Continuing the theme of my previous blogs on historical research for my current novel, I discovered that 1852 was a quite a significant year. Did you know that Arthur Wellesley (né Wesley) was twice Prime Minister of England and…
writing
Do you use social media? How often and for what purpose? I’d love to know. I’m a Facebook user but after I was hacked last year, I’ve lost confidence and haven’t used it as much. Now I’m questioning what…
The thrill of the rewards you reap
Part of the fun of being an author is the feedback we receive. While they are welcomed with open arms, I don’t only mean the star ratings that appear on Amazon or the reviews that go them or even…
Leapfrogging through the cane fields – Brisbane to Cairns #3
Our progression north was bringing us closer to an exciting point where travel, genealogy and storytelling collided. Along the way, we made a brief stop at Rockhampton, visiting their botanical gardens and zoo and took in the views from…
The first week disappeared in a flash. Despite a day of grey skies and an afternoon of rain, that was the last. We were not to see rain again for fifteen days. A record! It took us a couple…
The weird names of Victorian occupations
In my previous blogs I’ve mostly talked about the women. They are the stalwarts of the time: staunch, loyal and committed. But let’s talk about some of the occupations their menfolk undertook to feed the household. Do you know…
Mystery and suspense, but who are these people?
A parcel arrived from overseas. Inside was a collection of family photos dating back to the 1880s. None were dated. Few were named. I immediately found my magnifying glass and plenty of sunshine and inspected them in detail. Some…
I had a conversation recently with someone who said they didn’t know who their grandparents were and asked why I bothered doing all the research. My immediate response was, for their stories. Finding out about our ancestors and learning…
Being counted for the good of society in the future
Earlier blogs talked about the historical characters of Sarah and Martha and the tragedy of them losing so many children, and the difficulties women faced when they lost their husbands. But then women – and children – were considered,…
Welcome to the first blog of 2023 To say the year has not started off well for many living in New Zealand is an understatement. While Te Waipounamu the South Island bathed in summer sunshine, Mother Nature showed her…