaun Kelsall, Staffordshire
I got up at 2pm, felt ****ty. Had no money and no fags (cigarettes). Decide to go and scrounge off my granny, she’s 78 and has Parkinson’s disease. To relieve my guilt I took her dog for a walk, at least by doing this small thing i felt like i had done something to repay her kindness . . . Excuses, excuses, maybe i should get off my lazy arse and find gainful employment. I know that my granny and grandad are nearing the end of their days on this earth and i hope they know how much i deeply care for them. I don’t think i tell them how much i love them nearly as much as i should. What a fool i am.
Christine Brown, Berkshire
today i got up and got dressed then helped my mum get my brothers and sisters ready for school and then i went to college . . . second lesson was tutorial and it was realy boring the therd lesson was media witch ended up geting canceld for some reason and last leson was realy boring to.
after dinner when the kids went to bed me, my mum, my mum’s mate garry and his girlfriend antwoneller all sat down for a drink and then found out that my dog was pregnent and then i went to bed.
Dan Snow, London
I hear my housemates crashing around. Houses are hugely expensive in London. Young professionals live like sardines, I am 27 and my room is smaller than my childhood bedroom or even my university digs. Few of my friends own their own flats or houses. We are pushing marriage later and later in our lives. The laptop is my focus, it is my portal to the outside world.
Martin Bancroft, South Yorkshire
Lots of texting between Emma and I today. We are so good together. Quiet day in the office, on my own at times. Went for a walk in central Sheffield at lunch . . . passed Boots and saw an advert for a new night-time face cream. I immediately thought of Emma and knew that this would make a good Christmas present (not a main one, just a filler). I was surprised at the till to find that this little pot of cream cost £48. Never mind I’m in love.
Christina Raven, London
A little bit anxious about the MRI scan today . . . the mastectomy scar is healing well, tho still a little sore, rubbed in some Hypercal cream on the scar itself, then some arnica cream around it; and my hair gets longer every day after all the chemotherapy, it’s getting to the length now that it looks like a real hairstyle rather than a chemo crop. . .
Rachel Wright, Lancashire
Then 5th period [at school] was history which is good. Then english and we are watching a video. Then at 3.20pm we went home and i went on the computer on msn, did my homework and watched manchester united. They won 3-0 which is great. I shut down the computer, text a few people on my mobile and then fed my dogs on my Nintendo DS, had my super, did my teeth and went to bed.
Pauline Lyons, Hampshire
Well today is my 36th wedding anniversary. Cannot believe where the years have gone. I am happily married with two fantastic sons, Darren 34 and Stuart who is 32 and just made us grandparents to adorable Mia. We moved to our current home in 1978, a three-bed end-terrace home that we bought for £12,500 and now valued at £165,000. The evening was spent at home with the family coming over for a meal together. Darren gave us the most wonderful present of a weekend in Brussels on Eurostar . . . We went to bed reflecting on a very mixed day of emotions, happiness, sadness, but most of all thanking our lucky stars for the wonderful family we have.
Stuart O’Connor, West Sussex
Wey hey! Today is my 21st birthday and being a uni student means im out tonight getting very drunken indeed. I woke up about 8 and got a few texts saying happy birthday then I checked my myspace account had a message on there and then got up . . . tonight im going out with my uni mates . . . should be a great evening.
Carol Pay, South Yorkshire
Today marked the start of my home broadband connection . . . but there were problems enabling the wireless connections, so I spent two hours this morning with my computer being remotely accessed by a guy called Rajat in India . . . I spent a lot of the time that he was remotely accessing my computer knitting: I’m much more at home with traditional crafts.
Alan Ashforth-Smith, Gloucestershire
One of the saddest days in my life as I attended the funeral of my mother in Chelmsford, Essex. Gwyn Smith left us aged 87, the female average for our time. She came from an ordinary, working-class background but formed an extraordinary, wonderful, immensely warm and loving family, with herself as matriarch. Something money cannot buy in our material age. She witnessed only horse-drawn vehicles on the roads and threshing machines in the fields to the virtual gridlock on our roads today.
Stephen Fry, London
5.30 I’ve spent the last hour and a bit playing with my new high definition system on my plasma TV. I could tell by looking at Kate Adie’s complexion that HD is pitiless. I suppose in 5 years all TVs will be like this and we won’t expect anything less. It’s part of the jading, blunting, vitiating process. No films thrilled me more than the ones I saw as a boy that rolled, crackled and snowed at the end of my bed
11.30 Well, Spamalot (a Monty Python stage musical) can count as the silliest and most sublimely daft musical I’ve ever seen. Entirely delightful. A glamorous first night — Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam were there, but not John (Cleese) who was present only as the Voice of God on stage. By the time the curtain came down I legged it. Fear of the party: press, photographers, people I don’t know, heat and dance music. Hell. There is no show, occasion or person I could love more than I hate parties. . .
To read more of the blogs, go to www.timesonline.co.uk/historymatters
thetimesonline.co.uk
Last week, 40,000 people in Britain made history by logging a day in their life on the web.
Some of them are funny and others were painfully honest.
The Sunday Times
October 22, 2006
Our lives revealed in a blizzard of blogs
Last week 40,000 of us made instant history by logging our day on the web. Here is a selection of the best contributions
One Day in History, in the year 2006, revealed us to be a nation obsessed with ourselves, logging in detail all the items we consumed for breakfast, the kinds of shampoo we used in the shower and musing over whether autumn was already bringing on the first cold.
The monotony of most of our lives was all too painfully obvious. Many people wrote of getting up, commuting, what they did at lunchtime and getting home again with scarcely a reference to what filled the greatest number of hours in their day — work. Careless spelling mistakes gave testament to our failing education system and hours spent in front of the TV or computer explained why so many of us are obese. The authors demonstrated that the class system is alive and well: it was possible to tell most contributors’ background by reading no more than a few lines.
But among the thousands of dull commutes and pre-packed sandwiches were some gems. After “fantastic sex” on her lover’s sofa, Sarah Dodd, from Wiltshire, said that despite being a vegan she could suddenly understand the appeal of leather furniture.
Some were painfully honest, others wry, trenchant, and amusing.
How the British live their lives......Here are some of the best.
Grant Methieson, Scotland
I guess most days start the same for lot of people.
06.15 Alarm goes off — sounds of Radio 2’s Sarah Kennedy gently prise me from the arms of Morpheus.
06.30 Mobile phone alarm now goes off — just to make
sure.
Finally stretch out, give a big sigh and then head for the bathroom. Into the shower, temptation is to dwell under the shower head too long and feel the hot water flow down...
Nick Elsley, London
4.25am Got up.
6.45am Swam 280 lengths.
9.30am Work. Nothing much.
4.30pm Went home, ate, got ready for tomorrow’s swim. Anything up to 400 lengths on a non-work day.
7.30pm slept.
Hayley Restall, London
Every day starts the same: groaning, followed by continual robotic pressing of the snooze button on my alarm clock. Finally, when I can’t leave it any longer, I get up.
I drink coffee and eat a piece of toast with honey. Despite the fact that I am 34 years old I play Animal Crossing on my Nintendo DS for 20 minutes before I leave the house.
I work in a museum, so am surrounded by history every day. On arrival I discuss the previous night with my colleague, Sarah. I tell her about the printmaking reception I went to with the lovely canapés.
This really has been a very quiet, ordinary day, quite boring really. I’ve spent a lot of it thinking about what I’ll write in this blog, wondering what will be of interest to future generations. Will they think I’m a complete loser? I decided to keep a copy of this for my own children to read. That’s if I have any. I wonder if I will. . .
Sebastian Faulks
Woken by alarm at seven, drenched by sweat of sleepless night. Bath, strong coffee and into car to go to BBC. Arrive in Today studio. Catch J Naughtie’s incredulous eye as American general refers to billions of US dollars spent on Iraq invasion as “investment”.
I am here to talk about History Matters. You may feasibly live in ignorance of history, but your life is like that of an ant beneath a stone. Or you may roam over highlands and survey all, in knowledge, like a stag. If entire Homo sapiens’ time on earth represented as 365 days, then single life lasts less than half one second. Worth being stag. Take tube to Waterloo, Eurostar. An announcement says we must all evacuate for a security scare. No one else takes any notice at all. People say Al-Qaeda have made us live in fear but the average Brit just wants his consumer rights: latte, duty-free, text messages — and no evacuations.
Pierrette Squires, Lancashire
I live on a narrow boat. Had a shower, used tea tree and mint Alberto Balsam shampoo, Body Shop honey conditioner, Original Source almond and coconut shower gel, Body Shop face scrub and Venus razor . . . Took my beta-blocker tablet (for vertigo/migraine) with a glass of water. Grabbed my purple furry handbag and denim jacket. 8.04am left the boat and walked quickly to the station, caught the 8.09am train from Adlington to Bolton. Chatted to a friend on the train who had come to watch me “morris dance” on Saturday.
Hannah McGee, London
I am 12 years old and live in a house in London with my mum, two cats and a tortoise that we have had for over 52 years. I walk to school with my friends, sometimes if it’s rainy I get the bus. People are being encouraged to walk and use public transport because of pollution and environment, but most people have cars.
Jane Watts, Hampshire
Typical car journey on the M27 to Portsmouth, as bumper to bumper traffic, so was already stressed when I arrived at the office. The day itself went quickly as I had to leave early to collect Libby from school due to no childminder being available today. We had a quick meal in Pizza Hut, as we had to get to Brownies where I am unit leader.
Catreeny Harkin
Got on the bus as usual and listened to Ruby’s iPod; she kept flicking through the songs and it was well annoying. Our bus takes an hour to get to school cause it goes everywhere. It would probably be quicker to walk but seeing as it rains quite a lot I’d rather not. Got to school and decided Grace had loads of hairspray in and it was making her hair fall out, she said it was blow drying but it’s so not.
Neville Ward, North Yorkshire
At lunch time I went for a run. I love it — get some fresh air, a break in the day and invest in my good health. Before I went I checked my mobile messages. One from Melanie wondering if I got to work safely. I popped back to my desk to phone (because I’m tight-fisted) and there was a crash on the A64. It was worrying her. Nice to speak to her. She’s lovely.
Shaun Kelsall, Staffordshire
I got up at 2pm, felt ****ty. Had no money and no fags (cigarettes). Decide to go and scrounge off my granny, she’s 78 and has Parkinson’s disease. To relieve my guilt I took her dog for a walk, at least by doing this small thing i felt like i had done something to repay her kindness . . . Excuses, excuses, maybe i should get off my lazy arse and find gainful employment. I know that my granny and grandad are nearing the end of their days on this earth and i hope they know how much i deeply care for them. I don’t think i tell them how much i love them nearly as much as i should. What a fool i am.
Christine Brown, Berkshire
today i got up and got dressed then helped my mum get my brothers and sisters ready for school and then i went to college . . . second lesson was tutorial and it was realy boring the therd lesson was media witch ended up geting canceld for some reason and last leson was realy boring to.
after dinner when the kids went to bed me, my mum, my mum’s mate garry and his girlfriend antwoneller all sat down for a drink and then found out that my dog was pregnent and then i went to bed.
Dan Snow, London
I hear my housemates crashing around. Houses are hugely expensive in London. Young professionals live like sardines, I am 27 and my room is smaller than my childhood bedroom or even my university digs. Few of my friends own their own flats or houses. We are pushing marriage later and later in our lives. The laptop is my focus, it is my portal to the outside world.
Martin Bancroft, South Yorkshire
Lots of texting between Emma and I today. We are so good together. Quiet day in the office, on my own at times. Went for a walk in central Sheffield at lunch . . . passed Boots and saw an advert for a new night-time face cream. I immediately thought of Emma and knew that this would make a good Christmas present (not a main one, just a filler). I was surprised at the till to find that this little pot of cream cost £48. Never mind I’m in love.
Christina Raven, London
A little bit anxious about the MRI scan today . . . the mastectomy scar is healing well, tho still a little sore, rubbed in some Hypercal cream on the scar itself, then some arnica cream around it; and my hair gets longer every day after all the chemotherapy, it’s getting to the length now that it looks like a real hairstyle rather than a chemo crop. . .
Rachel Wright, Lancashire
Then 5th period [at school] was history which is good. Then english and we are watching a video. Then at 3.20pm we went home and i went on the computer on msn, did my homework and watched manchester united. They won 3-0 which is great. I shut down the computer, text a few people on my mobile and then fed my dogs on my Nintendo DS, had my super, did my teeth and went to bed.
Pauline Lyons, Hampshire
Well today is my 36th wedding anniversary. Cannot believe where the years have gone. I am happily married with two fantastic sons, Darren 34 and Stuart who is 32 and just made us grandparents to adorable Mia. We moved to our current home in 1978, a three-bed end-terrace home that we bought for £12,500 and now valued at £165,000. The evening was spent at home with the family coming over for a meal together. Darren gave us the most wonderful present of a weekend in Brussels on Eurostar . . . We went to bed reflecting on a very mixed day of emotions, happiness, sadness, but most of all thanking our lucky stars for the wonderful family we have.
Stuart O’Connor, West Sussex
Wey hey! Today is my 21st birthday and being a uni student means im out tonight getting very drunken indeed. I woke up about 8 and got a few texts saying happy birthday then I checked my myspace account had a message on there and then got up . . . tonight im going out with my uni mates . . . should be a great evening.
Carol Pay, South Yorkshire
Today marked the start of my home broadband connection . . . but there were problems enabling the wireless connections, so I spent two hours this morning with my computer being remotely accessed by a guy called Rajat in India . . . I spent a lot of the time that he was remotely accessing my computer knitting: I’m much more at home with traditional crafts.
Alan Ashforth-Smith, Gloucestershire
One of the saddest days in my life as I attended the funeral of my mother in Chelmsford, Essex. Gwyn Smith left us aged 87, the female average for our time. She came from an ordinary, working-class background but formed an extraordinary, wonderful, immensely warm and loving family, with herself as matriarch. Something money cannot buy in our material age. She witnessed only horse-drawn vehicles on the roads and threshing machines in the fields to the virtual gridlock on our roads today.
Stephen Fry, London
5.30 I’ve spent the last hour and a bit playing with my new high definition system on my plasma TV. I could tell by looking at Kate Adie’s complexion that HD is pitiless. I suppose in 5 years all TVs will be like this and we won’t expect anything less. It’s part of the jading, blunting, vitiating process. No films thrilled me more than the ones I saw as a boy that rolled, crackled and snowed at the end of my bed
11.30 Well, Spamalot (a Monty Python stage musical) can count as the silliest and most sublimely daft musical I’ve ever seen. Entirely delightful. A glamorous first night — Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam were there, but not John (Cleese) who was present only as the Voice of God on stage. By the time the curtain came down I legged it. Fear of the party: press, photographers, people I don’t know, heat and dance music. Hell. There is no show, occasion or person I could love more than I hate parties. . .
To read more of the blogs, go to www.timesonline.co.uk/historymatters
thetimesonline.co.uk
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