Every morning, Rob and I have a posh coffee indoors. It's the springboard to more gardening, genealogy, robotics or whatever. Too hot for gardening and I'm fed up with hiding in a room with the sunblinds down, so coffee in the garden, in the shade. ☕😊

Announcement! I have - by means of faltering DNA research and general genealogical detection, worked around a roadblock pertaining to a certain lady in my family tree: 2xG Grandma Mary Ann, for whom I have no marriage record and conflicting places of birth on censuses. Hurrah! #genealogy

I now have ONE THOUSAND PAGES of DNA matches on Ancestry. Each page has 20 links. Should keep me busy for a little while! How many do you others have?

Five practical ways to feel better and make a difference: ✅ Try small happiness experiments 🌤️ Be a realistic optimist 🫂 Build your social fitness 💕 Encourage kindness and trust 🌍 Focus on what really matters www.positive.news/lifestyle/fi...

Big Bertha has been used this morning, for a very 21st century job: To allow the cable of a satellite internet thingy to enter the house. Much needed and much appreciated, here in deepest Devon.

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you, Big Bertha. My husband inherited her from his father, who was a plumber. I'm aware of not having posted much lately. Too much else to think about, but all is very well, I'm pleased to say.

In case this is helpful for someone:

I'm enjoying this so much, I'm keeping half back, for tomorrow. 😊

Such a cool way to research wills and so develop a new perspective on the past. Also appreciated the Buckeridge references as I have that surname in my family tree; the family ran a pottery in Inkpen, Berks, in the 1800's.

I have a few straw plaiters in my family tree so I'm really looking forward to hearing this episode.

The action I've taken is to book the NHS health check. Physical health is a very important part of mental health. Facing a specific health challenge at the moment, but having taken this action just now, I feel happier overall. 😊

I'm happy to share this offer: 😊

This is a really satisfying read. So much research, so much detail. Of particular interest to me because of the blacksmiths on both sides of my family, including Sally Noyes, who married a blacksmith and in 1797 took on a female apprentice, Sarah Garlick. Would love to know more about their lives.

I love May! Hope everyone has a happy month. 😊

Looking forward to this!

The things that matter most are often the things we forget to prioritise. Join us for Meaningful May and make the most of each precious day 🌤️ Get your calendar here 👇 actionforhappiness.org/meaningful-may #MeaningfulMay

Have been visiting Compton Acres for the first time. I will definitely be coming back. 😊

My husband & I passed through Weymouth today.Walking from the car park, I didn't recognise the place for 20 minutes. Time enough to recall that I was last here 34 years ago, when I was 4 months pregnant. Yes, with the baby who now has 2 degrees, is on her second career and got married this month. 😁

Have arrived at the Tregothnan estate's open garden day in time for an ironic coffee. ☕ Beautiful place, beautiful day. Thirty acres of beautiful gardens and maybe the tea plantation to see. 😊

What a wonderful read! 😊

My main genealogy goal at the moment is to correct the early mistakes made when my brain was still greatly affected by post-traumatic symptoms. Thank goodness I can think straight most of the time now, and can begin to use DNA to clarify things. Back to work on a major mistake! #genealogy

Worth a read...

📢 DOODLES IN THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY ARCHIVES 📢 📜 Some fabulous examples of 'faces' and other scribbles in early modern wills being shared by this account, run by one of our project volunteers 👇 1/5🧵 bsky.app/profile/scri...

Happy #worldhealthday! 🌍💪 This year’s theme set by the World Health Organisation is ‘Together for health. Stand with science’. Everything we share at Action for Happiness, our social posts, events, groups and courses are all backed by evidence-based research into the science of happiness. 🤗🌟

And now we're home, we have proof that it wasn't all just a dream...🥰🥰🥰 I will need to record the names of the flowers used, as best I can. The white stocks smell wonderful.

This thought provoking article reflects my own outlook: Identity is closely bound up with personal experiences. For me, that includes things such as traumatic events, family size, birth order and an environment shaped by religious beliefs. Oh, and I should throw in gut health too, I guess. 😁

The big day is here. A little downtime before my mother-of-the-bride hairdresser timeslot.

May I present the best tombstone in Bath Abbey

I've fixed a longstanding mistake in my family tree using a LOT of DNA matches. What held me back was not being able to find a death/burial record for my 3xG grandfather's second wife. I just couldn't believe that he hadn't been widowed before remarrying for the third time. Found it and on we go! 😊

Life is happier when we go outside and get active. Join us for Active April and find ways to keep moving forward 🌤️🚴‍♂️🏃🌿 actionforhappiness.org/active-april #ActiveApril

Can anyone help?

"There will be a last time..." says someone who has learned a heck of a lot about human happiness. 😊

Happy Lady Day, everyone. 😁

I believe you may find this interesting.... 😊

Just on my way home from my big brother's surprise 75th birthday lunch party. Lots of family there, young and old. "I'm the patriarch now," he told us. Next big get-together for many of us will be my daughter's wedding in a few weeks.

ICYMI: Our special episode “The Captured” with Natalie Mayhew ( @tamoralady.bsky.social) and Prof. Walter Busuttil of Combat Stress familyhistoriespodcast.com/2026/03/20/s... #genealogy #ptsd #veterans #ancestry #MentalHealth #podcasthon #FamilyHistory

So beautiful...

Can anyone help?

Happy St Patrick's Day to all those who like to celebrate. ☘️☘️☘️

Glorious spring flowers at RHS Rosemoor today.

Heard about this on the radio, yesterday. Quite sobering, really.

Having just finished up a project, I’d like to let people know that I’m available for clients! I offer historical document transcriptions and genealogy research. rowenagenealogy.com #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Devon #Palaeography

A proud mum moment for me. I'm used to seeing the words "Kings Bench Division" when searching for ancestors. But I've just viewed my daughter quietly working in a Kings Bench Division courtroom, on video footage of proceedings this week. 🦚😊(No, I'm not going to provide a citation for that 🤣)

We have a mystery we hope someone can solve! 🕵 Does this building look familiar to you? We believe it could be somewhere in North Berkshire or maybe even Oxfordshire. Let us know in the comments if you recognise it!

I saw this website this morning and have found it really easy to use, the information is so accessible. And guess what? I found an important lead in the quest to identify the parents of one of my 5Xg-grandmothers. Another exciting rabbit hole to explore although it may well result in a tale of woe.

Can I just say that I like nothing more, when researching old newspapers, finding my ancestors competing at quoits, winning prizes for their potatoes at the village show or even compering at local whist drives. Makes me glad to be who I am. 😊 #genealogy #genhour #ancestry

Happy International Women’s Day! Today we are celebrating all women worldwide. Here is a link to a playlist where you can catch up on all the expert women speakers from our live events: youtube.com/playlist?lis... #internationalwomensday #equality #justice #happiness #wellbeing

@trisnorton.bsky.social : you'll be interested in this. Discussion of a pollen study showing the relationship between mixed farming and plant biodiversity, impacted negatively by population decline during the Black Death. All those weeds around the margins lost theconversation.com/the-black-de...

Overheard in Bude 's Lidl this morning: "We're celebrating St Piran's Day." Not sure what was being bought for the celebration, however. No St Piran's flag emoticon, unfortunately. 😁

I've found a highly-trained artist was a DNA match's direct ancestor. He married and had a family & later lived with a partner. It has been nice to read his obituary online and good to know that his work has been appreciated. I don't mention DNA matches' names, so no name-dropping, here! 😊#genealogy