General Chat

As a relatively new user to these boards I came across a thread about things we remember from our childhood, but it appears to have diluted into a general converation topic.The original topic fits in with another topic I posted on another genealogy site I use ( I use ancestry, rootschat and genes to help me with my research) about remembering/recording your life history/memories. I have spent the last two years doing my family tree and am quite sad/disappointed that I know lots of names in my family ancestral tree, but know nothing about their lives. My family is a bit disjointed - not much communication and my grandparents generation deceased. Lots of people on here are noting their memories of thngs from their childhood, but do you record them for yourselves and your children? I want my children/grandchildren to know about my life memories (hopefully they'll ask before I've lost my marbles!!! and I can tell them- even more worrying is that I hope they'll be interested enough to ask at all!!). Anyway, while I was having these thoughts and thinking of ways to record this info for posterity/future generations, I did the inevitable internet search for something that would make it easier so I wouldn't have to keep scrap books with photographs glued inside. I am already subscribed to Ancestry who have the ability to record stories but i didn't know where to start - a marriage, a death, a family story/myth? Then I found www.yournutshell.com - It's a site that gives you a structure to start with, such as first school, best friends, first pet etc. which I found easier. I regularly grill my parents at times about their family history, unfortunately my grandparents are dead, and sometimes I feel really guilty because our visits are taken up with me trying to find out about the past, my history, where I came from. Anyway, I thought I'd mention this site because it has some good qualities about recording life memories - there's other stuff on there as well about writing your wishes and money stuff but the life thing when used alongside the genealogy stuff could be really good, maybe not for our generation, but the next generation of genealogists - our grandchildren. Good for me only in that it can be cathartic (is that the right spelling?) to write stuff down, but certainly information for my sons and hopefully their children about my life and why things happened. My dad is quite private about his past, doesn't give away much (with good reason) so I've given a Nutshell to my parents in the hope that they go down memory lane and complete sections of it without me having to be there grilling them - it may be easier for them to record stuff when I'm not there asking why? what happened? who? But if they want they cn make it available to me, now or when the inevitable happens and they've gone.
Anyway, abit of a random thread, but having come across the original one about remembering childhood stuff, thought it may be relevant. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention other websites, etc. and may get told off - I'll wait and see!

Hi Nadine - you new? Welcome if you are. You can mention anything you like as long as it's not too naughty. I started two threads of Childhood Memories and they were excellent [if I say so myself] I have recorded some of my life as a child and also my father's life as a child - both on the thread. Would you like me to dig the threads up for you?

Ann XXX

just thought - if you are new you've excelled yourself - that's one of the longest postings I've seen on here in a while - well done you!!!

Hello Nadine......what an interesting post.....

I have often thought about doing it, but get sidetracked......and I am a bit long-winded so get easily diverted onto another tack....

My Great Uncle wrote a privately published book about his time as a young out of work miner, travelling to Australia to work, his experiences, and coming back to Scotland.......so interesting, and made me want to do it.......but as I said, I get sidetracked....

hello Nadine

interesting thread , thank you,

I am a good way through writing, a sort of book about my dads life, i started it after he died, i had a huge need to put down all i knew about him, and things that were special to me, and my daughters, about his life in the navy, then with british rail, i wanted in years to come, our family to know what a special, and strong man he was and how he shaped mine and hopefully there lives,

I also have written a huge amount about my life, it doesnt make pleasant reading, as i had an awful relationship with my mother, for me, putting it on paper was very theraputic, but the same as dad, one day years from now, others will read them and know of the sort of lives we lead

My daughters know how strongly i feel about these " books " being passed down in years to come and have promised to make sure my wishes will be kept,

Better get them up to date i suppose, they have been on a back burner for a while lol

xxLynnxx

Oh Nadine, how wonderful to do what you are doing. It might be pride with me but I really want my children to know as much as possible about me, as with my ancestors I have delved into their lives with much longing to know exactly how they felt.

I began writing last year my childhood and have scanned in pictures of things like my first pair of shoes, my first curls, and all the things my mum kept when I was a child. And I am writing how I felt at different ages. I think we who are born in this age are so blessed with PC´s dig photography etc. I will give DVD copies to my children with my history on which they can pass on to their children.

For last Christmas I completed a "book" of one line of my tree going back to 1300. As I didn´t have photos obviously, I instead included the social and political scene at the time. My children were really surprised to find out that way back their ancestor was writing down what weapons he had to go to war against France with King Henry VIII. I included photos from the net of similar weapons and my children were amazed to know that great......granda had a 8 ft polearm with a hook on it to pull the enemy off their horses and a helmet with a clacky visor!

Yes Nadine, write as much as you can about your relatives, it´s amazing what comes out just with abit of encouragement. I thought I´d learnt just about everything from my very helpful elderly aunt, when suddenly she came out with "yes Aunt Lizzy was as batty as a fruitcake she never took the tea cosy off her head"! .

By the way I just do all my writing in a word document, and insert photos as I go along. Very easy and fast to do. But I do backup onto a rewrite disc every time I sign off. I also print off a complete hard copy when I´m finished "the book".

We are making history right now, Living History, let´s make sure we record it for the future.

Keep up the good work Nadine

Hi Nadine,
I have been told to write my life experiences down - but haven't yet.
However, when my gran died, we found lots of love letters between her and my grandad, circa 1924/25, which I spent 2 years typing up -including spelling mistakes. How grandad could find sooo many ways to spell Wednesday defeats me!! LOL
Discs have been sent to relevant relations - whether they wanted them or not!!!

Also have some details on my late dad's life via an article written about his life, which I need to add to.

maggie

Excellent thread what a pity I didnt think these things were important earlier my in life Its only of recent years that I have tracked Family history and realise how important it is that we write down for future generations
I have begun but memory isnt as good now as it would have been !
margaret

I've talked alot about my early life to my only grandchild and hope he remembers at least some of it. I really ought to make a written record too.

The year that my Mum died I felt that I wanted to show young one the places that she had known and loved. We went to stay in a B&B in Wales in the next village to where she had been born and we visited the beautiful beaches which she, ..and later we loved. Although we had lost her it seemed a way of remembering her in a special way. He loved it and we often talk about our stay there.

Gwyn

Gwyn, that was a lovely thing to do. I am sure your grandson will remember those things you did and talk about.
I can't wait to go to see my Dad's cousin in Banbury, she is 88 and still remembers so much about the family that I never knew.
The other day she mentioned that her Dad used to say she was like her Aunty Flo, who always took a long time to get ready. Oh says I, that must have been Flora, getting the name from the list of my Grandfather's siblings. Dad's cousin didn't know Aunty Flo was a Flora, and tomorrow I will phone her and tell her I have been in contact with Flora's granddaughter through this site. I am hoping the lady will pm me back again with answers to the questions I asked and be pleased with the information I sent her. That part of the family is filling out nicely lol

Another cousin on my Mum's side is writing a book for her children about her life, but I am not sure I will ever get to see it, she is a bit of a secretive and private person.

I keep saying I must write my own story, before the mists of time blot half of it out, so will have a look at the nutshell site Nadine, thanks for the info. and welcome to the boards too.
Lizx

As many will know on here I have written my life story. I have posted it on the boards Nadine, it is still on here. If you put 'my Life story' into the thread search it will find them for you. I was going to delete them today but will leave until tomorrow in case you want to see them.

Ann
Glos

Hi everyone,

I'm not new to genes, i have a tree on here, just new to the boards - I don't normally use them. It's good to know so many people are thinking the same way as me.
Ann (of green gable), yes sorry it was a bit of a long post wasn't it - got carried away! It's done the job though, if people are thinking about recording their life memories, then hopefully our future generations will have less trouble than us finding out about their families.
Chica, your book sounds brill - well done! It's learning about what was going on at the time that helps us understand our ancestors. I'm still trying to work out why my realtively well off ancestors who owned butchers shops etc. decided to up sticks and work in the welsh coal mines. Ann (in Glos) I'll have a peek today.
Gwyn, yes I'm sure your grandchild will remember those things you did, but write it down. Wouldn't it be lovely in years to come for your grandchild to be able to pull out a book/insert a disc and be able to read your memories too?
Lets all get writing - ohh carried away again.

Thanks everyone,

Ann in Glos, I've had a read of your life story and sent you a message directly.
Thanks