The old window is channelling the sun nicely, this morning.

We had an absolute ball at the immersive sound, vision & animation art event today. My birthday present from one of my sons & his family. In the abstract hall which immediately put me in mind of the late 1960's, my soon to be six granddaughter was moved to interpretive dance. 🥰 Surprising enough 1/2

Happy World Kindness Day! 🌍🩷 Let’s celebrate by doing one kind act for others. Let’s send ripples of kindness around the world for World Kindness Day! #happiness #worldkindnessday #worldkindnessday2025 #wellbeing

I have just now discovered that my ancestor, Mr John Wooldridge, was buried three hundred years ago, today, on 11 September, 1725. He died at thirty-nine, having lost two wives and at least two of his children.

I've been leafing through 18th century parish registers for the South Hams area of Devon, England, where I've found several maternal and paternal surnames co-mingling. Any minute now, I'm expecting to find that I'm my own cousin! #GenHour 😁

This happened today: "It's the last of The Traitors tonight." "I'll dig some more." 🥔🥔🥔😂

What if your future is brighter than you think? Join Dr Kerry Burnight and learn how to shift from a fear of ageing to a deep appreciation of the freedom and fulfilment that come with later life actionforhappiness.org/thriving-lat...

Two years playing the game of #genealogy now and I've learned a lot, but there's still SO MUCH MORE to discover. Below are my main research ideas. ⬇️ I'm not looking for help with anything, it's just nice to review, share and look forward to more genealogising! 😊👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👧‍👧

This book from 2006 records some lovely local English customs: The English Year by Steve Roud #genealogy

1st Nov: All Saints' Day. As a large '70's family, we played ghost games on Halloween, but the treats came the evening after, because my mum had converted to Catholicism (before I was born) and got into saints in a big way. She saved a few sweet things and snacks to share after the obligatory Mass.

A great way to feel happier is to try a new activity or take a different approach. Join us for #NewWaysNovember and get daily ideas to help you find new ways forward actionforhappiness.org/new-ways-nov...

I'm now back home after a fun week in Corfu. The occasion was a family wedding on my husband's side. Corfu was chosen as it's part way between Shanghai (where the bride's parents live) and the UK. It proved a lovely spot and many happy memories were made. 😊

I had my Mrs Pollitt...😊

No proper #genealogy for me, today. After yesterday's family wedding - hours of dancing! - I will be taking a pleasant stroll and not much more. 🥱 But it was a lovely occasion, worthy of the attention of future genealogists, when they see the geography and ethnicities involved. A true love story. ☯️

In addition to the values mentioned below, curiosity is an important value of mine. I love to learn and am happier for it. 😊

I wasn't affected by @findmypast.bsky.social's difficulties earlier and am now delighted to have been able to find a link my genealogical chain on the island of Guernsey, there, this afternoon. Now it's all sea travel, Napoleonic wars and biscuit factories. (I like to think!) 😊 PS....

As so very often happens, Action for Happiness and I are in synch. 🙌 😊

Can you help, kind Bluesky genealogist? If my ancestor lived in "Eastsmithfield", St Botolph's, Aldgate, City of London, does this tend to imply that s/he lived at the workhouse? I'm thinking 1770-1800. Are there workhouse records from which I could check? #genealogy

I'd always wondered about Scottish ethnicity on my Ancestry DNA test. Now it's gone & I have Northern Wales & North West England, which ties in my research (for this branch I've used DNA cousins for the first time). Denmark has largely gone. I would love more clarity on my NW Europe heritage.

Another south-western mermaid. The very shape of the peninsula is a mermaid's tale! @willsmanonename.bsky.social

An exciting development for genealogists and local historians:

@digupyourancestors.bsky.social I saw this...😊

I will get to this if I can. My paternal grandparents were among those affected.

How's this for a collection of family stats? Decades of family members' heights pencilled on the wall of a dressing room in the house at Antony, Cornwall (National Trust). The volunteer kindly opened a special, narrow cupboard door in the painted panelling, to show this to me. What a treasure! 😊

Join the Optimistic October Challenge and get daily action ideas & personalised reminders. Please share and help us build a greater sense of hope and agency in uncertain times 💕🙏 actionforhappiness.org/october-chal...

When the world feels uncertain, it's helpful to stay hopeful. Join us for #OptimisticOctober and find ways to keep moving forward and helps others do the same 🗓️ Get your action calendar actionforhappiness.org/optimistic-o... ✅ Join the optimism challenge actionforhappiness.org/october-chal...

This is just the kind of exciting approach to local history we're hoping to encourage as the re-launched VCH London. Want to know why London is a new thing for the VCH? It was Middlesex, Surrey and Essex until ever so recently... www.history.ac.uk/research/vic...

I've said before that I was staggered when I first saw the baptism of the child of a slave in an English, rural parish's register. This article gives me valuable context for understanding the life of that person and her child - and that of other individuals who may have lived alongside my ancestors.

This was a really enjoyable listen, start to finish. Thanks, Marigold - I mean, Andrew! 😂

📢 NEW WILL OF THE MONTH POST 📢 We're delighted to share this very special post by Dylan Cox, a 3rd year History student at Exeter. 📜 Dylan has transcribed & researched the will of a London gentleman who made several bequests, including to Bridewell prison 🧵1/2 sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

No wonder I've been wandering through the London parishes in vain! I should have been looking in a seemingly completely unconnected place 243 miles away. 🥴 Now, where are the rest of you hiding?!

looking for more info on my 5th great grandfather Alexander ALLEN/ALLAN, he was a Foot Soldier in 1752 when son David was baptised at the Presbyterian/Unitarian Chapel, Boffin Lane, Chichester, Sussex, but do not know who David's mother is or anything about Alexander at all? any advice? #Genealogy

Does anyone know of a list of early modern and c18th English spellings of words? i.e. a list of alternative spellings, such as 'publick' for publick, 'Wyllyam' for William, and so on? Surely such a thing must have been compiled? #History #LinguisticHistory 🗃️

We are carrying in our DNA evidence of our ancestors' migrations. A picture is forming...🌍

Another incredible family history read from Clare. I've learned so much! And how wonderful that someone later offered an echo from his own memories. 😊

No sooner had I had the thought that researching my family history can be a dance between fantasy, fiction and fact, than I google a street name mentioned on a livery company website and see the road next to it is called Knightrider Street. 😂 #genealogy

Oh, now this is interesting. Taking a desultory leaf through a C of E parish register kept by the British Embassy in Paris, I see a posh name and google it. The websites I see suggest the lady concerned died unmarried. But I have her marriage recorded, right here. She looks to have married a... 1/2

It's the last week of #MagnaCarta1225 & you have this Wed, Thurs & Fri left to visit! Enjoy this final chance at a unique opportunity to explore the legacy of Magna Carta (1225) & the Charter of the Forest, marking 800 years since its reissue by Henry III – the version enshrined in English law.

I rang Findmypast to renew my subscription with this hefty discount and the service was just BRILLIANT! Literally could not be bettered: Prompt reply from an actual human, cheerful, clear speech, great discount, no extra life admin for me. VERY well done!!! 👏👏👏

Happy Mindfulness Day. 😊

Upcoming Heritage Open Days event! Join us next week for an introductory look at the architectural records of your Cathedral, exploring records from the Medieval to Modern era. ❉ 17 September | 2pm-3pm ❉ Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives ❉ Book your free place: bit.ly/ec-heritage

Thinking of you, Clare. 😊 @digupyourancestors.bsky.social

Remember the Our River Thames exhibition is now open until Friday 31st October. If you weren't able to visit during the first few months then now is your chance! Visit us during our normal opening hours to view it.

📢 Heritage Open Day event! Everyone is welcome at our FREE drop-in event to explore items from the collections relating to local architecture! 📆 Saturday 20 September 🕙 10:30am-1:00pm 🔗 www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-e... #HeritageOpenDays #HOD #HODs2025 #HeritageOpenDaysExeter #Exeter

After today there are just 6 more days left of #MagnaCarta1225! Visit us Wed-Fri until 19 Sep! This image is a toffee tin from Mackintosh & Sons. In the 1920s, Mackintosh and Sons devised a series of comic strips to promote their products. One series was devised by the illustrator George Morrow.

Among the many interesting sights at the Bishop's Palace in Well, Somerset, today: Costumes from TV series of Wolf Hall and Coronation artefacts.

We arrived at the Bishop's Palace and Gardens at Wells cathedral, at just the moment the swans were fed.

Many pupils will be back to school this week. If you have ever thought about researching the school that you went to, then take a look at the guides on our website: royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/berkshires-p... #EYAEducation

Occasionally you will come across some odd words when researching - here's the beginning of an article on strange occupations. Members can search past copies of Roots for mentions of family/place of interest. Beware you can easily get distracted by articles like this!