Blame the dog!
I bought a book to learn about grooming / general care and needs etc. whilst I 
eagerly awaited the arrival of my new puppy. Life hadn't been the same since losing 
the last dog in my life and I've often wondered why I didn't just leave the pedigree 
in the drawer and enjoy playing with my new pal! I spotted a picture amongst the 
champions of the breed listed in the book and its name rang a bell. Sure enough, the 
dog featured in my puppy's pedigree. Playfully showing it to the puppy, I announced 
that here was her great grandfather and idly flipped the pages, wondering if any more 
of her relatives were in the book. I quickly realised that life was never 
to be the same again!!! 
I spent quite a few happy searching years covering a dog breed history (West 
Highland White Terriers) involving tracing family trees of landed Gentry and 
their gamekeepers before toying with the thought of searching my own ancestry. 
It didn't take long for the bug to bite - nor to get into the predictable 
tangle of following more than one line at once. I'm enjoying unravelling that 
as well as continued searching and even the infamous brick walls are 
challengingly enjoyable.
Transcribing Parish Registers for the Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project 
brought forth much pleasure as well as frustration! I became enthralled as I 
was transported across history, picturing changing times and varying 
lifestyles. Watching generations group into families as I struggled to 
decipher spidery scrawl was a continuous fascination; alongside diligently 
trying to avoid the transcribing mistakes that I well understand can cause 
puzzles and setbacks.
Memorable events along the way during this addictive hobby have been the joy 
of being back in touch with my chief bridesmaid who emigrated to Australia 
some 30+ years ago. More recently, I'm enjoying rekindling memories with a 
long lost cousin. That has extended to another happy reunion, as well as the 
pleasure of meeting those who have become family members during the years we 
lost. 
Even more recently a 2nd cousin is helping fill gaps with as much natural 
humour and flippancy that we shared as children / teenagers - despite a 
contact gap of nearly 40 years! 
The saddest record since starting this site is for 30th March 2008 - the loss of my 
beloved mother, Mary Robinson, shortly before her 80th birthday and, ironically on 
the 20th anniversary of her elder brother's death. 
We follow this sudden death in happy celebration of a birth - Hannah Sheila Mahon on 
20th May 2008. The date is significant in being what would have made Maggie Cragg a 
great great grandma on her 103rd birthday.
Happily the 3rd October 2008 celebrated my illegal son-in-law losing his title! 
Elaine Michelle's marriage to Ian brightens recent sadness and her grandma's ring 
having been altered to fit Em's wedding finger was a special part of the ceremony. 
Enjoy my site. Please sign the Guest Book - complimentary or otherwise!  
Corrections readily accepted if you can confirm names and dates.
Enquiries welcome - if I can help, I will.
Good Luck with your own adventures as you enjoy this fascinating hobby - I 
cannot wish you more than the joy I find in continuing my own.