Wednesday 30 March 2016

Brom investigates

Coocoo

Yesterday Mara and I took the car and drove for a long time. And then she showed me a tower and I thought it must be Pisa in Italy (I know things you know), but Mara said no, we weren't in Italy, we were still in the Netherlands. In fact we were in the town where she grew up and they too have a leaning tower!

But we weren't there to see the leaning tower (or Oldehove as it's called), we were there to do some serious investigating. Because we were going to the archives. There were so many books and papers and all sorts of other things. Mara had been clever and had made a short list of the things she wanted to see and one by one they appeared. 

The legacy of a female ancestor to find out what kind of shop she had (didn't find the answer). The contract between a conscript and his replacement, plus when the replacement left and the conscript had to go into Napoleon's army himself (found only the first part). The contract between another conscript and his replacement (found it all) and the birth certificate of Mara's grandfather. 

After all that searching I was getting a bit fed up. It's hard enough writing in English and Dutch, but when you have to read scribbles, part of them in French, it gets quite difficult in the end. Besides, Mara had promised a cow!

When we got outside however, it was raining, so instead of the cow, we went to some shops. And then we rang to a cousin of Mara's and we had a lovely evening with her family. It might not have been as relaxing, but it certainly was a great day!

13 comments:

  1. Glad you had some success with your search.

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    1. I am happy with it as well. And today there were some clues to the lady I was researching as well. Ask facebook and hey presto: lots of information pops up!

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    2. It would s amazing what you can find when you start looking, isn't it?

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  2. Brom you are such a lucky Bear to be able to travel with Mara. Mom says I'm too much of a diva to travel with...mol....she says I'm whiny and pack way too much stuff
    hugs madi your bfff

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  3. Brom, we are THRILLED that there was SOME success in the Search.
    OMD we thought that was the Leaning Tower of PIZZA BONES TOO... DARN... that would have been SUPER to have found...Everybuddy LOVES Pizza BONES...
    THIS is a GRAND ADVENTURE and we are so Happy that you are taking us along.

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  4. Glad that some research was found and it sounds like it was a fun time with family. We had rain too :( Maybe you will see a cow today.

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  5. Hari om
    Golly gosh Brom... Nappy-lon's army connexions??? Am sure that Mara will find stuff eventually. Quite an exciting -if occasionallg tiring - trip you are having!!! Huggies to yoy and Mara, growlies YAM-aunty xxx

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    1. She said it might be in there already, but most of it is in French and quite difficult to read. But she will persevere she says.

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  6. Tracing your ancestry must be time consuming, frustrating but exceedingly exciting when you make a discovery. Your family next Brom.

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  7. A good way to relax after exhausting research!

    Keep Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

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  8. Yeah, reading old, faded documents can be a chore.

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  9. Geez, you burried yourself in archives ? No wonder that you got fed up. Nevertheless I admire your curiosity about your ancestors !

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!