Blogging Awards & Some Thoughts

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Julie Goucher

In the last week there has been numerous posts about awards and the value of them. You can read a really good discussion at Finding Eliza with a link to an article called Blogging Awards & SEO & a further posts and comments over at Family History Across the Seas hosted by Pauline, along with a post at Australian Ancestral Journeys

It became clear that many of the genealogical bloggers appreciate the gesture of receiving the award, but feel uncomfortable of the forwarding of it. Feeling, that it singles out fellow bloggers, in addition to the SEO.

I have to say I agree. There are lots of blogs that I visit and comment on, and whilst I am very grateful that others feel that my blog is worthy of an award, and that people read my posts and leave comments. I do not like passing them on.

Several times last year I wrote a post saying that I had been awarded an award and then linking to the main page of the awarder – much in the same way as I have linked to Pauline in this post, and the way that I often to link to other bloggers when I write posts, as a courtesy and acknowledgement.  I then went onto to say this –

“I follow a tremendous number of blogs and many of them are versatile. I have therefore decided not to pass along the award, but to make a further loan $25 to the Kiva Project that I have mentioned several times on this blog. I am a member of the Genealogists for Families Team“

Therefore I have decided that should I be nominated for a blog I shall no longer forward it on. Nor will I be awarding any awards.  Instead I shall

  1. Use it as an opportunity to undertake something of lasting value by making a loan to KIVA via the Genealogists for Families Team 
  2. Create a page for blogs that I follow regularly and enjoy.

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Who was Emmi?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Julie Goucher

I was recently reading a post by Sally at Books and Musings from Down Under when I was prompted to ponder on the background of my late Great Aunt.

The link was quite simply the name of a central character in a book that had been reviewed HERE. The name, which was Emmi reminded me that was the name of my Aunt, she was according to my Grandmother German and had married my Uncle following the Second World War. The only other details I had was that Emmi already had a daughter from presumably her first marriage or relationship.
No other details were shared with me and to be honest I had not really thought of it for a few years. So having read the review I pondered on 
  1. Whether Emmi was German or Austrian. In the book, which incidentally I have not read, Emmi was Austrian.
  2. How did they meet?
  3. When did they meet? – (during the Second World War is the only time line I have)
  4. Emmi’s surname  – birth and following her first marriage (making a slight assumption here!) – No record of a marriage is recorded in England.
  5. How was Emmi received in the family? –  At this I can only guess as there is no one left to ask. 
My Grandmother was always fairly jovial and she simply said things as she thought them.  I recall once when she was in hospital the Doctor came to do his rounds. He had an obvious accent and of course the question had to be asked by Grandmother where, was he from? The response was Germany. At which point there was a humph, and a pause before the response of, I have a German sister in law, she is a souvenir from the war you know.
At which point I wanted to simply vanish into the ground. The doctor sat on the edge of the bed and asked where in Germany. At which point my Grandmother said, she had no idea. No one had ever asked, as everyone didn’t want to rake up old upsetting feelings from the war years. The conversation continued a while and my Grandmother said that she would see if Emmi visited and if she did she would ask, but the important thing was they (meaning my Aunt and Uncle) seemed happy and that was the important thing.
As luck would have it a few days later during another visit, my Aunt arrived, she had heard via my other Aunt, who lived down the road that Gran was in hospital and so came to visit. She had just sat down, asked all the usual hospital questions when the same doctor arrived. My Grandmother introduced them to each other and then they were off, talking in German. They chatted for a while then he asked us to leave while he spoke to my Grandmother. He probably asked where she was from and how long she lived in England. Aunt never mentioned the conversation and I never saw the doctor again. As I can not understand German I shall never know the contents of the conversation.
So the question still remains, Who was Emmi?
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100 Word Challenge – Week 73

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Julie Goucher

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following prompt. Total word allowance – 105

…the notes from the piano…
The hotel was set in lovely grounds, and had the most beautiful gardens.  They were fortunate to have a room which gave them access via patio doors to the gardens. They locked their room and left via the patio doors. 
They walked around the pond, observing the lily pads and enjoying the evening breeze. There were some beautiful Azalea bushes displaying the most vibrant pink and purple flowers.  
In the distance they could hear the notes from the piano being played in the restaurant. They wandered up to the restaurant and were looking forward to a romantic dinner together.
It was a celebration. Happy Anniversary!
Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #73
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Family History Writing Challenge 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Julie Goucher

Well the news is just out, that The Armchair Genealogist is launching a repeat of the Family History Writing Challenge. Are you going to take part?

The link above gives the details for the challenge, including how to sign up. Personally I am signing up to 250 words a day, which means that I should get a minimum of 7,000 words for the month, although I usually achieve more.

I am planning to use the month to explore what I know and would like to know about certain ancestors. So I can build a set of 28 chapters for a project I want to explore. This is the third year I have taken part and the best advice I can offer any fellow genealogical blogger is to plan.

Family History Writing Challenge
Image courtsey of
The Armchair Genealogist

  To sign up click HERE

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Sunday Salon Check In!

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Julie Goucher

Hello, what a week it has been.  I failed miserably at visiting the library and leaving with no books. I left with another 3 books, which were

Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs has been on my wish list for sometime. I spotted it and picked it up fairly quickly.

Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson.  Nigella is almost an old friend. Just before Christmas I watched the final 20 minutes or so of her Christmas programme and knew that I wanted the book. It is a whopper, with a whopper price – £25. It oozes loveliness and it followed me home from the library. Not a brilliant move, as it was a fairly heavy book to carry, but having had a look through it was worth the weight! This book will be the subject of a few Weekend Cooking posts I am sure.

Gluten Free for Dummies is a book, in preparation for me. We are wondering if there is a Gluten problem with hubby, so doing a little bit of reading in advance. Over the years I have had various patients with Gluten issues, but when its your own family it takes a different slant.

Then when I got home there were 3 books ready for reviews. I was so excited, I then immediately felt stressed at which one to read first!
The Gray Ghost Murders: A Novel by Keith…The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society: A…Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer…

Then last week I realised that I had missed one of the challenges that I had decided to participate in, War Through the Generations, which is featuring the American Revolution. You can read my vow and link on to the challenge page HERE

Yesterday I was made aware of The Progressive Book Club: A unique blog hop that’s an online book club and meets virtually on the third Wednesday of every month. This is hosted by M L Swift and looks promising, I immediately sign up! The first meet is on Wednesday, so it’s likely to feature in the Sunday Salon for next week.

Finally, for those who are book lovers and down under, I was alerted this morning to a book hop to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January. You can sign up HERE and can read more about it HERE.
AustraliaDaybloghop

That’s it for this week. Until next time….

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War Through the Generations Challenge

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Julie Goucher
washington button

For 2013 The War through the Generations reading challenge is focusing on the American Revolution. You can read about the challenge and sign up HERE.

This year I am signing up as a Wade participant, meaning that I plan to read between 4-10 books featuring this period of American history. Also you add into the mix one or two films instead of books.

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13 Challenges of 2013

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Julie Goucher

Now, as readers of this blog will know, I like a challenge, so when I read this one over at Julia’s Place I knew that I would probably take part. Julia is suitably inspired by her friend Lisa.

Here is the plan in Lisa’s own words

‘Each challenge must be visited, photographed (where possible) & posted 13 times in the year. It does not have to be every day, every week or every month; but over the course of the year the 13 parts of the 13 challenges must be complete.’

  • Challenge 1 – Read 13 different books
  • Challenge 2 – Visit 13 different places
  • Challenge 3 – Visit 13 Museums and National Trust properties
  • Challenge 4 – Explore 13 different ancestors 
  • Challenge 5 – Walk Alfie (our Border Terrier) at 13 different venues
  • Challenge 6 – Recycle 13 different things no longer needed
  • Challenge 7 – Watch 13 different films (no repeat watches allowed)
  • Challenge 8 – Listen to 13 different unknown music artists or new albums
  • Challenge 9 – Write 13 letters that involve stamps and envelopes!
  • Challenge 10 – Cook 13 different recipes 
  • Challenge 11 – Visit 13 different eating venues
  • Challenge 12 – Take part in 13 group book reads 
  • Challenge 13 – Cull my book case by 13 books

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Weekend Cooking – Recipe Journals Part Two

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Julie Goucher

After last week’s post I had several comments via comments or email about me disposing of my old journal. Just to reassure, I am firmly keeping it. I just plan to move to a new journal.

I had planned to spend a few hours looking at another suitable book. Well, I got distracted by my other two recipe files, and thought I might share those with you today before we move to the new set up next week.

They both contain A4 recipe sheets from either magazines or photocopies from books. The first one contained the printed sheets that I was given in 1984 when I was doing my cookery O level in senior school. Each page has been dated and has the grade I was given. If you look carefully you can read 15 Nov 1984 Grade B. I wonder what happened to the teacher, who incidentally was called Mrs Walker?

A recipe from Mum which is handwritten and the relates to the Christmas Pudding recipe we still use.

The second file is again oversize recipes, mainly the sort you pick up from the supermarket as complimentary recipes.

Of course having kept some of these sheets for years. There are also some smaller ones that date to 1978! Unless I am looking for something specific I have no way of knowing just what recipe I have within those files. I think I should index them into Excel and then add a sheet to each file. Another job for a rainy day and we are getting plenty of those!

Weekend Cooking is hosted by BethFishReads
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Sepia Saturday – 159

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Julie Goucher

In my family archives we have some great photos of days at the beach. Here are just a few of them.

Taken circa 1955 at Brighton Sussex. This is my Grandfather George with Mum who has a rather determined look on her face!

Here is a slightly earlier photo. This one is taken we think at Southend where my Grandfather’s sister Gladys lived with her family. This photo was taken in 1949 and has both my Grandparents in it.


Taking part in Sepia Saturday

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Blog the Year Award 2012

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Julie Goucher
Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpeg
I was really delighted to see that I had been nominated for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award by Pauline from Family History Across the Seas.
The biggest reward I get from writing the Anglers Rest blog is that people read my posts, comment, and subscribe and/or follow it. 
The amount of team work and friendships that have evolved is wonderful and is a testament to the wonders of the Internet. If we didn’t have the Internet, blogging as it stands would not exist and the friends we make and the projects we can involve ourselves in would be unknown to us. It has to be the most amazing invention of the 20th Century.
With those thoughts in mind. I am nominating the following bloggers for this award.
  • Judy Webster, absolutely deserves this award. Judy’s project of the Genealogists for Families Team is such an inspiration of sharing, kindness and team work. 
  • Allin at Australian Genealogical Journey’s – I love Allin’s motivational Monday posts and as I read them every week usually with a pen in hand to jot down any thoughts that come to me!
  • Alona at Gould Genealogy & History News – Alona was the host behind the A-Z Family History Writing Challenge which ran last year. I still have a few draft posts to complete and then plan to post them.
  • Frances of Rebel Hand – Frances posts are always full of interesting facts and is the author of Rebel Hand, Nicholas Delaney 1798
  • Kristin, of Finding Eliza – For being such a supporter and commenter of Anglers Rest and for writing such fascinating and well researched posts.

THE RULES

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

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