Who Do You Think You Are........?

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Just come back from a busy weekend down at the family "pile". Sorry - using rather grand words as have renewed interest in tracing the family tree - a task started by myself and my Dad a few years ago but that has stalled more recently. We decided to treat ourselves to a trip to London to the BBC Who Do You Think You Are exhibition.

As usual, the journey down by train was uneventful with one or two amusing incidents. First announcer sounded as though he was using a loudhailer from outside the train - never did get to hear what he was actually saying! Second announcer I can only describe as "camp with menace" in fact I have never heard the word "pannini" uttered with such disdain!! Third announcement was interrupted by loud female voice "hope you enjoyed travelling with us" accompanied by much giggling and raucous laughter as she was (a) egged on by her mates and (b)swiftly cut off in her prime from the PA system. Someone obviously had a liquid breakfast!!
Arrived in London to torrential rain - so got taxi to Olympia - and the exhibition. Spent rest of day wandering round the stalls and chatting to others about tracing family trees etc. Lots of things to buy (managed to restrain myself) but also lots of free advice and websites to try - and certainly came away with an eagerness to revisit what we have so far (in fact we have got to a Huguenot ancestor in 1780 on my Mother's side and a possible 1775 ancestor on my Father's side - although this needs a bit more research!).

Journey back uneventful! Then to brother's for usual overdose on Grantham spare ribs - in fact the takeaway have told me to pop in next time to have a lesson in how to cook them! I have lived in many, many places since leaving home (Northampton, London, Dorset, Norfolk and now Lancashire to name a few) and I have never found a chinese takeaway that cooks spare ribs this way, mmmmmmm.

Sunday saw us heading over to Sleaford for lunch with my Godmother and husband - lovely afternoon spent chatting and being amazed again at the power of networking via FaceBook. To cut a long and rather personal story short, Godmother's husband has to have an operation that, together with an existing disability, will leave him temporarily unable to perform basic ADLs (activities of daily living). A quick request to OT colleagues on FaceBook and within an hour I had many responses all helpful and offering realistic and practical solutions. Hurray for FaceBook!!
So, after an enjoyable and productive weekend I return to real life, a house smelling of paint (husband been v. busy whilst I was away!) and a busy week at work.


Can't wait to find some time to begin the family tree research again!!

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