Out with the old and In with the new ~ 2015

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As we draw to the end of 2014 I have to say, hand on heart I am delighted. Never have I been so glad to see the end of a year.

There was much to have celebrated during 2014, our twentieth wedding anniversary, my business further developing, family visiting from Australia for an extended time and several other really positive things.

Sadly, all of that has been greatly overshadowed by the death of my Mum and how I move forward from here will take time to define for both Stuart and myself. Not a day goes by when I don't think of Mum or have a thought that I must remember to tell her something. We had lots of conversations over the years, ranging from deep and meaningful to the random comments of familiarity.

I also experienced some other disruptive behaviour from a genealogical colleague. I am deeply saddened that someone, apparently deemed as a "mover and shaker" can be so woefully lacking. What is so dreadful is that I have never really encountered such miserable and unkind behaviour in the genealogical arena in all my years of researching and that is probably why I was so shaken by the events. All that glitters is not gold is a phrase that sums it up nicely.

Over the last few months I have stopped the usual blog posts. There are various reasons for that, the conclusion of several projects and my thoughts have really stopped my creative juices from flowing. That said, I have looked back through my blog planner and for 2015 there will be a more structured set of posts. Mostly genealogical although I plan to post again to Sunday Salon which is about books and reading, something that I have done little of this year for pleasure. I also plan to take part in Weekend Cooking, a regular cookery themed blog jive. I have missed both of those themed posts and I hope that 2015 will get my get up and go back from wherever it went!

The Book of Me which launched in 2012 and became available on-line for the genealogical community, amongst others during 2013 - 2014 has just finished. It is quite something to have concluded a seventy week prompt schedule. Well done if you took part, regardless of whether or not you kept up. The prompts are still available on-line and I have no plans to take them down.

For 2015, we see the birth of In Deep with the Book of Me, which will run over the course of 2015, each prompt delivered on 1st of the month  and supported within a day or so by a presentation and / or hangout. The Facebook Group is still very much in operation. The Book of Me Master Class (on-line version) will be available for 2015, not to mention another project which will launch in the Spring.

So, just before I raise a glass of virtual bubbly and wish everyone a happy New Year, I want to thank all the readers, from the genealogical world and others that read this blog for the support, readership, kindness and simply being "there". It is appreciated and I truly value the friendship.

From my house to your house, Happy New Year!

The Launch of .....In Deep with the Book of Me

This series will be delivered monthly, on the first of each month. Participation is completely free of charge and can be accessed via In Deep with the Book of Me prompt page, via my blog and via the Face Book Group.

Each of the prompts enables the participant to answer the prompt more fully, and perhaps undertake research and reflection before answering the prompt. There is plans for a monthly video to explore that month's prompt further and the discussion of participants. The videos and discussion will be delivered using YouTube and Google Hangouts.

Book of Me, Written by You ~ Grand Finale

Today is an extra post following on from our major 15 month project of creating and writing your Book of Me.

So what is the point of today's post?

Well, for the last 15 months I have shared with you a prompt and the response and support from the genealogical community has been truly phenomenal.

So, I thought, as a way of celebrating our success that people might like to contribute to a Book of Me Anthology.

The plan

Those interested people who took part in the last 15 months might perhaps enjoy putting fingers to keyboard or pen to paper and contribute. Contributions can be (here are a few ideas)

• Written or Visual and show what the Book of Me meant to you
• Perhaps reflections on the last 15 months
• Perhaps your favourite prompt
• Friendships that perhaps developed across the internet through the Book of Me
• Anything else you fancy

Further Points

• What ever you write and submit will be gathered into a PDF book
• The copyright of the book will be myself and the people who submitted an article
• So you retain the copyright of your own article
• Submissions can be sent to me via word document by 31st May 2015
• Publication is planned for Monday 31st August 2015 - exactly 24 months after we started the Book of Me
• You can submit pictures to accompany your submission.
• You may submit more than one article
• The Anthology will be available via download in a PDF format to everyone who took part in the Book of Me Geneabloggers Group
• The Anthology will be distributed free of charge

How to send submissions

Preferably as a word document to
 please make sure you send your name and email address with your submission.

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Meanwhile, stay tuned for the 2015 Book of Me program!

Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 70

Today is week 70 of what has been a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I have released the prompt for that week's Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week's prompt is - What have you learnt about yourself and your family?

Think back to the question we asked in Week One - Who am I?
Before you look back at the answers you wrote then, answer the question again.
Now compare are there any similarites, it is the same, or have any of the answers changed?
What has made the change?

Now lets look at the wider and original question - What have you learnt about yourself and your family?
Is there anything you still want to write and explore?

Thanks for joining me on this 15 month project. It has been great having the interaction with those who have taken part. Whilst we have come to the end of this project are you ready to start the next one?

Stay tuned!

Sending Christmas Wishes

"Remembrance, like a candle,

Shines brightest

at Christmastime"

Charles Dickens

As we navigate the first Christmas without my Mum I get a sense that Christmas will never be the same again.  So much has happened during the year, and things that should have given a sense of joy did so, but with a huge glimpse of sadness.

There will be an update a little later in the month, but without further ado, from my house to your house Happy Christmas!

Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 69

Today is week 69 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week's Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week's prompt is - What is your most treasured possession?

• This could be something that you have bought from an inheritance
• A gift from a family member
• An item that you have been left by a friend or family member
• How do you plan to secure it's survival with future generations?

Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 68

Today is week 68 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week's Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week's prompt is - Memory Tree.

A few weeks ago I saw this picture. It illustrated nicely the first prompt of the 2015 series, so I saved the picture. Then as I was reviewing this week's prompt I thought it absolutely illustrated this prompt to, so here it is.

As we head into the festive / holiday season I want us to think of those who will not be with us for the season. If this was your memory tree who would you put on the tree and why?

This can of course be friends and family, but what about former pets and colleagues.

Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 67

Today is week 67 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week's Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week's prompt is - What are your priorities?

The American author, Kathleen Winsor owns this quote:

"Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to do what they want to do."

So, what do you want to do? how can you achieve that? and why is it important to you?