Family History update

It seems quite a while since David and I returned from our wonderful holiday in UK. We settled back into the daily stuff eventually after the usual post holiday blues (me).  Christmas is just around the corner and I had promised myself that I would add to my blog regularly with updates. So here we go.

Since getting back home my garden has been completed, thank you Darrin, I am trying to decide the theme of the garden as I have nothing planted.

A few things have been completed around the house which is good and I have returned to my family history!!

I didn't manage to do what I had planned in Scotland, time passed by so quickly, the weather was so good that on our "free" day we headed up into the hills ( See previous blog entry in September) so that David could enjoy the beautiful Scottish scenery. I am sure that another trip will be made at some stage so that I can have a look at places, churches and graveyards.


I probably won't find my grandfathers war record as I think it is one of the "burnt records", however I have managed to add some more details to  his war experiences. I  was sure that I had found his war medals record on an index card in ancestry.com and I knew that he had been a prisoner of war in Germany, so from the Black Watch site  I followed links to the International RedCross site and found an archive of POW's  of  WW1. I found the record of David Donald Davidson. David was reported missing on 21st March 1918. There was his   record no., the prisoner number and minor details of his imprisonment.  He was captured on  21st March 1918 at Beugny, he was unwounded  and arrived from the West front at Parchim. His family were notified on 6th August 1918 and he was repatriated on  in November 1918 arriving ion Calais on 24th November 1918. he was recorded as pte 268107  1/6th Black watch "B" Coy Royal Highlanders. His birth date was incorrect, however there is no doubt that it was him as  it was Aunt Mary that reported him missing so all details add up.


Looking on the internet there was a massive battle at Beugny on the 21st March 1918, how fortunate to have survived, many didn't. I have still to read about Parchim. More next time

Roast dinner and other things

David's dad took us out for Sunday lunch today. We went to The Swan at Forton, a very nice pub with good meals. We had the traditional carvery, plus desert which was delicious . Dropped Tom home for a snooze and we set off to do our last  sightseeing. We decided to go to Hawkstone Park Follies , it is well worth reading about the Follies - an amazing historical woodland fantasy, with beautiful trees, rhododendrons, cliffs, crags and a series of extraordinary monuments built well over 200 years ago. It is constructed around sandstone cliffs which rise abruptly from the Shropshire Plains.quite spectacular . It was lovingly restored and reopened in 1993.
We drove into the grounds and walked up to the entrance to the "Follies" I did wonder at that point about the wiseness of attempting this strenuous  walk after such a large lunch, however in no time at all we had walked off the lunch, it wasn't too strenuous  and it was worth the climbing, the walking, the cave exploring, the crossing of the tiny  Swiss  Bridge,  the grotto and the climbing of the 150 steps to the top of the Monument, erected by Sir Richard Hill in 1795 to commemorate Sir Rowland Hill the first Protestant  Lord Mayor of London!! from the top we could see 7 counties and the welsh hills. A lot of exercise but well worth it.
We toasted each other with a celebratory G&T back at the pub a great adventure, my only wish was that Fergus, Zac and Koby had been with us, they would have loved it.
This is probably the last blog posting while on holiday, tomorrow we say good bye to David's Dad and head over to Stoke on Trent to spend the last evening with David's Nephew. Tuesday morning we will drive to Manchester Airport to hand back the car then fly home via Dubai.

Time is flying by

Got back to B&B a short while ago after a lovely time with my dear friend  Flo in Coventry. We headed off to Coventry yesterday, (Friday).We had a great time talking about the good old days!! We caught up on family news, talked about politics, the joy of ageing !, buying a house in England, old friends, old boy friends, new friends, our grandchildren, our children, our parents, family history, cooking eating, drinking, David's family, David's house, musical instruments and paintings...whew !! Did I leave anything out!! In the evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner at The Old Mill just outside Coventry.
This morning after a leisurely breakfast and more chatting we visited Coventry Cathedral, the old and the  new. We enjoyed a guided tour of the new cathedral , then strolled around the remaining old cathedral . Coventry was devastated by bombs in November 1940 and the Cathedral burned with the city. We enjoyed our visit to the Cathedral and after lunch and a walk around the city centre we found  the famous Lady Godiva statue.
Back to Flo's and in no time at all we had to say goodbye and drive back to Newport to our B&B. The weather wasn't so great today, probably our coolest day since arriving here 3+ weeks ago.
It's great catching up with friends and family, but not so great saying goodbye. We have a lottery ticket for this evening. Let's hope it's the winning one Flo, then we can buy the house in England and you can visit us!
Two more days left then time to fly home...

Decision day for Scotland!

Thinking of my Scottish family and friends especially today. Who knows how it will be tomorrow. The alarm is set for 2am when the first results may come through. It is exciting to be witnessing such an historic event.
Today we set out to visit Hawkstone Part follies , how disappointing to find it closed, will be open on Sunday, however we have lunch organised on Sunday. We then went on to visit Hodnet gardens and again -closed!  Summer may be officially over but we are enjoying beautiful weather. We ended up in Market Drayton sitting on a bench next to aWW1 monument eating ice cream!
We enjoyed a G&T at the Wharf Inn at Goldstone next to the canal, once again in glorious sunshine.
A  quick stop at Waitrose in Newport for dinner ingredients and a last G&T at the Barley before heading back to the B&B. Our bed and breakfast at the Red Gables is great, we can use the kitchen in the evenings so will whip up a tasty meal in no time at all!! LOL
Tomorrow morning we head off to Coventry to spend  some time with my  school friend  Flo. Looking forward to catching up on all the news. friends since  first year at Roosevelt Girls High School.

Back in Shropshire

We got back to Newport last night quite late. We stopped in Galashiels for lunch with friends, Doreen Jack and Beverly old friends from Zimbabwe days. The weather in Scotland was very ordinary, and it was disappointing to drive through the Borders unable to see the beautiful countryside. Doreen and Jack first met me when I was 12 !! So  we have know each other quite a number of years.
Driving on the motorway was scary, David did a great job and we got back to our B&B safely.
Today has been very busy for us both but especially for me. I went shopping!!!! To a big shopping centre with Primark, M&S and other shops. David dropped me off in Telford. David  did the washing!!  I caught the bus back to Newport late afternoon, I had sore feet, but the credit card was quite safe.
I didn't take  any photographs today so  am going to upload some of the photos taken previously. Tomorrow are going on a bus trip with David's  Dad. We are going to the Castle Inn for lunch. I have been to so many pubs!
This evening we went  toThe Aston, we had a delicious meal. Probably one of the best since we left Mordialloc.
The weather once again is spectacular and  we intend to enjoy our last week in UK.

Our last day in Scotland

Although it was overcast and cooler this morning the sun shone again this afternoon!! We had a lovely lunch at The Woodlands Hotel with friends. We said goodbye to Ruby and Norman and called in to say goodbye to Uncle Malcolm and a catchup with Donna and Elaine. Lovely to see my cousins again. I haven't managed to catch up with everyone I am sorry about that, we have run out of time. I didn't have much time to look at grave yards nor add to my family tree information, that probably means another trip to do that!! this morning  we popped in to say goodbye to Uncle Ian and tomorrow we will head back to England via Galashiels.
I didn't take any photos today so have put some more of other days in Scotland. Til next time...

Another busy day,

We decided this morning  where we would go how to get there etc  but  it didn't quite go as we planned, instead we found ourselves in the Cairngorms National Park. How beautiful and how fortunate for us that the mist slowly disappeared, the sun came out and wow another glorious day in Scotland.
We by passed Forfar and went on to Kirriemuir. My Granny sent postcards to me from  Kirriemuir, and I had been here as a small child.  Kirriemuir is the birthplace of Sir J.M Barrie author of Peter Pan. It was also the birth place of Bon Scott (AC/DC) as we found out when visiting the museum. We had morning tea in "The Auld Doctor's Surgery"  homemade scones and raspberry jam! From there we headed to Gen Isla the mist was still fairly heavy but we felt sure it would lift and the sun would shine.  Up through Glenshee and on to Braemar. From Braemar onto Balmoral Castle and Royal Lochnagar distillery.  And yes the mist did lift and we got some good photographs of the area. The queen  however was rather disappointed that she missed us colonials !!
We spent some time at Invercauld Bridge, David took a lot of photographs and I found some beautiful pebbles! We enjoyed photographing the mushrooms/toadstools (with fairies underneath). From there we drove to Ballater, then began to head home. Almost had pheasant for dinner, so many on the road! The mist came down, but eventually we reached the  A90 and were home in time to go to the pub for dinner!!  Another happy day for us, new places  visited together. Till next time :)