Hi everyone, Andy the ‘other half’ here.

Being the other half to a genealogist has its ups and downs.  From a positive perspective I am pleased to report that I am now conversant with the location of all local record archives and that I know what ‘Ag Lab’ means on a census.  On the less positive side, it is not uncommon to lose my good lady wife for hours on end to her lap top whilst she attempts to help someone solve another ‘unsolvable’ and then not to hear a whisper until all of a sudden there is a cheer accompanied by unreasonable leaping around and skipping.

Genealogy is probably a bit like golf, in that it’s not the 120 poor shots that you remember and the pain that went with them, but the 2 shots that were sublime.  It is those 2 shots that make you want to go and play golf again, not the other 120.  Likewise, the search at the records office which after page upon page of careful searching, the person you are looking for is there in black and white.  Thus, I observe that the genealogist works for those adrenalin rush moments when out of nowhere the answer arrives in an instant, whether on screen on parchment.

Once you’ve gone absolutely as far as you can with your own family history, the only way to satisfy the craving with enough ‘ups’ is clearly to search for someone else’s family history.  I do get rather frustrated with the complaints though, since others always seem to have more exciting forebears; robbers, deportees, sea faring heros, etc.  On the other hand, professional genealogists themselves seem to have the boring forebears (see Ag lab above!), and so I am convinced that it is this that drives them to want to help others to find their past.

Sitting here writing this, opposite Dale, has been a whoop-free hour.  I am expectant of a yelp soon.

For more about Genealogy and Family History Research in the Bristol and surrounding areas, please visit Dale’s website www.rootsleuth.com

Andy: 4-May-2008