Notes of Life

White Flowers in the Rock Garden

The sun is shining (for a change!) and it’s a lovely day outside. Actually, it’s been quite nice all week. However, I’ve had to work, so I’ve been stuck inside rather than being out enjoying it. Yesterday evening, I took the chance to take some photos of the latest flowers to be growing in Mum’s garden. I haven’t a clue what these little white ones were, but they were among the rock garden. You can find close-ups of the little white flowers over at Flickr – here and here.

Yesterday, I redeemed another £20 from my reviews & ratings on DooYoo. I’ve only been a member since the end of May and I’ve made £30 in Amazon vouchers already. Of course, I couldn’t wait to spend them so I’ve already ordered some DVDs and a CD. I convinced a colleague to join and she’s really enjoying writing reviews. I think she’s holding out for the cash though (you can get cash when you’ve got enough points for £50).

Tonight, my friends Sarah & Paul and I are off up to the Stiperstones Inn for a meal. We’ve booked a table and I’m picking them up at 7pm. Can’t wait!

I bought myself a new top to wear tonight. The original price was £35, but I got it for half price so I was very pleased with that. I also bought a t-shirt for £2.99. So it’s been a bit of a bargain day today!

Here’s hoping the weather stays this nice – I’m off to Oulton Park again tomorrow!

Back in my Finding Things post, I mentioned I’d found a reference to the death of my Great Great Great Grandfather John Middleton. Well, this week the inquest document arrived. Unfortunately, it doesn’t give me much more than what I already know… and there are a couple of words that I can’t quite make out. My scanner isn’t connected otherwise I’d scan the words and see if somebody could read them… I might do that at the weekend.

It says that my Great Great Great Grandfather accidentally fell from a spring cart which he was rein driving and ????? sustained injuries from which he ???? and ???? did die.

I think the 3rd word is here, which would make sense. The 1st word we thought might be surely, except after closer inspection the first letter doesn’t match the s of sustained. It looks like an n or h, I did think i could be an r but the r in rein looks sharper than this letter. I just can’t make out the 2nd word.

Maybe I should do a “Guess the missing word” competition… Anyone up for it?!

I wonder if a local newspaper from the week that my Great Great Great Grandfather fell off his cart and died would have a report about it. I was hoping the inquest would say more about what injuries he sustained and maybe how he came to accidently fall off his cart. I will have to dig deeper…

Edit: Mum has taken another look at it and now thinks it says “… thereby sustained injuries from which he then and there did die.” – which makes sense! I wish she could have looked at it a bit closer BEFORE I wrote this post!

Sunday was spent at Oulton Park watching the British Superbikes. The racing was good, but I loved going down the pitlane to see the riders.

Shane “Shakey” Burn

I’m off to Oulton Park again this coming Sunday. This time to see the British Touring Car Racing!

… with a dash of yellow!

I haven’t had a great deal of time for my family history work lately. However, this week I decided to do a little foraging.

Searching through Ancestry UK gave me a surprising result. I found somebody had transcripted a marriage certificate from the 1880′s and listed as one of the witnesses was my Great Grandfather Alfred! I am in no doubt that it was him due to the location and name. I would never have known my Great Grandfather was a witness at a wedding if it hadn’t have been for somebody transcribing the certificate. The BMD records are searchable by either bride or groom, but witnesses only come to light when the certificate is viewed. Of course, I have found the reference for the certificate and have already ordered a copy for my records.

Another one of my family history online haunts when looking for records is Family History Online. There I found references to court documents naming my Great Great Great Grandfather John Middleton, one of which is a reference to the inquest of his death. This is the one I’m most interested in as I’d like to know how he came to fall off his cart! I have requested the relevant documents from the archives… I wonder what they say.

Finally, I’ve come across a website I thought I’d share with you. Take a look at this website which makes photos look old. You can either upload a photo from your computer or enter the URL of the image you want to use. Go on, have a go!