And the Week is Suddenly Over

The week has flown by. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday were spent at the Mitchell Library consulting poor law applications, school registers and lair records. Wednesday and today we were able to get one on one help at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society and the Lanarkshire Family History Society respectively. It has been a very successful week but also a week of laughter, friendships and memories being made. 

We enjoyed dinner together as a group this evening. Tomorrow, we all go our separate ways. Other parts of Scotland, down to England or a few days of down time before heading home. We will go home with a much better understanding of the lives our ancestors lived and the circumstances that may have caused them to leave for new lives in America or Canada. 

I will be staying for another couple of days before heading over to Dublin. 

No Rest for the…. Well Maybe a Wee Bit

Today’s research was and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society. The Society allowed us exclusive use of the centre and the tour participants were blessed with one on one volunteer support. They had such a busy day they lost track of time and suddenly the day was over. 

I left early because I was hosting a webinar followed by a team meeting. On my way back to the hotel I decided to treat myself to The Willows Tea Room on Buchanan Street. The rest of the afternoon was spent online. 

 

Research, Webinar and More Research

The research has begun in earnest. We have spent our first two days at the Mitchell Library bouncing between the Glasgow City Archives and the ScotlandsPeople hub. Poor law applications, school admissions and city directories have been consulted. Birth, marriage, death records and census returns have been transcribed, printed or saved. Stories have been uncovered and discoveries made. And not always happy ones. Such were the lives of our ancestors trying to survive in very trying times. 

Within the group of researchers, friendships have started to bloom and some will cement and endure long after the tour ends. This is such a heartwarming part of the tours for me. After all, genealogy really is about connecting.

Last night I had the pleasure of presenting a webinar for the GWSFHS. It was very well attended and as such, the discussion after was quire exciting with lots of questions asked, lots of ideas shared and new ideas proposed for ways to preserve and share the stories we have uncovered and the years of research we have undertaken.

Museums and More

Yesterday was a busy day. It was also moving day. It was my last day in Edinburgh before heading over to Glasgow to meet up with my group of researchers. I got a later start to the day, needing to pack first. Then I stopped in at Clarinda's Tearoom for a bite to eat. 

Clarinda's is in the Canongate and so I continued my way up the Royal Mile. 

From Clarinda's I went into the People's Story Museum. This is an incredibly well curated walk through social history of the people of Edinburgh. 

Then it was over to Surgeon's Hall. 

They currently have an exhibit on the history of midwifery which was fantastic. Once again I was reminded about how I wish had had the opportunity to study midwifery in school. It wasn't available. 

My real reason in going to the Surgeon's Hall was to join a guided walking tour of the old town and its association with the history of medicine in Edinburgh, and in many cases, in the whole of Scotland. 

Before I knew it, it was time to collect my luggage and catch the train to Glasgow. 

A Day in Dundee

Started the with a black pudding roll

then it as over to the train station to catch the train for Dundee. First up was a pop in to the Family History Fair, jointly hosted by the Tay Valley FHS & SAFHS. It looked a fairly busy event. It was good to have the chance to say hello to colleagues from the various booths. 

From the fair, I made my way down to the harbour. Must say I was incredibly impressed with how well the city has done with making the harbour a focal point. 

My ultimate destination was the V&A to see their new exhibit Tartan. First an ice cream to sustain me for the very short walk. 

The V&A is next door to the Discovery. 

The exhibit on Tartan was very well done. 

After the walk through the exhibit it was time for Tea in the V&A café. 

I was in need of a walk to help digest the scrumptious food, so made my way up to see the statues.

Before long, it was time for the train back to Edinburgh. 

It’s Good to be Back

Oh how I have missed Edinburgh. I had planned to do some research but once here decided just to enjoy the town. I walked to the High Street and walked the top half, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. 

I met a colleague for a coffee and a catch up at the cafe at Gladstone’s Land. Like many places in Scotland the cafe is dog friendly so I was able to enjoy the company of this sweet lass:

Then I wandered in and out of the closes 

and stopped in at the Writer’s Museum for a long overdue visit 

From there, I made my way to Edinburgh’s most famous street. No, not Princes Street, but rather, Victoria Street.

A stop off at Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips for a feast of Iceland Haddock & chips

before wandering the rest of the way down to the Grassmarket. It was lovely to see so many people out enjoying the patios. Dessert was from the very famous Mary’s Milk Bar.

I wandered back up Candlemaker Row. I went over to Quartermile, where I am normally stationed while in Edinburgh. 

Back to South Bridge and to the hotel to get ready for the bus ride to spend the evening with family. We got caught up then spent at least an hour watching old home movies that I had received from my cousin and had converted to digital. These evoked memories, stories and loads of laughs. It was just a wonderful night. My soul is restored and my heart is full once again. 

Are we There Yet?

 I rented a car at the airport so I could get to Paisley and Airdrie. 

To drop the car in Edinburgh was going to double my fee. So, from the hospital it was back to the airport, onto the express bus to the city centre. Off at Queen Street Station and onto the train to Edinburgh. 

The train was definitely not the express train it stopped often. But these stops provided a raw familiarity with my own family’s history. The Crawfords have history here. Coatbridge, Airdrie, Caldercruix, Bathgate. 

At long last I was in Edinburgh and after a not so quick jaunt pushing wheeled luggage over cobbled stones, I was at the hotel. I was knackered. But also starving. 

A quick bite, a relaxing shower and the last half of a Vera rerun and I was off to slumberland.