Recording PERSONAL MEMOIRS / FAMILY HISTORY

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If you are reading this, you are likely to be of a certain age Е. You can now reflect back on your ancestors, while you enjoy watching the young generation growing up - all too fast.

Are you the keeper of stories of your ancestors and your own generation? You may be the only person who can tell these stories, but you think no one is interested nowadays or willing to listen.

Did we take enough interest when we were young, in stories of the older generation?
Invariably, we now wish we had been more attentive, listened, taken down details of relatives, events, dates, kept records, letters. Much is lost forever ЕЕ..

However, you may now be at the top of the family line, like a fairy on a Christmas tree! YOU are now in a privileged position - what a treasure you hold! Е. Are these wonderful memories going to die with you? Or would you like to pass them on if you could only get started?

Where to start?
DIY - yes Ц DO IT YOURSELF! Get PEN & PAPER:
Take the first step: Begin today! Sequence of events does not matter at this stage. Write as you recall events, people, datesЕ.
Headings below will jostle your memory if you run out of ideas. Write about yourself, your parents, grandparents, any of the older generation.

Roots:
Where did your family come from Е.origin of your familyТs surname county/countryЕ. Is it spelt differently now? What do you know of background history of your family?

Grandparents:
Names and any important dates you know - birth, marriage, death etc. Describe your grandparents and give details of other family ancestors that you can remember hearing aboutЕ.

Parents:
Names and important dates. What was your motherТs maiden name? Describe your mother and father. Write about their appearance, personalities, work and style of living Е their outlook on life Е Memorabilia e.g. letters, jewellery, invoices, ticketsЕ

Biography / Autobiography:
Date of birth, birthplace and full nameЕ. names and birth dates of any brothers and sisters. What was good / bad about placement in family Е brother or sister had most in common withЕ where did you grow up Е describe home Е any petsЕ memorable incidents/ accidents/ pranks. Did you speak another languageЕ your household chores / jobsЕ helping on farm or family business, with relative ЕЕ.

Childhood:
Write about what you did as a family during the early yearsЕ. Е distance to schoolЕ.. favourite teacher Е.. favourite subjectsЕ. sports Е other activities in school Е school trips Е incidents Е.. pranks Е. your best friend Е. visiting relatives Е. visitors /relatives to your home Еreligious ceremonies Е holidays ... moving house ... games... fights... work /chores at home ... hobbies... interests... music... books Е religious practicesЕ.. food likes & dislikes Е.treatsЕfamily rules. Did you ever break the rules? Finances at home, pocket money, rewardsЕ. Describe the worst time in your family Е something that happened ... death of relative ... sickness in the family Е etc the best timesЕ joys of childhood Е

Neighbourhood:
Near neighbours Е. local charactersЕ. social customs and practices Е local memorable events Е local disasters Е fun & games Е.

Growing Up:
Second level education Е.. clothes when growing upЕ entertainment Е dancing Е. films. Who influenced you most? How did you get along with your parents? First date? Е moving away from homeЕ where did you goЕ what did you doЕ. best & worst thing about leaving home Е..

Career:
Further education /training / opportunities. Your work career, moves, promotions, leaveЕ job change Е. Job loss .. moving round Е.. working abroad Е.Any special projects / assignments Е awards

Spouse / Partner:
How did you meet Е Age Е First impressionsЕ CourtshipЕ Describe details of your wedding ЕpicturesЕ clothes Е church Е meal Е music Е where to on honeymoonЕ first home Е early married life Е.. family visits Е..in-laws Е. first neighbours Е

Children:
Names & dates of birth. What were they like as babies, children, young adultsЕ What did you enjoy about raising themЕ What was difficultЕDid you raise your children as you were raised yourselfЕ If you raised them differently, in what way Е what did you emulate from your young days ..difficulties .. joys .. sickness Е WhatТs missing today Е Most precious aspect of rearing your familyЕ

Interests:
Describe clubs, groups, organizations you may have joined. Did you attend courses or classesЕ travel Е politics ЕЕ parish community ЕЕ spiritual

New Generation:
How did you feel when you first learned you were to become a grandparent? Е. stories about the grandchildrenЕ

Retirement:
What nowЕhobbies Еnew found interests in later lifeЕ. travelЕ health issuesЕ family .. sadness Е. separation.. grief .. coping. philosophy of lifeЕwhat are your values Е important things in lifeЕ.

Miscellaneous:
Your own personality, hopes, dreams. Social /political / economic factors that impacted on your family /personal situation Е. best book you ever readЕ greatest adventureЕ your closest friend.. most wonderful sightЕ any other best ЕЕЕ most beautiful Е. favourite Е most precious memory.. Е greatest personal achievement in lifeЕ regrets Е.. What other bits you would dare to share ?

Getting together with other family members also helps, as one memory borrows another. In the end, you could have enough material for a book.

Good Luck!

Tip: Set yourself deadlines!
-a date when you would have all your material collected by, and another date whereby everything will have some order on it.