Genealogy Chat

I started this family tree lark about two years ago as a little hobby to while away my retirement. My mothers maiden name, while not rare is not all that common, so I thought this will be a doddle. Big mistake, there are bloody hundreds of them all some how related even if obscurely. After two years my little hobby has become an obsession. I have only 59 names on tree and have followed hundreds of false leads, but I am loving every minute of it! How on earth do the Smiths, Browns and Jonses` cope? Happy hunting everybody. Sylvia with the white hair and haggard expression.

its the eye strain that gets to me- you develop a census readers squint after a while!

I know what you mean Sylvia! I started just to pass the time while I was bored at Xmas holidays. Now my every waking moment seems to be sitting in front of this laptop scrolling through lists. Soon be down to the shoe leather & records offices. Keeps the old brain active though!

Hi Sylvia lol i have smiths and browns on my mothers side, only been doing this since end of feb, i go to bed thinking of names and dates lol and summising how they lived and why they did the things they did. am i obsessed yet?? lol

Wait til you start reading all the credits at the end of movies and documentaries in the hopes of a familiar name showing up!!

It's so easy to become obsessed.I often find myself dreaming about names I have been scrolling through, and have nightmares where I can't find the right people when looking up marriages. I've even installed a pingu toy on my puter so my 2 year old will sit with me while I search and have pingu skating across the screen!

I have only just started and i go to bed thinking about my tree and then i wake up thinking about it i am still trying to learn about this site but everyone is so helpful here i hope i can continue as long as some of the people on here even if it keeps me awake most nights!

It does become an obsession - but its so satisfying when just as you thought the brick wall was going to hit you square on a tiny bit of information heads you off in a different direction and you have suddenly found a branch of the tree that had so far been a twig!! lol

a pingu toy ??? Hey! I wonder if that will amuse the other half and get him orf my back? Maybe he wont notice me getting the 'plastic' out? lol ;-) £7+£7= not a lot

I laughed when I read this thread - my husband keeps asking if I am going to bed at the same time as him! Token answer is 'I'll be through in a minute'..... two hours later I creep into bed absolutely frozen and the games up! He says I'm obsessed with it and I would agree.

Hi Sylvia, How about the Williams's. They are a nightmare to trace. Cheers Paul

I recognise this syndrome - every posting resonates with something I've said or done... but I do enjoy it. Christine

www.pingu(.)com lets you download a little pingu, he skates, plays football,throws snowball, reads, walks and my sons favourite plays the accordian! works wonders

Sylvia How could you? Before I read this thread I had almost forgotten Pingu (my children are all grown up and no grandchildren that I am aware of!). Now I have Pingu galloping across the screen making noises at me. The dog is going beserk. Are we all mad on this site? Tina

Oh This Thing That Is GR.. You should try finding Johnsons!!!! My Dad informed me in february that he had found his grandparents had moved to Gravesend from London at start of war time, as I live in Gravesend and he lives in Dorset could I do SOME research.. 2 months later, I've found a whole new family and still sit up til 1am searching for more.. HELP! I NEED SLEEP, Love to all you Geneology nuts and obsesseeeees!!! Kila

Im glad Im not alone.....do you think we should have a self help group??? Does anyone else feel guilty ....Im always apologising for using the computer......lol......its getting to the point where work just gets in the way!!

I definately have the obsession, never mind dreaming about it, I actually get up in the night when a thought comes to mind and rush to the puter. I go away twice a year to Cornwall just to do family history. Any days of work I drag my husband of to cemetaries, am planning my retirement so I can travel the Country looking for those elusive relatives. My only worry is I won't live long enough. Carol

Hi Syliva I started just over four years ago and on my fathers side of the family i am no wiser than I was then. I never give up although I feel like throwing in the towel at times if only I could get an address from the many certificates I have sent off for but not one has one just in the parish of. And I used to dream about it and get up in the night if I thought of something else to do but I don't do that anymore. I bore my children silly with it all. living in hope Margaret

reading through, i have found that i've got the same symtoms, except that i growling at the kids if they need the computer, i've got to have my fix, i only started this because it was something that my dad started, he died, i continued it, now i'm obsessed.

Genealogy begins as an interest, Becomes a hobby; Continues as an avocation, Takes over as an obsession, And in its last stages, Is an incurable disease. --Author Unknown How very true !!!