Sunday 31 July 2016

#MySundayPhoto Number 31

#MySundayPhoto-Number-31-Penarth-Pier


#MySundayPhoto Number 31 this week is of bear on Penarth Pier. The weather forecast was rain all day but we had some glorious sunshine too. I think the risk of rain kept everyone away but that meant it was almost empty.



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Friday 29 July 2016

Finding Your Female Ancestors.


Last week I described how variations in names made it difficult to research your family tree and that finding female ancestors was particularly difficult. This is mainly because they change their names on marriage, often had a very common first name and records were all about the male. Females did not own land and had no rights of their own so many records failed to include them. The guide below is to help you get clues to finding your female ancestors. Each on it's own may not give you the information you need but combined could steer you in the right direction.

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Wednesday 27 July 2016

Tredegar House & Gardens - A Toddler Explores

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We have been members of the National Trust for quite a few months now and Tredegar House & Gardens are almost on our doorstep, so why haven't we been before? Maybe because it is on our doorstep? Maybe because we thought just an old house would be boring for Bear? So on Monday we looked at the weather forecast and decided to go for an hour. We didn't have a plan, no picnic just coffee for us and some Heavenly Tasty Organic* snacks for Bear. 

Just a quick twenty minutes drive along the A48 from Cardiff towards Newport and we were there.
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Tuesday 26 July 2016

National Museum Cardiff - A Toddler Explores

National-Museum-Cardiff-a-toddler-explores-text-on-picture-toddler-next-to-sign-outside-museum

On Thursday we decided to go into Cardiff, meet up with Bears Mummy and visit the National Museum. Like all museums in Wales this is free to visit and has lots of exhibitions. We were going to see the dinosaurs and Wriggle, the wonderful world of worms. We were not disappointed although it was a very hot day so we didn't stay long. It was very warm in the museum and we didn't want to miss the lovely weather.

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Monday 25 July 2016

Dinosaurs, Worms and Sunshine

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Dinosaurs at the National Museum Cardiff

What a fabulous week it's been. We've been out and about, had a heatwave and went to the National Museum in Cardiff to see the worms and dinosaurs.

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Sunday 24 July 2016

#MySundayPhoto number 30

#MySundayPhoto-Blaenavon-Ironworks-Bear-looking-at-lights-representing-molten-metal


#MySundayPhoto number 30 is of Bear exploring the furnace at Blaenavon Ironworks. On Monday we had a day out at the ironworks which is just a small part of this UNESCO heritage site. We loved it.

Lights represent the molten metal flowing across the floor. No toddlers were harmed in taking this photo ;-)


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Friday 22 July 2016

What's In A Name? Family History Research


What's in a name and why do I ask? It's the first thing you record on your family tree. It's the first entry you put into the search box. A name is not always what it seems and many genealogists have hit brick walls or stumbled down the wrong path due to confusion over names.

Before you start your research be aware of all the variations of the names you are looking for. The variations due to transcription errors, misspelling and illegible writing, the abbreviations, nicknames and other alternatives.

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Thursday 21 July 2016

Do we need Vitamin D supplements?

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This morning the BBC news reported that everyone in the UK, over the age of one, should take a supplement of 10 micrograms of Vitamin D every day. We go outside everyday, rain or shine, so have never thought about Vitamin D supplements. We get enough sun, don't we? Do we need Vitamin D supplements?
Maybe not, according to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)1  the current guidelines, set in 1991, are not appropriate with current lifestyles and public health advice (eg to wear sunscreen, stay out of the sun).

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Blaenavon Big Pit and Ironworks - A Toddler Explores

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Blaenavon is an industrial town in South Wales designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. We had decided to visit both the Ironworks and Big Pit, the National Coal Museum on the same day as they are less than a mile apart.

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Tuesday 19 July 2016

11 Mums and Five Guys Meetup

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Left to right Cardiff Mummy Says, Mrs Helicopter Writes, Baby Holiday,  Me with the gorgeous Ezra, The Herniman House, All About A Mini Norris, First Time Valley Mam, Sidestreet Style, We Made This Life, Kelly Allen Writer but that's only 10 mums, well someone had to take the photo! Behind the lens Mrs Family Days tried and Tested (Yeah her! Honest, how awesome is that?)

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Traditional Rhubarb Crumble - Recipe

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My garden is full of rhubarb so it is the perfect time to make a Traditional Rhubarb Crumble. This recipe works with cooking apples too.

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Monday 18 July 2016

Big Pit, big fish, big everything

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Big sunflower but Bear is more interested in the big mess he's making

Big Pit, big fish, big everything this week. The summer may be another washout but it hasn't stopped the sunflowers, that Bear and Grandad sowed so many weeks ago, growing big and tall. Bear was complaining that the rose petals on the grass looked messy but that didn't stop him having fun scattering a few of his own.

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Sunday 17 July 2016

#MySundayPhoto Number 29




#MySundayPhoto Number 29 is of Bear in the garden. He thought the rose petals on the lawn looked messy but was more than happy to add to the mess.



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Friday 15 July 2016

Online Resources for Family History Research


Nowadays most family tree research is done online but if you are new to family research where do you start? There are lots of resources from parish records to phone directories. Many of the very best sites cost money, either pay as you go or a subscription and however you do your family research it will cost money, either in subscriptions, buying certificates or travelling to the location to search the archives. Even if you are lucky enough to live close to the archives relevant to your tree you will need to pay for photocopying. There are also many free websites too.
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Thursday 14 July 2016

Grandma's Poetry Book - A Review

Grandma's-Poetry-Book-front-cover

I was given* a copy of Grandma's Poetry Book to review recently. I did not know what to expect as although I love all types of books I cannot remember the last time I read poetry.

Grandma's Poetry Book is a collection of poems written by Di Castle and beautifully illustrated by Denise A Horn. The poems begin before the grandchildren are born, continue through the baby and toddler years right up to being young teenagers.

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Wednesday 13 July 2016

Simple DIY Wooden Train Track Table

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Bears train track table resting on his toy box
A simple DIY wooden train track table can be made in a day or two for a few pounds. Using scraps of wood and a cheap train track this project is affordable and quick. I didn't make it though! No Grandad is the DIY expert in our house. Branded wooden track like Brio can be expensive but there are cheaper alternatives and it can be found second hand quite cheaply.

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Monday 11 July 2016

Our Week Of Plays

This week has been so busy it's been a week of plays. Visits to playgrounds, watching Wales play football, seeing a play at Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival and playing with friends.


our-week-of-plays-toddler-on-climbing-frame

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Sunday 10 July 2016

#MySundayPhoto Number 28



#MySundayPhoto Number 28 is of Bear meeting baby bear, from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, at Garwnant this week. It's a great place to visit in South Wales and free too. 





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Saturday 9 July 2016

'Allo 'Allo Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival - Review

'Allo-'Allo-Cardiff-Open-Air-Theatre-Festival-Review-text-over-cast

'Allo 'Allo I Shall Say This Only Once. Buy a ticket and get to Cardiff to see this now! 

I was so pleased to be offered* two tickets to see 'Allo 'Allo by the Everyman Theatre at Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival in Sophia Gardens as I love the theatre. I was a little worried though as this was outside and what would the Cardiff weather do? It's summer so rain and be cold I guessed. I needn't have worried at all. The evening was warm and the auditorium is under cover so the audience was fine if it rained. There were also blankets for hire at £2 each if it turned chilly.

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Friday 8 July 2016

A Guide For Absolute Beginners On Starting A Family Tree

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I decided to write A Guide For Absolute Beginners On Starting A Family Tree after reading a comment on a photo for #MySundayPhoto. The person commenting said that she couldn't start her tree as she only knew about her maternal grandmother and didn't know anything of her paternal grandparents and there was no-one to ask.

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Wednesday 6 July 2016

Garwnant Visitor Centre - A Toddler Explores

Garwnant-Visitor-Centre-A-Toddler-Explores-text-on-toddler-with-baby-bear

We had planned to go to the beach today but the weather wasn't as nice as forecast so we quickly changed our plans and headed North to Garwnant Visitor Centre. Garwnant is just north of Merthyr Tydfil on the A470 at the edge of the Brecon Beacons. We have driven past many times on our way to the mountains but haven't visited for years. The centre is free to visit and just costs £2 all day for parking.
There are walking routes, trails for mountain bikes, an all ability trail and two puzzle trails. One puzzle trail has animals to spot and one has trees. The tree trail would be fantastic for older children. They could take paper and crayons and do rubbings too.

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Monday 4 July 2016

Trains, Romans and Bikes

Our week has been a bit different in that the weather was not at all summery and Bear had a cold so our usual day trip was close to home and short. The sun was shining on Monday so we had a quick visit to Caerleon. It has an amphitheatre and ruins of Roman barracks, the best in Europe. Bear became tired very quickly as he was still a bit poorly, so we didn't stay as long as we would have liked but it was still great to get out.

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Bear at Caerleon Amphitheatre

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Sunday 3 July 2016

#MySundayPhoto number 27

#MySundayPhoto-number-27


#MySundayPhoto number 27 is of Bear running down a hill at Caerleon into my arms. I'd catch him and swing him around. He thought it was great fun and so did I.




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Friday 1 July 2016

How to Break Through Brick Walls In Your Family Tree

how-to-break-through-brick-walls-in-your-family-tree-text-under-illustration-of-tree

At some point during your research you will come across a brick wall. You will be happily adding events and people to your tree when suddenly you hit a dead end and no matter what you do you can't move on. Here are some tips that will show you how to break through brick walls in your family tree but first, what is a brick wall?

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