Happy St Distaff's Day, everyone. We'd be naked without her! 😁

My horizon has been expanded...

📢 Historical occupation klaxon: Pew Opener. Just came across a bequest to the pew opener of Portland Chapel, Mrs Sarah Fuller, in this 1785 will [PROB 11/1127/29] @sarahmurden.bsky.social explains the role in this post georgianera.wordpress.com/2023/10/09/t... 🗃️

You know how it is. That time when you realise your putative acrobat forebears (distant cousins) could have got married literally anywhere a circus could set up its tent....or not at all. #genealogy 🎪🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

Today is a silver shoes day. I have an afternoon appointment with my daughter, to collect her wedding dress. ♥️

Lovely thoughts for the change of year:

Happier January - Day 1: Find three things to look forward to this year actionforhappiness.org/happier-janu... #HappierJanuary

I wish everyone here on BlueSky a very happy and healthy year ahead, with lots of time doing the things you enjoy most. 😊

Too frosty a day for gardening, so I redeployed sourdough left over from 🌲 to update a family recipe for cheese pudding. Extremely well received by my other half, I'm pleased to say. 👍🏻😊

Start where you are and do what you can. Your actions matter 💖✅ Join us for #HappierJanuary and get the new year off to a calmer and happier start actionforhappiness.org/happier-janu...

Satisfying morning's shopping: A much-reduced price for a year's MyHeritage subscription and I now have access to oldnews.com. So I have searched for a putative ancestor and found a mention of him in a French newspaper from 1944 (I believe); also a headline I translate as "Spam warning." 😁1/2

At some point I will jot a few notes for hosting a future family Christmas, but right now, I'm down a rabbit hole, exploring C of England dioceses on familysearch. 1/2 www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Dioc...

Apparently it's Saturday. Good to know. 👍🏻😁

This is wonderful: Recognition of the contribution being made by amateur genealogists and others doing associated research as a pastime. Stories are such an important element of human functioning and reflecting on past lives can help us find our own place and way forward, in life. 🎁😊

24 December. Twin birthday day. All going well, if a bit hectic at times. 🎂🎂😊

Lots to enjoy in this Christmas name themed blog post. @familytreeuk.bsky.social

An important thing I'd like to share:

Have been celebrating the festive season at Waddesdon Manor, with two of the grandchildren. Consequently I'm now feeling very festive myself and want to wish everyone a warm and wonderful time, however numerous your candles and however weak and fluttery your candlepower. 😊

In genealogy terms, I am down a vast and very interesting rabbit hole of wills and parish histories. I have granted myself "free warren" and may be some time. And I do speak as the granddaughter of a rabbit catcher, although thankfully I don't need to earn a living thus. #genealogy 🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

This series will be of special interest to me since I discovered, in the summer, that a distant cousin on my father's side had set off...

A very happy birthday to my husband Rob, who is now 71 and has already had his first senior moment of the year, making an instant coffee with cold water from the kettle! 🤣 #seniormoment

This scrapbook looks to be a gem. Any genealogists out there who keep them? #genealogy

Seen on Ancestry: This putative relative remains anonymous for now but I'd be interested to know what he means by the word "unnatural" in his will (mid 18th C): "I give and bequeath unto my unnatural brother [name] Esq the sum of one shilling only." What do you think, fellow genealogists? #genealogy

A great podcast. I listened for the adoption theme and found so many others besides. Can't help with the John Wilshaw in-law, but I agree re local knowledge, which helps me so much with my Berks, Hants and Wilts ancestors and I miss with the others in their several other counties.

Berkshire records, everyone! Always interested in Kintbury and nearby villages. I remember Sir Gordon Richards in the village. Fr. O'Kane would stop the car to exchange racing tips with him, when he was giving my family a lift to church at St Cassian's. Jockey Lester Pigott occasionally, too.

Hell, yes, to this! I've just been to family get-together and learned that my cousin's life-and-soul-of-the-party wife has a very challenging cancer. It's been a precious opportunity for eating together, warmth, bonding afresh and knowing that whatever happens, we're there for each other.

We hope you've enjoyed delving into our archives with us for Explore Your Archive week! 💫 As a final note, we just want to say: our archives are also your archives. We look after them for you, and everyone is welcome - for research, interest or enjoyment! #EYAYourArchives #ExploreYourArchive

I'm using Ancestry's Network tool for the first time, having fun. Have just added a churchwarden named Thomas Rant and am enjoying that name possibly more than I should! 🤣The group consists of the Rector and his entourage and they're a floating tree so a little separate from my ancestor. #genealogy

I'd like to bublycise this spelling just seen on @findmypast.bsky.social . 😁

Who remembers coins in Christmas puddings? Well, here's a different ingredient:

A timely reminder for November, I think. 🙏🏻

Feeling christmassy after a visit to see the decorations at Arlington Court just now. (National Trust) The theme is the story of The Nutcracker Suite and it's been wonderful, especially the tree decorated with dried flowers.

It's time for @ARAScot #ArchiveAdventCalendar! Who remembers searching catalogues for Christmas present ideas? Duncan Simonds and his brother did just that in 1928 when they sent their mother clippings from the Hamley's catalogue of items they wanted for presents. #Presents 🎁

Every act of kindness makes a difference. Help create a happier world this December with our Kindness Calendar. Please use & share 💕🌍🎄🙏 #DoGoodDecember actionforhappiness.org/do-good-dece...

Earlier: I learned for the first time about the 1403 invasion of the Breton army. So where does this leave me with my 2% Breton DNA (apparently)?! 😁

Today, I have taken advantage of a free ride to Plymouth. I've been surprised to learn various connections to this part of Devon, in my family tree. I will combine sightseeing with a little light Christmas shopping. 😊

Can you help @dearmyrtle.bsky.social find Hannah Hudson in Bisham, Berkshire, UK, and therefore smash her brick wall? Find out more in our latest episode: familyhistoriespodcast.com/2025/11/25/s... #genealogy #ancestry #FamilyHistory

Well, folks, I believe I've found a family member who was involved in the Berkshire Swing Riots. Christine Millard, the vicar's wife, wrote a play about the Kintbury riot, when I was a child. Lots more research to be done, so I'll revisit in the future. #genealogy www.hungerfordvirtualmuseum.co.uk

I'm feeling 'two' today and I don't care who knows it. 🤣

It's a beautiful day for making the Christmas pudding. Make a wish. 😊

It's a beautiful day for making a Christmas pudding.🍮

Happy International Men’s Day! 🎉 Today we are celebrating all the amazing men in our lives. Today reach out to a man you care about and let him know what you appreciate about him, let him know you are there for him if he ever needs to talk 💜 www.actionforhappiness.org

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! 😊👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍👩‍👧‍👧