Family Tree Frog

Photo by bitzcelt - License - some rights reserved Have you longed to go on a genealogy cruise ?  Would you like to meet other genealogy bloggers in person? It's not a cruise, but it's the next best thing!  Unlock the Past is hosting a series of seminars around Australia with visiting experts and I went to the first yesterday, held in Brisbane.  Because I pre-booked it only cost $39.50 for the whole day which was unbelievable value. It was so much fun!  The best part was getting to meet fellow bloggers Helen V Smith and Caitie from Genealogically Speaking.  But of course there was so much more. The day began at 9am at the Broncos Leagues Club .  It's the kind of place that would make my mother spin in her grave if she knew I'd even darkened its doors but it's designed to host large numbers of people and feed them quickly, at a reasonable cost and in reasonable comfort - if you can just ignore those ghastly poker machines.  My big tip ...

Thomas Joseph Benedict McLoughlin I'm reading a book at the moment - well several really, but that's another story.  The longlist for the Booker Prize was recently announced so, as usual, I cherish this fantasy that I will be able to read them all and guess the shortlist.  The book I am reading is called "The Marrying of Chani Kaufman" and is about an ultra -Orthodox Jewish marriage.  It discusses various customs including behaviour on the Sabbat or what some of us might call the Sabbath.  If you want to see the 39 activities forbidden on the Sabbat click here. My mother came from a mixed marriage - a Protestant who married a Catholic.  She used to tell me how Sundays were a bit of a sore point in her home when she was growing up.  Apparently my grandfather steadfastly resisted doing anything on a Sunday, being brought up a strict Catholic.  So no "work" of any kind. No housework, no work in the garden - but things still had to get done so...