View from the bus

We were to travel from Troon (Scotland) to Larne (NI) but the weather turned bad and the trip was cancelled. We got bussed south of Ayr to catch another ferry. I was happy about that as it was a shorter crossing and much bigger boat. Winners on both accounts.

Good Scottish fun

Lyn crying, not sure if it was Rob's jokes or the fact we were leaving Scotland the next day.

Traditional Scottish tucker

Ellen and Rob made us feel very welcome in Ayr. Ellen had even cooked a traditional Scottish pudding called a Clootie (or Clooty) Dumplin which is similar to a Christmas pudding but not as heavy. It boiled for 3 hours and was delicious.

Headstone tally 2-1

Lyn making a late run in the headstone stakes after she located a headstone in the Bothwell cemetery for one of her Quigley family.

McLeod connections

Someone in Glasgow has a sense of humour!

Health Hazard?

Saw this notice in cemetery in Scotland. I knew Family History was addictive but I didn’t know it was bad for my health as well as my pocket.

Two sad Cats

Met up with Alex a 3rd cousin who now lives Edinburgh and grew up in country Victoria. Alex is in the ideal place to visit ancestral homes in Dundee, Angus and Fife. Alex is also a Cats supporter so he will be feeling miserable too. Oh well there is always next year.

Warm welcome at St Boswell

Lyn, Anne, Jeanie and I outside Anne's house in St Boswell. Anne was a wonderful host and great cooked. While Lyn and I slaved away at New Register House, Anne prepared wonderful evening meals. Anne also had the Gin and Tonic ready when we walked in the door. What a host!

Sunshine in Edinburgh

We met up with Lyn’s sister Barb and husband David in Edinburgh for a coffee and chat. Barb and David had been to a wedding in Italy and called into Scotland to visit old friends who they hadn’t seem for 18 years.

Spot the Aussie

Yesterday we did the tourist trail in York. Lyn made use of the hop on and off tourist bus and I enjoyed walking around the narrow lanes especially the Shambles area. This is a photo of an exhibition inside the "Minster". Lyn and I spent hours inside but neither of us went up into the tour. The crypts under the church was enough excitement for me.

From 3 corners of the globe

On Sunday afternoon I was fortunate to be taken on a tour of ancestral homes, churchyards and villages by a distant relative who lives in the York area. It was great also to meet Doug from America who just happened to be in York at the same time. We had a lovely few days swapping stories and sorting out family trees.

Lunch in Hoxne

Suzie, Lyn and I having lunch at The Black Swan in Hoxne. We had worked up an appetite after spending the morning in the Suffolk Records Office and then walking around the Churchyard looking for Websdale burials.

Special treatment in Harwich

Lyn looking at rate books at the Guildhall in Harwich. The room was used as a holding cell before transportation of prisoners, several of them left graffiti on the wall depicting their fate.... either the hangman or a long voyage on a ship.

Our Maidstone Hosts

Sandy and Tony Farnham of Catnapcorner B&B were our hosts while we explored the Kent area. The accommodation was great and they made us feel very welcome. It was walking distance from the city. The staff at the library was especially helpful and went out of their way to help locate some rural properties.

Maidstone Family History Meeting

Lyn and I attended the Maidstone Family History meeting held on September 9th. Carol and Doreen made us feel very welcome. The guest speaker spoke on Army records and we had wished we had heard his talk before we had visited TNA.

Back to Bredgar

At the Bredgar churchyard with the grave of George Jenner who was buried on 24th February 1851. George Jenner was my 4xgreat grandfather, he and his family are listed in the 1841 census. George’s occupation is wheelwright.

Key to the door

We collected our hire car and then headed out into the Kent countryside to visit several churches and churchyards.

I have been looked forward to this day for many years and one of the highlights was when I was given the key to the door of the Borden church to have a look inside. I had several ancestors baptised at this church.

The Railway Hotel

Saturday saw Lyn and I held up in the Railway Hotel at Kew Gardens Village waiting for our friend Jacinta. Jacinta comes from St Arnaud and now lives and works in London as a Nanny. We seemed to have mixed up the meeting place so we spent several hours inside the Hotel sheltering from the rain while we waited. We ended up having a very late lunch and then walked down to the Kew Gardens where we wondered around for several hours.

Last day at TNA

We have been at the National Archives since Wednesday and have put in some long hours researching. Yesterday was a big day; we finished at 6pm not bad seeing we arrived at 9am. Couldn't quite make the 7pm closing. We have managed with the changes at TNA since we were here 2 years ago.

On our first morning we got ourselves settled in the reading room and ready to order up some documents when the fire alarm went off. It bought back memories of our time in SLC when there was a fire in the hotel we were staying in. Luckily this was just a drill and after standing around outside for about 30 mins we were allowed back in to seats after the security staff were in place.

Countdown 3 more sleeps

Lyn and I are in the final stages of packing and checking lists. We leave Mildura on Sunday and fly out on Monday. I leave at 6am and Lyn leaves 12pm. I have an overnight stop in Japan and Lyn fly directly to London. Hopefully we will arrive within a couple of hours of one another. Lyn has been having nightmares about me missing flights and leaving her high and dry at Heathrow with luggage, a hire car and accommodation booked. With a bit of luck the next posting will be from London with both of us tucked up safely at our B&B in Kew. Lyn and I will keep you upto date with our travels around UK repositories, churchyards and Irish Pubs. We look forward to your polite comments on our genie travels.