Having some time on my hands (really? Said Sandie, must do something about that….), I have been rootling around the family website and tidying up a few things.

Sparked, it has to be acknowledged, by Julie Legg, the daughter of our New Zealand correspondent, whose immense energy, drive and enthusiasm has been brought to bear on her family tree. Her emails physically sparkle with a thirst for knowledge to pass on to her three boys (men, really) and for future generations.

I feel it is beholden on us merry but small band (Shakespearean reference in there somewhere, for the intelligent amongst us) to make one last push to get as much down on paper as we can for those following on. Those departed family members are not lines in a Parish register, they were real people of whom much was spoken in the past. Our collective memories will add colour and make them real again to us, and the followers-on. Don’t worry about what you may have written in the past, do it again, and I bet you will think of other things (betting – now there’s a subject that was guaranteed to cause controversy amongst the family).

I have made most of us “authors” which means you should be able to write directly onto the blog. Try sending a test message or two and I’ll monitor and assist where I can. If one of your family members is not registered on the site, then send me the name and email address and I will add them, or fill in the posting request at this page therayboulds.co.uk/about/. Email me comments if you prefer, and the more photos the better, send them as well if it’s easier.

Take care in the big bad world that’s now our inheritance….