Escapology

A cunning plan has been executed. Wednesday morning two little boys called down from the bannisters above, "Hello Mummy!" Two little boys whose last known whereabouts was tucked up in their beds in the cosy little room they share above my sister's garage. Two little boys, who at thirty and fourteen months of age, aren't supposed to be able to get themselves up in the morning and casually make their way down to join their Mummy and elder siblings. The looks of delight on their little faces made it clear they knew this, and were quite proud of their achievement.

But how did they escape? They weren't talking. One can't anyway. The elder and probably chief conspirator would only say of baby Jacob's escape, "Goggy fell off". When asked how he, Andrew, got out of his crib, the answer was "I don't know." I think Andrew reached through Jacob's bars and hefted the little guy up over the side of the crib and he tumbled down onto something soft, namely Andrew. Andrew's route to freedom is more of a puzzle. Yesterday morning, they were retrieved by my sister. Jacob had caught his leg between the bars of his crib (another escape attempt gone wrong?) and as my sister held him to sooth his, albeit mild, distress, Andrew got anxious and demanded, "My turn to get up!" No way was he going to climb out and reveal his tactics.

Bruges

I've been to Belgium this weekend. Beautiful weather, hot frites, delicious ice cream and great company. The main square was throned with people enjoying blue skies and the kind of wonderfully ornate buildings we just don't have on this side of le channel.

It was about 24 years ago in this place that I discovered people in the know ate their fries with mayonnaise. Even as a kid I was obsessed with good food. I've never looked back.

Wet weekend in Wales

I spent May bank holiday weekend in southern Wales. We spent the night in Cardiff, dodging stag parties, hoards of Englishmen in silly outfits, I was so proud.

We collected our car in the morning. A visit to Cardiff Bay was literally a wash out, but by the time we got to Swansea the rain had stopped and it was clear when we got to the Gower Peninsula. We nearly got blown off the cliffs by the gusts of wind. We had dinner in Tenby and spent the night in a place called Manorbier.

In the morning we went exploring the beach below the hotel. I love climbing over rocks and dodging the tide.
We drove along the Pembrokeshire coast and stopped at St Govan's Chapel. The we headed north through Pembroke and on to St. David's. The catherdral is purple. Seriously, it's built of purple stone, I've never seen anything like it.

After two days on the coast we turned inland to head to the Brecon Becons. We stayed the last night in a hostel in the middle of nowhere, on top of a Welsh mountain. In the morning, we had breakfast at a Welsh farmhouse and I chatted to the farmer about the age of the various parts of the house. I'm never off duty!

Later, we trekked for what seemed like hours to see a series of waterfalls. It was a wet day to begin with. We tried to dodge the mud and puddles, but nearly came home with a case of fin rot. It was worth the effort though.

After three days of driving, it felt strange to be back on foot on Tuesday. And I miss eating Welsh lamb burgers.

The holidays are comin', the holidays are comin'.....

I'm heading back to Wales, but this time on my 'olidays. Haven't these past two weekends been holidays??? Well, um, no, actually. Although I did take much of Friday off to check out a couple of real beauties, no not the Middleton sisters but some old WWII clunkers, see below. Yeah, I'm now completely obsessed with WWII aircraft and planning to attend the airshow at Biggleswade August Bank Holiday. But back to this month. So we made all our arrangements yesterday. We are off to Wales, collecting a car in Cardiff and heading north to take in the Western coast and the national park at Snowdownia. My friend wants to climb Mount Snowdon. Yep, good luck, I'll be doing a drop off and heading somewhere a little flatter that day. Mountains are ok, but rugged coastline is more my thing and if I'm going to plunge to my death, I at least want to hear a terrific splashing sound before I meet my maker. Not that I have the nuts to go that close to the edge. But anyway, am looking forward to some time by the sea and my ever beach-ready bod is dying to dive into the freezing waves. Woooooo-hoooooooooo

Royal Wedding Day

I wasn't looking forward to the royal wedding this past weekend. I didn't mind it in theory, but having it rammed down your throat by our imagination-free media has been something of a problem the past six months. I had planned to give the whole thing a skip and bury myself in work. No chance.
A persuasive friend hauled me into London for the day. So if you can't beat them, join them, but then beat them all to a good spot! Once there, I was determined we were going to have a decent view of something. I elbowed my way through the crowds and found us a high wall on Whitehall with a great view of the action. See the X on the map below, above the label Number 5.

This is the point all the cars en route to the Abbey turned on to Whitehall, and we had a nice glimpse of the bride on her way. On the return journey we could see the carriage with the couple coming all the way up Whitehall and then turn back into Horseguards. Again, the bride was on our side, I gotta say it was pretty cool. We also had a laugh as we were some of the first to see the escaped horse!

However, definitely the highlight of the day was the flypast. We had gone back up to Trafalgar Sq to see the whole gang do the balcony appearance. They announced there would be a fly past by a Lancaster WWII bomber. They showed footage from the cockpit but I didn't realise the route would pass over us. Then we heard the most wonderful chuddering mechanical whirr, looked back over our shoulders to the skies over St Martins in the Fields, and suddenly the aircraft appeared, a Lancaster flanked by the lithe forms of a Spitfire and a Hurricane. They passed immediately over our heads and were so close, not more than 200-300 feet above us.

I have to admit for the first time all day, I felt a bit emotional. Show me a happy, beautiful young couple in love and I'm like yeah, whatever. Show me something old and I'm all a-titter.

Anouncing my radio debut...

Well, my research's radio debut that is. BBC Radio 4's family history programme (which ran for several episodes last fall... perhaps you caught some of them) did a special on-off on the census on Saturday. 2011 is census year here in Britain and TYR wanted to research the history of a street (Fox Lane in Leyland, Lancashire) using the old census records that are now available to the public and share that information with current residents of the same properties. This is where I came in, digging through the old census returns, trying to piece together the stories of some of these families. I even found the descendants of one family of occupants from 1901 and they were brought along to meet the current residents, who were floored. Having researched the families, and found the living relatives through records, it was fun to then hear their voices, especially as they talked about and described their ancestor who they remembered from childhood. Have a listen: Tracing Your Roots

I've just been doing some editing on a piece for the magazine. Sort of like those script doctors they bring in to help fix a movie script that's not really ready to shoot. This was a story from a reader about Irish family that emigrated to the United States and fought in the Civil War and also the Spanish American War. At WHO live last weekend we talked about it and I said I'd see if I could do something with it. It then dawned on me that this April is the 150th anniversary of the siege of Fort Sumter and the beginning of the war. What a great coincidence! So with that in mind I've been researching the Civil War and associated records for the last week. I don't usually get too sentimental about the States, but reading the other day about the secession of South Carolina literally sent chills down my spine. We have at least four Union soldiers in our own family: Silas Brown (Maine 8th Infantry), Charles Henry Patterson (Wisconsin 30th Infantry), Cornelius Bovee (Wisconsin 1st Infantry) and Michael Joseph O'Brien (prob. one of the Mass infantry regiments). I know one deserted and nother came home half starved. No "rebs" in our family, as far as I know, although that would certainly make things a lot more colourful! Anway, it's been nice to focus on a bit of American history for a change.

Also did some research that may be used for a radio programme. If it comes off, I'll post a link so everyone have a listen.

WHO live

A year ago I endured the scariest plane ride I've ever had to get to London for the Who Do You Think You Are Live show. It may sound a bit corny, but it changed my life. I met Nick Barratt, went back to NYC, quit my job and turned my life upside down. It was a good move.

A year later I was back, working the other side of the tables. For those of us in the genealogy world, this show is like the mothership. And as a freelance researcher and writer, I work independently and this was a chance to see people I know, meet others and just spend some time chatting and sharing ideas. I spent three days at the stand for Your Family History, the magazine I contribute to, and two days I did some one to one "Ask the Expert" advise sessions. I had resisted volunteering for these - I was intimidated by the "expert" label, and last year had actually signed up for one as the person who needed advise - which is how I met my friend Matt. But some persistent encouragement from friends made me cave. It went really well and I sent several people away with ideas to follow up.

I finally got to meet several other genealogists I knew by name and their work - shared several laughs and a bit of gossip with William Bortrick, went for a drink with Sara Khan (she researches the UK WDYTYA show), and finally had the chance to get to know our editor Laura Berry quite well over the three days. They're all really cool. We talked ideas and future plans for the magazine and websites, and even managed to find time to sell a whole pile of back issues and sign up a bunch of new readers.

So the show marked a milestone for me, and I guess this past twelve months has been about launching my career in genealogy and research. This is the beginning of phase two. Whatever that turns out to be.

Just arrived home from my first ever trade show. I spent the weekend at the Listed Property Owners Club show. The punters come to peruse the various craftsman, architects, surveyors that offer their services to owners of historic properties, along with various oganisations that promote conservation. I was there with my boss Nick Barratt to promote the house history research that we offer.

I was quite shy at first, but after I'd listened to Nick talk to some people I jumped in and had a go. Like the familysearch booth at Woking last November, once I got going I actually really enjoyed myself. The first day was relatively slow, but today we exceeded our target for book sales (feels great to make a sale - again a first for me!) and we had one couple commission a project on the spot. I'll be doing the research so that's work for me as well.

Saturday night we went to a reception for the Heritage Together group hosted by Project Book. I got to meet other people who do what I do, which is so rare. I work in isolation most of the time, at home or travelling. Last week I bumped into someone I knew at the National Archives and it was so nice to see a familiar and friendly face. So this was a great chance to get to know other researchers and people interested in history and historic buildings. A terrific evening.

I've just been watching an episode of Britain's Best Buildings on Hardwick Hall. That's the house we visited with Jonathan aged 5; he popped out of the car and noticed scaffolding on the west wing, pointed to it and said "Look, an extention". As the programme ended I commented that I wouldn't mind doing the research for a programme like that. And as the credits rolled I spotted that the Archive Researcher credited was Nick Barratt - my boss! So there's a possibility that I will work on a programme like that.

George Baron went to New Zealand, mined a load of gold, got on a ship and promptly sunk. But before that, he was a baker the Bedfordshire village of Shefford. Today I found he bought a house there. Doesn't sound that exciting right, except that all my forebearers were miserably poor and invariably destitute. The fact that one of them could afford to buy a house in the 1850's is frankly an astonishing discovery. Here's his signature.And one of the documents states that his father was Joseph Baron formerly of the parish of Watton in Herts. We didn't know that's where he died. It's another clue to follow up. Look for more conveyances in Watton. The hunt goes on...

Now my Christmas (really more New Years) holidays are over let's look ahead to the coming year. I'll be attending some trade shows, and by attending I mean I'll be behind the desk talking to people and telling them how wonderful my research is! I'll be moving to London. Because let's be honest, it's about bloody time. I have wonderful friends in Luton and of course my lovely Mum. But I spend so much time getting from A to B, it's using up an unacceptable chunk of my life. (although I do read and do work on the train). Ok, I just want to be back in the city, 'nuff said. I'm going to make use of the cheap flights from outer London airports and see some sights. I want to hit Rome and Morocco again. And that's just for a start. It's probably also time I went to Ireland to meet my relatives. 2010 was the year of mass marriage among my friends. In 2011 I don't have to feel bad about not getting another friend a wedding present (I was broke). Although I wish them all joy and lots of fat, happy babies.

So resolutions are to eat more chocolate and swear less. Not to over-analyse and to be more gutsy. I didn't do so bad with the last one in 2010 but there's a long way to go yet. I'm going to work on developing my career - cuz I never had one before and we all love to play with a new toy. I'm working on lining up some NYC friends to come visit here soon, and there's a rumour that Lucy and the two carpet munchers may be paying a visit to the old country. That would rock the house!

I wish you all a great 2011.

Foxy ladies

Stephen dug this picture out to put up in my room in Dallas

Wasn't Mum cute?!

Christmas adventure, part III

I made it to Dallas for Boxing Day and a delayed Christmas. We managed to open half our presents before dinner, after which I conked out (I asked Mum why no one woke me up - we tried several times she countered) so we wound up Christmas am on the 27th. As the much-hyped "Christmas Nazi", I had always tried to ensure that recent Christmases weren't over in a frenzied flash of paper shredding, but even I would never have stretched it out that long. Alas the next day we had to say goodbye to Stephen, but it meant I was the only one left to spoil the rest of the week. Had a lovely time with Mum and Dad. I ate buffalo burgers and deep fried pickles and tons of delicious Mexican food, although I could have popped into old town McKinney's surely authentic English pub for some yummy grub from home. Dad and Mum have been slowly unpacking all the boxes from our house in Saudi Arabia. So there were pieces of my childhoold strewn about the place. In every room I encountered something else - family photographs, children's books, my great-grandfather's Chinese cabinet - that I hadn't seen in well over a decade. It's strange to be reunited with your past.

Am now in Atlanta for a week. Enjoying cuddles with Jacob and flirty smiles (but hands off!) from Andrew. One thing I miss in England is having someone to play games with. Since leaving Dave in NYC, I don't really have an outlet for my insanely competitive streak which has sadly lain dormant, so I took it out on Jonathan in a brutal round of junior monopoly. Play has been delayed due to lack of light, but tomorrow I'll finish him off. Or maybe I'll take pity and let him win. Yeah, not a chance.

Christmas adventure, part II

Greetings from the Minneapolis Airport Hilton! As the snow was finally cleared from Heathrow Airport in London, a snowstorm was wending its way to the Atlanta airport. I could have made it to Atlanta today, but connection to Dallas was cancelled and I wouldn't have arrived there until Monday earliest. So yet another rebooking - the fourth. (Christmas next year will involve a journey of no more than 100 miles!) Christmas night in an airport hotel isnt what I would have chosen for myself, but I had three diazepam's on the plane so I'm in very good spirits! And had a grilled ahi tuna sandwich with honey bacon and wasabi mayonaise for dinner downstairs which beats boring old turkey and sprouts any day.

Tomorrow morning it's on to Dallas at the crack of dawn. Flight on to Atlanta for visit with Lucy & co. has been postponed till New Years Day so I'm not losing any of my vacation time. And later arrival back in the UK. Have just seen the first photos of Christmas at Lucy's in Atlanta. Apparently Jacob is now a cowboy (the pround owner of a plush rocking horse) and Andrew has fallen in love with Toy Story and is carting Woody around all over the house with him.

It's 1am in England and I'm already drifting....

Christmas adventure, part I

So apparently it takes at least seven days to get out of England! My flight to Atlanta on Saturday was cancelled after just one and half hours and three inches of snow. The airport claimed they were working like mad to clear it and get planes flying. We watched out the windows for five hours after it stopped and saw nothing. Nobody was doing anything. BAA is full of crap!

But people are terrific. As we collected our bags a young chap overheard me tell my father that my phone was running out of juice. He offered me his charger, and when my flights bags came onto the carousel he told me to keep it and send back to him at my convenience. So kind! Dad was able to get me rebooked for a Monday morning flight so I headed home. We all packed onto the Heathrow Express. When I got to Paddington the Tube was out of commission so I joined the queue for taxis. Only an hour wait and my driver and I chatted about the history of his cottage in Essex. In the queue I chatted to a family who had been on their way to Shanghai for a wedding planned around their coming out from England - they bought the tickets in February! I began to think I wasn't so hard done by. Luck was definitely on my side, as I made it onto the last Thameslink train from St Pancras back out to Luton that night. I even had a seat!

While so many people slept on the floor at Heathrow I was tucked up warm in my little flat. My bedroom is very cold, so I've pulled out the sofa bed and moved into the living room - watching the 37" flat screen telly from my bed - this isn't pretty nice. The airport is still frozen solid so today's flight was always cancelled. Thankfully they announed it online last night so I was saved the horror of travelling to Heathrow again today. The first available flight was on the 25th, but at least I went to bed last night knowing I could sleep in and I had a new flight arranged. With five days - and not too much more snow forecast - I may just be third time lucky.

I'm in good spirits considering. I just need to keep as busy as possible. I spent much of today at Paddy and Mike's. Now only four days to go.

Christmas starts here

For me Sloane Square means Christmas: Partridges, Holy Trinity, blue trees and sparklers...Christmas starts here.
Had a very successful Christmas shopping expedition this afternoon, and bought myself a present...I'm a sucker for pretty dresses.

My family history magazine article made the cover this month! I'm not just buried in the back pages.

I've made an exciting discovery today. Most of my family were so hopelessly poor they never show up on records other than the parish registers. But working as a researcher for the past five months has introduced me to all kinds of new records, and I'll be darned if I didn't find some family in a place I never would have expected to see them.

I was looking at the tithe map for the Beds village of Whipsnade (Whipsnade is my special place) and found my family listed on the tithe apportionment.

They were occupying cottages marked on the map - to be honest I wouldn't have been surprised to learn they'd been living under a hedge somewhere - but no they're on the tithe. It's nuts.

Cottages labelled 68 are the ones my family were living in. I'm trying to determine if the cottages are still there. And if they are, well I might just go bother the people who live in them.

I've got a new obsession, and I'm afraid it's twitter. You don't have to join up to follow my twitterings as there's a web address: twitter.com/bilaeva

Although if you do join, you can send me messages. And you can follow others. I highly recommend Armando Iannucci (Lucy: you'll remember him as the creator of the Mr Tony Blair doll) and Graeme Swann who is a very funny dude.

My article on cricket history and genealogy has gone to the copy editor for prep for the December issue, and today the November issue came out, which has my first Ask the Experts Q & A on US genealogy. It's the first article to have my name on it, and there's a photo as well. Eeek! I also had to send a short bio to go with the cricket article. Mum and I read some of the ones from previous issues today, people with PhDs, lecturers, authors of several books, we just laughed. In the end I went with "Genevieve Bovee is a family history researcher and joined Sticks Research Agency in 2010. She is a former director of the New York Family History Center." Not the most exciting, but New York always sounds a bit impressive, right?

I just need to publish a book. Then I can bark with the big dogs!