Lilian's Tree

Friday dawned cool and cloudy and after breakfast Jennie Fairs, Sylvia Valentine and I wandered over to the NEC, Birmingham. A small crowd was there so we joined the queue. It was lovely to chat with those waiting and people were surprised that we had come so far. As my first talk was at 11.30, I caught up with friends, collected hugs and ribbons and gave out the gifts.  They were tea cosies and scarfs. Nathan Dylan Goodwin, talking on how he writes his Morton Farrier, series. Very interesting and useful. Alison Spring, was my next talk on Finding Scottish Ancestors, before 1855.  As this was my time period,  I found it helpful and it also re-enforced that I was on the right track. Lisa Louise Cooke, gave a fabulous talk on Time Travel with Google Earth. I had missed her speak at Congress 2018, so was thrilled to hear this talk. During the talks, it sounded like there was a large number of people talking. No it was very heavy rain and Jennie and I c...

Another 4.30am start to the day but after the end of the first session, I went back to bed for two hours! It was cool, and dark at 4.30am but now there is a lovely breeze and the temperature is 28C, at 11.30am.                                             What 4.30am, looks like. Audrey Collins works for The National Archives, in England and is a friend, so it was only fitting that I watch her session on 'Civil Registration Indexes of England and Wales.'  Having English ancestors this talk was very helpful in how to search the indexes and explained how they were organised. She also mentioned a website, UKBDM, https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/ that I hadn't heard about and am now going to 'play' around on it. It was a really good presentation and I now have a better understanding of the indexes.                      ...