Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

So far so good Maz. I think she could be OK, your description isn't that of a dog at death's door. Just ticking over nicely!

[Marilyn]

Her breath could knock a buzzard off a dump truck...but she can’t help that.
At this point, I am sure I can get another fortnight out of her without having to do mouth to mouth...

[Sue]

A good days research at Greenwich Maritime museum Library yesterday. I think I have identified the shipping route my grandfather said he was going on in 1925. I have it down to 4 possible ships too. Today we are off to the National Archives at Kew to look at the staff records and possibly the ships logs. Fingers crossed everyone. If this turns up a blank then I really have no other possible leads.

You are sounding better Stanley

[Stanley]

Good luck in the archive Sue!
Thanks, I am climbing out of the BCG hole. Missed the shed this morning due to other pressing matters. Now I have to concentrate on Melvyn Bragg and 'In our time', it's the Teutoburg Forest this morning! A good story!

[Marilyn]

Dog chooses to sleep in the open doorway of our bedroom tonight instead of her bed. That’s ok. We can deal with any nighttime needs...it is all about HER needs now.
( hope we don’t snore darling)

[Wendyf]

Hope things continue to go ok Maz, it's a big responsibility for you

[Sue]

A good days research at Greenwich Maritime museum Library yesterday. I think I have identified the shipping route my grandfather said he was going on in 1925. I have it down to 4 possible ships too. Today we are off to the National Archives at Kew to look at the staff records and possibly the ships logs. Fingers crossed everyone. If this turns up a blank then I really have no other possible leads.

You are sounding better Stanley

Feeling glum all requested resources drew a blank. About to try and find the ships logs,

[Tripps]

Her breath could knock a buzzard off a dump truck.

I've heard something like that before - By Peter Stampfel and Baby Gramps - a bit of an acquired taste, but I like them.

Knocking the buzzard off the gut wagon

[Sue]

Still glum no success. Back to Greenwich archives sometime in the future, back home on the morning train.

[Stanley]

Look at it this way Sue, you still have that next discovery to look forward to.
Shed could miss, I have a busy day in other areas. No rush......

[Wendyf]

Hope you will be celebrating your birthday....

Happy Birthday old 'un.

[Sue]

Happy Birthday Stanley. Thinking of my Dad today, 103 years since his birth and 8 years since he died and still no nearer finding where his Dad disappeared to.

Early breakfast then bus from Trafalgar Square to Euston, train at 10.15am. We should be in Manchester by 12.30, have a bit of lunch at Piccadilly Station then home. Its wine tasting this evening.

[Stanley]

Thanks to both of you. I got a birthday hug in the Pioneer car Park this morning from a lady who had remembered, and Kathy at the Butcher's also remembered. She gave me two cream doughnuts for a treat! Otherwise all is quiet...... perhaps a bit too quiet!

[Wendyf]

Sue, a friend of mine has worldwide Ancestry and Find My Past, she is very good at tracking folk who have gone abroad. Would you like her to have a look or have you gone down that route already?

[Cathy]

HAPPY 84th BIRTHDAY STANLEY
Enjoy your day. Cathy

[Stanley]

I'll try to Love! Thanks.
I've started the day by putting a big roasting tin full of veggies and tomatoes in to roast!

[Tizer]

Wishing you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STANLEY!!

[Sue]

Sue, a friend of mine has worldwide Ancestry and Find My Past, she is very good at tracking folk who have gone abroad. Would you like her to have a look or have you gone down that route already?

I have those too Wendy and my grandfather just isn’t there. This is case of tracking down the ship that he said he was going to be on based on the destinations and dates he had written in a letter. We got the possible ships from resources at Greenwich. We searched staff files for the shipping company at the National Archives at Kew he isn’t there. Would you believe the crew lists for 1925 are back at Greenwich although most other years were at Kew but we were due home today so will have to go back for another visit. Only a fraction of these lists are online!

[Wendyf]

That must be very frustrating!

[Marilyn]

Was it merchant navy, Sue?

[Sue]

Was it merchant navy, Sue?

Yes merchant navy, taking mail and passengers to the West Indies and Panama we believe. Of course he may never have gone in the end.

[Marilyn]

I had a lot of bother tracing a friend’s relative through merchant navy. Ships changed names often.
Eventually I located him via Trove...because he jumped ship twice! Which was very good of him, as it made things easier to trace after that. I am still missing a big chunk of his history.

[Stanley]

You'll get there in the end Sue.
Thanks Tiz, Susan and Mick visited and I have three haggis locked in the holding cell in the fridge.
I've realised I have to write for the BET, the stock pile is too low!
'Biblical' amounts of rain are forecast to arrive a 08:00 so the aim is to get two walks in before it arrives!

[Sue]

I had a lot of bother tracing a friend’s relative through merchant navy. Ships changed names often.
Eventually I located him via Trove...because he jumped ship twice! Which was very good of him, as it made things easier to trace after that. I am still missing a big chunk of his history.

Interesting. I strongly suspect my grandfather jumped ship somewhere but where is the question. The most likely is Panama, then picking up a ship to New Zealand but we can’t find him there either

Bob collects his new car today, plus a visit to the cemetery will fill the morning. The afternoon will be sewing

[Stanley]

Hope it isn't too wet for the cemetery Sue!