Genealogy Chat

Hi folks, Having read all your comments, I feel so much better about the state of my house, but dead people are far more interesting than dust!! I've been at it for almost 19 years, but the buzz at finding out that new snippet is still as strong as ever. My mother was an Abel, so guess you could say I'm already back to Adam & Eve, - but there's an awful lot of people in the middle I don't know about, so will keep on searching. Jay

Hi Carole, I agree with all the other replies, genealogy is addictive and neverending, I've been at it 25 yrs, including 9 years tracking my fathers elder brothers (does that sound right?) military service before WW1 and through to his death in march 1918 spring offensive. Since joining Genes, I've been contacted by 7 cousins of varying closeness and have added much peripheral information, including my maternal 5xGGF's marriage I'd been trying to find for that 25 yrs, amzing what!! Think of it this way, as you get older (and I am) an interest like this keeps your brain active, better than any NHS can provide!! Keep at it...Regards, Ralph

I have worked on a lot of branches in my tree, who aren't directly connected only through marriage say, but it's surprising how much info you can glean, when a niece or whatever pops up with your name, it helps to piece things together, so if you keep branching out it is never ending. Carole xx

If you come to a standstill there`s always someone else to find-I just love doing my tree. Rosalyn

I'm never quite sure what people mean when they say they have ''finished'' their tree?? Maybe got back to Adam and Eve, so there's no one before that??!! (Someone said if God made Adam and Eve, how come they have belly buttons?? Hmmm maybe have to get their birth certs after all??) If every one of lines has terminated with a John Smith of ''somewhere in the world'', you can then spend time finding more out about individuals or do some ''working forwards'' on ''brothers and sisters of your ancestors'' lines. There is no end..........Aaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhhh!! Merry (going to get dressed now lol!)

I don't think it ever stops, you just get highs and lows of enthusiasim now and again. You won't ever have a clean and tidy house again - but who cares anyway? We are just off out for Sunday lunch, but I had to have a quick ten minutes on the computer to scan the boards and to order one more death certificate. Hubby is waiting - not very patiently - for me to switch off. Kath. x

The trouble is I don't get anything else done. The place is a tip, no clean mugs cos they're all at the side of the puter with me, I really must wash up........ as soon as I've found John Smith from Notts!

Well, looked at logically, there never can be an end, can there, because everyone must have had parents and therefore there is always someone else to be found. (Unless, of course, as is occasionally claimed, you have got back to Adam and Eve!). So I suppose it stops when you get fed up. But this is addictive. And the nature of addiction is that you never do get fed up, you just want more and more. Perhaps there should be a government warning on the home page of every genealogical site/book/software box. 'WARNING - GENEALOGY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR WEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS, SLEEP PATTERNS, ABILITY TO THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE'. Ho hum - do we care? Tina

That's a good question. When do you decide you have done enough? How do you know you are never going find out more, and what happens then? Given the time applied and addictive nature of the hobby, where do you direct your thirst next? Mildly concerned of West Yorkshire.

My other half asked me last night when this Family Nonsense!! will end. I said 'ermmm I don't think it will dear'. He thinks I should have found everyone by now ( after 2 years!) bless him, he's no idea, I'm sure he thinks I'm having an affair, well I spose it is an affair really with dead people! Carole