Brian Snellgrove, a resident of Midsomer Norton, was inspired by the day-to-day accounts of celebrated British diarist, Samuel Pepys, and his writings on his family, political beliefs and social life.

What Pepys did for his life in London, Brian is now doing for Somerset. He feels that documenting little details of your everyday life becomes a celebration of who you are, and would like everyone to appreciate the value of a diary.

He said: “The act of writing brings back detail that you may have forgotten.

“Reading it again after some time brings back memories, hopefully happy ones. The discipline of writing down what you do, sharpens the intellect and increases the power of observation.

“Knowledge is not for keeping to yourself, but sharing for the benefit of others. It also increases the vocabulary as you search for the right words or need to check a detail.

“When writing a journal, you engage actively with others on a day-to-day basis, rather than being a passive observer, because you want to put some interesting

observation on record. It improves communication skills; as you have to transform a vague feeling into a focused idea, which will be of interest to others, as well as yourself.”

With over 200 entries, Brian has never repeated himself. The diary contains over 200,000 words and 750 images, and he believes readers are sure to find something of interest.

Brian’s diary can be read via his website: www.briansnellgrove.net