So, here we are again, at the end of what seems to have been another generally rubbish year for most people around the world, for one reason or another. Still, at least (hopefully) we made it through to try and look forward to some semblance of normality in 2023. I’m pretty sure I said the same(ish) last year.
Anyhow. We would like to wish all our family, relatives, friends, visitors and especially our Contributors a very (belated) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please also raise a glass to our ancestors, without whom none of us would be here today.
Somewhat depressingly, I still haven’t managed to do a great deal of research or digging again this year.
At the moment I’m (still) in the middle of the Somerset Closes, following up on the small(ish) tree for Toni Close. At the time it wasn’t clear where her branch came from, but it now appears that the Somerset Closes are actually a thing, in the same way as the Yorkshire and Gloucestershire trees. In other words, there are hundreds of the buggers dating back into the mists of the 1500s. I’m currently up to around 800 new people and a torrent of new images … with no end in sight! It’s anybody’s guess as to when I’ll finally finish this, so (again) please don’t hold your breath on my account.
In the meantime, I seem to have been distracted by:
- Another tranche of house improvements, which has now given me a bunch of solar panels that I’m using to save the world. Don’t think we’ve had any sun since the day they were installed, which seems to be the story of my life.
- A fabulous trip to Mexico for the wedding of our youngest daughter, Rebecca. Consumed my bodyweight in Tacos, Tequila, and Mexican beer, so that went as well as expected.
- Finally, managing to catch the stupid virus after dodging it for the best part of two years. To be honest, I’ve had worse flu in the past, so I guess it could have been worse.
- Our granddaughter, Isabella, who is now 22 months old … with the attitude of a teenager. The future should prove interesting.
- Still plodding around the highways, byways and tow-paths, although at this time of year it’s hardly an enjoyable experience.
Many thanks once again to everyone who has contacted me over the past year with various things. I try to answer everyone, so keep these coming. I’m always happy to hear about your research and offer advice wherever I can, and I will get around to publishing everything that’s been sent to me. Honest.
It’s also nice to see the subscriber count for these emails slowly increasing. Maybe when I manage more than one issue every 2 years you’ll finally get some benefit from them! Sorry! Bear with me.
Also, many thanks to everyone who has sent a donation. It’s very much appreciated, and it all goes to the upkeep of the site. With over 18,000 people and 67,000 images, it’s turned into a bit of a monster since the early days, and it all needs money to feed it. So, if you do feel an overwhelming urge to support a worthy cause, then pop along to the site and help us out with a few quid.
Finally, sorry I missed Christmas, but hope everyone had a good one. Here’s to a prosperous, productive and above all healthy 2023.
Stay happy and safe.
Andy
And now for a bit of housekeeping
See the wood and the trees
We publish everything we have in our fabulous trees, so basically if you can’t find it, we don’t have it. With over 20,000 people, 5,000 families, 12,000 sources, and 69,000 image references currently sat in our database, you’ll appreciate the amount of work that has gone into this over the years.
You can see more in the Close Ancestry Trees.
Donations
We know that everyone in the world is after your hard-earned cash, but if you do feel a donation coming on as a result of your visit here, then please feel free to send it our way. It all goes towards the upkeep of the site, for which we charge absolutely nothing. So, please help us to keep the site free to use. Thanks.
Contacting us
If you find anything that you think may be of interest to us, then drop us an email at stuff@closeancestry.com
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