Up and down because I like to be in the present but also like to be in the past with my research into my family tree that now has almost 1,600 people on it.
With my butterfly mind, I have gone off at so many tangents and am now trying to stick with finding out about my direct ancestors. I have currently got back to some eight times great grandparents. The thing is the further you go back the more there are to find and the more and more surnames that come into play.
I have mentioned what I refer to as the ancestor pyramid in the past. It's quite frightening. We all know that we (in general) have two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents. But did you know that by the time you get to your 8x great grandparents there are a veritable crowd of them - 1,024 to be exact? Go back a few more generations and you could fill Carrow Road football ground with ancestors!
The two things I particularly enjoy about researching direct ancestors is finding new family names and also uncovering heroes and villains and their stories
I've been in this town so long
So long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff
To ride in the rough
And sunny down snuff I'm alright
By the heroes and villains
(words and music by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks)
Yesterday for example I uncovered a press cutting for Edward Ellis who is my 4x great grandfather. It was with regards to a brave sea rescue in Lowestoft. You will see from the cutting that Edward was part of a brave and successful rescue. I was particularly taken by the rescue of the child because that's what makes me think about relationships and how none of us should really be who we are.
Let me explain. Nearly all of us will be descendants of divorce or death. I certainly am. My great grandfather's first wife died. I am a descendant of his second marriage. Had his first wife survived and had he not re-married, I wouldn't be me (I hope that makes sense) but somebody else. And going back centuries there is evidence of other occasions of this occurring.
So you could say that we are all a product of fate (or maybe a higher power depending on your beliefs). Edward Ellis saved a child from almost certain death. That child grew up and probably had children of their own, who in turn had children of their own. So it is very likely that there are tens if not hundreds of people who have lived or who are living thanks to the selfless actions and bravery and quick thinking of my ancestor Edward. He gave generations the power of life.
Edwards came from Lowestoft and was married in St Margaret's Church which gives me another connection as for a couple of years in the 1970s I lodged in St Margaret's Road, Lowestoft, just a stone's throw from the church.
I did mention up and down. The up (or maybe it should be the down) consists of research into the past whilst the down (or should that be the up?) is recording what is happening in our lives at the moment. Hopefully my blog succeeds in doing this in some small way.
Yesterday we received a lovely photograph of our grandson Elliot with the trophy from a five-a-side tournament. It is the second tournament that his Wymondham team have won in the past few weeks.
Elliot is writing his own history (not literally of course) by being in Norfolk squads for both football and cricket. I find it vital to record all these things for future generation.
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Thanks to everyone who responded to my blog about overused words and phrases. You will find the responses on Sunday's blog. A few more came to mind yesterday.
We went to a shop to get some milk. The check out person said: "Do you mind if I move to another till to take your money?" I wonder what she would have said if I had replied "yes I do, I have grown attached to your original till and would like you to use that one."
Another hate (and this is usually in restaurants) is when you order something from the menu.
"Can I have the Welsh Rarebit please?" and back comes the answer "no problem." Of course there isn't a problem.
And finally while I'm in grumpy old man mode I hate the phrases "binge watching" and being told to "box set my weekend" which is another way of telling me it's ok to sit in front of the television for hour after hour watching episode after episode of some drama and generally putting off doing things like cutting the grass etc.