Hi #genhour this week I've been finishing off a transcript from a client #familyhistory interview I did with 6 siblings, lots of laughs, enjoyed listening through it again! And trawling for 'McGavock' ancestors in parish registers for my own research. So many!

Ever wanted to escape into family history - away from all the daily distractions? Then a family history retreat could be perfect for you. Sign up to Escape to the Past - and potentially join us in Glasgow in June 2026! www.miagenealogy.com/escape-to-th... #familyhistory #EscapeToThePast

#ancestryhour spent so long trawling through one parish register it appears I've started a #oneplace (Glenarm, Carnlough), #onename (McGavock) or #oneparish study! Is a one parish study a thing? Not asking for a friend, this is definitely me! #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #Ireland

This ANZAC day I'm reflecting on ancestral connections and 'Familiar Faces' at Gallipoli. Please take a moment to read my blog about it linked below. #nz #aotearoa #WWI #genealogy #familyhistory #ancestry #ngaitahu #whakapapa thefamilyarchives.co.nz/familiar-fac...

Nerding out this week chasing #DNA and #Genealogy combos. Websites are cool and all but I still love going to the library and using the microfiche + district keys book! #nz #familyhistory #Ancestry #archives #genhour #library

Freshly caught snapper for dinner last night - a koha from a happy client. Gosh I love my job 🥹 #nz #aotearoa #koha #kai #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #ancestry

Today's #weddingWednesday is a group photograph! Can you guess which year this wedding took place? And while you're looking can you spot: bagpipes, a pair of specs, white gloves? #nz #archives #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestryhour

Love how a single photo can lead to a connection. Someone on Ancestry had this picture of my 2x great-grandmother Maria Tavendale (Coveny) and '?'. I was able to fill her in "that's my Nana!" Now have contact with a 3rd cousin to share other family photos with #genhour #ancestry #familyhistory #nz

Been ages since my last #WeddingWednesday! I share a beautiful #vintage wedding photo, and you all take a punt at which year the wedding occurred. It's good fun, and the person with the winning guess gets a ton of virtual kudos! This couple were very chic #nz #familyhistory #genealogy #archives

Full steam ahead! I haven't posted in ages, turns out this is the first ball to drop when I get busy. Luckily it's a rubber ball & bounces back! Busy with #genealogy #familyhistory and #archive clients and courses, #nzsg voluntary role, preparing to move from #nz to #leeds, academic job, and 2 kids!

Ok guys and gals, while the bebeh and I have been sick I’ve been working on a new side hustle idea, hope to be up and running with slots from July: lucybetteridgedyson.com/archive-rese...

Deep in the newspaper archives today! #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #nz

A tribute to my 2x great-grandmother Maria Elizabeth Tavendale (nee Coveny) to celebrate International Women's Day #genealogy #familyhistory #nz #archives #internationalwomensday thefamilyarchives.co.nz/maria-elizab...

As a descendant of a New Zealand whaler I am glad to hear this!

One of my favourite parts of researching your family history is delving deep into the newspaper archives! It really helps to bring the story of your family to life! It helps you to understand who your ancestors were & what made them tick. #genhour #genealogy #familyhistory #nz #archives

#weddingWednesday has rolled around again! Can you guess what year the wedding of this beautiful couple took place? #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #ancestryhour

You know you're in for a good yarn when the person you're researching features this strongly in the #nz Police Gazette! That's what I love about #genealogy and #familyhistory - every single person has a story to tell.

#genhour my head was in the workhouse this week after discovering my 2x great-grandfather Thomas was in Stow-on-the-Wold union workhouse 1871 age 7, alongside his father who was listed as an 'imbecile'. More digging reveals he'd had a stroke! He died Dec 1871 leaving Thomas an orphan.

#ancestryhour It's week 3 of running #WeddingWednesday! I share a #vintage wedding photograph, and you all take a punt at which year the wedding was. The person with the winning guess gets a ton of virtual kudos! I adore this weeks photo, hope you enjoy it. #familyhistory #genealogy #archives

Busy day helping out at NZSG working bee, was great to see so many volunteers there! In other news discovered that my 2x great grandfather was in the workhouse age 7, after his mother died. Tough read - probably because I have a 7-year-old myself! #genealogy #nz #familyhistory #archives

Over the weekend I mapped the locations in #Scotland where my ancestors hail from, so that I can go and visit them this year... gosh I'm going to be busy! I've had to promise my family it won't all be cemeteries 😅. It's no wonder I tear up when I hear the bagpipes. #familyhistory #nz #genealogy

Need a photograph taken of an Auckland-based gravesite or headstone? Can't visit the cemetery in-person yourself? I can help with that! One of many #genealogy #familyhistory #archives services that I offer at The Family Archives here in #auckland #aotearoa #nz

Who wants to play another round of #weddingWednesday?! It's a new game I started last week, tell the others! Can you guess which year this wedding was held? The prize for the closest guess is.... oodles of history nerd kudos!!! #genealogy #familyhistory #oldphotographs #vintage #nz #ancestryhour

Need a record retrieved in-person from an Auckland-based archive or library? I can help with that! One of many #genealogy #familyhistory #archives services that I offer at The Family Archives here in #auckland #aotearoa #nz

Who wants to play #weddingWednesday?! It's a new game I just made up, tell the others! Can you guess which year this wedding was held? The prize for the closest guess is.... oodles of history nerd kudos!!! #genealogy #familyhistory #oldphotographs #vintage #nz #ancestryhour

101 reasons to preserve your family history. This is a great one, shoutout to Stephen J Caraccia for bringing it to my attention! #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #nz

I'll have a poster at the Beyond the Family Tree genealogy conference in June, at The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. "Bubbles of truth – Bringing my ancestors to life via their business with the most famous champagne house in the world." Now I wonder how I should celebrate?! #genhour

I saw a meme recently that said "if your download folder looks like this, then you might be a genealogist...." I laughed and laughed..... here is a photo of my download folder #genealogy #familhistory #archives #nz

Getting ready for the online Scottish ndexes conference tonight! Anyone else? Just another raging Saturday night for me! Haha #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #nz #Scotland

#genhour started on my goal of writing about 8x great grandparents, now fear I'm slipping down the rabbit hole of 16x great greats! #genealogy #ancestry #familyhistoey

#ancestryhour any insights on this #postcard? Sent by my 2x gg Archie to his son George in Southland #nz. No postmark so presume he just popped it in the mailbox (they lived apart). Archie didn't serve in WWI. Just wonder how he ended up with a French postcard, but he could have just bought it?

#otd my great grandfather Samuel Campbell Shedden was born, in West Calder, Midlothian, #Scotland. The second born of Thomas Shedden and Helen Shedden (nee Russell), Sam left Scotland in 1912 to be a teacher in Waimangaroa #nz. Happy birthday Sam, you will be remembered! #familyhistory #genealogy

#genhour excited to share that The Family Archives is going international! My husband, kids and I are taking up an opportunity to move from #nz to #Leeds #uk for a year. Looking forward to some on-the-ground research. Who should I connect with in #familyhistory and #Genealogy while I'm over there?

#ancestryhour help me brainstorm witty comebacks for when I tell people about my family history business and they say, "Oh I prefer to focus on the future." I need to condense: "But understanding where you come from makes you the most clear and present version of yourself FOR the future." Ha!

#aotearoa #nz #Christmas in the #Summertime. Who still gets an orange (or a Terry's chocolate orange) in their stocking? Perfect day to build a Titanic sandcastle, ice berg dead ahead!

I hope someone puts the modern equivalent of "a sovereign wrapped in spotless tissue paper" in your hands! As received by my ancestor Avis Yarborough Simôn (1893-1987) from his great uncle Sir John Simôn KCB (1816-1904) at their annual Christmastime visit. #genealogy #familyhistory #archive #genhour

As quoted by my 3x great uncle Alfred Max Simôn, in his 1914 memoir entitled 'Lest we forget'. I reckon he and I would have got on great! #familyhistory #genealogy #archives #nz #ancestryhour

Little pat on the back for myself for spending some time clearing over 12,000 unread emails from my inbox. Now down to 324. (Personal account that is, work emails are immaculately maintained) 😅

“Brick wall” is such a polite term for “this ancestor simply evaporated into the ether like a Victorian cryptid” #genealogy #FamilyHistory

Found in Nanny's cookbook - Pop's program for a "progressive dinner" c1970s. A festive reminder that: a) Cookbooks are an excellent source of #genealogy info, not just for family but FANs b) We love and laugh with people even after they're gone c) drink-driving is bad! #familyhistory #archives #nz

#genhour Exciting Friday plans here = decipher 15 pages of this handwriting, to figure out if this is indeed the Will of my 5x great Scottish grandma! Wish me luck haha #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #newzealand #scotland

Love me a cute historical hall - this one is in Omiha, Waiheke Island. Featuring lots of old photos and local stories on the walls. Still a hub of community including transforming into a café on weekend mornings! #history #nz Our Story - OWRS share.google/uY5WbfwJkrv7...

Rather chuffed to have my article published in The New Zealand Genealogist magazine December issue. The theme was "Where did they live?" #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #nz #genhour #oneplacestudies

#ancestryhour is it just me, or is discovering your ancestors maidennames the best buzz? Opens the door to a whole new family history. I'm not just a McGavock, I'm a Macintosh, Simôn, Tukuwaha, Mason, Carlin, Campbell, Cavannagh. Dorée, Single, McKain. Shedden, Coveny, Thomas, Greenman. #genealogy

Nau mai te raumati! Summer in #aotearoa #nz looks like blue sky and pōhutukawa trees in bloom. Might have to move my office outside! #genealogy #familyhistory #archives

The vibes when your family book arrives in the post #genealogy #familyhistory #genhour #archives #aotearoa #nz

#ancestryhour bashing away at my favourite brick wall this week - tree branches are growing outwards and downwards, little bit of height in maternal lines and some surprises! Could it be that my 4x great grandfather literally married the girl next door?! Watch this space! #genealogy #Scotland #nz

“The arguments to exercise caution with DNA are valid, if a bit doom-laden. But there is another perspective that we need to consider, and that’s the power of DNA to reconnect those Māori who don’t know their whakapapa.” — Atakohu Middleton, who found her sister through DNA testing.

#genhour A little story about a collection of 1940s Wage Tax Stamps! Plus have made it easier to subscribe to my blog at The Family Archives, so that you get notified whenever a new one is published. Here is the link thefamilyarchives.co.nz/wage-tax-sta... #genealogy #familyhistory #archives #nz

When you are handing items on to the next gen, use photos to help tell the story of their origin! Like this Wade Whimsies Hare that my children were playing with this week. Their Grannie loved showing them this photo of her as a little girl with the very same Hare! #familyhistory #genealogy #archive