The age old and questions?

Well thank you for all your family tree related messages and questions! To answer those; I use both www.Genesreunited.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk the latter being for the more obsessed like Mike and myself. Also if you’re serious about your Ancestry I would invest in a copy of Family Tree maker 2011 to help you plot your lines.

Today’s Post...

I had my Birthday last week, I’m the grand age of 27, officially in my late twenties. This doesn’t really bother me like it does my friends. The popular phrase of the last year has been “I feel so old!”. In the grand scheme of life, we’re really not.

In the last week I have been reminded that my GCSE’s were now take over a decade ago, that turning 30 is only 36 months away and I’ve been called Madam, by two young men; and I can’t quite work out whether they were polite or the wrinkles have actually kicked in, but the fact I’ve just called them young men only cements my age! – And still I wasn’t bothered...

"Wasn’t" being the word of notification there. I had a frank conversation with a friend of mine who suffers from several medical conditions affecting her mobility and medication affecting her brain; just like myself. We were discussing the age old questions that we keep being asked 1. When are you getting married? 2. When are you having children? – inevitable questions at this time of life - When my friend in question sat up and from nowhere with a look of horror said “If our bodies are failing us now, and have been our whole lives, then what does age plus illness equal in the future?” – gee thanks – now I’m bloody scared witless.

It’s not something I’ve really thought about before, I’ve been plodding along, thankful my awkward teenage years are over and living it up through my twenties – health pending as always but what happens when the health pending becomes more urgent?

I’m getting a quickened breath just thinking about it! After some serious contemplation; life and my mind set still haven’t really changed. Living with RSD is a daily advent calendar of symptoms and relapses, I never know how I’ll feel day to day year to year, and it’s been the same for 20 years. I’ll carry on living it up - health pending and doing the best I can, because in the end isn’t that we all do?

L x

The Family Tree

I of course didn’t take my own advice and take it easy whilst I’m recovering from the latest RSD relapse. I’ve been muddling through a pattern; doing too much for two days followed by three days of a lot of pain and fatigue. I just can’t help myself, completely good days are far and few between so I have to make the most of it!!

Anyway, regular readers and friends will know that I’ve been slightly, okay.... borderline obsessed, about my family tree. 5 years ago Mike (more keen than myself) not only became my boyfriend by my Genealogy teacher too. And I’ve not stopped banging on about my roots ever since.

The whole argument of nature verses nurture is one that fascinates me. My love of writing could be attributed to my grandfather’s career in journalism and my father’s talent in poetry, my enthusiastic love of cooking, I assume comes from my Mum, but beyond my direct and close family, where do these interests and skills come from?

My whole obsession with my family tree started when I found a marriage certificate in my Nan’s possessions after she had died. The certificate was that of my Great Grandmother Eva, marrying Albert the union itself didn't tell me what I hadn’t already heard before, but Eva’s father’s name was Djalma Smith. Why such an exotic Christian name with an all too common English surname?

After research I found that Djalma’s parents were Robert and Anna Smith and they had named two more of their children Kate-Zillah and Tizrah amongst the more average names of Robert, William, Anne, Elsie and Sydney. What made my great 3x Great Grandparents choose such unusual names? It’s something I doubt anyone living could tell me, but I began to wonder who had stories they wanted to share? Did I have long lost family?

I already have a huge family of a dozen aunts and uncles, 40+ cousins and 5 nieces and nephews, but what I recently discovered was that that’s only a tip of the iceberg. My Mum’s parents have 12+ siblings and my maternal great grandmother/father had 20 siblings between them! This tree was fast becoming a forest!

About 3 months ago I received and e-mail from a Karl saying that we were related. It turns out we are second cousinss once removed! His grandfather and my Great Grandmother were siblings and Karl was just, if not more, intrigued by this almighty brood of people we are connected by.

It just so happens, Karl, who lives in Hong Kong, was visiting the UK and he visited me last weekend! We spent a long morning swapping stories, certificates and my favourite – photos. Wonderful photo’s including my great uncle playing a grand piano and another third and removed cousin in his First World War army uniform, amongst many more.

It just so turns out that the gap between my two front teeth, that no one else in my immediate family has, is no longer a childhood bullying target but a family heirloom that I inherited from my Hudson ancestors! – Thanks guys!

I would definitely recommend trying genealogy if you really want to know where you come from. The stories that have surfaced during my research have been scandalous, comical, upsetting and confusing but you have to admit it’s far more interesting to read about the amazing people that make up your being here than the trials and tribulations of Z list celebs!

L x 

In the words of....

Nina Simone, Muse and Michael Buble amongst many.... I’m feeling good! 363 days after the official beginning of my RSD relapse, I woke this morning with a sense of real positivity. The relapse is almost over – my longest one in 21 years with the condition. I’m just glad it wasn’t the most severe one and I’ve carried on being part of the world instead of a prisoner of my bed and home.

Although I’m never pain free, I’m so glad that I can start coming off of some of the stronger medications and will hopefully regain my mental power and energy reserves to function at a “normal” level. I just have to remember not to overdo it, I’m my own worst enemy doing too much then suffering for days after!

It couldn’t come at a better time since I’m due to volunteer with the Southend Operatic Drama Society (S.O.D.S) as a member of the front of house staff during their run of Half a Sixpence (Tickets still available!) next week.

The diet took a bit of a back burner whilst Mike was home from work, and I fully blame my no slimmer waist line on Prince William and Kate (I had to spent a full day drinking to their long and happy life.... didn’t I?) and the great UK weather we’ve been having, which subsequently meant I had to attend many Birthday BBQ’s and gatherings, with many more to come! I will however; try my hardest to be good in between socialising as I’m desperate to wear my size 12 jeans again and not offend my neighbours whilst sunbathing!

Mike has gone away for up to two months now, it hasn’t hit me yet, but when I start to cover his side of the bed in magazines, note pads and the laptop starts accompanying me to bed I know he needs to come home quick. The only plus side to my lovely boys absence is that I can really concentrate on the diet/writing/projects etc. Without feeling like I’m neglecting him! He’ll come home to a new woman or a wreck of a girlfriend who of course – over did it!

L x