Well we are nearing the end of January, it has been a terrible time in Australia with the bushfires, loss of homes, businesses, history, wildlife and life. It is a tale we will be telling for a long time, I would encourage those of you affected in these areas to take the time to write about your experiences, not only for the benefit of dealing with it, but as a living history for the future. Moment/s recorded for the future. Even if you were not directly affected, take some time to write about the sky that was just smoke and no blue for weeks, what you saw on television, how it impacted you - these are the tales that we should pass down to our children, grandchildren....years gone by we would have had a bard compose a song about it!
https://img.rasset.ie/00134669-800.jpg
As we begin this week it is new beginnings for our family...our youngest embarks on the first year of high school. For us our last child to begin this journey. I know that as a parent I certainly have reflected a lot over these holidays on what that means to me, to the family and how my journey in life now enters a new phase.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could just slow that clock down for a little while. On the upside, it should give me more blogging time and research time!
This year will see us embark on one of my bucket list adventures when we head to Norfolk Island to visit the place where 3 of my great grandmothers were born. It will also allow us to relax and enjoy a simple life for two weeks!
https://www.norfolkisland.com.au/
In September, Newcastle Family History Society Inc. and Maitland and Beyond Family History Inc.will host the 36th Annual Conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies from 11-13 September 2020 at WESTS New Lambton Newcastle NSW. To keep up to date with what is going on go to the website https://ridingthewavesofhistory.com.au/ and subscribe to the Newsletter. There are a lot of interesting speakers planned on a variety of topics! Places will be limited so be ready to register and pay!!
It is exciting for me as after going to a number of conferences over the past few years, this time I am involved in organising it.
I am lucky that last year I attended a talk organised by Newcastle Family History Society, joined up on the night and have been welcomed by everyone there. It is lovely to belong to somewhere that you feel valued.
Finally, I want to note that it is my mother's 80th birthday today, not that she looks or acts like it, people are a bit surprised when she tells them her age. Born in 1940 she has lived through World War II (doesn't remember it of course), saw the moon landing, our currency change, phones change from operator assisted calls all the way through to iphones. She doesn't totally embrace technology but she knows how to facetime and use a mobile phone. She is fascinated with google maps and is willing to try to learn how to use it and a few other features of her ipad.
She was a stay at home mum and always had the washing up done and dinner on the table. Got up before my father to make his breakfast and then to see him off to work, before getting us up and ready for school. She did all the washing, ironing and putting away. She made our beds and was there for us. We have a great relationship, we talk, go shopping and are at the other end of the phone for each other. She is a great Grandma to the grandchildren.
She is an amazing woman. Always there for others. In recent years she has become more interested in family history than she was (mainly because I've been able to research her lines and it was information she had not know).
Happy 80th Mum!
