Category Archives: Family History

On the 11th hour – Wilfred Owen & a most moving poetic parable

Posted on November 11, 2011 by

The 11th of November, and Remembrance Sunday were days my father held above most others. Some of my earliest memories involve standing to attention by the black & white television in the back room as  Big Ben chimed, the guns … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Poetry, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Islington murder

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

Or should I say, TWO Islington murders…. Readers of my blog might know that I have been undertaking research on the area around Clerkenwell and Islington generally as I work to understand the life my London ancestors led. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Calling Clerkenwell home – roots in roguish & revolutionary soil

Posted on October 12, 2011 by

The line between ‘family’ and ‘social’ history is becoming ever more blurred. For me, studying my tree has always been more about the history surrounding the lives of my ancestors than finding each and every distant relation. I know I … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, London | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The mystery of the missing grandmother – or ‘O Bessie. Where Art Thou?’

Posted on August 30, 2011 by

I wrote this post last year and although I have recently discovered a little more about the strange dynamic of the Hardiman family I still cannot trace my Grandma. There are hints that as ‘Bessie’ she might be the daughter of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Grand National: or When is it time to end a family tradition?

Posted on April 9, 2011 by

This is an unplanned post, one of those I am prone to put out in response to an event that causes me to think deeply about an issue of importance to me. As I write, the BBC are once again … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

On the occasion of my 100th blog post – I give you a time machine…

Posted on April 3, 2011 by

I am a centenarian! I cannot believe that this is the 100th time I have posted on no more wriggling out of writing. It was in July 2010 that the first tentative jottings went out into the blogosphere and at … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

‘Keep it in the family’ – can a family history ever reveal the truth of tragedy ?

Posted on March 29, 2011 by

I have written before on the subject of my Great Uncle Alf Hardiman (see ‘An Unsound Mind’) and had an article published in Family Tree magazine (A Shadowy Past) relating his story and linking it to a family history of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Mental health, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

A little tooth shows us a big, big truth….

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

This is something of a random, impulsive post; but I just had to share with you a wonderful poem that was introduced at the reading group I attend. We are lucky to have the poet Julia Copus running our group … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, Poetry, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The high cost of learning: valuing a study of our past

Posted on March 13, 2011 by

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I occasionally feel the urge to have a really good rant. These explosions of fury are usually of no practical use, but occasionally they can be incredibly productive. I had one on … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Who do you think YOU are? This show could help unravel the mystery…

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

I suspect there will be a number of blog posts relating to the Who Do You Think You Are? Live show that took place at London Olympia at the weekend. It was that kind of event. My experience of any … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments