On 11 March 1878 Fanny Roper Keech was convicted at the Old Bailey for fraud after obtaining costly costumes from Oxford Street silk mercers Gask and Gask using a worthless cheque and a false address. Her deception relied on confidence and appearance—but the cheque was quickly exposed as fraudulent.
Tag Archives: the sage
Advice of the Day: Making Soup
The Wise Sage returns with another hilariously reckless “Advice of the Day.” This time he tackles the art of making soup with bold, counter-intuitive culinary wisdom. In true Viz Top Tips style, this guide shows how almost any hot liquid can become “artisan broth” with the right confidence and presentation.
Quote of the Day: Greener Grass
In today’s Quote of the Day, The Sage reflects on the illusion of greener pastures. Many people believe a distant opportunity will equip them for a better life, yet the tools for growth often already lie within reach. A thoughtful meditation on perspective, self-reliance, and appreciating the resources we already possess.
This Day in History – 10 March 1835
On 10 March 1835 Mary Thorpe and Bridget Wheeler attempted a clever shop theft in an Islington haberdasher’s shop. Using a distraction trick involving a tape customer and even hiding the stolen shoes under a child’s clothing, the pair were quickly exposed and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
Advice of the Day: Staying Close to a Toilet
The Wise Sage returns with another hilariously reckless “Advice of the Day.” This time he tackles the important question of never being too far from a toilet. With bold, counter-intuitive strategies involving proactive questioning and tactical seating, this Viz Top Tips–style guide to personal logistics is absurd, practical, and dangerously amusing.
Quote of the Day: Effective Therapy
In today’s Quote of the Day, The Sage reflects on healing, comparing life’s slow changes to clay shaped by time. True growth is not always dramatic or tidy, but it can still be deeply effective. A thoughtful meditation on patience, self-understanding, and the quiet process of becoming.
This Day in History – 6 March 1905
On 6 March 1905 Elizabeth Cove stood trial at the Old Bailey for wounding John Rubbins during a violent pub quarrel in Chalk Farm Road. The attack left the seventeen-year-old labourer permanently blinded in one eye. Despite the injury, the jury accepted the defence of self-protection and acquitted Cove.
Quote of the Day: Healthy Morale
In today’s Quote of the Day, The Sage reflects on morale, comparing it to a hardworking bee whose energy sustains the hive. But when negativity and dishonesty create a toxic environment, even the most diligent spirit can struggle. A thoughtful reflection on leadership, motivation, and the delicate ecology of morale.
Advice of the Day: Spending Holidays with Your Relatives
The Wise Sage returns with another hilarously reckless “Advice of the Day.” This time he tackles the delicate art of spending holidays with relatives. With bold, counter-intuitive strategies for avoiding awkward conversations and family arguments, this Viz Top Tips–style guide to holiday gatherings is absurd, mischievous, and dangerously amusing.
This Day in History – 5 March 1839
On 5 March 1839 two teenagers, Charles Chapman and Eliza Clements, were convicted at the Old Bailey for stealing a handkerchief in Fenchurch Street. Sentenced to ten years’ transportation, they were shipped to Van Diemen’s Land, where absconding, labour assignments, marriage and conditional pardons shaped their new colonial lives.
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