Genealogy Chat

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Hey OC - you OK? Has the one finger that knows how to type worn out? Tina

I have just been to watch my local Carnival. It wasn't the best I've ever seen and certainly not the biggest.But as I watched, I felt very moved. Fairy Queens, of indifferent beauty, riding in painstakingly made Carriages, pulled by the family car, polished to perfection, with Dad driving, all red-necked and scrubbed up. Mums, Grans, Aunties, all clucking alongside, carrying coats, adjusting flowery head dresses and offering drinks. Walkers in costumes that must have taken hours to make. Grandad, aged 90, dressed as Big Ears, pushing Grandson aged about 9 months, dressed as Noddy. Two Grannies bent almost double, holding the hands of a barely-walking toddler, dressed to the nines. Sturdy girls dressed as Majorettes, with a retinue of Mums. I watched all this and thought, this is what is good and lovely about the family unit - adults going to endless trouble and inconvenience for their children, without any thought of reward and each generation pouring love down onto the one behind it. Gosh, must be going soft in my old age - hope someone else understands what I mean, and how it ties in with the Family part of Family History. OC

I do, ............ edited.

We understand, OC, you old softy! Tina

You're right OC - that's what it's all about - families! I watched a snippet on Countryfile last Sunday about a film made 30 years ago on farming in a village called Akenfield (the name was made up but scenes were put together from several villages in close proximity to each other). None of the cast were actors, they were all 'real' people and just talked about whatever came into their heads. It contained scenes of farming using a horse and plough and the farmer had sacking round his shoulders and wrapped round his legs for extra protection against the cold. They had the old fashioned family gathered round for a wake - talking, drinking and eating. It captured a time that will never be again. It looked magical and I wished I could see the whole film just to capture a bit of an era. But essentially it was all about family life and if genealogy aint about families what is it about? Snowdrops

We had a local carnival which was stopped some years ago as a boy that went to retrieve a penny from under a lorry was killed under the wheels. Just recently it has been revivied by the ocal Afro carribean populaion, and boy, did they have an effort. As you say, young and old, all 'doing' together.the atmosphere was really something else! What is it with majorettes ( and irish dancers) that there is always the slightly portly one that cant quite keep up?!! Jess

Jess My three grown up daughters all HATE me because I would never let them be Majorettes....they were all far too, erm, well-fed. And I dare say my local Carny has dwindled down to nearly nothing, because of the rules and regulations - seems an awful shame really. OC

Oh yes I do agree O.C. These town/village fetes are just the modern version of our ancestors May Day festival and mid summer and so on. The fun they got then was probably even more than us cynics get now with our families. Oh I love it all, the simple pleasures (I did me nature ramble today with local group and it was brill)

Crone. i'll tell you one reason why the kids-on -the-back- of -lorries type carnival has gone, its because of insurance. we run a road transport business , with a small fleet of lorries. People ring to ask you to drive your lorry for their Brownie pack/ age concern knitting circle or whatever to'do thier bit' and you have to say ''NO'' - the insurance is so high, just for that one event. makes you feel like a right meanie jess x

We have the local Civic Week starting tomorrow,the programme details some of the history of previous years,the 25th anniversary of a certain chap being Coldstreamer detailed quite extensively,the photographs of 50 years ago etc. 300 horses to parade down the High St in midweek,and a lot of history with many folks returning home for the celebrations,not forgetting the men vs ladies football etc. Just to hear the reunions makes it worthwhile,and the stories of the mischief of past summer holidays is kind of special. Glen

Hi OC I have just seen your thread and wanted to add.... My daughter took part in our local carnival for the first time last Sunday. She is 8. My Mum spent hours making her costume (a butterfly), and we all turned out to watch her and her Brownie pack climb up on to their float and wave their little hands off looking all happy and proud! I now have pictures of her to add to the pictures of myself and my siblings doing the same thing nearly 30 years ago. I think you are right...it is what makes up a families history! Caroline

All today's events are tomorrow's history, so yes, it IS genealogy. When the children grow up, they will pass on their memories of that event to their children and tell them how Grandpa pushed them, or Grandma and great-aunt sat up all night to finish the costume but it split on the day and if you look carefully at the photo you can see the rip...... Meat on the bones already. jay

Snowdrops Akenfield was a real village. I have recently re-read the book (one of my favourites) - its a rivetting account of a small village (not always nice, either). I recommend you read the book and when youve finished it, read Lark Rise To Candleford - an account of a Victorian village, full of the most incredible details. OC

OC, see that's what happens when you make assumptions - I assumed because it was filmed using several different villages it was a made up name. Thanks for the info on the books - I shall see if the library has any copies or can order one. I do know the dvd of the film is available and I may just treat myself to it - it did look good. Thanks Snowdrops

From the 'acknowledgements' page of Akenfield All the facts about the economy, population and social life of Akenfield are drawn from a village in East Sussex;only the name of the village and the villagers have been changed. So - I was wrong, Akenfield isnt a real name of a village - but the book is a factual one, not fictional and is comprised mainly of interviews with villagers, with a bit of history thrown in. Its a good read! OC

OC - your post brought tears to my eyes. No substitute for love is there? Or anything so strong and binding. Victoria

Bernard I agree. I think there should be signs along the pavement warning people of the dangers of stepping in front of a car. If I ever get knocked down I will certainly sue the council for not warning me. nell

OC It all about the family isn't it. I have two very small children and I am trying to bring a bit of that wonder and charm of my childhood into theirs. We went to watch the local carnival in May and I was welling up remembering all the fond times I had taken part as a child and my late Grandma and her fellow 'croneys'. Every year she would take part and their float would always win a prize. My mam tring to recreate one of the Broons' hairstyles on my preschool age brother with sugar water. Or is was maybe Oor Wullie I can't remeber now but I remember him crying afterwards as my Mam cruelly tried to brush it out dry! Putting Xmas lights outside the house and watching my son and our semi light up simultaneously. And letting him put the baby Jesus in the nativity set on Xmas Eve. I even forced my husband into spraying rabbit footprints onto our lawn at Easter I could go on and on M

Michelle One year, my children were ecstatic when they came downstairs to find that Santa had been and gone. He must have brought his reindeer in, cos there was hay all over the floor and most magic of all - REINDEER POO! (Modelled out of plasticine I must hurriedly add, by my father, who had a strange sense of the wonderful). Bernard I know exactly what you mean about PC - the Carnival I watched yesterday is a shadow of what it was 25 years ago, because no one can get insurance for the big floats. Of course, no-one wants a child to die under the wheels of a carnival float - but speaking for myself, I don't want children to die under the wheels of a car either, or from falling out of a tree, or anything at all, come to think of it. As you say, it used to be parents who took control of the safety of their children, not the local Council. OC